Ultimate Warrior
With unmatched energy, Ultimate Warrior exploded on the WWF scene in 1987.
In record time, the face-painted Superstar became a household name and sports entertainment icon. Ultimate Warrior had a
natural charisma that was undeniable. His high-energy entrances and chiseled frame made him an instant hit with fans, while
his high threshold for pain and unparalleled power struck instant fear into opponents. Within months of his debut, he had
turned back many of WWF's top names on his way to becoming one of the company's top draws.
 ULTIMATE WARRIOR FEATURES |
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At SummerSlam 1988, Ultimate Warrior ended Honky Tonk Man's
record 15-month Intercontinental Championship reign when he toppled the titleholder in a mere 30 seconds. The dominant
victory proved that nobody was safe from the Ultimate Warrior's intensity. With the Intercontinental Championship around his
waist, the Ultimate Warrior became one of the World Wrestling Federation's most marketable Superstars. It wasn't long before
arenas were filled with Ultimate Warrior T-shirts; fans even began to paint their faces like the eccentric hero.
Ultimate Warrior's superhuman strength carried him to a nearly eight-month Intercontinental Championship reign. It
eventually took outside interference from Bobby Heenan for
"Ravishing" Rick Rude to
wrest the title from Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania V. He later reclaimed the gold from Rude at SummerSlam 1989.
Ultimate Warrior's second stint with the Intercontinental Championship proved to be even more popular with the fans, setting the stage for an inevitable showdown with
WWF Champion Hulk Hogan.
WWF's most popular Superstars finally met at WrestleMania in an historic encounter dubbed "The Ultimate Challenge."
With both titles on the line, Ultimate Warrior defeated Hogan in front of more than 67,000 screaming fans in Toronto's
Skydome. The victory was capped off by an amazing fireworks display, a precursor to the pyrotechnics seen on a weekly basis
on today's WWE television.
Following the WrestleMania win, Ultimate Warrior spent the next nine months proudly defending the WWF
Championship. His whirlwind reign was eventually silenced when Sgt. Slaughter,
with some help from Randy Savage,
defeated him at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Rather than set his sights on reclaiming the prize, Ultimate Warrior focused
his attention on gaining revenge from Savage. He finally accomplished the ultimate retribution when he defeated Savage in a
Retirement Match at WrestleMania XII.
