Road Warrior Animal

On this page you find the full wrestling profile of Road Warrior Animal, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Joseph Michael Laurinaitis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 12, 1960.

He died on September 22, 2020 at the age of 60.

Road Warrior Animal has won a total of 9 championships in major promotions during his career.

Road Warrior Animal was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of The Road Warriors), in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of The Road Warriors), in the Hardcore Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of The Road Warriors) and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2011 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of The Road Warriors).

Profile Info

• Real NameJoseph Michael Laurinaitis
• GenderMale
• Born September 12, 1960
• Died September 22, 2020 (aged 60)
• NationalityUnited States
• Birth PlacePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
• Billed From
  • Chicago, Illinois
• Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
• Weight
  • 305 lbs (138 kg)

Career History

• Ring Names & Gimmicks

  • Animal (June 27, 2006 - May 11, 2008)
  • Animal Warrior - Name while wrestling in Japan (March 8, 1985 - May 11, 2008)
  • The Road Warrior (March 2, 2006 - June 26, 2006)
  • Animal (June 25, 1990 - March 1, 2006)
  • Road Warrior Animal (June 11, 1983 - March 1, 2006)
  • The Road Warrior (September 11, 1982 - June 10, 1983)
  • Joe Lauren (November 1, 1982 - December 10, 1982)

• Roles

  • Wrestler (January 29, 1996 - May 11, 2008)
  • Wrestler (September 11, 1982 - October 16, 1992)

• Promotions History

  Promotion	from	to
  PromotionKOPW	September 9, 2007	September 9, 2007
  PromotionWWEBrand SmackDown	July 14, 2005	June 26, 2006
  PromotionWJ	March 1, 2003	July 11, 2003
  PromotionNWA TNA	November 1, 2002	January 15, 2003
  PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	November 23, 2002	December 6, 2002
  PromotionUPW	October 17, 2001	November 27, 2001
  PromotionWCW	January 22, 2001	March 26, 2001
  PromotionBATTLARTS	September 23, 2000	October 1, 2000
  PromotionWWF	February 24, 1997	March 29, 1999
  PromotionBATTLARTS	November 23, 1998	November 23, 1998
  PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	April 29, 1996	December 9, 1996
  PromotionWCW	January 29, 1996	June 1, 1996
  PromotionWWF	June 25, 1990	October 16, 1992
  PromotionWAR	September 11, 1992	September 15, 1992
  PromotionNWA	September 11, 1982	June 2, 1990
  PromotionWCW	November 21, 1988	June 2, 1990
  PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	March 8, 1985	March 8, 1989
  PromotionJCP	June 16, 1985	November 20, 1988
  PromotionUWF	July 23, 1987	November 28, 1987
  PromotionCWF	April 26, 1987	August 29, 1987
  PromotionAWA	April 1, 1984	April 28, 1986
  PromotionPNW	May 21, 1985	March 27, 1986
  PromotionCSW, SLWC	January 1, 1986	January 1, 1986
  PromotionCSW	March 4, 1984	November 22, 1984
  PromotionSLWC	September 14, 1984	October 26, 1984
  PromotionCWA	December 5, 1983	October 15, 1984
  PromotionNWA GCW	June 11, 1983	July 13, 1984
  PromotionMSW	August 31, 1983	November 19, 1983
  PromotionJCP	December 7, 1983	June 7, 1984
  PromotionJCP	November 1, 1982	December 16, 1982
  PromotionNWA GCW	September 11, 1982	September 12, 1982

• Finishers

  • Oklahoma Slam - Running Scoop Powerslam (September 11, 1982 - May 11, 2008)
  • Doomsday Device - with Hawk - Electric Chair + Diving Clothesline combination (June 11, 1983 - July 11, 2003)

• Theme Songs

  • Theme Song"What A Rush" by Jim Johnston - Single (July 14, 2005 - May 11, 2008)
  • Theme Song"Hellraiser"/"Iron Man" megamix by Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath - with Power Warrior - Team (September 1, 2007 - May 11, 2008)
  • Theme Song"LOD 2000" by Jim Johnston - with Heidenreich - Team (July 14, 2005 - January 17, 2006)
  • Theme Song"The Hit" - with Hawk - Team (January 22, 2001 - March 21, 2001)
  • Theme Song"What A Rush" by Jim Johnston - with Hawk - Team (February 24, 1997 - March 29, 1999)
  • Theme Song"LOD 2000" by Jim Johnston - with LOD 2000 - Team (May 25, 1998 - December 29, 1998)
  • Theme Song"Mayhem Mavens" - with Hawk - Team (January 29, 1996 - June 1, 1996)
  • Theme Song"What A Rush" by Jim Johnston - with Hawk - Team (June 25, 1990 - October 16, 1992)
  • Theme Song"We are Iron Men" - with Hawk - Team (June 16, 1985 - May 28, 1990)
  • Theme Song"Iron Man / Hellraiser Megamix" by Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath - with Hawk - Team (March 8, 1985 - March 8, 1989)
  • Theme Song"Iron Man" by Black Sabbath - Single (September 11, 1982 - June 10, 1983)

• Images History

  

  Jun 2006

  

  Mar 2006

  

  Jul 2005

  

  Feb 1997

  

  Jan 1996

  

  Apr 1992

  

  Aug 1991

  

  Jun 1990

  

  Nov 1988

  

  Apr 1984

  

