WWE’s Shad Gaspard Warrior Award tribute video
Ahead of this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony, WWE has released an emotional tribute video honoring the late Shad Gaspard.
The three-minute video was written and narrated by author Mark Kriegel of ESPN. It focuses on Gaspard’s wrestling career, his relationship with his son Aryeh, and how Gaspard died while heroically saving his son’s life.
Gaspard passed away in May 2020 after being caught in a rip current while swimming at Venice Beach, California. Gaspard directed rescuers to help his son first instead of him. When the rescuers returned, Gaspard had gone under water.
Gaspard will posthumously be awarded the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony this Friday night. The Warrior Award is presented annually to “an individual who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior.”
Connor “The Crusher” Michalek, Joan Lunden, Eric LeGrand, Jarrius “JJ” Robertson, longtime WWE employees Sue Aitchison and Rich Hering, and Titus O’Neil are previous Warrior Award winners.
This year’s WWE Hall of Fame class consists of The Undertaker, Vader, Queen Sharmell, and The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner). The ceremony is taking place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas after this Friday’s SmackDown. The ceremony will air live on Peacock/WWE Network.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.