The Ultimate Warrior, born James Brian Hellwig, died Tuesday night in Arizona. He was 54.

The Ultimate Warrior Dies

Warrior’s death was announced via the WWE website. The statement read, "WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior .[…] We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans. WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family and fans.”

Warrior had made an appearance on Monday Night Raw, roughly 24 hours before he was pronounced dead at an Arizona hospital after collapsing on the pavement outside his hotel. Days before that, he had attended WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans, where he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Warrior began his professional wrestling career in the late 80s and was a star of the sport by 1990 after capturing the world title from Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI. Out of the business for 18 years, Warrior was ready to get back into it, signing a multi-year deal to be an ambassador for the WWE.

"No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own," Warrior said during his WWE Raw appearance. "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper in something that's larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized by the storytellers — by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him, and make the running the man did live forever.”

Ultimate Warrior Mourned On Twitter

Many of Ultimate Warrior's friends and fellow WWE wrestlers took to Twitter upon learning of his death to share their grief.

Ultimate Warrior is survived by his wife, Dana, and two daughters.

– Chelsea Regan