One of the most hateful wrestling DVD that ever came out. It was indeed pretty awful, but it was an interesting well-made controversy DVD. It wouldn't have been made, if only Ultimate Warrior didn't burn some bridges and got the company so angry. WWE in 2005, was indeed Ruthless Aggression. It was a time where WWE was looking to recapture the spirit of Attitude Era with new talents. Arena attendance was in all-time lows, and WWE hope to recapture some of the magic, through trying to rehire some big WWE alumni. One star, they hope to bring back was the Ultimate Warrior AKA Jim Hellwig, whom work for the company in the late 1980s/ early 1990s. The Ultimate Warrior was offered to work on a retrospective DVD about his career. Sadly, he was unwilling to take part of it, causing the direction of the documentary to go from well balance accurate bio-pic to one-sided negative accusations and shaming demonize piece. The movie break down the Warrior character from his rise, to his career demise in WWE. The DVD featured clips of Warrior most notable feuds and matches along with commentary from WWE stars past and present, which was mostly spoke about Ultimate Warrior in an unflattering matter. Some of the claims are that most of Ultimate Warrior's rise in popular was due to other people's work. I have to agree that he was indeed a rip-off of the Road Warriors at times, but I have to say, Hellwig did add a lot to the persona, turning the post-apocalypse Dingo Warrior into a Sci-Fiction superhero, Ultimate Warrior. It's OK to give him, some credit. The film stated out, that he never appreciated anything anyone ever did for him and had no respect for the wrestling business. The film used the fact that Hellwig sued the company in 1996 for the rights to his name and character, much to the shock and chagrin of the wrestling personalities now on Vince's payroll. It's not like other wrestling alumni like Hulk Hogan, and others didn't fight WWE, over the control of their character name, the degree of creative control over their bookings and how much, they were getting paid. Even Hogan, Vince's golden poster boy, kinda held up an appearance at an event for money. Likewise, other wrestling legends like Ric Flair being interview for the piece, lost a lot of respect for Warrior for trying to promote himself with an image created by the wrestling promotion that made him famous. Did the fan really supposed to forget that Flair brought the NWA world title belt onto WWF television? This is blatant hypocrisy of most everyone involved. I do have to agree with WWE, that the Warrior had some of the most bizarre promos, but it's no different than the other cartoony promos at the time. Half of the time, I couldn't understanding Macho Man Randy Savage, but you don't see a Self-Destruction of Randy Savage DVD out there with the controversy things he pull off. The documentary makes it look like Ultimate Warrior lost his mind after his time in WWE and just disappear into Crazyville; when in truth, he's a pretty well-rounded person with a very public speaking career. He's isn't mentally insane like this documentary, makes him out to be. The last thing, the documentary points out, is that he couldn't wrestle. Indeed, no argument there, but why they would ever include bonus matches of a guy they think sucked, let alone dedicate an entire DVD to him? It doesn't make sense. One thing that the DVD kinda brush off or little mention was the fact that Warrior was on steroids. Not once is the word "steroids" ever uttered in the DVD due to fears of re-sparking modern accusations of steroids use on current wrestlers. It was indeed needed, as it was indeed a valid criticism of Warrior's legacy and one based in fact. This would later, get a bigger mention in 2014's Warrior: The Ultimate Legend documentary. Due to the government's crackdown on steroids in wrestling, Vince McMahon claims that it was Warrior's experimenting with growth hormone which lead to his departure in 1992; Warrior was suspended and in return would skip dates as he took offense to McMahon's actions. The one and only thing that Warrior ever gets credit for on this DVD is his physique, in an odd way. The DVD had a general lot of white-washing by McMahon of WWE history. In the end, this DVD release is so biased and relentlessly negative. It was no surprise that in 2006, Warrior filed a lawsuit against WWE over the depiction of his wrestling career in The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD. The case was late dismissed. Since 2005, WWE turn back into family friendly PG and try to be in a more-positive light. This meant a lot of reconciliation in WWE over the issues with certain ex-employees. People like Bret Hart was reintroduce in the WWE after the Montreal Screw-job of 1997. People thought Bruno Sammartino would never even dare to come back to that square-circle after years upon years of sour relationship with WWE. And people thought Ultimate Warrior could never return to WWE after this movie, The Self-Destruction of Ultimate Warrior. Indeed, money play a role for the return, but the buried the hatchet of the real life feud was indeed genuine. Warrior even got into the 2014 Hall of Fame. Overall: This is a black hate letter that WWE wish they didn't product. While, it didn't make a good documentary. It was indeed still fun to watch and have a good laugh at how pitiful this film is.
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
(2005 Video)
WWE's ultimate blunder was making this DVD. Self-destruction indeed.
4 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers