MR. TITO: WWE Needs to Create an Honorary Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) Award for the WWE Hall of Fame
During 2015, the WWE added a new wing to their Hall of Fame… They created an award that wouldn’t necessarily go to a wrestler or wrestling personality, but anyone who could “exhibits unwavering strength or perseverance, and who live life with courage and compassion”. That’s quite an honorable award to have such qualities that could go to anyone… Oh, I forgot the last part which states “embodies the indomitable spirit of the Ultimate Warrior”.
The Warrior Award was created during 2015 and it was created 1 year after the Ultimate Warrior (formerly named Jim Hellwig who renamed himself to “Warrior” to fight WWE on copyrights).
Many of us remember the ULTIMATE WARRIOR as a childhood favorite wrestler, someone you liked before the age of 10… But then when he won the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 6, you quickly realized that he was all flash and not much substance as a wrestler, especially as you got older. And then you saw him disappear once just after SummerSlam 1991, return at Wrestlemania 8 with a lot slimmer build, and then disappear before he could perform at Survivor Series 1992. Ultimate Warrior re-appears at Wrestlemania 12 and following that squashing of Triple H, he was all about selling his comic books and not much about wrestling. Disappears again and then debuts with WCW with a hilarious extensive promo with Hulk Hogan and has one of the worst matches in wrestling history with his debacle with Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1998. Disappeared again and only wrestled a handful of times afterward on the independent circuit.
As the 21st Century rolled along, he became more well known for his public speaking and appearances on political shows where he spoke his mind. First Amendment shall be honored, but we’re all allowed to respond to ignorant speech. Warrior had some interesting takes on the world, to say the least, which caused lots of negative reactions, most notably his April 2005 public speech at the University of Connecticut (UCONN). Warrior had the famous quote of “queering don’t make the world work” and had other highly insensitive things said about homosexuality during that UCONN appearance and other speeches or appearances at that time.
Warrior also got into other ugly feuds with some of his co-worker wrestlers which got vicious quick online and videos of such can still be seen on YouTube. If you watch Warrior’s documentary on WWE Network, you’ll see him greeting Hulk Hogan before his Hall of Fame ceremony and the reason that meeting is important is because of the blood feud that both guys had online that got very personal.
As heavily document since, Warrior had several issues with fans and relationships during his past…
THAT SAID, he seemed to have met someone who complemented him well as a husband and had 2 daughters who looked up to their dad. I’m very sorry to them that they’ve lost their husband and dad.
That last statement shouldn’t equate to a special award, as there are many other wrestlers in the industry who were good husbands and fathers while behaving much better outside of the ring while also contributing positively to the business. Sorry, but Warrior did some questionable things during the 21st century while each of his 3 exits from WWE and his exit from WCW left each employer shaking their heads in shame. Meanwhile, you RARELY see any workers speaking highly of Warrior because he was a bit egotistical while on top or just difficult to work with. Both Jim Ross and Jim Cornette have equally reported on how brutally difficult Warrior was to bring back to the WWE during 1996 and how Vince McMahon overlooked his rude behavior back then.
POINT BEING… Nostalgia as a wrestler aside and maybe being a good husband/father later in life, the Warrior DID NOT deserve an award named after him for WWE Hall of Fame purposes. I know that Vince McMahon somehow felt guilty for how Warrior turned out, hence why he kept Dana Warrior employed on the Creative Team for many years… But there are BETTER representatives in the wrestling business to create a special WWE Hall of Fame award.
And since the WWE discontinued the Warrior Award during 2024, I have a suggestion for its replacement.
The DDP Award, or maybe alluding to his great book that I strongly recommend reading, the “Positively Page” Award.
Folks, Diamond Dallas Page is a freakin’ SAINT. No, not Ricky Saints, a “saint” how it’s truly defined: “very virtuous, kind, or patient person”
Have you seen the recent DDP Yoga video of Dallas helping Lex Luger stand up on his own? The “Total Package” has been mostly confined to a wheelchair since the late 2000s following a spinal stroke. While he’s had glimpses of fully recovering, he has setbacks and has been more wheelchair bound lately. Working with DDP recently, however, DDP got him to stand out of his chair on his own and it was incredible.
