TMZ reports that Laurinaitis passed away at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, MO. Police received a call on Tuesday night at 11:49 pm from Laurinaitis’ wife. When officials arrived at the scene, Laurinaitis was already declared deceased.
Laurinaitis and his wife were celebrating their wedding anniversary on Wednesday before police called. Laurinaitis posted the tweet below on Wednesday writing, “Happy Anniversary baby, love you!”
Joseph Laurinaitis, better known in the professional wrestling world as Road Warrior Animal, died at the age of 60 on Wednesday morning. Animal’s official Twitter account broke the news — “At this time, we would like to confirm the passing of Joseph Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal at the age of 60. The family is planning to release a statement later today. At this time we ask for you to keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.”
WWE then released a statement responding to the Hall of Famer’s passing, writing, “WWE is saddened to learn that Joe Laurinaitis, known to WWE fans as Road Warrior Animal, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Laurinaitis’ family, friends and fans.”
Born in Philadelphia, Laurinaitis made his pro wrestling debut in November 1982 as The Road Warrior. He was quickly convinced by manager Paul Ellering to start working as a tag team alongside Mike Hegstrand (Road Warrior Hawk) as The Legion of Doom. Their iconic looks, impressive physiques and dominant in-ring style helped make them one of, if not the, most popular tag teams in pro wrestling history. The two would set out to work in numerous promotions — Georgia Championship Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, the American Wrestling Association, Jim Crockett Promotions, the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Impact Wrestling from 1983-2014. The two were inducted into the WWE and Professional Wrestling Halls of Fame in 2011 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012. Hegstrand passed away at the age of 46 back in 2003.
“One of the most intense Superstars to ever step into the squared circle, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Animal spent the majority of his career alongside his tag team partner, Hawk,” WWE’s statement read. “Together, they formed what was arguably the most successful, popular and feared tandem of all time — The Road Warriors. With their intimidating face paint, outfits covered in metal spikes and impressive array of power moves, the duo captured titles and destroyed opponents wherever they roamed. Their dominance made them so popular that the phrase “Road Warrior pop” has been used in locker rooms to describe particularly deafening reactions from the crowd ever since.”
Saturday night (6/23/18) in Evansville, Indiana WWE Hall of Famers Jeff Jarrett and Road Warrior Animal was at the World Wrestling Alliance (W.W.A.) show. I got to meet them and got a photo with Jeff. Below are some photos and video from the event.
In the video below I didn’t get recording in time, Jarrett ran out hit Stonewall with a chair then hit him with The Stroke to help Dakata France win the W.W.A. Championship.
The Authors of Pain have ran roughshod through the NXT tag team division since their debut at NXT: The End last June. Since then, they dominated American Alpha, won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and defeated DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championship.
However, there is one person who does not believe that this resume is very impressive.
When Chris Featherstone spoke to Road Warrior Animal at an independent wrestling event recently, he did not have the fondest words to say about the Authors of Pain. In fact, he said that he felt sorry for his former manager Paul Ellering.
“I talk to Paul all the time,” Animal said. “I feel bad for him because of that team he’s managing. They’re green. You gotta start somewhere, but [man]. The only problem is, when you start managing two big guys, everybody’s gonna compare them to Hawk and I. It’s an unfair comparison. It’s like trying to compare a singles guy to Bruno Sammartino. You can’t. Bruno is Bruno. The Rock’s the Rock. They’ll never be another Rock. They’ll never be another Road Warriors ever. That’s the problem [WWE] is having now in the company. They [also] have the Ascension coming out, and the Ascension are [trying to be like the Road Warriors].”
Animal finds Ellering managing the Authors of Pain to be a negative comparison to managing the Road Warriors. In his eyes, the WWE is trying to recapture the moment of a dominant big man tag team, and using Ellering as the conduit to make it happen again. Thankfully, for the Authors of Pain, they do not look anything like the Road Warriors. The Ascension, however, is a much stronger comparison.
You can hear the full interview on the Pancakes and Powerslams podcast by clicking here.
After live blogging for 3 hours and 15 minutes last night and having a blast doing it, how do I start with this post. My favorite moment (several), favorite match (again, more than one), biggest surprise (two huge ones, so I don’t know which to choose), best segment (it would be easy to say the entire show). So where do I go?
How about THANK YOU WWE and your entire staff, AND THANK YOU Mr. McMahon for what you did for us – the fans of the WWE Universe!
Check out how The Boss opened the show. And for everyone who thinks he is arrogant and cocky, this may shock you. How could Vince have been more humble than this:
First, is the DX reunion (PG Version). Of course it was great when HHH and HBK came out, but I really popped loud when HHH said, “Didn’t there used to be more of us”? Out comes The Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and X-Pac and the band was back together. Check it out here:
Next let me share with you the Legends moment of the night where Lita was Heath Slater’s opponent but after Slater got a little over confident – she brings out the APA, yes Ron Simmons and JBL. That sent Slater headed back up the ramp but then, blearing from the speakers comes the words, “Whhhhhaaattttt A Rush”, that’s right Road Warrior Animal and ALL the Legends that have had a part in the weekly Heath Slater beat downs come down the ramp and throw Slater back into the ring. Aww heck, the video says it way better than I can so I will end this part with ONE word, Ron Simmons style – DAMN!!!!
Ok I do have to add, didn’t Lita look awesome with the Twist of Fate and the Moonsault from the top rope.
Finally, I loved the HHH/Brock Lesnar segment, and it may have been Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon who stole the segment, that and HHH clotheslining Lesnar over the top rope and out of the ring.
Ok, I can’t keep it to just three – I’ve got to include the “cold chill” moment of the night – the reunion of the Brothers of Destruction, The Undertaker and Kane.
One of the best parts to all of the work that the WWE has put in to building up for RAW 1000 has been seeing the Legends come back and work. Might I just throw in a plug for Heath Slater and how awesome it must be for him to work with all of these great Superstars from the past.
No doubt in my mind, the best Legends moment for me was Friday’s SmackDown when the crowd popped like crazy for Road Warrior Animal. I am a huge fan of the Road Warriors and Animal looked just like he did when he and Road Warrior Hawk were terrorizing tag teams all over the world.
When I think of the Road Warriors, several things come to mind. The were dominate. Click on the Road Warriors page at WWE.com. The names of teams they mowed through to their numerous titles is like a who’s who of professional wrestling. The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke to win the AWA belts, Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood as well as The Midnight Express in the opening rounds before eliminating Ronnie Garvin & Magnum T.A. in the finale for the $1,000,000 Crocket Cup-clinching win in WCW, joining forces with Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering against The Four Horsemen at The Great American Bash in the first-ever War Games, and their name changes from The Road Warriors to Legion of Doom upon their WWE debut in 1990, but their results remain the same. Hawk & Animal make a splash at SummerSlam 1991 by defeating The Nasty Boys in a No Disqualification, No Countout Match to win the World Tag Team Championships, giving the duo the distinction of being the only team to hold the tag titles in WWE, AWA, and NWA. (thanks to WWE.com for the info used in this paragraph).
I can picture in my mind Animal placing an opponent on his shoulders and Hawk delivering that devastating clothesline off the top rope just like it happened yesterday. If you want to see what that move looked like, click here and go see their WWE entrance video. Unfortunately that is no longer the case as Road Warrior Hawk passed away in 2003.
Thank you WWE for the action in this video that Trevor posted from SmackDown – I’ve watched it several times and I get cold chills every time the music hits.
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