PUBLISHED ONApril 16, 2014 2:45 AM
The Ultimate Warrior, one of the most celebrated names in American professional wrestling, died of natural causes attributed to heart disease, an Arizona coroner's office said on Tuesday.
An autopsy on the 54-year-old wrestler, whose given name was James Hellwig, confirmed his cause of death was "atherosclerotic/arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease", according to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
The condition occurs when blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the body become blocked or hardened, restricting blood flow, according to medical experts.
Hellwig collapsed on April 8 outside a hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, police said.
His death came just days after he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc Hall of Fame.
The 1.88m tall, 127kg wrestler was one of the most recognisable characters in professional wrestling, commanding the ring in his signature neon garb, lengthy blond hair and face paint.