Looking Back At Ultimate Warrior’s Failed WWE Return In 1996

At that point, several people in the industry had bad blood with Warrior due to past issues left unresolved. Former WWE official Earl Hebner had gone on the record in September 2022, saying that he, “liked [Warrior], but he didn’t care about nobody or nothing.” Fellow Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts also had well-documented issues with Warrior that nearly led them to a physical confrontation at the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. “… He looked at me [at the ceremony] and he goes, ‘Jake, please let me apologize to you,'” Roberts recalled. “He was so humble. So sincere. My mouth just fell open. Is this the same damn guy? He said, ‘I know I screwed you out of millions. I’m so sorry.’ Then he turned around and made himself available for my kids and my grandchildren, and I had to let it go.”

But in 1996, Warrior’s bridges were aflame, leaving Vince McMahon with little tolerance for his mistakes. Warrior became unreliable shortly after his comeback, with Bruce Prichard recalling that he “wasn’t showing up, wasn’t answering phone calls” when the company was beginning to put him in a top spot once more. Ahmed Johnson, Shawn Michaels, and Warrior vs. Vader, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog was scheduled for In Your House 9: International Incident, but it would never take place as intended as Sycho Sid took Warrior’s place. Warrior would no-show once more, blaming it on the death of his estranged father, but McMahon ultimately decided to still release him.