Joe Laurinaitis was an American professional wrestler. Furthermore, Joe Laurinaitis was better known as Road Warrior Animal or simply Animal. He wrestled in various wrestling promotions, including the WWF, WCW, NWA, AWA, and others, as a member of the tag team The Road Warriors/The Legion of Doom.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Joe Laurinaitis |
|---|---|
| Born Date: | 12 Sep 1960 |
| Age: | 64 years |
| Horoscope: | Virgo |
| Lucky Number: | 10 |
| Lucky Stone: | Sapphire |
| Lucky Color: | Green |
| Best Match for Marriage: | Taurus, Capricorn |
| Death Date: | September 22, 2020 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Wrestler |
| Country: | America |
| Height: | 6 feet 1 inches (1.85m) |
| Marital Status: | divorce |
| Divorce | Julie Laurinaitis |
| Net Worth | $3 million |
| Eye Color | brown |
| Hair Color | bald |
| Birth Place | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | Irondale High School |
| Father | Joseph Anthony Laurinaitis |
| Mother | Lorna Ann Laurinaitis |
| Siblings | John, Marcus |
| Kids | James and Jessica |
Joe Laurinaitis Biography
Joseph Michael Laurinaitis, better known as Joe Laurinaitis, was born on September 12, 1960, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was 64 years old when he died, and he was an American citizen. Furthermore, he was a Christian, and his zodiac sign is unknown. Joseph Anthony Laurinaitis (father) and Lorna Ann Laurinaitis (mother) raised him (mother).
Furthermore, he has two brothers named John and Marcus. His brother John is a former WWE wrestler and former Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. And his other brother is a former wrestler known by the ring name ‘The Terminator.’
Joe Laurinaitis Education
In terms of his educational background, he attended Irondale High School. Aside from that, there is no additional information about his educational background.
Joe Laurinaitis Height And Weight
Joe Laurinaitis stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs approximately 129 kg. Furthermore, he has brown eyes and is bald, and there is no other information about his body measurements.’
Joe Laurinaitis Death
Joe Laurinaitis died on September 22, 2020, of natural causes. He had just celebrated his 60th birthday ten days prior. He died at the age of 60 in Osage Beach, Missouri.
Career
Due to his large frame, he used to work as a bouncer at Grandma B’s in the Twin Cities in his early career. Simultaneously, he met wrestling trainer Eddie Sharkey. Joe debuted in professional wrestling in November 1982. With a motorcycle gimmick, he made his debut as The Road Warrior. Joe and Mike formed The Road Warriors with the assistance of Paul Ellering. Joe was given the moniker Animal, while Hegstrand was given the moniker Hawk.
After shaving their heads into Mohawks, the two began wearing studded dog collars, spiked shoulder pads, and face paint. The team was an instant hit. The team won the NWA National Tag Team Championship four times. Their team won more championships in larger promotions such as the American Wrestling Association in the United States and All Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan.
The Road Warriors competed for the AWA as well as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). They later signed lucrative deals with the NWA and left the AWA. The team won the inaugural Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. During their original tenure in the NWA, they helped popularize the WarGames match, the Scaffold match, and their trademark Chicago Street Fight. The Road Warriors’ feud with The Powers of Pain in 1988 caused Animal’s eye damage. (kayfabe). The two teams were supposed to play a game. The NWA, on the other hand, was left by the Powers of Pain.
The Road Warriors won the NWA World Tag Team Championship in 1988. The Road Warriors left NWA in 1990 due to disagreements with Jim Herd. The team was awarded a contract with the WWF in 1990. Their name was the Legion of Doom. When the duo first entered the WWF, they had a memorable feud with Demolition of the Road Warrior Clones. The Legion of Doom won the WWF Tag Team Championship in 1991. After losing the belts, they left the WWF. They eventually returned to WWF, accompanied by a wooden ventriloquist named “Rocco,” whom they despised.
Hawk resigned from the WWF after the SummerSlam in 1992. Joe was alone for the first time in nine years. Furthermore, he fought alone until his WWF contract expired. Due to a legitimate back problem, he resigned from wrestling in September 1992. In 1993, he made a few non-wrestling appearances in WCW. He also made an appearance at Clash of the Champions XXIV. He worked as an advisor to Sting’s team at Fall Brawl in September 1993. He avoided the ring by collecting on a Lloyd’s of London insurance policy. After fully recovering from a back injury, he rejoined Hawk and signed a contract with WCW.
In 1996, the Road Warriors fought alongside the Steiner Brothers. The Road Warriors never won a championship and were released from the WCW in June 1996. They returned to the WWF in 1997 to compete in the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Hart Foundation feud. When the Legion of Doom defeated The Godwinns in October 1997, they became the tag team champions for the second time. They were dethroned in November 1997 by the newly formed New Age Outlaws. The L.O.D. was relaunched as Legion of Doom 2000 after several failed challenges.
In 1998, the Legion of Doom embarked on their most contentious plot line, which was based on Hegstrand’s real-life drug and alcohol addiction. While Hawk dealt with personal issues, the team gained a third member, Puke. They eventually decided to leave the WWF. Even though their partnership never formally ended, the animal began making solo appearances. In 1999, the Road Warriors competed in the AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Show.
The Road Warriors wrestled for i-Generation Superstars of Wrestling in Australia in 2000, where they competed for the i-Generation Tag Titles against The Public Enemy. Animal also wrestled for Battlearts in Japan as Animal Warrior in 2000, teaming up with Alexander Otsuka. Animal returned to WCW in January 2001 as the “enforcer” of The Magnificent Seven group. His mission was to stop WCW World Champion Scott Steiner from defending his title. The Magnificent split up soon after Vince McMahon purchased WCW in March 2001. Animal’s contract was not chosen. Animal reunited with Hawk at Jersey Championship Wrestling on September 8, 2001, defeating the Moondogs 2000 in Lodi, New Jersey.
Animal returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002 as Animal Warrior, collaborating with Keiji Muto. The Road Warriors last appeared in Fighting of World Japan Pro Wrestling in 2003, where they feuded with the Shane Twins. Animal’s long-time companion, the Hawk, died on October 19, 2003. He continued his single wrestling career. MNM was defeated for the WWE Tag Team Championship by Animal and Heidenreich.
Joe was released from his WWE contract in June 2006. On May 11, 2008, Animal and Power Warrior defeated Damián 666 and El Terrible to win the UWA Tag titles at Toryumon Mexico Dragonmania III in Mexico City, Mexico. Furthermore, Animal announced his retirement from wrestling in 2008. The Road Warriors: Animal and Hawk were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. He returned to WWE in SmackDown in July 2012 to celebrate Raw’s 1,000th episode, defeating Heath Slater. He later appeared on WWE Raw’s 1,000th episode. Animal paid a surprise visit to All In on September 1, 2018, to kick off the tournament.
Joe Laurinaitis Net Worth
Joe Laurinaitis has won several titles as a tag team partner during his wrestling career. He did not, however, receive any major awards or recognitions until his death.
He made a good living as a wrestler for a number of wrestling companies. His net worth was estimated to be around $3 million at the time of his death.
Joe Laurinaitis Wife, Marriage
Joe Laurinaitis was married to his ex-wife Julie Laurinaitis, and they had two children: James, a son, and Jessica, a daughter. Laurinaitis, Kim Until his death, he kept his love life a secret. Furthermore, until his death, he was not involved in any controversy or rumors.
