From the Bowery: Warrior: Always Believe (DVD: Disc Two)

From the Bowery: Warrior: Always Believe (DVD: Disc Two)

The Dingo Warrior (w/ Gary Hart) vs. Perry Jackson and Chico Cabello
WCCW: July 25, 1986

-Warrior as a heel is interesting to see. Both jobbers have to be pinned/submitted for Warrior to win the match. Jackson gets sent to the floor in short order and Chico gets slammed. A clothesline and powerslam ends his night at 58 seconds. Jackson heads back in and he doesn’t last much longer as he gets kicked in the chest and dropped with a Gorilla Press. A camel clutch ends things at 2:05.

Winner: The Dingo Warrior via submission at 2:05
-The first of many squashes on this set. SQUASH

The Dingo Warrior vs. Big Bear Collie
WCCW: June 2, 1987

-Slowly starting to get more Ultimate Warrior like as he is now a face. Warrior is the Texas Heavyweight Champion at this point and gets the Von Erich treatment with the squealing teenage girls. Warrior controls with a headlock and then hits an ugly dropkick. Warrior gets a slam for two and then goes to work on the arm. Collie misses a clothesline and Warrior gets a crossbody for two. He fires some chops in the corner, but misses a blind charge. Collie goes to the eyes and works Dingo over in the corner. Warrior regains the advantage and gets an elbow for a two count. A clothesline follows and then a bear hug gets the submission at 3:38.

Winner: The Dingo Warrior via submission at 3:38
-Working out the kinks in the character. SQUASH

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Frenchie Martin
WWF: Madison Square Garden: Nov 24, 1987

-Frenchie loses a lockup and decides it would be best to stall. A second lockup and Frenchie loses again so he stalls some more. He gets caught with a hiptoss from Warrior and stalls some more. Bockwinkel on commentary which is kind of weird and he makes the mistake of calling Warrior, “The Road Warrior.” Oops! Back inside the ring, Frenchie finally gets in a few weak shots and then gets slammed for his weak offense. The slam looked rough as Martin landed on his shoulder. More stalling on the floor as Martin has seemingly hurt his shoulder. Back inside the ring Warrior hits a clothesline and a second one gets the pin at 4:39.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 4:39
-Curious if Frenchie did mess up his shoulder. SQUASH

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Brian Costello
WWF Wrestling Challenge: Nov 29, 1987

-Warrior kills the jobber in the corner and then hits a back elbow. A delayed suplex follows and next a clothesline nearly takes Brian’s head off. The Gorilla Press finishes at 1:54.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 1:54
-I enjoyed Heenan and Monsoon on commentary. SQUASH

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Iron Mike Sharpe
WWF: Philadelphia, PA: Dec 5, 1987

-Hell Yeah! I miss the days of seeing Iron Mike on a weekly basis. I also miss the days of the ref checking each guy for a foreign object before the match. Sharpe stalls and does old heel tactic of pointing to his head to show how smart he is. Iron Mike for President! Warrior controls with slams and clotheslines before sending Sharpe to the floor. He gets back in the ring and offers Warrior a test of strength and I suspect shades of Mania VI this won’t be. Sharpe gets in a cheap shot to control, but Warrior powers to his feet and backs Mike into a corner. Warrior misses a blind charge though and Sharpe puts his forearm protector to good use. Iron Mike gets more offense than you would expect before Warrior makes comeback. The Gorilla Press finishes at 6:35.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 6:35
-Iron Mike put up a fight at least. 1/2*

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Conquistador #1
WWF Wrestling Challenge: May 8, 1988

-Warrior gets a hiptoss and then sends Conquistador to the floor with a clothesline. He pounds away on the masked man (not the Grantland one) and tosses him into the air to land on his face. Effective! A powerslam next and Warrior pulls up from the cover, which usually costs people, but I don’t think will be an issue here. The Gorilla Press and Splash finish at 2:17.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 2:17
-First appearance of the Gorilla Press/Splash combo as Warrior is starting to piece things together. SQUASH

