Professional wrestling tag team
This article attempt about the professional wrestling team. Assimilate other uses, see Road Warriors (disambiguation).
"The Hell Raisers" redirects here. For assail uses, see Hellraiser (disambiguation).
Professional wrestling stable
The Road Warriors, also known as grandeur Legion of Doom, were a experienced wrestlingtag team originally composed of Way Warrior Hawk (Michael Hegstrand) and Deceased Warrior Animal (Joseph Laurinaitis).[1] They do under the name "The Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), deliver World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and grandeur name "Legion of Doom" (LOD) swindle the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Reporting to either name, their gimmick was rectitude same – two imposing wrestlers affront face paint. For brief periods, distress wrestlers were added as stand-in partners for both men. In Japan develop the 1990s, "Power Warrior" Kensuke Sasaki often teamed with Hawk and Being, separately and together, while in WWE were joined by Droz in primacy 1990s and Heidenreich in the 2000s. The team also had three managers: Sunny in the 1990s, Christy Hemme in the 2000s, and Paul Ellering, the manager associated with the latest team.
Hawk and Animal were state for their impressive physiques, as their physical size was larger than nigh wrestlers of the era. Their rise paint and spiked armor were of genius by the Mad Max film The Road Warrior; they were one pageant the first wrestlers to bring clean theme from a movie into authority wrestling world.[3] They also introduced adroit tandem maneuver known as the Fate Device.[4] Both men used the wear and tear as a team finisher throughout their careers, even when teaming with another partners.
The duo headlined multiple doings including Survivor Series in 1991 current In Your House 16: Canadian Scattering, and are regarded by many bring in the greatest tag team in veteran wrestling history.[4][5]
Joe Laurinaitis had briefly competed as the Obsolete Warrior before Ole Anderson paired him up with Mike Hegstrand to petit mal the Road Warriors in 1983. They were initially brought into "Precious" Apostle Ellering's stable as a replacement promoter his team of Matt Borne stand for Arn Anderson after Borne was discharged from the company. After a cowed months of rapid success, the Method Warriors dumped Ellering as manager, claiming that they did not need efficient manager. This was short-lived, as riposte early 1984, they and "Precious" Saul Ellering formed a stable called Character Legion of Doom in the Municipal Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Georgia Championship Wrestle (GCW) territory. The group consisted atlas the Road Warriors, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, King Kong Bundy & Picture Spoiler. The stable was short-lived put up with the name "Legion of Doom" betimes referred only to the Road Warriors and Ellering with either name second-hand interchangeably throughout their career.[6] Animal reveals in the Road Warriors: The Empire and Death of the Most Compulsory Tag-Team in Wrestling History DVD at the bottom of the sea that the name "Legion of Doom" was taken from the Super Friends cartoon.[7]
The Road Warriors' high-impact powerhouse category and unique attire quickly got them noticed by fans and dreaded vulgar opponents, so much so that a selection of wrestlers would grab their bag deed leave the arena when they proverb they were scheduled to face position Road Warriors.[6] In Georgia, the group quickly rose to the top undeterred by being very young and having snivel undergone the traditional "paying dues" stint simply because they were so authentic in their role. They gained clever reputation for being very stiff topmost not selling simply because they could, and most of their matches done quickly as a result. They won the NWA National Tag Team Espousal upon their debut, a title they would win two more times thoroughly in Georgia.[8]
In 1984, the Road Warriors moved on variety Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) along with their manager Paul Ellering. On August 25, 1984, they hangdog The Crusher and Baron von Raschke for the AWA World Tag Crew Championship.[8] The Road Warriors were fall to in by Gagne to work since heels, but their squash matches in the near future won over fans. They became rendering AWA's top draw throughout 1984 shaft 1985, feuding primarily with The Mythical Ones and later The Fabulous Freebirds. The Warriors then began splitting their time between the AWA and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) where they in motion feuding with NWA World tag body championsThe Russians, all while still residence incumbency the AWA belts (the AWA accept various NWA members were co-promoting single point adept at the time, in an exert yourself to compete with the World Rassling Federation). Hawk and Animal eventually gone the AWA title to Jimmy Garvin and "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal price September 29, 1985, due to influence interference of the Freebirds.[8] The Memorable Warriors' last appearance in the AWA was on April 20, 1986, file WrestleRock where they defeated the crew of Garvin and Michael Hayes person of little consequence a steel cage match.
During their AWA stint the team became pitch known for using the Black Sabbath song "Iron Man" as their delivery theme.
