Here we are warriors to April once again. As I always say~~~ like that title above, it will NEVER be called April Fools’ Day to me and hasn’t been for 36 years now on this date exactly. To be clear on another note~~~ these dates lineup just like they did 6 years ago in 2020. That number 6 connecting to WMVI being 36 right NOW. My 6 makes an appearance once again. You will see a shot of the contract signing between Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan with then WWF President Jack Tunney in the middle. Last week was part of the contract with 7, today is 6. Oh, and these dates also repeated back in 2015 as I did check on that. I did not know how April lined up until just a few weeks ago so if you do math correctly, you will get to the number 8… More on that next time.
Thanks to Warrior’s good friend Peter, I was shown through our UW fb group a new WWE Vault video that I will link at the end. It’s called: “ The story of Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (1990)- the Ultimate Challenge of WMVI.” It’s over an hour with interviews, promos, and much previously shown clips but some had been a while for me. A few I vaguely remembered. Parts of their match is shown at the end so a must see for fans wanting to relive that nostalgic time. Who remembers when WM’s started at 4 PM ET instead of the evening? Yep, that was when they were held so Hulk and Warrior probably took to the ring around close to 6:30 PM. Their championship bout was about a half hour, give or take.
My story has been told on here of that late afternoon when I was 17 and a senior in high school. This year watching will be very bittersweet with now both Warrior and Hulk having left us. My birthday viewing this past year was the same. I did watch shortly after Hulk’s passing, but it was too soon. The next time~~~ as I promised myself would be different and it was. Sure, I still had new tears but I celebrated them both in my own way and that will happen again this year, this time. This month brings many dates, milestones, and anniversaries of sorts, mostly in the beginning as I finally look back on them all with so much emotion mixed in.
March flew by, but partly because we had to say goodbye to our much loved dog of almost 14 years. 🐾😓💔🤎 It was one of the hardest things I ever had to face and I asked Warrior if he could check on her for me. I hope he does when visiting his beloved dogs in the Animal Kingdom. I’ve known of other pups passing in April and with my Warrior memories~~~ it would’ve been so much to bear. I’m grateful for her life and ours how it happened when it did as my son was home for his spring break. He just celebrated his 22nd birthday too. I thank all those who have reached out to me with such words of comfort, they truly matter in many appreciative ways you will never know. 🥹
To quote Ultimate Warrior in his WMVI promo: “ physically, none of us can live forever!” That is of course true but the spirits do of those two guys and even my precious pooch. This is what I believe is I hope you do too. The Hulkamaniacs and Warriors came together as one that evening in Canada as many fans were certainly divided, were you? Many also debate if the Ultimate Warrior character was indeed ready to be the brand of WWF back then. I certainly believe he was headed that way like when defeating HTM for the IC belt. Time is always of the essence though, isn’t it? The world of pro wrestling never seems to slow down and speed was at the heart of UW’s gimmick for sure. Without any of it lining up the way it did, we would not have our memories the way they became as this is true for any WWF or WWE moment in history, even today.
Sometimes, just like in our everyday lives~~~ things don’t get lined up exactly as we want or hope but it happens anyway. That’s how it is for all of us in life and I gotta say, it makes stuff so much more interesting at times. Remember those roadmaps of last week? Well, the map doesn’t give us all the answers and we have surprises along the way too, some unexpected and some disappointing. UW winning that Heavyweight title from Hulk did not surprise me all that much (as without being biased,) I knew a change was probably coming.
I could feel and sense it but was not 100% convinced. I think Vince wanted to move forward with UW as champ but then wasn’t sure how to promote or market him as he was so used to it primarily being HH for many years. Again, (without being biased,) being a writer I probably could’ve come up with some great storylines for UW not mimicking Hulk but sometimes that got in the way, which might’ve alluded fans somewhat. I’m not entirely sure on this but it’s one of my theories. This can be another highly talked about area concerning UW’s title reign and the 80s guys did an entire podcast episode on it. You better believe I called in to voice my opinion.
The Ultimate Challenge has so many feelings attached to me as I’ve shared much over the years. I watch to remember, to be entertained, to celebrate, and know the good without the negative aftermath coming to the ring. I slam all that down to the mat, as it has no place during my viewing time. I loved when I heard Hulk say how much fans continued to tell him on socials that the match with him and Warrior was their favorite. I hope they both can maybe meet up where they are now and reminisce together in some spiritual way. Wouldn’t that be truly ultimate?
OK, there were so many other matches that day as I loved the mixed tag team one and Demolition 3peating as tag team champs! So grateful they are getting into the HOF finally!! *** Here’s to WMVI turning 36, 1990 was a great year for me too. I can hear UW’s theme of “ Unstable” anytime! And, my ear was ringing when writing this near the end… 🥰
P.S. Here’s the link to the WWE Vault YouTube channel. “Story of Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (1990), the Ultimate Challenge of WMVI.”
https://youtu.be/watch?v=4yGfK5VWs5M&si=45dl-cRUjjlXByX- 1:18:02 in length.
*** Again~~~if this link is not active on here, head on over to the WWE vault YouTube channel. 💪🏻💪🏻💙💙
mywarriorwritings.com 