Joseph Laurinaitis became famous as the Road Warrior Animal. Now the US wrestler has died at the age of 60.
The wrestling scene has lost one of its legendary members. Joseph "Joe" Laurinaitis aka Road Warrior Animal died at the age of 60. The news was confirmed on Wednesday (23 September) on the athlete's official Twitter account. Hulk Hogan (67), also a former professional wrestler, had previously said goodbye to Road Warrior Animal. On Twitter he wrote: "I love you, my brother. I know you and Hawk still have a lot of unfinished business to deal with! God bless your wonderful family."
Laurinaitis and Michael Hegstrand (1957-2003) alias Hawk appeared together as "The Road Warriors" since the 1980s, and the duo was also known as the "Legion of Doom". Hegstrand died of a heart attack in 2003, and the two athletes were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
"The most popular and feared team of all time"
The WWE also pays tribute to the late wrestling star. She speaks of Road Warrior Animal and Hawk as "arguably the most successful, most popular and most feared team of all time". The lines published also read: "With their intimidating face paint, their metal-tipped outfits and an impressive series of power moves, the duo captured titles and annihilated their opponents wherever they were."
Details of Road Warrior Animals' death are not yet known. His family wants to make another statement soon, it says on the Twitter account.