First off, I hope any Dads reading today had a great Father’s Day last week! Hopefully, you got some much needed attention and rest. I’m sure Warrior’s girls sent him their love in their own way as well. 🩷🩷
You will see that image of UW below after winning his “ King of the Ring” match in June 1996 against Jerry Lawler. I wanted the aftermath of when W went over to the Crown 👑 and picked it up, waving his hand like “no way!”Vince’s laugh is always hysterically funny listening to as I never tire when hearing it. I wanted to give that time a mention on here since yet once again, another milestone. 3️⃣0️⃣ years this summer marked the end of UW’s final run with the then WWF, which didn’t finish all too well. I truly believe he wanted to come back under different terms, promote his University, comic books, and such but just have a brief appearance. He wanted to also make an impact which did happen but without those other guys from the Golden Era, he had to be the leader or mentor for the Next Generation or Attitude Era. Most fans know some of what transpired but Warrior still wanted to stick to his own principles, despite management and business decisions.
I just always thought it to be quite ironic how just a year later in 1997, Vince came back to Warrior with a bigger and better offer. What does THAT tell you? Were they desperate for a big name so much after many of the “older” talent jumped ship to Ted Turner’s WCW? Warrior turned down that very lucrative offer so again, what does that say on HIS end? You can come to your own conclusion on this readers. Despite all this, I want to still remember UW’s 1996 run with the WWF positively as fans loved his return and were excited to see him years later.
The other stat to add here as well is that when Ultimate Warrior returned in ‘96, it was the highest rating RAW had seen in quite a while, huge numbers actually so once more something to think about. He still could draw, even after long absences with the company as fans craved his undeniable presence. Yes, he came and went with little or no explanation to those behind their TV screens but for him~~~ all his own reasons. We can disagree all we want but that’s just how it was back then. Did Warrior have some regrets over it all? Possibly as years went on like many of us do over choices made but at the time, he decided what was right for him.
Here’s a little bit of me tagged or “roped” in with this concept for a moment. When I get ready to record the “ Ultimate Truth” podcast, I usually bring my UW action figure and wear either my Warrior girl tank or my UW sweatshirt. The figure (which has its own story…) has been in my possession for years as many know along with the tee now having many as well. The sweatshirt is only a few years old but they return. No, not long absences like UW himself, ha~~~ but the former two would be quite dormant if not for me bringing them back. I’ve been known to bring that action figure to my meditation “arena” at times but not always. Here’s the funny connected with my daughter.
She sees my “gear” of choice out the other day before recording and says to me: “ I saw your figurine out. Awww, he’s so cute!” She’s endearing… I have to agree though! 😉 First, it’s not a FIGURINE as I equate that with some porcelain type of object but LOVE how she acknowledged. Second, she probably meant him being cute because of the size, idea, and all that. Not in the purely physical way. 🤭 I then proceeded to tell her the story about finding it at my preschool job and then~~ 🤫 SHH~~~ stealing it. I said the story is in my book, (“ Spirit and Belief”) plug here, but I never fully shared that with her. I explained my reasons of course but honestly, it’s not technically like taking something from a store, ha ha! So, now she knows more about my action figure, how it sat untouched for years, and now makes returns to my own squared circle for his matches! She also saw my Warrior girl tee hanging up after being washed and asked why I don’t wear it much. Well, I did after first purchasing on the authentic UW website and gear shop back then. I wore it when working out or going to yoga sometimes. I’m not intimidated, but it is slightly tight in the chest area. I can accentuate the “ girls” but not always in public!!! 😲 It’s reserved for special occasions, but does make a return when I see fit (no pun intended!)
Do any of you warriors out there have things or objects that seem to make returns from time to time? Maybe it’s not a big deal but it does happen for many reasons. It could even be a person who isn’t always in your life, but then returns, albeit briefly for whatever reason. I mean your personal people and not a reference to Warrior here. Possibly you find yourself at a place once dominated years back and now you’ve returned…. Think about those times in your own life, which have made ultimate returns or even comebacks to use another word. I bet you can relate if you truly want.
Warrior himself went out to Santa Fe, New Mexico years prior and then eventually settled there once again with his family of girls. Heck, look at his return to WWE after the 18 year long absence. That’s been discussed, but I wanted to focus more on his ‘96 run and it just went from there. Sometimes, that return of a person, place, or thing works for us but sometimes it does not. You will know if that real feeling is there and if you want it to stay. It may not even be by our own choosing but our responses will be. I’m sure fans were so happy to see UW back in the ring after being gone 3.5 years but then unfortunately~~~ a few months later, he seemed to vanish without a trace once again. I understand more now but then again, I never watched once they switched to cable so had no idea really. My only connection was my brother so if he found out anything, I’d be the first to know.
We don’t always need explanations or to become defensive when thinking about returns in such ways. I didn’t have to even share the stories with my girl about my UW stuff either. We feel the need but realistically, it’s not always necessary. Our free will decides all this for us. So warriors, what makes ultimate returns in your life and in what ways? Can you control it or not? If you can, make it truly memorable because that’s how it should be. The good and the bad are part of it all. Let’s just keep the good more. I know I am. It’s not just a T-shirt or action figure either. Make your ultimate returns count because they truly do!
P.S. Here’s the latest release of “ The Ultimate Truth” podcast over at “ The Masters of Wrestling.”
https://youtu.be/pNQRxoTeEsg?is=icTl2bun4EhCC1fl
*** “ Ultimate Warrior vs Sting
WWE vs WCW”
💙💙💪🏻💪🏻🤼
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