Road Warrior Animal: Profile, Career Stats, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won & Gimmicks

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 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

Gender Male
Real Name Joseph Michael Laurinaitis
Ring Names
- Road Warrior Animal ( June 27, 2006 - May 11, 2008)
- Animal Warrior ( September 1, 2007 - May 11, 2008)
- The Road Warrior ( March 2, 2006 - June 26, 2006)
- Animal ( December 11, 1982 - March 2, 2006)
- Joe Lauren ( September 11, 1982 - December 10, 1982)
Born September 12, 1960
Died September 22, 2020 (aged 60)
Nationality United States
Birth Place Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Billed From
- Chicago, Illinois
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight
- 305 lbs (138 kg)

Career History

Roles
- Wrestler ( September 11, 1982 - May 11, 2008)

Companies / Promotions

Promotion	from	to
Promotion WWEBrand SmackDown	July 14, 2005	June 26, 2006
Promotion TNA	November 1, 2002	January 15, 2003
Promotion AJPW	November 23, 2002	December 6, 2002
Promotion WCW	January 22, 2001	March 21, 2001
Promotion WWF	February 24, 1997	March 29, 1999
Promotion NJPW	April 29, 1996	December 9, 1996
Promotion WCW	January 29, 1996	June 1, 1996
Promotion WWF	June 25, 1990	October 16, 1992
Promotion WCW	November 2, 1988	May 28, 1990
Promotion NWA	June 16, 1985	November 1, 1988
Promotion AJPW	March 8, 1985	March 8, 1989
Promotion AWA	April 1, 1984	April 28, 1986
Promotion NWA	September 11, 1982	May 12, 1985

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	June 27, 2006	May 11, 2008
Heel	March 3, 2006	June 26, 2006
Face	March 22, 2001	March 2, 2006
Heel	January 22, 2001	March 21, 2001
Face	January 30, 1989	January 21, 2001
Heel	October 7, 1988	January 29, 1989
Face	January 1, 1985	October 6, 1988
Heel	September 11, 1982	December 31, 1984

Images

Sep 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)

Titles & Accomplishments

Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2011, Groups, The Road Warriors
- NWA Hall of Fame - Year 2012, Groups, The Road Warriors
- Hardcore Hall of Fame - Year 2021, Groups, The Road Warriors
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2011, Groups, The Road Warriors
Titles Won
World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- 2 WWF World Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)
- 1 WWE Tag Team Championship (with Heidenreich)
Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
- 3 NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 with Hawk & Dusty Rhodes, 1 with Hawk & Genichiro Tenryu)
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (with Hawk)
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Hawk)
American Wrestling Association
- 1 AWA World Tag Team Championship (with 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)
Independent Pro Wrestling
- 1 IPW 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)

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 - Darren Drozdov, Road Warrior Hawk ( May 25, 1998 - December 29, 1998)
Managers Paul Ellering, Sunny / Tammy Lynn Sytch
Family
- John Laurinaitis / Johnny Ace - Brother