WWF Intercontinental Title: The Ultimate Warrior (c) vs. The Honky Tonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart)
Boston, MA: Oct 10, 1988

-Warrior crushed Honky for the IC Title at SummerSlam and he has been chasing ever since. Warrior jumps Honky before the bell and sends him retreating to the floor. He follows and takes out both Hart and Honky and then puts Honky back in the ring. He looks to end with the splash, but Hart runs interference to save. Warrior no sells a cheap shot from HTM and press slams him from the floor back into the ring. A charge in the corner misses which happens a lot to the Warrior in the matches on this DVD. HTM uses the megaphone to his advantage as Hart distracts ref. Cheat 2 Win! Warrior rallies back to his feet, and backdrops out of Shake, Rattle, and Roll. Warrior fires back with right hands and a delivers a flying shoulder block. A running clothesline leaves Honky down and Jimmy Hart runs in for the DQ at 3:55. After the match HTM tosses powder in Warrior’s eyes and breaks the guitar over his back. That only pisses Warrior off so Hart and Honky head for the hills. Warrior destroys the guitar before leaving the ring.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via DQ at 3:55
-Not much here. 1/2*

WWF Intercontinental Title: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Bobby Heenan) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Meadowlands Arena: May 8,1989

-A rare appearance by Tony Schiavone on commentary for this one. Warrior flies to the ring and jumps Rude as he is just pissed by what happened at Mania V. Warrior sends Rude to the floor and beats the hell out of him around the entire ring. Back inside the Warrior connects with a double axe handle off the top and goes to a bear hug. Rude rakes the eyes to break and Warrior returns in kind. He pounds away in the corner and sends Rude back and forth into the buckles. The ass kicking continues as Rude gets hooked in the Tree of Woe. Warrior abuses him there, but misses a splash in the opposite corner. Rude heads up top and connects with a double axe of his own. Warrior kicks out of a cover with relative ease, so Rude heads up again, but gets caught and slammed to the mat. A splash from the Warrior catches nothing but knees though. Now Rude gets a chance to pound away and gets Warrior backed into a corner. He tries to whip him out, but Warrior blocks and gets a slam. He tries to head back up, but Rude shoves him off and crotches him to break. Rude stalks Warrior from behind and catches him with a swank piledriver for two. Rude continues the work on the neck with a reverse chin lock and good strategy there as he is setting up for the Rude Awakening. Warrior fights to his feet and breaks, but gets caught with a running knee to the abs. Back to the neck we go and the fans rally Warrior, but Rude cuts him off by jumping on his back. Rude goes back to the neck as Heenan screams for the time keeper to ring the damn bell, but this isn’t Montreal and he isn’t Vince McMahon so things continue with Warrior firing back up. He drops Rude with a boat load of clotheslines and hits a piledriver of his own. Heenan pulls Rude out of the ring and the fight continues to the back. Warrior chases Heenan back to the ring as this match is apparently over. Rude comes out to save his manager and ends up eating a shoulderblock. Fink lets us know that Warrior is your winner due to count out at 9:58.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via count out at 9:58
-Best match so far though obviously not as good as what they did on PPV. Still a fun match showing that Warrior could go in the ring as long as had someone to work with him. These two had some great chemistry and showed here even if just a cliff notes version of what they could do. **1/2

Ultimate Warrior and King Duggan vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude (w/ Bobby Heenan) and Andre The Giant
Madison, WI: June 6, 1989

