The Ultimate Warrior (June 16, 1959 – April 8, 2014) was the ring name of American professional wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer James Hellwig. The Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history. Known for his extremely muscular physique, long, shaggy hair and colorful 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. Along with Hogan, They represented that period, the era of the big bodybuilders.

The Ultimate Warrior died suddenly from a catastrophic medical condition on April 8, 2014 at 54 and only three days after his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. As if to foreshadow his death, Hellwig appeared on WWE Raw the day before in New Orleans to a rousing ovation from fans and delivered the following speech: "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."