WWE Legend Road Warrior Animal has reportedly passed away at the age of 60. Hulk Hogan was the first one to drop a tweet and thus reveal the information of the death of the old school star whose real name was Joseph Michael Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis Family is supposed to release a statement about the demise at a later point.
Road Warrior Animal has reportedly died of natural causes, according to TMZ. The source reports that he passed away at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri in the United States. Police received a call on Tuesday night at 11:49 pm from his wife. When the appointed officials reached the scene, the former WWE Superstar was already declared deceased.
WWE Legend John Cena Grabs Lead Role In Peacemaker Spin-off Series
Road Warrior Animal: Veteran WWE Superstar Passed Away; Update On Death
It was noted that Road Warrior Animal and his wife were celebrating their wedding anniversary on Wednesday before police received the call. Laurinaitis posted the tweet below expressing his joy on this special occasion saying, “Happy Anniversary baby, love you!”
Hawk (Michael Hegstrand) and Road Warrior Animal started teaming together as a tag team under the name of The Road Warriors in 1983. They were often referred to as the greatest tag team of all time. They went on to win several championships throughout their career, including the WWE/F Tag Team Championship, the NWA World Tag Team Championship, and the AWA World Tag Team Championship.
WWE Clash Of Champions 2020: Smackdown Women’s Title Match Winner Revealed
Road Warrior Animal performed with Hawk for one last time as they defeated The Shane Twins in Japan in July of 2003, months before Hawk passed away on October 19, 2003. WWE inducted the team into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2011 with Laurinaitis and Paul Ellering accepting the induction.
Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal continued to wrestle as a solo performer following his tag partner’s death. His last match went down for WWE on July 17, 2012, where he defeated Heath Slater on SmackDown. He also appeared on the 1,000th episode of RAW, a few days later while joining other WWE legends in a beat-down on Slater.
WWE has issued a statement on its official website about the Road Warrior Animal’s passing while mentioning him as one of the most intense Superstars to step in the ring.
“WWE is saddened to learn that Joe Laurinaitis, known to WWE fans as Road Warrior Animal, has passed away at the age of 60.
One of the most intense Superstars to ever step into the squared circle, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Animal spent the majority of his career alongside his tag team partner, Hawk. Together, they formed what was arguably the most successful, popular, and feared tandem of all time — The Road Warriors.
With their intimidating face paint, outfits covered in metal spikes, and an impressive array of power moves, the duo captured titles and destroyed opponents wherever they roamed. Their dominance made them so popular that the phrase “Road Warrior pop” has been used in locker rooms to describe particularly deafening reactions from the crowd ever since.”