Keep in mind, Luger has been kind of a “black sheep” of the wrestling business. Sometimes, he wasn’t the easiest to deal with, hence why WWE never gave him their World Title. Many wrestlers struggle to forgive Lex for Miss Elizabeth passing away at his home, particularly with the prior domestic violence incidents at his home. Then, finding all kinds of substances at his house after Liz passed… Many wrestlers have been pissed at Luger ever since, though the injury has appeared to humble Lex and many wrestlers have not only come back around to embrace him, but fans are enjoying him at various autograph signings.
But, DDP reached out to Lex to help him with his health and see if they can get him functioning better after about 18 years of issues.
The stuff that DDP did with Jake “the Snake” Roberts and Scott Hall is remarkable. Both guys were literally on their death beds and unable to shake their demons. Many rehabs tried, but many friendships burned after they failed to get better. Yet, DDP never gave up…
He first helped Jake Roberts get better, holding him accountable anytime he refused to participate in workouts or if he’d slip up. Then, he helped Scott Hall who was suicidal and ready to throw in the towel. DDP refused to give up on Hall, responding to direct messages sent to him by Sean Waltman to help. The end result, thanks to DDP’s workout clinic and holding his old friends accountable is that we enjoyed Scott Hall for an additional 9 years of his life while Jake Roberts is doing well to this day. Both guys were tremendous fan favorites and thanks to DDP, we get to enjoy them longer.
DDP has worked with Buff Bagwell, who has struggled since 2001 when his WCW Invasion angle stuff didn’t work out. I saw him at an autograph signing during the early 2020s and he looked in rough shape, struggling to walk without the aid of crutches. Shortly after that appearance, he got into trouble with the law. DDP has helped Buff, though there are occasional setbacks here and there. However, I think with Buff, he knows there is a path to getting sober and knows that DDP is there if he needs fixed up.
In a non-wrestling capacity, I recently saw that Bam Margera was working out with DDP and that warmed my heart. Bam has had some real issues, as fame presented the excesses of life to him but I think things really got out of hand with Bam after Ryan Dunn passed away. In and out of rehabs, issues with the law, breaking many close friendships, and ruining any financial opportunities such as getting kicked out of Jackass. Bam has also gained a considerable amount of weight. Yet, here DDP is there once again, reaching out to someone who didn’t have many options for help and hopefully, Bam turns his life around.
Besides saving individuals from themselves or past demons, DDP’s Yoga has helped many wrestlers particularly as they either get older or injuries mount up. Chris Jericho and AJ Styles have both cited DDP Yoga for saving their careers from major back problems. DDP’s methodology of stretching properly, working out, and having a better lifestyle is helping many of our favorite performers turn the corner easily into their 40s if not 50s.
THAT is who deserves to have his own special annual award named after him, not Warrior. Sure, Warrior looks look and has a facepaint shape as a logo, but did he help someone like Scott Hall or Jake Roberts survive this world? Has he given someone another chance like DDP has done with Buff Bagwell or may be doing right now with Bam Margera? And has Warrior’s existence in the business helped improve the health of his fellow wrestlers, like DDP Yoga has?
It’s time that the “DDP Award” or “Positively Page Award” is created as a replacement for the Warrior Award. Trust me, anyone following in the footsteps of DDP and then receiving this award would be heavily honored.
DDP is a SAINT to the wrestling business and needs to be honored, but he’s a saint to others beyond the business as well. Just watch DDP’s videos on helping disabled veterans walk again and try not to shed tears.
Just a shame that WWE wasted DDP during 2001… Stupid Undertaker stalker gimmick!
Check out these examples of DDP’s admission to sainthood:
Disabled veteran learns to walk again
Arthur’s Inspirational Transformation
Saving WCW’s Buff Bagwell and Scotty Riggs
If those stories don’t make you tear up, man, go get that cold heart checked on. DDP cared and helped each of these guys improve their lives when others either couldn’t or wouldn’t. That’s what a REAL man and REAL friend would do.
WWE, do the right thing, and make a REAL honorary award for your Hall of Fame named after Diamond Dallas Page.
Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