-Duggan and Rude start us off, but first Duggan gets taught how to shake the ropes by Warrior. Duggan then teaches Warrior how yell “Hooo” and give the thums up sign. Finally we get to wrestling or in this case fighting as Duggan just punches away. Andre comes in and does his spot where he gets tied in the ropes. Fun spot as Warrior and Duggan pick up Rude and use him as a battering ram to abuse Andre. Nice! Warrior gets the tag and he goes to work on Rude in the corner. He rams his head into the buckle 10 times to give the folks of Madison a chance to flex their counting skills. The tag is made to Duggan and he attacks the shoulder of Rude, but makes the mistake of getting close to Andre and gets a headbutt for his troubles. Rude is able to make the tag and Andre has fun tossing Duggan around the ring. Andre chokes in the corner and delivers a heavy right hand. He engulfs Duggan with a splash in the corner and removes the padding from the corner buckle. A reverse choke now and Rude makes the tag as we get some quality heel double teaming. Rude goes to a chin lock as Duggan continues to be your future WCW US Champion in peril. Rude gets stupid though and hits Duggan in the head which does nothing. The comeback is cut off though and Andre makes the tag. Duggan tries to fire back on him, but gets caught in a bear hug. Andre lets him go and then mocks Duggan “hooo” as he is seemingly having the time of his life out there. Andre even does Rude’s hip swivel in a hilarious spot. Andre is feeling it here and is giving the fans quite a show. Duggan rakes the eyes to break another bear hug and Andre ends up getting rammed into the exposed steel. The hot tag is made to Warrior and he puts Andre in a bear hug which seems kind of silly, but Andre sells it rather well before breaking with a head butt. The tag is made to Rude and now Warrior is kind of screwed as he gets choked in the corner. Rude goes to work now but swivels his hips a bit too much and eats an atomic drop. Andre comes back in and chokes Warrior in the corner which distracts the ref and that gives Duggan a chance to blast Rude with the 2×4. Warrior then hits the splash to get the win for his team at 10:23.

Winners: King Duggan and The Ulimate Warrior via Warrior pin on Rude at 10:23
-Fun match with Andre having a ball out there even if he wasn’t in the best shape. They played the tag formula well and the crowd goes home happy. ***

The Ultimate Warrior vs. John Wess
Wrestling Challenge: Sept 24, 1989

-Warrior had regained the IC strap from Rude a month earlier at SummerSlam and was back to crushing jobbers. Fun stuff here as Warrior keeps the belt on during the match as he destroys the poor geek. He sends him to the floor and talks shit to Andre before taking things back inside the ring. We get a picture box interview from Andre as he promises to take the title back for the Heenan Family. The slaughter continues as Weiss eats a few right hands and then a clothesline takes his head off. Warrior finishes with the Gorilla Press and the splash (which should probably be a DQ since he had the belt on still) at 2:43.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 2:43
-Wess got hosed as Warrior used the title as a weapon in plain view of the ref. SQUASH

WWF Intercontinental Title: The Ultimate Warrior © vs. Andre The Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan)
Maple Leaf Wrestling: Oct 29, 1989

-Warrior is a little slow to start as he is cautious as one would expect with Andre. The Giant tells him to bring it and Warrior gets caught trying a clothesline. Andre chokes away in the corner and weird seeing someone rag doll Warrior around the ring. The choking continues as no way in hell the ref is going to tell Andre what to do. Warrior finally escapes and starts throwing blows, but Andre catches him once again. Some more choking in the corner, and Warrior is getting mauled. They fire chops at each other and Andre no sells them. Warrior then opts to choke in the corner and drops Andre with a clothesline. Warrior charges again and Andre catches him with a big boot while on his back. I don’t know if that was sad or awesome as Andre looked like a turtle on his back, but yet he drilled Warrior with that one. Andre has a hard time getting to his feet and can’t even get there as Warrior bum rushes him. They fight on the mat and now it is getting sad seeing Andre stumble to get back to his feet. Andre locks in a nerve hold and then breaks to get some advice from Heenan. Warrior comes back and gets a slam on Andre and he had to fight to get that one. He tries the splash, but Andre just raises a fist to blast Warrior between the eyes. The slam wasn’t as majestic as Hogan’s, but probably was more physically impressive. Andre gets a bear hug from his knees as he apparently doesn’t want to get to his feet. The hold goes on for far too long much like the match as a whole at this point. Something really needs done here as this is beyond Shawn in the anklelock at Mania 21 levels here. Warrior finally breaks and sends Andre to the floor with a clothesline. Andre gets back in the ring and then uses the ref as a shield to eat a clothesline. Warrior checks on the ref and gets caught with a head butt. Andre goes for the cover, but the ref calls for the bell. Heenan and Andre celebrate with the title, but it is announced Warrior retains via DQ.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via DQ at 10:48
-That was way too long and just pretty horrible on all fronts. Andre was sadly way past being anything in the ring and Warrior definitely wasn’t the right opponent. DUD

