I think if you listen to what Warrior and Triple H have stated on the reason why now all of a sudden the feuds are forgotten and the character's legacy finally realized makes sense.
both stated that people grow and the business grew.
all the backstage bullshit doesn't change the fact that the UW character was a legend and should be recognized as such. more popular than Hogan for a good year and a bit. not many people can say that. like it or not he connected with the fans. ask 100 people on the street who the UW is and all will know. Ask the same 100 who John Cena is and most will say 'who?" lol
I beg to differ. Cena's been the face of WWE for close to 10 years. He's been everywhere (kids' shows, movies, awards, Make-A-Wish, cereal boxes, Wal-Mart aisles, K-Mart aisles, etc.). Warrior had all of a year and a half as top dog, during his heyday (nearly 25 years ago). I've often said his downward spiral started the instant Hebner's hand hit three in that title match against Slaughter ('91 Royal Rumble). From that point forward, the only time he was in the main event is when he was teamed with Hogan.
Even as champion, the Ultimate Warrior had to share the spotlight with Hogan. WWE invented the "double main event" deal, to accomadate both of them. After Hogan got "injured" (to film Suburban Commando), the build-up was for his comeback.
I think UW gets a lot of flack from people on the net who weren't even alive when he was big. that rude carried him all the time. etc. bullshit. it takes TWO to have a good match. that pisses me off LOL.
True! But he got a lot of flack form people who were alive (and worked with him, during his heyday. As for his feud with Ravishing Rick, you have to admit Warrior botched multiple spots with Rude, particularly in that IC title match at WrestleMania 5. To me, his best work was with "Macho King" Randy Savage, leading up to that "Career Ending Match" at WrestleMania 7.
Of course, the WWE guys praise Savage more than Warrior for that one. Hogan called Savage a "detail freak" and that "Randy made it easy on everybody".
its as bad as having Jim Ross comment on Warrior's time in the WWE when he had nothing to do with the WWE in 1988-90 lol
That's not unusual. I've only been at my job in the Midwest for a year. Yet, when I call companies that have worked with my employer 5+ years ago, I usually said "WE'VE done work with you on..." this project or that project.
Ross was there for Warrior's 2nd and 3rd run, which unfortunately didn't end so well.