Professional wrestler Joe Laurinaitis, better known as Road Warrior Animal, has passed away of natural causes. He turned 60 earlier this month.
Animal was one half of The Road Warriors (billed as The Legion of Doom when they wrestled in the WWF/WWE) along with Road Warrior Hawk (Michael Hegstrand). Many consider them the greatest tag team to ever step in the ring.
I first remember the Road Warriors from their days in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the mid-1980's. With Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" playing in the background, The Road Warriors would hit the ring and annihilate their competition. They wrestled like heels, but were cheered. More than a decade before "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the Road Warriors were the first anti-heroes in professional wrestling.
Their run was cut short due to Hawk's alcohol and drug problems which would contribute to his death of a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 45.
Animal continued to wrestle sporadically over the next 15 years. During this time, it was not uncommon to see Laurinaitis watch his son James Laurinaitis play in the NFL as a linebacker for the St. Louis Rams and the New Orleans Saints.
Animal and Hawk have been reunited beyond the pearly gates. R.I.P.
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