Wrestlers share mixed memories of Ultimate Warrior's impact

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The Ultimate Warrior was all smiles at a SummerSlam press conference in 1992. | (Photo: WWE) The Ultimate Warrior made a lot of enemies during his time as a wrestler, but not everyone who worked with him had a bad experience. In a 2001 interview with Slam Wrestling, Kamala opened up about his 1992 return to WWE. Despite working for the industry’s biggest promotion, he said he still had to split rental cars and share hotel rooms with other performers to save money. Aware of his financial situation, Kamala said Warrior offered to help: “He said, ‘Kamala, I know you aren’t making much money. I just don’t see how you can do it. Anytime we’re booked against each other and we’re on the same flight, just hop in the limousine with me. Hell, I don’t have to pay for it, the [WWE’s] paying for it. Just jump in with me.’ I take my hat off to him.” In a shoot interview with Ring of Honor years later, Kamala claimed he was making as little as $50 per match during his WWE run. Warrior’s consideration outside the ring stands in contrast with critics like Bobby Heenan, who told RF Video in 2002 that Warrior “had no respect for wrestlers.” Heenan said he didn’t like working with the future Hall of Famer, alleging Warrior “waffled” him with a clothesline after telling him not to because he had a bad neck. But Sherri Martel, who took several press slams from Warrior during his feud with Randy Savage, said he was easy to work with, and that he took care of her as best he could. “He never hurt me. He was never stiff with me,” Martel told RF Video in 2004. “He made things very comfortable for me to work.” While Warrior’s in-ring work continues to draw criticism, former WWE star Nailz argued that his gimmick wasn’t that of a traditional wrestler. “Ultimate Warrior’s character wasn’t a guy coming out there giving arm drags and hip tosses,” Nailz told Highspots in 2023. “He wasn’t there to do the 20-minute, 40-minute standard match that people are used to seeing.” Nailz said he got along with the former WWE Champion, describing him as a nice guy who seemed to be under pressure as a result of being thrust into a top spot. On why other wrestlers may have resented him, he believes it was envy. “A lot of the guys were basically jealous of him getting first-class tickets or limousines or whatever carte blanche he got that other guys were there and thought they should get the same treatment, and they didn’t,” said Nailz.