Road Warrior Animal, WWE HOFer, Dies at 60
Road Warrior Animal (Joseph Laurinaitis), one half of the WWE Hall of Fame tag team Road Warriors/The Legion of Doom, has died. He was 60.
Animal’s death was confirmed via his Twitter account in the following brief statement: “At this time, we would like to confirm the passing of Joseph Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal at the age of 60. The family is planning to release a statement later today. At this time we ask for you to keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers. #OhWhatARush”
A cause of death is not currently known.
https://twitter.com/RWAnimal/status/1308747451415830529
Forming in 1983 via manager Paul Ellering, Road Warriors Animal and Hawk (Michael Hegstrand, who passed away in 2003 at age 46) remain one of the most iconic tag teams in wrestling history. They won nearly every major tag team title throughout their career and were the first tag team to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship, the WCW World Tage Team Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship. The Road Warriors, along with manager, Ellering, were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
Shortly after news of his passing spread, #RIPAnimal became the number one trend in the United States as wrestlers and fans alike took to Twitter to pay their respects.
WWE is saddened to learn that Joe Laurinaitis, known to WWE fans as Road Warrior Animal, has passed away.
— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2020
WWE extends its condolences to Laurinaitis' family, friends and fans. https://t.co/hurorEDVff
AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary Road Warrior Animal, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. pic.twitter.com/xAzwv8gngw
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 23, 2020
Shocked to hear of the passing of @RWAnimal.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) September 23, 2020
An iconic figure in our business who I was looking forward to seeing this Saturday night in Jackson, Tennessee at the @JerryLawler celebration.
Condolences to Joe’s family and friends. 🙏🤠
I’ve often been asked ...
— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) September 23, 2020
“Who is the greatest Tag Team of All Time?”
The answer has always been the same.
Rest in Power brother. 💪🏽
My sincere condolences to family, friends and fans of Animal all around the world. #RIPAnimal pic.twitter.com/hQ2Av7xw1X
MY 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, 2020
https://twitter.com/Maffewgregg/status/1308756730407514112
https://twitter.com/FrankieKazarian/status/1308757590235635718
Just found out that Road Warrior Animal has left us. Very sad to hear this, always such a nice guy whenever I would see him. So, I have a Tasmanian Devil tattoo on my right arm, he was my inspiration to get that before I started wrestling training. #RIP pic.twitter.com/iynxmE8pkb
— taz (@OfficialTAZ) September 23, 2020
Devastated to hear about the passing of Road Warrior Animal 💔 pic.twitter.com/PbfVqcpXbC
— Dave LaGreca (@davidlagreca1) September 23, 2020
As a kid, I played with my Hasbro Legion of Doom figures more than any others. The spikes had all broken off after a day. Nobody matched the intensity or physicality of the Road Warriors. Put simply, he was one half of the greatest tag team of all time. RIP Road Warrior Animal. pic.twitter.com/yU0nlPo2I1
— Adam Pacitti (@adampacitti) September 23, 2020
Road Warrior Animal was an icon. A towering figure. The Legion of Doom forever shaped tag wrestling. Despite this legendary status, he was always a humble & gracious person to work with and he had a true passion for this business. #RIPAnimal
— WWE Creative Humor (a sub of TKO Creative Humor) (@WWECreative_ish) September 23, 2020
Just found out that Road Warrior Animal has left us. Very sad to hear this, always such a nice guy whenever I would see him. So, I have a Tasmanian Devil tattoo on my right arm, he was my inspiration to get that before I started wrestling training. #RIP pic.twitter.com/iynxmE8pkb
— taz (@OfficialTAZ) September 23, 2020
RIP such a nice dude, would always let me mess around with his shoulder pads which weighed half of me.... https://t.co/OVcC4zP4MB
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) September 23, 2020
We're saddened to learn of the passing of Road Warrior Animal, a true legend of professional wrestling. Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to his loved ones at the time. pic.twitter.com/QqwxGimSHR
— PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated) (@OfficialPWI) September 23, 2020
I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to hear @RWAnimal’s great stories and to get to know a guy I idolized as a kid. He was strong, funny, brilliant, and a true brother. Thank you Animal! Sending all my love to his family and friends worldwide.
— Matt Sydal (@MattSydal) September 23, 2020
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