Bruce Prichard did not mince words when discussing the return of The Ultimate Warrior to WWE in 1996. Reflecting on the negotiations and his personal history with the controversial star, Prichard offered his take on Warrior’s attitude and the impact his contract had on the company’s finances at the time.
“I first met Jim Hellwig when he was three months in the business in Mid-South, and from the very first interaction with him, he was a first-class a**hole,” Prichard stated on the latest episode of Something to Wrestle With. “He was not a good person. He was difficult to work with. Thought he knew it all, and he was just a real jerk… I did not like the human being.”
Despite Prichard’s reservations, Vince McMahon was keen on bringing Warrior back into the fold. Prichard explained McMahon’s philosophy when dealing with difficult talent. “Vince just chooses to view the good in people. And if he looks at something… gave Jim Hellwig the benefit of the doubt,” he said. Prichard acknowledged the undeniable appeal of the character, noting, “The character of the Ultimate Warrior… Man had charisma… No one can deny the fact that this guy could not command an audience.”
The financial aspect of Warrior’s return created significant headaches for Prichard, who was managing the talent budget at the time. He recalled that Warrior’s demands were substantial and disruptive to the financial planning for the roster. “Warrior was the last one to be done, because I remember his kick the f**k out of the budget,” Prichard revealed. “So it wasn’t pretty for me, having to manage it, and just go, ‘What the hell?'”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. Subscribe to Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard on YouTube and all podcast platforms.
