Initially, as I was writing this review, word filtered out that Ultimate Warrior had passed away. A favorite of mine in high school, I stepped away from the piece for a bit to decide how to proceed. Do I make it a tribute, or do I just review the collection as I normally would? I decided to go ahead and do a normal review. After all, this is Ultimate Warrior doing what he love to do. May he rest in peace. He will be missed.

Love-him-or-hate-him, Warrior seemed to come out of nowhere, quickly rising through the ranks, fearlessly crossing paths with some of wrestling’s biggest names, including Andre the Giant, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Hulk Hogan. Somewhat crazy inside the ring, and a lightning rod outside of it, he always kept things interesting. Whatever you thought of his wrestling skills, it would be difficult to question his dedication. Born James Brian Hellwig, in 1993, he legally changed his name to the mononym Warrior.

Warrior is on hand to add his remarks, as the documentary covers his start at Mid-South Wrestling as part of a tag team with Steve Borden (who would go on to become “Sting”) known as “The Blade Runners.” Apparently, he and Borden didn’t get along, but Warrior would move to World Class Championship Wrestling, taking the name “Dingo Warrior.” It wasn’t long before he made the jump to the WWE where adopted the name “Ultimate Warrior” and developed what became his trademark style. From there, we witness his rise to stardom, and his earning the first of many belts. The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Championship shows just what a dynamic force Warrior was going to be in the WWE. We see his rivalries with other wrestlers, his absence from and return to the WWE, his transition to the WCW, and Hall-of-Fame acceptance.

If you’re looking for much in the way of criticism regarding Warrior, look elsewhere. This is a match heavy package that gives the wrestling fan a good look at many of his best matches, his tremendous showmanship, and gives Warrior himself, a chance to reflect on a career that was interesting and influential.

The following matches and moments are included in Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection:

Disc One:

  • Career Match: Blade Runners vs. Perry Jackson & Shawn O’Reilly. UWF — April 11, 1986.
  • Career Match: Dingo Warrior vs. Chris Adams. World Class Championship Wrestling — August 8, 1986.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Barry Horowitz. Challenge — November 7, 1987.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Steve Lombardi. Superstars — November 14, 1987.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “King” Harley Race. Boston Garden — March 5, 1988.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Los Angeles Sports Arena — July 15, 1988.
  • SummerSlam Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Honky Tonk Man. SummerSlam — August 29, 1988.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match : Ultimate Warrior vs. Honky Tonk Man. Philadelphia Spectrum — December 17, 1988.
  • Title vs. Title: Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Boston Garden — February 11, 1989.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude. SummerSlam — August 28, 1989.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Bob Bradley. Prime Time Wrestling — September 18, 1989.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Brian Costello. Prime Time Wrestling — December 25, 1989.
  • Ultimate Warrior Confronts Andre the Giant: Brother Love Show. Superstars — July 29, 1989.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant. Madison Square Garden — October 28, 1989.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant. Saturday Night’s Main Event — November 25, 1989.
  • Ultimate Warrior Promo: “Crash the Plane.” Challenge — March 10, 1990.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Mr. Perfect. Madison Square Garden — March 19, 1990.
  • Title vs. Title: Intercontinental/WWE Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan. WrestleMania VI — April 1, 1990.
  • WWE Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. Tokyo Dome — April 13, 1990.
  • WWE Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Saturday Night’s Main Event — July 28, 1990.
  • WWE Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Ted DiBiase. The Main Event — November 23, 1990.
  • WWE Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter. Huntsville, AL — January 7, 1991.

Disc Two:

  • Steel Cage Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage. Madison Square Garden — January 21, 1991.
  • Career Moment: Ultimate Warrior Ends Brother Love’s Career. Superstars — March 2, 1991.
  • Retirement Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. “Macho King” Randy Savage. WrestleMania VII — March 24, 1991.
  • Career Moment: Ultimate Warrior on Paul Bearer’s Funeral Parlor. Superstars — April 13, 1991.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Undertaker. Maple Leaf Gardens — June 2, 1991.
  • Career Moment: Gene Okerlund Interviews Ultimate Warrior and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Superstars — July 25, 1992.
  • Career Moment: “Riding on the Edge of a Lightning Bolt.” Superstars — November 14, 1992.
  • WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior & “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase & I.R.S. Saturday Night’s Main Event — November 14, 1992.
  • Career Moment: “Faster Than a Cheetah.” RAW — March 11, 1996.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. WrestleMania XII — March 31, 1996.
  • Career Moment: Ultimate Warrior Returns — RAW — April 8, 1996.
  • Career Moment: Mr. McMahon Interviews Jerry “The King” Lawler and Ultimate Warrior. RAW — June 10, 1996.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler. King of the Ring — June 23, 1996.
  • Career Moment: Ultimate Warrior Interrupts “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan. Nitro — August 17, 1998.
  • Ultimate Warrior Promo: From RAW — October 26, 1998.

Presented in both the 1.78:1 and 1.33:1 aspect ratios, WWE’s 1080i transfer is quite impressive. Much of the 1.78:1 material is a sit down interview with Warrior. The detail in those clips fairly revealing, and colors appear accurate. Flesh tones do look a bit pink occasionally. Appropriately, the matches are shown in 1.33:1 retaining their original look. The image looks like what you would expect SD material from the late 1980’s and 1990’s to look like. It lacks the true sharpness and vivid color of newer releases, but it’s solid, given the source material.

Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection features a basic Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. While not overly dynamic, it’s unexpectedly well intergraded. Entrance music, sounds of the match and crowd noise are clear. Musical delivery throughout is solid, as are various in-match sound effects and ringside commentary. Warrior interview clips are clear and understandable.

No subtitles are included.

The following extras are available and labeled as “Blu-ray Exclusives”

  • Career Match: Dingo Warrior vs. Matt Borne. World Class Championship Wrestling — October 24, 1986.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior & The British Bulldogs vs. Demolition & Mr. Fuji. Maple Leaf Gardens — July 24, 1988.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Dino Bravo. The Main Event — February 23, 1990.
  • Career Moment: WrestleMania 6 Contract Signing. The Ultimate Challenge — March 25, 1990.
  • Career Moment: WrestleMania 7 Contract Signing. Road to WrestleMania 7 — March 17, 1991.
  • Career Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter. Tokyo Dome — March 30, 1991.
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Goldust. In Your House — April 28, 1996.