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 4 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).
Road Warrior Animal Profile Index
Profile Info
- GenderMale
- Real NameJoseph Michael Laurinaitis
- Ring Names
- 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 (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)
- Born September 12, 1960
- Died September 22, 2020 (aged 60)
- Nationality
United States - Birth PlacePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
- Billed From
- Chicago, Illinois
- Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
- Weight
- 305 lbs (138 kg)
Career History
-
Roles
- Wrestler (January 29, 1996 - May 11, 2008)
- Wrestler (September 11, 1982 - October 16, 1992)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
KOPWSeptember 9, 2007 September 9, 2007 Promotion 
WWEBrand
SmackDown
July 14, 2005 June 26, 2006 Promotion 
WJMarch 1, 2003 July 11, 2003 Promotion 
NWA TNANovember 1, 2002 January 15, 2003 Promotion 
AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
November 23, 2002 December 6, 2002 Promotion 
WCWJanuary 22, 2001 March 21, 2001 Promotion 
BATTLARTSSeptember 23, 2000 October 1, 2000 Promotion 
WWFFebruary 24, 1997 March 29, 1999 Promotion BATTLARTSNovember 23, 1998 November 23, 1998 Promotion 
NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
April 29, 1996 December 9, 1996 Promotion 
WCWJanuary 29, 1996 June 1, 1996 Promotion 
WWFJune 25, 1990 October 16, 1992 Promotion 
WARSeptember 11, 1992 September 15, 1992 Promotion WCWNovember 21, 1988 May 28, 1990 Promotion 
NWASeptember 11, 1982 May 28, 1990 Promotion AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
March 8, 1985 March 8, 1989 Promotion 
JCPJune 16, 1985 November 20, 1988 Promotion 
UWFJuly 23, 1987 November 28, 1987 Promotion 
CWFApril 26, 1987 August 29, 1987 Promotion 
AWAApril 1, 1984 April 28, 1986 Promotion 
PNWMay 21, 1985 March 27, 1986 Promotion 
CSW, 
SLWCJanuary 1, 1986 January 1, 1986 Promotion CSWMarch 4, 1984 November 22, 1984 Promotion SLWCSeptember 14, 1984 October 26, 1984 Promotion 
CWADecember 5, 1983 October 15, 1984 Promotion 
GCWJune 11, 1983 July 13, 1984 Promotion 
MSWAugust 31, 1983 November 19, 1983 Promotion JCPDecember 7, 1983 June 7, 1984 Promotion JCPNovember 1, 1982 December 16, 1982 Promotion GCWSeptember 11, 1982 September 12, 1982 -
Images History
Jun 2006
Mar 2006
Jul 2005
Feb 1997
Jan 1996
Jun 1990
Nov 1988
Apr 1984
Dec 1982 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details 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
-
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
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 & Jim Crockett Promotions
-
x1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Road Warrior Hawk)
National Wrestling Alliance
-
x1 NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament (1986) (with Road Warrior Hawk)
-
Jim Crockett Promotions
- 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)
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
- Family
- John Laurinaitis / Johnny Ace - Brother