  Sep 1982

• Face / Heel Turns

  Alignment	Details	from	to
  Face	Returned to being a face on the independent circuit	June 27, 2006	May 11, 2008
  Heel	Attacked tag partner Matt Hardy, injuring his knee	March 3, 2006	June 26, 2006
  Face	Returned to being a face on the independent circuit	March 27, 2001	March 2, 2006
  Heel	Debuts in WCW as the enforcer of the Magnificent Seven	January 22, 2001	March 26, 2001
  Face	Booking was forced to turn the Road Warriors face again even as they wrestled as heels	February 1, 1989	January 21, 2001
  Heel	Turned on Sting during a tag match, also attacking Dusty Rhodes	October 7, 1988	January 21, 1989
  Face	Due to their immense popularity, the Road Warriors became faces	January 1, 1985	October 6, 1988
  Heel		September 11, 1982	December 31, 1984

• Card Positions

  Status	Details	from	to
  SD Inactive	Contract expiring	May 7, 2006	June 26, 2006
  SD Mid Card		July 14, 2005	May 6, 2006
  TNA Mid Card		November 1, 2002	January 15, 2003
  WCW Mid Card		January 22, 2001	March 21, 2001
  WWE Low Card		March 28, 1999	March 29, 1999
  WWE Inactive	House show wrestler only	January 10, 1999	March 27, 1999
  WWE Low Card		November 17, 1998	January 9, 1999
  WWE Mid Card		February 24, 1997	November 16, 1998
  NJPW Mid Card		January 4, 1996	December 9, 1996
  WWE Mid Card		April 5, 1992	August 29, 1992
  WWE Inactive	Hiatus	February 8, 1992	April 4, 1992
  SD Mid Card		June 25, 1990	October 12, 2026
  WCW Mid Card		November 21, 1988	June 2, 1990

Titles & Accomplishments

• Career Awards

• • WWE Hall of Fame - Groups, The Road Warriors (Year2011)
  • NWA Hall of Fame - Groups, The Road Warriors (Year2012)
  • Hardcore Hall of Fame - Groups, The Road Warriors (Year2021)
  • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Groups, The Road Warriors (Year2011)

• World Wrestling Entertainment

  • x2 WWF Tag Team Championship (with Road Warrior Hawk)
  • x1 WWE Tag Team Championship (with Heidenreich)

  National Wrestling Alliance

  • x1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Road Warrior Hawk)
  • x3 NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 with Dusty Rhodes & Road Warrior Hawk, 1 with Road Warrior Hawk & Genichiro Tenryu)
  • NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament (1986) (with Road Warrior Hawk)

  American Wrestling Association

  • x1 AWA World Tag Team Championship (with Road Warrior Hawk)

  All Japan Pro Wrestling

  • x1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Road Warrior Hawk)

• Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling

  • 1 World Japan Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)

  Georgia Championship Wrestling

  • 4 NWA National Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)

  i-Generation Superstars of Wrestling

  • 3 i-Generation Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)

  International Wrestling Superstars

  • 1 IWS World Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)

  Professional Championship Wrestling (Texas)

  • 1 PCW Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)

  Toryumon Mexico

  • 1 UWA World Tag Team Championship (with Power Warrior)

• Other Accomplishments

  • NWA Legends Hall of Heroes induction (2016)
  • Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2019)
  • Quebec Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2015 - with Hawk)
  • WCW Iron Team Tournament Winner (1989 - with Hawk)
  • JCP Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Winner (1986 - with Hawk)
  • Super World of Sports' One Night Tag Team Tournament Winner (1991 – with Hawk)
  • George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame's Frank Gotch Award Winner (2012)
  • Cauliflower Alley Club's Tag Team Award Winner (2020)
  • Tokyo Sports' Best Foreigner Award Winner (1985 - with Hawk)
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988 - with Hawk)
  • PWI Comeback of the Year (2005)
  • PWI Feud of the Year (1987 - with Hawk, Dusty Rhodes & Nikita Koloff vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger)
  • 1° in PWI Years Top 100 Teams (2003 - with Hawk)
  • 64° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
  • WON Tag Team of the Year (1984 - with Hawk)
  • WON Strongest Wrestler (1985, 1986)
  • WON Rookies of the Year (1983 - with Hawk)

Teams & Relations

• Tag Teams & Stables

  • The Hell Warriors - Kensuke Sasaki (September 1, 2007 - May 11, 2008)
  • Legion of Doom - Heidenreich (July 14, 2005 - January 17, 2006)
  • The Road Warriors / Legion of Doom - Road Warrior Hawk (June 11, 1983 - July 11, 2003)
  • The Magnificent Seven - Buff Bagwell, Jeff Jarrett, Lex Luger, Ric Flair, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner (January 14, 2001 - March 21, 2001)
  • LOD 2000 - Road Warrior Hawk, Darren Drozdov (May 25, 1998 - December 29, 1998)

• Managers

  • Christy Hemme (October 7, 2005 - November 15, 2005)
  • Sunny / Tammy Lynn Sytch (March 29, 1998 - June 15, 1998)
  • Paul Ellering (April 5, 1992 - August 29, 1992)
  • Paul Ellering (June 11, 1983 - June 2, 1990)

• Family

  • John Laurinaitis / Johnny Ace - Brother

Animal Game Appearances (17)

WWE Main Series (4/27)

WWE '13

WWE '12

SD vs Raw

Here Comes The Pain

Other Games (13)

WrestleQuest

RetroMania

WWE WrestleFest

All Stars

LOWM

Showdown Legends Of Wrestling

Legends Of Wrestling 2

Legends Of Wrestling

European Rampage Tour

Super WrestleMania

WWF WrestleFest

WCW Wrestling

SuperStar Pro Wrestling