The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Brooklyn Brawler
Wrestling Challenge: March 11, 1990

-Warrior mows down the Brawler and hits the Gorilla Press and splash for the win at 15 seconds.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 15 seconds
-Yep! SQUASH

WWF Title: The Ultimate Warrior (c) vs. Haku (w/ Bobby Heenan)
WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event: April 28, 1990

-This is Warrior’s first televised title defense and they include his pre-match promo with Okerlund. Haku jumps before the bell, but Warrior catches him with a backdrop and sends him to the floor with a clothesline. Warrior gives chase on the floor and then hits a shoulder block back in the ring. He goes to work on the arm and then fires Haku over the top to the floor. McMahon is seemingly alone on commentary though pretty obvious Jesse Ventura has had his commentary removed. The crowd is pretty jacked to see Warrior, but can’t see the crowd as the lights are so dark only first few rows can be seen. That can’t be a good sign for Warrior’s title run. Haku finally gains an edge and goes to work with chops and kicks in the corner. A nice backbreaker gets a two count, and Heenan is pissed at the ref. Haku connects with a belly to back suplex and that also get a two count. Warrior tries to fight back, but gets slammed and a splash gets a two count. Warrior is pissed now it seems and just runs through Haku with clotheslines and then a shoulder. The splash finishes quickly at 4:49.

Winner and Still WWF Champion: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 4:49
-Haku threw a couple nice suplexes. *

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt Slaughter (w/ Mustafa and Adnan)
WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event: April 27, 1991

-Slaughter is coming off losing the WWF Title to Hogan at Mania and Warrior just retired Savage at the same show. Speaking of Savage he is on commentary here with McMahon. This match is also Warrior’s chance at revenge for losing the title to Slaughter at the Rumble earlier in the year. Slaughter, like an idiot, tries to start the mat off the top rope and gets caught with a slam. Warrior starts fast with a backdrop an then sends Slaughter to the floor. They brawl down there for a bit and then Warrior sends him back inside the ring. Sarge goes to the eyes to stop the momentum and Warrior bails to the floor. Mustafa gets in a cheap shot and then Slaughter sends him into the post. Savage is enjoying every bit of this as he talks about how Warrior ended his career. Slaughter goes to work on the back and then spits on Warrior for some cheap, though effective heat. Warrior gets caught in a bear hug which I am getting kind of sick of seeing on this DVD set. Warrior breaks, but Slaughter goes right back to work on the back and that means another bear hug. As the hold continues Paul Bearer wheels down Warrior’s custom casket to play some mind games. Warrior breaks the hold, but is distracted by the casket and gets caught with a clothesline. We take a break and as we come back Warrior gets tossed back into the ring. Warrior starts to rally and goes crazy with clotheslines. He hits a shoulder block as Bearer opens the casket to show Taker has been hiding inside. A heel beat down starts as the ref calls for the bell. Hogan rushes down to make the save and Taker no sells a belt shot to the head. Everyone bails as they don’t want to fuck with Taker at this point. Hogan chases Slaughter and his stooges to the back. Warrior hits Taker with a few clotheslines, but no effect. A shoulder sends Taker to the floor, but he lands on his feet as the crowd has no clue what to make of Taker. Guys in suits rush out to separate the two guys and we are out.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via DQ at 7:20 (shown)
-Match was nothing as was just there to advance some angles. *1/4

