With the profoundly sad news of his passing, his spirit has begun its eternal lap too soon.
As a fan, I personally feel astoundingly saddened and yet, my brain plays things out as if it were an episode of RAW before my eyes, where—instead of learning the news from an internet article passed along on Twitter, Wade Barrett enters from behind the curtains atop the ramp that stretches down to a WWE ring. He walks up to the podium, in character, and addresses the crowd.
I’m afraid I have some bad new…”
His words are cut short and a prepared video vignette honoring the Ultimate Warrior begins to play on the Titantron above the ramp.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an episode of RAW, it’s real life.
The best that I can do is read the tweets that come across the screen. The news of his death reached major news outlets and a few prominent NBA writers as well.
Wrestling icon The Ultimate Warrior has died. James Hellwig was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He was 54.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2014
Wow, the WWE reports the Ultimate Warrior died. Made his return to Wrestlemania on Sunday, RAW on Monday, dead on Tuesday. Sad story.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) April 9, 2014
I used to love this guy #RIPUltimateWarrior http://t.co/yCCJniwVzP
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 9, 2014
RIP to The Ultimate Warrior, who was just inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame three days ago. http://t.co/F9tz6BBIVS pic.twitter.com/B1eUBazjyM — Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 9, 2014
My favorite Ultimate Warrior match was against Macho Man Randy Savage in Wrestlemania 7 http://t.co/7aWsCfUvCQ — Lang Greene (@LangGreene) April 9, 2014
The impact of Warrior’s life, and untimely death, even reaches celebrities in other walks of entertainment.
“Um, okay…” — St. Peter, as Mickey Rooney & The Ultimate Warrior approach the Pearly Gates — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 9, 2014
“Master Blaster runs Heaventown.” — Mickey Rooney, climbing atop The Ultimate Warrior’s shoulders in the afterlife — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 9, 2014
Wait how in the world? Ultimate Warrior just passed away? He looked great last night & over weekend. Wonderful guy, completely heartbroken — Ronnie 2K 2K14 (@Ronnie2K) April 9, 2014
Damn…. RIP @ultimatewarrior. I just saw his WWE hall of fame acceptance speech last night. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family — Ryan Seaman (@ryanseaman) April 9, 2014
I saw that the Ultimate Warrior passed away. Very sad. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) April 9, 2014
We send our condolences to the @WWE community for the loss of @UltimateWarrior. He will always be a legend. #RIPUltimateWarrior — UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2014
Above all else, his loss has been most greatly felt in the professional wrestling community.