( CNN ) -- On Wednesday the wrestling community and fans around the world mourned the passing of Ultimate Warrior , one of the biggest and brightest stars of the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . Born James Hellwig , before legally changing his name to Warrior in 1993 , he is fondly remembered by many for his rivalries in the ring and for his trademark vivid face paint . He died aged 54 and is survived by his wife and two daughters . The cause of his death is not yet known . `` WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) superstars ever , The Ultimate Warrior , '' read a statement fron WWE , the modern incarnation of the WWF . `` Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history . Warrior became WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI , defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter . '' Gallery : Best sports images of the last seven days . Ultimate Warrior 's death came just days after he had been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame . On Monday he appeared in the WWE 's weekly Raw show . Tributes to the former WWF world champion poured in from throughout the wrestling world , including from his former rival Hulk Hogan . Triple H , real name Paul Michael Levesque , is one of the modern day WWE `` superstars '' and he also mourned the death of Ultimate . During his appearance on Raw , Ultimate gave a poignant speech . `` No man becomes a legend on their own , '' he told the arena . `` 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 believe 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 . ''
Former professional wrestler Ultimate Warrior dies aged 54 . He was born James Hellwig , but changed his name to Warrior in 1993 . The cause of his death is not yet known , he leaves a wife and two daughters . Ultimate Warriors was a star of the World Wrestling Federation in the late 1980s and the 90s .