The Ultimate Warrior. PHOTO FROM https://www.wwe.com
MANILA, Philippines—He has reached the top of the turnbuckle.
According to the World Wrestling Entertainment, The Ultimate Warrior passed away Wednesday morning (Philippine time) at the age of 54.
Warrior, whose birth name was James Hellwig, was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame just before Wrestlemania XXX on Monday and made a guest appearance, the first in many years, on Monday Night Raw.
He legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993.
As of posting time, the cause of death was still unknown.
“WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends, and fans,” the WWE said in its official website.
Hulk Hogan, real name Terry Bolea, who is arguably Hellwig’s greatest in-ring rival tweeted “RIP Warrior. Only love. HH.”
Triple H, Paul Michael Levesque in real life, also expressed his condolences through Twitter.
“Saddened to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters,” he posted on his Twitter account.
Levesque wife, Stephanie McMahon said that Hellwig’s “strength and character is to be admired.”
“There will never be anyone like you. Your spirit lives on in your family,” McMahon said on Twitter.
Before her condolence message, McMahon posted a picture of her father, Vince, and Hellwig.
Hellwig is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters.