Iconic wrestler Ultimate Warrior dies at 54 after haunting speech

Only three days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, James Hellwig, who wrestled professionally as "The Ultimate Warrior," reportedly died Tuesday at 54, WWE officials announced.
WWE did not give a cause of death for Hellwig - who changed his name legally to 'Warrior' in 1993, also giving his children a pretty unique surname.

Hellwig appeared on WWE Raw on Monday in New Orleans on USA Network to a rousing ovation from fans, only a day after WrestleMania XXX.

Known for his extremely muscular physique, long, shaggy hair and colourful face paint, The Warrior feuded with many of the then-WWF's biggest stars, including Hulk Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage during his career. He defeated Hogan at WrestleMania VI to become champion, and was also an ex-Intercontinental champion.

The Ultimate Warrior's career spanned 13 years, from 1985-98, and included three stints in the then-WWF. His most memorable run came from 1987-91. He came back for short stints in 1992 and 1996.

After being inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday in New Orleans on the night before WrestleMania – the WWE's biggest event – Hellwig appeared on Raw on Monday and seemed to foreshadow his death.

Hellwig began his speech in his own voice, saying, "As I thought about what I was going to say this evening, it's been hard for me to find the words."

He then pulled a mask out of his pocket that looked like the face paint he wore at the height of his career and switched into the Warrior's voice.

"Well then, Warrior, you shut up then and let me do the talking," he said, as the crowd roared its approval. "No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat; his lungs breathe their final breath.

"And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them believe deeper in something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit will be immortalized by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory."

He had long feuded with WWE management, but that seemed to end once he was elected to the Hall of Fame.

There was a photo of WWE CEO Vince McMahon and Hellwig warmly embracing at the Hall of Fame ceremony.