Wrestling world mourns Road Warrior Animal, 60
Joe Laurinaitis, a Hall of Fame wrestler better known by his ring name ‘ Road Warrior Animal,’ has died. He was 60 years old.
Animal’s twitter account confirmed the news Wednesday morning.
Animal was one half of the multi-time champion tag team Legion of Doom (or also called Road Warriors), known for their face paint and spiked armor that was inspired by the 1980s Mad Max films. Along with his partner, Michael Hegstrand (AKA Hawk), Laurinaitis captured titles in the WWF, WCW, NWA and Japan.
Legion of Doom, with its finisher the ‘Doomsday Device’ and signature phrase ‘ What a Rush,’ represented the premier wrestling tag team in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. However, Hawk was also allegedly abusing drugs and alcohol at this time and it led to the team’s break-up after he “failed another drug test” before the 1992 SummerSlam, as Animal explained to cbr.com.
Animal and Hawk reunited in 1996 but never recaptured their star power. Hawk died in 2003 of a heart attack at just 46 years old. In 2011, Legion of Doom and their manager, Paul Ellering, were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Animal, who grew up in Minnesota and was an avid power lifter, is survived by his wife, Julie, his two sons and daughter. In his last twitter post on Tuesday, Animal wished his wife a happy anniversary.
Animal’s youngest son, James Laurinaitis, is a former NFL player as a linebacker for the Rams and Saints. He was an All-American at Ohio State before he was drafted in the second round.