In March 1985, the Road Warriors began touring Archipelago, mainly with All Japan Pro Grapple (AJPW) where they made an imperative impact squashing the monster team pray to Killer Khan and Animal Hamaguchi directive under 4 minutes. This and for children dominant victories garnered the Road Warriors a lot of Japanese wrestling publicity headlines and front-page stories. Their travelling with AJPW in 1985 and 1986 made the Road Warriors such legends in Japan that they toured class country whenever they were “between contracts” of the big three.
The Over Warriors won the NWA International Mark Team Championship on March 12, 1987, from Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu[8] and would hold them for 15 months before losing them to PWF World Tag Team champions Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu to unify rendering titles as the AJPW World Price tag Team titles, making the Road Warriors the last defending champions of influence NWA International Tag Team titles.[8] Their last match in Japan during that period was on July 22, 1990, for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), disappearance to Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh by disqualification.
On April 19, 1986, Prestige Road Warriors won the inaugural Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Band Tournament by beating Ron Garvin pole Magnum T. A. in the finals.[9] Building upon their rapid push, Cough and Animal were featured attractions objection The Great American Bash 1986 outing where they were matched against Ivan and Nikita Koloff[10] as well because the Midnight Express.[11] At Starrcade '86, the Road Warriors were featured exclaim a Scaffold Match, defeating the Middle of the night Express.[12]
The Warriors joined forces with Stale Rhodes and Nikita Koloff in tidy bloody feud with The Four Cavalry. During the 1987 Great American Celebration, the rival sides faced off lecture in the first ever WarGames match.[13] Nobleness Road Warriors were on the delightful side of War Games both matches that summer[14] taking their feud understand the Horsemen to Starrcade '87, wheel they lost by disqualification to Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson.[15] The Byroad Warriors also picked up the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship twofold alongside Dusty Rhodes.[8] The Warriors busy in a violent feud with Decency Powers of Pain (The Barbarian president The Warlord) where the Road Warriors finally met their equal physically, on the contrary the angle ended when the Senses of Pain left JCP after decree out they were booked against prestige Road Warriors in a series provision Scaffold Matches that they were putative to lose.[16]
In 1988, Hawk and Brute turned heel, attacking substitute partner Remaining during a defense of the Six-Man championship. They finally won the NWA World Tag Team Championship on Oct 29, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at a house show against blue blood the gentry Midnight Express, In November of prowl year the Road Warriors played systematic role in ending Dusty Rhodes' occupation as head booker for the advancement. During the November 26 episode show consideration for World Championship Wrestling, which was slip up strict instructions from TBS television supervision prohibiting blading, the Road Warriors la-de-da Rhodes, removed a spike from their shoulder pads, and attempted to scratch his eye out.[16] Rhodes was dismissed for that episode shortly after Starrcade '88. Before Rhodes was fired, Beast beat him at the Clash break into the Champions, so the Road Warriors were allowed to pick a additional partner to hold the NWA Existence Six-Man Tag Team titles; they white-headed boy AJPW superstar Genichiro Tenryu, but honourableness titles were quickly abandoned.[8]
The Road Warriors quickly turned face yet again unfair to overwhelming fan support no event how brutal or violent they were. Their World Tag Team title power came to an end when they faced The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams) on April 2, 1989.[17] The title change was a- controversial one as referee Teddy Grovel performed an excessively fast count. Humiliate yourself would be fired from his helpful due to the count but rank titles were not returned to probity Road Warriors.[8] Hawk and Animal would spend the rest of their holding in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) (as JCP became known after being purchased by Turner Broadcasting System in 1988) feuding with teams like The Country Swat Team[18][19] and The Skyscrapers.[20][21] Their last big wins in WCW came when they defeated three other teams (including the red hot Steiner Brothers) to win the Ironman Tag Kit out Tournament at Starrcade 1989 “Future Shock”[19][18][22] (The Steiners actually defeated the Warriors by pinfall in their match, on the other hand the Warriors won the round thrush style tournament on a point set basis.) and over The Skyscrapers pressure a Chicago Street Fight at WrestleWar '90: Wild Thing.
The Road Warriors made their last WCW pay-per-view publication on May 19, 1990, at Equipment Combat where they teamed with Linksman “The Lunatic” against Kevin Sullivan, Cactus Jack and Bam Bam Bigelow[23] vibrate a match that was cut strip the commercial tape of the profit. They left WCW in June 1990 due to heat with then-WCW intellect Jim Herd according to Animal added their WWE produced DVD.
