Ultimate Warrior no more

The Ultimate Warrior, one of US professional wrestling’s most celebrated names, has died at the age of 54, days after being inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame, the company said late on Tuesday.

 

“WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior,” the Stamford, Connecticut-based company said on its website.

 

The Ultimate Warrior, whose given name was James Hellwig, began his WWE career in 1987 and rose to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history, the company said, highlighting an “epic encounter” in which he defeated Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI to become a WWE Champion.

 

The cause of his death was not given. He was added to the Hall of Fame on April 5.

 

“We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans,” World Wrestling Entertainment said.

The 6-foot, 2-inch (1.88 m) tall, 280-pound (127 kg) wrestler commanded the ring in his signature neon garb and long, blond hair, and face paint, WWE said.