The wrestling world is reeling from the sudden passing yesterday of James Brian Hellwig, better known as The Ultimate Warrior. He was 54. And perhaps more than any other wrestler (okay, maybe Chris Jericho), he had ties to metal. The 2 time WWF Intercontinental Champion and WWF Championship winner retired from wrestling in 1999, but returned to the sport in 2008, which is roughly when he began to take interest in extreme metal. He appeared on Winds of Plague’s “The Warrior Code,” and even performed with the band at a show. He was also the inspiration behind The Red Chord’s “Floating Through the Vein.” And at Guitar World‘s first-ever Rock & Roll Roast, which was for Zakk Wylde, the wrestler roasted the Black Label Society frontman.
Also, in 2011, around the same time he appeared on the Winds of Plague album, Ultimate Warrior made an announcement for for a Sumerian Records web series, “The Warrior Show,” asking bands to join the Warrior Nation. In the series, which resembled a reality show, The Ultimate Warrior served as more or less a boot camp instructor for bands. The first episode starred Asking Alexandria, while a second episode with I See Stars was released just last year.
Here’s “The Warrior Code”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/H2V0fsu_gwc[/youtube]
and a live version of “Floating Through the Vein”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/QArWup7kC6s[/youtube]
Both episodes of The Warrior Show can be seen below:
Asking Alexandria:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/F4LajSyRojE[/youtube]
I See Stars:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/0z2BFoACzxo[/youtube]
And here’s the roast of Wylde:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/369bw0YT0Bw[/youtube]