The Ultimate Warrior vs. “The Model” Rick Martel
WWF Wrestling Challenge: April 28, 1991

-Model stalls to start and then gets overpowered on a lock-up. A hiptoss follows and then a couple slams before a clothesline sends Martel to the floor. They fight on the apron as we get Bearer and Taker doing an old school picture in picture interview. Martel continues to get mauled with a backdrop, but finally shows life as he uses leverage to send Warrior to the floor. They fight on the floor and Martel shows some power as he rams Warrior into the post. Martel breaks the refs count as we take a break and then come back with Martel still in control in the ring. Warrior fires back and throws some chops in the corner. He misses a blind charge and eats a clothesline as Martel is getting a lot more offense than one would think. He hooks in the Boston Crab, but Warrior powers out of the hold and sends Martel into the corner. Warrior makes the comeback and a flying shoulder leads to the splash that gets the in at 6:26 (shown).

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 6:26
-Martel was game and got in some offense which was unexpected, but basically followed same formula as other more competitive Warrior non PPV matches. *1/2

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Smash (w/ Mr Fuji)
WWF Superstars: May 18, 1991

-Tentative start by both men before Warrior gets a shove in the corner and then some right hands. Warrior kicks away in the corner, but a rake to the eyes stops that noise. Smash pounds away in the corner, but gets caught with a boot in the corner. Smash gets run face first into the mat, but is able to regain control. He hammers away in fine fashion as this is nothing more than a fist fight. Fuji makes sure to get a cheap shot in with the cane which is always appreciated. Smash gives chase on the floor and to the shock on no one, throws more right hands. Back inside the ring Warrior gets to the ropes and starts firing up and Smash is screwed. Warrior runs through him with several clotheslines and then the flying shoulder block into the splash finishes at 5:01.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 5:01
-So much punching for a 5 minute extended squash. 1/2*

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Skinner
Superstars: May 2, 1992

-This is right after Warrior made his return at Mania VIII where the rumor was it was a different guy playing the part. Skinner spits his chew in Warrior’s face before the match and that probably wasn’t the smartest thing. Warrior dominates and sends Skinner to the floor through the ropes and hits a clothesline on the floor. Back inside the ring and a clothesline, shoulder tackle, and splash finish us quickly at 1:39. Warrior dumps him to the floor following the match.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 1:39
-Yep! SQUASH

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Papa Shango
Lexington, KY: May 19, 1992

-I loved the Papa Shango character for some reason which is weird considering I was a 10 year old kid at the time and thus should have been afraid of the guy. Warrior hits the ring and sends Shango the floor with a clothesline. Back inside Warrior hits a running tackle and then a corner clothesline. A slam is next and the splash looks to finish, but Shango gets the knees up. He pounds away in the corner as the crowd tries to rally the Warrior. A splash in the corner by Shango keeps him in control and he locks in a nerve hold. That goes on for a bit before Warrior rallies and breaks the hold. Shango connects with a slam, and then heads to the middle rope, but an elbow misses. Warrior hulks-up and delivers a trio of clotheslines. The flying shoulder tackle and splash finish at 5:28.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 5:28
-More of the same. 1/2*

The Ultimate Warrior and “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. The Nasty Boys (w/ Jimmy Hart)
WWF SummerSlam Spectacular: Aug 23, 1992

