RIP Joe Laurinaitis

Animal from the legendary WWE Road Warriors tag team. Father of former NFL player James Laurinaitis.

He joins Hawk in WWE heaven.

WWE Legend Joseph Laurinaitis Dead At 60, 'Road Warrior Animal'

 

Rest
In
Parts Unknown

 

Saw those two at a bar once - absolute monsters.

 

Greatest tag team in pro wrestling history. RIP Joe.

 

My godfather took me to an NWA show in Greenville, South Carolina in 1987. Saw the Road Warriors beat Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. The energy they brought to that hot ass arena was crazy. From the minute "Iron Man" started playing people jumped on their feet and were screaming for the whole match. RIP Animal.

 

I saw him in a WWF six-man rag at a small arena where they teamed up with the Ultimate Warrior against Papa Shango and the Nasty Boys.

Naturally, I knew who would win, but to me, it was still a chance to see them. The entrance pop was great, of course. Sadly, all three babyfaces are no longer with us.

 

Also a fun fact from Animal’s book. Paul Ellering was legitimately the Road Warriors’ manager, not just on TV. Ellering would handle their bookings, negotiate their contracts and handle the money. Animal would handle their travel and hotel arrangements and Hawk would deal with the in-ring planning (or maybe reverse the last two, as I maybe misremembering).

 

Pretty sure Ellering talks about this (or at least his role as their real life manager) in the Dark Side of the Ring episode. I was surprised by that too.

 

Vice TV did a good episode on the Road Warriors on its Dark Side of the Ring series

 

James was also a three-time All-American at Ohio State. Keep in mind his shoulder pads were highly illegal.

 

Don't know the cause of death, but his last name does sound like a disease.

 

Isn't that what killed Barbaro?