Road Warrior Animal
Wrestling Legend
Transformed tag team wrestling legend into modern teamwork and performance training authority.
Known For
Biography
Joseph Michael 'Joe' Laurinaitis (September 12, 1960 – September 22, 2020), known by his ring name Road Warrior Animal, was an American professional wrestler. Along with Road Warrior Hawk, he formed one-half of the legendary tag team the Road Warriors (also known as the Legion of Doom). While working as a bouncer in the Twin Cities, he caught the eye of wrestling trainer Eddie Sharkey. When Paul Ellering assembled a stable of heels in Georgia Championship Wrestling called the 'Legion of Doom,' Laurinaitis and Mike Hegstrand became 'Animal' and 'Hawk.' The team wrestled their first match together in June 1983, revolutionizing tag-team wrestling with their power moves, no-mercy attitudes, and innovative face paint inspired by the film The Road Warrior.
“Hawk, this one was for you, brother!”
— Road Warrior Animal, after winning WWE Tag Team Championship in 2005
Legacy & Impact
The Road Warriors were an instant hit, spawning many imitators with their signature look of Mohawks, studded dog collars, spiked shoulder pads, and face paint. They appeared in major promotions including Georgia Championship Wrestling, WCW, AWA, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and WWF/WWE. At SummerSlam 1991, the Legion of Doom won the WWF World Tag Team Titles from The Nasty Boys. After Hawk's death in 2003, Animal returned to WWE in 2005 and won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Heidenreich, dedicating the victory to Hawk: 'Hawk, this one was for you, brother!' On April 2, 2011, The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Dusty Rhodes.
Key Achievements
WWE Hall of Fame (2011)
WWF Tag Team Champion
WWE Tag Team Champion
AWA World Tag Team Champion
NWA World Tag Team Champion
NWA National Tag Team Champion
Revolutionized tag team wrestling
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