jdw Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 You do have to wonder what Vince thought he was going to do with Warrior to make back that $750K base over the coming years. While his $$$ issues were gone, he still wasn't beating WCW yet. You also wonder what in the heck he would be booking Warrior into with (i) Shawn heel, (ii) Stone Cold getting the title at Mania. 15 days a month? 12 PPV a year (or even say he was on 8 of them). What in the hell would you do with Warrior at that point? He'd sucked the last two times he came back to the WWF, and then blew in WCW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 I really can't see Warrior fitting in 1998 at all. WWE trained the fans to reject anything that was old because that's what WCW did. He really wouldn't have a spot in 1998. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cm funk Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 You do have to wonder what Vince thought he was going to do with Warrior to make back that $750K base over the coming years. While his $$$ issues were gone, he still wasn't beating WCW yet. You also wonder what in the heck he would be booking Warrior into with (i) Shawn heel, (ii) Stone Cold getting the title at Mania. 15 days a month? 12 PPV a year (or even say he was on 8 of them). What in the hell would you do with Warrior at that point? He'd sucked the last two times he came back to the WWF, and then blew in WCW. It's also strange timing wise that right after going back on Bret's contract he'd turn around and offer a deal like that to Warrior I don't see Warrior being a good fit on that roster at all. There's some stuff that would have been interesting (Taker, Kane, Mankind, Vader, The Rock) but he wouldn't be willing to do many jobs, so it's hard to use him to elevate newer talent. The older guys who were successful in the attitude era were the ones who adapted their character to the times, and I don't see Warrior changing his gimmick much. He was big on that Warrior Nation stuff at the time, the best idea I can think of is to have him lead a Warrior Nation stable that could feud with the other groups of the time (NOD, DX, Corporation, Ministry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 I think Vince clearly sees contracts as a way to lure talent, but doesn't really view them as something he has to honor if the wind blows in another direction. He's proven that many times. Especially during this time frame, a contract offer was simply a way to get someone he wanted at that moment in the door. The details of it were just noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 a Warrior Nation stable that could feud with the other groups of the time (NOD, DX, Corporation, Ministry) That could have been awesome. Warrior, Vader and the Road Warriors/LOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Migs Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 The two Warrior eps up on the Network so far (Wrestlemania VI, and a match compilations with an intro/outro from Warrior and wrestler comments between the matches) are quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Tonight's Warrior Week special on the Network is very good, basically the sequel to Self-Destruction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Lance Storm was spot-on with Warrior's passing and the "interesting" overwhelming positive comments on a guy who by all account acted like an asshole and said terrible things and never apologized for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 That's the nature of death though, isn't it? What makes this particular one more interesting is that he seemed willing to move past prior differences and maybe make his own amends that fateful weekend, and who knows if that he didn't die that maybe he would apologize for his comments and behavior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 That's the nature of death though, isn't it? What makes this particular one more interesting is that he seemed willing to move past prior differences and maybe make his own amends that fateful weekend, and who knows if that he didn't die that maybe he would apologize for his comments and behavior. Queering makes the world work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJRogers Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 That's the nature of death though, isn't it? What makes this particular one more interesting is that he seemed willing to move past prior differences and maybe make his own amends that fateful weekend, and who knows if that he didn't die that maybe he would apologize for his comments and behavior. Queering makes the world work! Yeah, Fred Phelps can rot in hell, but don't speak ill ot a creep who portrayed a character that was wildly popular in people's youth in the late '80s-early '90s. I do think a lot of it came from the idea of how hyperbolic that 2005 hit piece doc was that it somehow erased, or lessened how much of a bigoted and bat shit crazy guy Hellwig was in real life. Maybe he was on his way to lessening the crazy aspects, who knows, but yeah it is interesting to see the outpouring of positive emotions for a guy that if not for being this wildly popular cartoon character, probably would be getting the treatment Phelps got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Has anyone seen the DVD yet? I'm curious if he addresses the reputation of being hateful to children and other fans who asked for his autograph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I think his interview segments from it are used in these Warrior Week specials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Has anyone seen the DVD yet? I'm curious if he addresses the reputation of being hateful to children and other fans who asked for his autograph. I have the bluray. They go out of their way to show that he enjoyed talking with his fans and doing charity. In all fairness, where did that talk come from? The only instance I remember is in Bret's book. And with wrestlers, you never know how much truth you're getting. Like, maybe he was missing a fight or something and couldn't meet a kid and all of the sudden it turns into Warrior hates meeting sick children and avoid them at all costs. It's difficult to tell when somebody has an axe to grind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dooley Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Has anyone seen the DVD yet? I'm curious if he addresses the reputation of being hateful to children and other fans who asked for his autograph. I have the bluray. They go out of their way to show that he enjoyed talking with his fans and doing charity. In all fairness, where did that talk come from? The only instance I remember is in Bret's book. And with wrestlers, you never know how much truth you're getting. Like, maybe he was missing a fight or something and couldn't meet a kid and all of the sudden it turns into Warrior hates meeting sick children and avoid them at all costs. It's difficult to tell when somebody has an axe to grind. Piper said