WWE will induct an all-new class of Superstars into the Hall Of Fame at the end of this week. The Undertaker, Vader, Sharmell, and The Steiner Brothers will become WWE Hall Of Famers. A much smaller class than usual which is great for a variety of different reasons, but that's a discussion for another day. What we're here to talk about right now is another person who will be honored at the Hall Of Fame ceremony this Friday, Shad Gaspard.

The Warrior Award

Gaspard will posthumously receive WWE's Warrior Award this Friday. An award that is given out by the company once a year to someone “who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance”. If you don't already know, the reason Gaspard fits and far exceeds that qualifier is because, in 2020, he saved his son's life and sacrificed his own when the two of them got caught in a riptide off Venice Beach. As rescuers attempted to save Gaspard's life, he gestured to his son, insisting they save him first. Gaspard's son was safely returned to the shore, but the rescue team couldn't make it back in time to save the former WWE Superstar.

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It's not clear who will be at the ceremony later this week to receive the award on Gaspard's behalf. Possibly his Cryme Tyme tag team partner JTG, but there may well be members of his family in attendance also. It's going to be a pretty emotional segment of the show, as it often is whenever the award is given out. However, despite the good the award celebrates, every year I'm reminded of the shadow that hangs over it. Judging by what I've seen on social media since the news that Gaspard would be its next recipient broke, I know I'm not the only one.

The Troubled Past Of The Ultimate Warrior

The award is named after The Ultimate Warrior. Created shortly after he passed away, WWE initially sold the new award as something that was given to those who embodied the spirit of the late WWE Champion. That descriptor isn't used as much anymore, but the name remains. Due to Warrior's problematic past, it might be time to rename the award entirely, and there is no better candidate than Gaspard to take that mantle and no better time than now to rename the award as it is given to the man after which it should now be named.

In case you're unaware of why exactly WWE continuing to champion Warrior's name is problematic, here's a quick recap. After his wrestling career was done, Warrior started touring the country, speaking at universities and sharing what were some pretty unforgivable viewpoints through those and his personal blog. The blog has since been taken down, but the evidence of what Warrior said during those talks and in those posts remains. The heinous things Warrior said during that period in his life include saying the victims of Hurricane Katrina deserve what they got, and speaking out against homosexuality to the point that he was forcibly removed from one of the buildings in which he had been given the opportunity to speak.

Suffice to say, celebrating a man who said things like that, and a lot of other incredibly insensitive and in some cases downright disgusting things, seems a little wrong. Especially when that man's name is attached to an award that celebrates those who have done truly remarkable things in their lives. Renaming the award after Gaspard, and on the night he receives the it, seems a lot more fitting. WWE doesn't need to make a big deal out of it. It doesn't even need to mention it if it doesn't want to. Just acknowledge that it is now known as the Shad Gaspard Award, and that's what it will continue to be known as moving forward.