The Ultimate Warrior returning to WWE for the first time in 18 years to accept induction into the WWE Hall of Fame was a huge deal. WWE itself knew this and decided that they wanted to chronicle his journey back in a documentary that would air exclusively on the new WWE Network. What WWE did not know was that their cameras would be following around Warrior during his last days and the documentary would air posthumously. After obviously re-working the ending and adding in some new interviews the piece that aired was one that I would compare to any television sports documentary including the ESPN 30 for 30 series. It is that good.

The film took a format of shifting back-and-forth between cameras following Warrior around in present day (March/April 2014) and chronicling his life story with interviews with various “talking heads” that included John Cena, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, and essentially making his WWE television debut Sting (without face paint being referred to as Steve “Sting” Borden). The juxtaposing of each part gives viewers deeper understanding as to why his return after all these years was a major moment for the key players in this film.

The film is a story of a complex man that many who spoke of him called “misunderstood”. A man who was willing to walk away from millions of dollars at various points due to his own sense of principles. Whether those principles were misguided or not is left up to the viewer to decide as each side of the argument is represented fairly in my opinion.

The meat of the story is in Warrior and his relationships with WWE head Vince McMahon and arguably the biggest star in the history of wrestling Hulk Hogan. His issues with both men are laid out as clearly as possible throughout the film. These issues all come down to respect. Warrior felt disrespected by Hogan and McMahon and by the 2000’s was not on speaking terms with either.

By 2014, enough time had passed for McMahon and Warrior to do business with each other again. The scenes between Warrior and McMahon are the most touching as you see two old friends burying the hatchet, reminiscing about old times, and planning to make new good times. That is also one of the most heart wrenching parts of the film as you know that Wrestlemania weekend was the last time McMahon would ever see Warrior again. A fact that made the typically gruff McMahon tear up over during the interview conducted with him after Warrior had passed. I won’t spoil it but the gift Warrior presented to McMahon on the night of his Hall of Fame induction and McMahon’s emotional reaction to it needs to be seen.

That same Wrestlemania weekend would also mark Hulk Hogan’s return to WWE after some time as well. That meant that Hogan and Warrior would be in the same place at the same time for the first time in years. Tensions were and high and many were concerned over whether Warrior would even want to speak to Hogan during his time that weekend. Triple H, in his role as a high ranking WWE executive, took it upon himself to ask Hogan not to approach Warrior until after the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Hogan granted that request but did decide to approach Warrior the night after backstage at Wrestlemania. The cameras caught the brief exchange between the two of them where they were able to have a nice chat that hopefully ended a lot of bitterness between the two. Whether the two could have further reconciled and become friends in the future is unfortunately something we will never know.

My first viewing of this film really made a difference to me in my attitude regarding a number of things. I feel that it really drove home the themes of forgiveness and making things right while there is still time. I like to think that anyone, whether they are a wrestling fan or not, could view this and realize that life is too short to hold onto grudges. WWE’s production department deserves award consideration for the care they took to tell such a deep, moving story.

I cannot recommend Warrior: The Ultimate Legend enough. – Chris