something along the same lines. He told a story about how he (Piper) would try to avoid being noticed in airports, wearing hats and sunglasses, while Warrior had a full-length neon "Ultimate Warrior" coat on but would tell any kids that asked for autographs to buzz off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 The treatment of fans was even something Vince mentioned in court if I'm not mistaken. There was also the time he was rude to a kid who it turned out had a dad who was a station manager in an important market, and Vince made Warrior record an apology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovert Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Someone write an article comparing Warrior and WWE and Prince resigning with Warner Bros after 18 years: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/18/prince-re-signs-deal-with-warner-bros-records-after-18-year-split Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Just bring back the NPGMC already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 It's funny because everything I've read about him recently is that he really went out of his way with the fans and more gracious. Yet he never really copped to those previous offenses. What's sad to me is that maybe if he lived longer he would have copped to it and done more to right the wrongs of a guy who struggled with success and lashed out at people. Sadly I doubt it would have extended to things he said online about the world at large. I actually read his Twitter feed and while there were some eye-rollers (most recently his comment about Philip Seymour Hoffman), there were things I actually agreed with. Specifically his condemning the media for fear-mongering after the explosion at the Boston Marathon last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakla Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 That's the nature of death though, isn't it? What makes this particular one more interesting is that he seemed willing to move past prior differences and maybe make his own amends that fateful weekend, and who knows if that he didn't die that maybe he would apologize for his comments and behavior. Queering makes the world work! Yeah, Fred Phelps can rot in hell, but don't speak ill ot a creep who portrayed a character that was wildly popular in people's youth in the late '80s-early '90s. I do think a lot of it came from the idea of how hyperbolic that 2005 hit piece doc was that it somehow erased, or lessened how much of a bigoted and bat shit crazy guy Hellwig was in real life. Maybe he was on his way to lessening the crazy aspects, who knows, but yeah it is interesting to see the outpouring of positive emotions for a guy that if not for being this wildly popular cartoon character, probably would be getting the treatment Phelps got. The Uconn speech was in 2005, the Depaul speech was in 2006. I don't think the DVD really erased anything since those speeches and a lot of other online outbursts occurred around that period. He had mellowed out in the last few years. Didn't rant quite as much. And the video he did when Savage died really won a lot of people over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(BP) Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I watched the 96 Raw they put up for Warrior week, and it made me think he may have been able to fit into the Attitude era if he'd resigned in 97. His promo starts out with the normal inane mystical stuff, but when Goldust confronts him he basically speaks the way everyone would be by the following year. It might have been Hellwig speaking instead of Warrior because of his distaste for the Goldust character to be fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakla Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I watched the 96 Raw they put up for Warrior week, and it made me think he may have been able to fit into the Attitude era if he'd resigned in 97. His promo starts out with the normal inane mystical stuff, but when Goldust confronts him he basically speaks the way everyone would be by the following year. It might have been Hellwig speaking instead of Warrior because of his distaste for the Goldust character to be fair. That promo was one of my favs as a kid. Remember watching the recap shows just to see it again. Even if a lot of it was "OMG, Ultimate Warrior just cursed! Awesome!" "Hold it right there, freak!" (huge pop) "If you're looking for a full-length, action-packed adventure....." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bix Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 The treatment of fans was even something Vince mentioned in court if I'm not mistaken. There was also the time he was rude to a kid who it turned out had a dad who was a station manager in an important market, and Vince made Warrior record an apology. Yup. He picked up the phone and called Joe Perkins and said 'Goodbye.' Joe tried to talk — tried to calm the general manager down, who had been embarrassed in front of his son. And Mr. Hellwig agreed to, at the very least, do a videotaped 'I'm sorry,' you know, type situation, which he objected to, obviously. It wasn't uncommon, you know, I mean, for Mr. Hellwig from time to time to refuse autographs from kids or from anybody. He didn't like to do that and was often rude to fans. Warrior's lawyer asked if it had been “true throughout his years at the WWF” and Vince said “More specifically, as he became more and more popular.” Having to shoot the video apology is what caused Warrior to snap and write the demand letter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakla Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 On how he treated the fans, most of the praise comes from recent years where he did paid signings at conventions and such. I've heard nothing but praise about Warrior during these events, usually talking to fans at length, making sure the photo came out OK, taking his time with the signature, etc. But an organized signing is way different than getting autograph requests during the prime of your career, while walking in a hotel/airport, with a busy travel schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 On the fan thing alone, I'm sure he's not the only one who acted rudely towards them back then. Faces specifically have that burden of being the nice guy all the time, which is why almost everyone says they prefer working heel. On top of having more control over what's done in the ring, there must be something that gets released that maybe allows them to have less turbulent personal lives than the guy getting all the acclaim. Plus, Warrior was literally an overnight sensation. He rose faster in the ranks than a lot of people at that time when fan support really had to build. That had to play with his head a lot too, and lead to the more dickish behavior. It's only been in these recent years like shakla mentioned, that he's taken his time because he appreciated it more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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