Road Warrior Animal
[2] He worked as a bouncer at Grandma B's in the Twin Cities where he caught the eye of Eddie Sharkey, a well-known wrestling trainer.Sharkey thought that Laurinaitis and Mike Hegstrand, Richard Rood, and Barry Darsow could make it big in professional wrestling, and trained all four of them.To look more intimidating, the two shaved their heads into Mohawks and started wearing studded dog collars, spiked shoulder pads, and face paint.The team was an instant hit, revolutionizing the tag-team scene with their power moves, no mercy attitudes, and innovative face paint that would spawn many future imitators in wrestling.[7] Their hard hitting style, no nonsense attitude, and winning ways made the Road Warriors fan favorites.[5] Near the end of 1988, the Road Warriors captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship from The Midnight Express whom they mauled in short order to win the titles.[7] When they lost the titles, they briefly left the WWF, only to return with longtime manager Paul Ellering by their side, as well as a wooden ventriloquist dummy called "Rocco".thought the Rocco gimmick was stupid, and it led to Hegstrand walking out of the WWF immediately following SummerSlam 1992, leaving Laurinaitis on his own for the first time in nine years.[27] Animal went ahead and finished his contractual obligations with the WWF, as a singles wrestler and occasionally teaming with former rival Crush, formerly of Demolition.During a handicap match in Japan against the Beverly Brothers in September 1992, Laurinaitis legitimately injured his back from a botched double suplex and had to take a lengthy hiatus.For the next couple of years, Laurinaitis stayed out of the wrestling ring, collecting on an insurance policy from Lloyd's of London while Hegstrand competed all over the world.[5] On January 4, 1996, Animal seconded Hawk in his match against Scott Norton in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's annual Tokyo Dome show.[7] In November 1997, the Legion of Doom faced the newly formed New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn) and lost the titles to the upstart team.[27] While the Road Warriors never officially broke up, Animal started making an increasing number of solo appearances after they left the WWF as Hegstrand struggled with drug and alcohol addiction.[34] After his release from WWF, the Road Warriors wrestled at the AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Show defeating Jun Akiyama and Kenta Kobashi in Tokyo, Japan on May 2, 1999.[35] He appeared on the main event of Sin for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against champion Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett and Sid Vicious in a four corners match.Animal and Hawk made a surprise appearance on Raw on May 12, 2003, when they took on Kane and Rob Van Dam for the World Tag Team Championship.[41] Animal reasoned that he had realized that Hardy and Heidenreich were screw-ups and that Road Warrior Hawk was the only tag team legend and partner for him.Laurinaitis released an autobiography with William Andrew Wright titled The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling on March 1, 2011, published by Medallion Press, Inc.John Laurinaitis (Johnny Ace) is the former executive vice president of Talent Relations for World Wrestling Entertainment and a former wrestler.The pair, alongside gym employees Bob Truax and Dan Stock, conceptualized the Zubaz workout pants and helped popularize the brand globally.[57] In fact, Sports Illustrated made a joke about borrowing his father's shoulder pads and later did an interview with him that included a picture of him wearing them.
Road warrior (disambiguation)Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaOsage Beach, MissouriJames LaurinaitisJohn LaurinaitisThe TerminatorProfessional wrestling careerRing name(s)Chicago, IllinoisEddie Sharkeyring nameprofessional wrestlerRoad Warrior Hawktag teamRoad WarriorsLegion of Doomprofessional wrestling promotionsGeorgia Championship WrestlingJim Crockett PromotionsWorld Championship WrestlingAmerican Wrestling AssociationAll Japan Pro WrestlingWorld Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentchampionshipsAWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA National Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team ChampionshipWWE Tag Team ChampionshipWWF Tag Team Championshippay-per-viewWCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipWCW SinWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame and MuseumWWE Hall of FameNWA Hall of FameTag Team of the YearWrestling Observer NewsletterPro Wrestling IllustratedPhiladelphiaLithuanianIrondale High SchoolTwin CitiesMike HegstrandRichard RoodBarry DarsowgimmickPaul Elleringtag team partnermanagerVillage PeopleThe Road WarriorNational Wrestling AllianceJim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentThe Four HorsemenThe Russian TeamWarGames matchThe Powers of PainThe BarbarianThe WarlordkayfabeThe Midnight ExpressTeddy LongThe Varsity ClubThe Samoan Swat TeamThe SkyscrapersJim HerdDemolitionSummerSlam 1992Beverly BrothersClash of the Champions XXIVCamaro Z28Dustin RhodesRick RudeThe EqualizerFall BrawlDavey Boy SmithBig Van VaderSid ViciousHarlem HeatLloyd's of LondonScott NortonNew Japan Pro-WrestlingTokyo Domethe Steiner BrothersLex LugerStone Cold Steve AustinThe GodwinnsNew Age OutlawsRoad DoggBilly GunnD.O.A.Jun AkiyamaKenta Kobashii-Generation Superstars of WrestlingThe Public Enemyindependent circuitBattleartsAlexander OtsukaThe Magnificent SevenScott SteinerJeff JarrettJersey Championship WrestlingKeiji MutoFighting of World Japan Pro Wrestlingthe Shane TwinsPower WarriorDamián 666El TerribleTotal Nonstop Action WrestlingVince RussoSports Entertainment XtremeSlammiversaryRick SteinerTeam 3DImpact WrestlingTotal Nonstop DeletionRob Van DamSmackDown!WWE Tag Team ChampionsThe Great American BashHeidenreichMatt HardyMoney in the Bank