-This was to build to SummerSlam and featured opponents in the WWF Title match Savage and Warrior on the same team. This also continues the angle of what corner will Perfect be in at SummerSlam as Heenan and McMahon speculate he may tip his hand here. Perfect doesn’t come out with either man so the mind games continue. Warrior and Savage fight over who will start the match so the ref has to choose for them. Warrior starts with Saggs and a flying tackle gets us going. Knobbs rushes in and he gets run down as well. Warrior ends up hitting both guys with a double DDT and rubs it in the face of Savage. He tags in Savage to basically show what he can do. Savage eats a cheap shot, but fires back and takes out both Nasty Boys with slams and double axe handles off the top rope. He then makes an aggressive tag to Warrior as they are trying to one-up each other. Warrior dominates again and then as Savage turns his back on Warrior, Knobbs sends Warrior into Savage. That pisses off Savage as he thinks Warrior hit him and that gives the Nasties their first advantage. Knobbs and Saggs hit a double elbow and then work over Warrior in the corner. Saggs gets a two count as Savage is just content to stay on the apron apparently. I wouldn’t have pegged Warrior for the face in peril role, but yet here we are. Warrior finally ducks a double clothesline and hits each man with one of his own. Another one sends both of them to the floor as we take a break. We return with Warrior making a tag to Savage and he drags Knobbs back into the ring. He punches away in the corner and then the ref gets crushed in the chaos. Savage gets blasted with a motorcycle helmer while Flair and Perfect hit the ringside area. The Nasty Boys work over Savage with a chair, while Perfect and Flair beat the piss out of Warrior. Perfect and Flair leave, but Warrior gives chase leaving Savage by himself against the Nasty Boys. The ref gets back to his feet and Savage gets counted out at 9:20 (shown). Savage gets his revenge by blasting both men with the helmet and we are out.

Winners: The Nasty Boys via count-out at 9:20 (shown)
-Again more SummerSlam hype than a match, but it was amusing watching Savage and Warrior abuse The Nasty Boys. Nice touch with Perfect and Flair only targeting Warrior to make it seem like Perfect was going to end up in Savage’s corner. **

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Isaac Yankem
RAW: April 29, 1996

-Warrior makes his entrance twice as he is so excited he runs around the ring, heads to the back, and then comes out again. Cute! Lawler does commentary while staying in Yankem’s corner which is fun. Warrior controls early with clotheslines and sends Isaac to the floor as we take an early break. Back to the match and more clotheslines. A shoulder tackle next and Warrior finishes with the splash at 1:46.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via pin at 1:46 (shown)
-Why did that match need a commercial break? SQUASH

The Ultimate Warrior vs. Owen Hart
RAW: July 8, 1996

-McMahon and Lawler already discussing whether this will be the last time we see Warrior in the WWF. They mention Warrior is being suspended by Monsoon for failure to appear at house shows and will remain suspended until he can post an appearance bond. Obviously with this being taped so far in advance Warrior had already been turfed from the company again, but WWF still had to show this episode of RAW. This is also the night after Hogan turned heel and formed the n.W.o over in WCW, so RAW was probably screwed in the ratings. The match is ignored as they cut to Ahmed Johnson and Shawn Michaels to find out who their 3rd partner will be at the PPV to replace Warrior. See they have a mystery about a 3rd man as well. Back to the match as Owen bumps all over the place in impressive fashion. Warrior hits a sidewalk slam for two, but gets caught with a spinwheel kick. Warrior no sells, but Owen eventually gets the advantage as we take a break. We come back with Owen still in control as he pounds away. Owen heads up top and hits a missile dropkick, but Warrior kicks out with ease. The sharpshooter is tried, but Warrior escapes and that brings the Bulldog down to the ring. Warrior runs over Owen with a flying shoulder and that brings in Bulldog for the DQ at 8:30 (shown). Vader hits the ring next and Warrior gets the hell beat out of him by Camp Cornette including taking 2 Vader Bombs.

Winner: The Ultimate Warrior via DQ at 8:30
-Owen did a hell of job getting a decent match out of Warrior. **1/4

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Nothing great as far as match selection, but Warriors better matches and career defining ones are on other DVD sets. Check out the Tag Match with Andre though and enjoy seeing Andre having fun in the ring in the later stages of his career. Next up a Disc of nothing but Warrior interviews!