Road Warrior Animal was once one of the WWE's most iconic Tag Team wrestlers ever, and fans have been gutted when he gave up the ghost. How did he die?
If you ask any long-time pro wrestling fan in regards to the old-school days, then their face will probably remove darkness from with a heat nostalgic grin and they are going to rattle off a host of names that sound like an amalgamation of '50s gangsters, pirates, and circus performers. And while there have been a ton of high-profile tag workforce outfits on this planet of professional wrestling, there are some that stood above the rest, like Hawk and Animal of the Road Warriors. The WWE legends died unfortunately, however how did it occur?
How did Road Warrior Animal die?
TMZ Sports reported that Joseph Laurinaitis, often referred to as Road Warrior Animal from the Road Warriors and the Legion of Doom, kicked the bucket due to "natural causes" at just 60 years of age on Sept. 22, 2020.
The professional wrestling icon who was once a mainstay of '80s and '90s WWE programming, died at the Tan-Tar-A resort in Osage Beach, Mo.
Laurinaitis' wife referred to as government at round 11:Forty nine p.m., informing them that her husband used to be unresponsive. When emergency products and services arrived on the scene, they declared the previous Superstar deceased.
Animal was once considered one of the most greatest in-ring performers ever and each he and his tag partner, Hawk, had been no-holds-barred kind wrestlers who blurred the traces between kayfabe and actual existence.
And that integrated the preventing.
The Road Warriors reportedly would give a little bit additional "oomph" to their strikes in the event you were wrestling with them, and different pro-wrestlers would dread to move up in opposition to them, especially all the way through the early days.
They won several tag team championships within the WWE, however their time with the promotion got here to a head within the overdue '90s when they become part of what is considered one of the most "tasteless" storylines in sports entertainment history.
And that's saying so much, taking into account that is the Attitude Era we are talking about, where fat-shaming, homophobia, and different debatable subjects had been all truthful sport. Road Warrior Hawk, whose actual identify is Michael Hegstrand, was combating with substance abuse issues. (*60*) of encouraging the man to seek help and giving him a dignified exit to take a much-needed hiatus to get his thoughts right, his abuse was written into the storyline.
At this time, we want to ascertain the passing of Joseph Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal at the age of 60. The circle of relatives is planning to unlock a remark later lately. At this time we ask for you to keep everyone in your ideas and prayers. #OhWhatARush
— RoadWarriorAnimal (@RWAnimal) September 23, 2020Darren Drozdov, a former NFL player who joined the Legion of Doom (The Road Warriors rebrand) as a 3rd member, in truth encouraged Hawk to partake in substance abuse, and the storyline culminated in a supposed suicide try when Hawk jumped off the Titan Tron.
Laurinaitis and Hegstrand felt uncomfortable with the attitude and will have to've discovered it difficult to work with WWE leadership any further, so they terminated their contracts with the organization.
Animal had a brief stint within the WCW, however in the end returned to the WWE for a few appearances here and there. His final match used to be in 2012 in opposition to Heath Slater, through which he participated in a storyline that had Slater attacking a bunch of Hall of Famers as some form of serial, retiree attacker.
Both John Laurinaitis and Michael Hegstrand were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
Road Warrior Hawk kicked the bucket in 2003, only some years after his too-close-to-home storyline. He was once 43 years old when he died of a middle attack. Laurinaitis was once just 60 when "natural causes" claimed his lifestyles in Missouri.
The skilled wrestling international shared their condolences and paid tribute to Road Warrior Animal all over social media.
Shocked to hear of the passing of @RWAnimal.
An iconic figure in our industry who I used to be taking a look forward to seeing this Saturday night in Jackson, Tennessee at the @JerryLawler birthday party.
Condolences to Joe’s family and friends. 🙏🤠
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) September 23, 2020Just found out that Road Warrior Animal has left us. Very sad to listen to this, all the time one of these great man on every occasion I might see him. So, I have a Tasmanian Devil tattoo on my right arm, he was once my inspiration to get that sooner than I began wrestling training. #RIP pic.twitter.com/iynxmE8pkb
— TAZ (@OfficialTAZ) September 23, 2020RIP to the legendary Animal. I don’t have the correct words at this time, however thank you for goofing off with me at Cons. Thanks for all of the years of entertainment and thanks letting this fan develop into a chum. pic.twitter.com/eUk2SafVkO
— Hurricane Helms (@ShaneHelmsCom) September 23, 2020Without you, the road should not have been paved. #RIPAnimal #OhWhatARush pic.twitter.com/otsdFYerAG
— Dax FTR (@DaxHarwood) September 23, 2020MY ROAD WARRIOR ANIMAL BROTHER. YOU WERE MOST OVER TAG TEAM EVER. WE HAVE THE BEST TIME IN THE MINNESOTA FOREVER I LOVE YOU. RIP BUBBA pic.twitter.com/dLzAy2uRaa
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) September 23, 2020I’ve frequently been requested ...
“Who is the greatest Tag Team of All Time?”
The answer has always been the similar.
Rest in Power brother. 💪🏽
My sincere condolences to circle of relatives, friends and enthusiasts of Animal everywhere in the global. #RIPAnimal pic.twitter.com/hQ2Av7xw1X
— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) September 23, 2020RIP Animal,love you my brother, I do know you and Hawk have numerous unfinished industry to maintain! God velocity and blessings to your stunning circle of relatives,one love4Life. HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) September 23, 2020I Am More Than Saddened To Hear Of The Loss Of My Good Friend And GREAT Opponent Joe Laurinaitis Of The Legendary Road Warriors. They Were Iconic! The Road Warriors And The Four Horsemen Drew More Money And Had More Fun And Entertained Fans Worldwide At The Highest Level. RIP 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/eiZ2udqGNm
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) September 23, 2020Laurinaitis is survived via 3 kids: James, Jessica, and Joseph. James was in reality one of the most perfect football linebackers in the nation and was drafted to the St. Louis Rams' for the franchise's ultimate season in Missouri. He then performed out the remainder of his football career with the New Orleans Saints.
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