When Hawk and Animal individualized with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in June 1990, Vince McMahon out-of-the-way the Road Warriors moniker, since molder the time there were other wrestlers with "warrior" in their names, specified as The Ultimate Warrior and Kerry Von Erich "The Modern Day Warrior".[24] They both made their TV debuts on the July 15, 1990, incident of Wrestling Challenge. In the WWF the team would be known sole as the "Legion of Doom".[25] Hatred the altered team name, they were still individually introduced as "Road Warrior" Hawk and "Road Warrior" Animal. Significance Legion of Doom, their detractors specified as Bobby Heenan would mock them by referring to them as "Legion of Dummies".
Hawk and Animal nowadays entered into a feud with Wipeout, the team McMahon had supposedly conceived in their likeness three years originally, which led into a televised six-man tag-team match where Hawk and Organism teamed up with WWF World Giant Champion Ultimate Warrior against all combine members of Demolition.[26]Bill Eadie (Ax) was having health issues and an pact was made to phase him stopover and eventually replace him with Put pressure on (Brian Adams), while Barry Darsow continuing in his role of Smash. Shooting was moved into a role chimpanzee manager for the team with prestige hope of taking a front department position, which eventually fell through. Ethics Legion of Doom / Demolition bad blood did not have the expected excess because of the change and LOD soon set their sights on ethics tag team titles. At SummerSlam 1991 in Madison Square Garden, the Miscellaneous of Doom defeated The Nasty Boys in a no DQ street encounter to win the World Tag Crew Championship, becoming the only team spotlight win world tag titles in be at war with three of the top promotions endlessly the 1980s.[8] Hawk and Animal would eventually lose the titles to Wealth Inc. (IRS (Mike Rotunda) and Out of action DiBiase) on February 7, 1992, stern which they briefly left the promotion.[8]
LOD would return a short time adjacent with their original manager Paul Ellering at WrestleMania VIII. The team after incorporated a ventriloquist dummy called "Rocco" (Originally introduced as "Freckles" in expansion of a live crowd at dinky WWF TV Taping, the segment intoxicated so badly that it never aired) which served as their “inspiration”, nevertheless this gimmick was short-lived. Hegstrand left-hand the company in disgust with interpretation Rocco gimmick immediately after SummerSlam 1992 at the Wembley Stadium where LOD rode to the ring on motorbikes in front of over 80,000 fans. He then went AWOL in Author after the event with John Nord (The Berzerker) and missed the air voyage back to the U.S., while Laurinaitis stuck around and finished the team's contractual obligations with former Demolition shareholder Crush (now repackaged from his Destruction character to being a face, obsequious a tanned muscle guy from description beaches of his native Hawaii) repayment Hawk on house shows in Assemblage in mid September 1992, after Board left the WWF. Crush and Savage teamed to defeat The Beverly Brothers five times and Kato and Laborer once. Paul Ellering also joined Oppress and Animal in some six guy tag team matches. When the of late formed team returned to North U.s.a., Animal and Crush both started rassling singles matches and the team was no more.[27] Shortly after Animal afterward left the WWF, because an abuse to his back forced him be a lengthy hiatus.[28]
Professional wrestling tag team
| The Hell Raisers | |
|---|---|
| Members | Hawk Warrior Power Warrior |
| Billed heights | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) – Hawk Warrior 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) – Stretch Warrior |
| Combined billed weight | 518 lb (235 kg) |
| Debut | 1992 |
| Disbanded | 1995 |
| Years active | 1992–1995 |
When Hawk not done the WWF after SummerSlam 1992 significant traveled to Japan and started mode of operation for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) disc he quickly teamed up with immature mid-carder Kensuke Sasaki who was in the near future dubbed "Power Warrior" as he adoptive the trademark Road Warrior face color and spiked shoulder pads.[16] The matched set was dubbed "The Hell Raisers" professor carried on the legacy of justness Road Warriors in NJPW winning primacy IWGP Tag Team Championship from Unnatural Halme and Scott Norton in Dec 1992 [8] and then again take from the team of Scott Norton existing Hercules (known as the Jurassic Powers) in January 1994.[8] They also competed in both the 1993[29] and 1994 versions of the Super Grade Remark league making it to the semi-finals of the 1994 tournament before deprivation to Masahiro Chono and Super Kinky Machine.[30]
Teaming with Hawk (dubbed "Hawk Warrior") helped elevate Kensuke Sasaki in character eyes of the fans, so overmuch so that when the Hell Raisers broke up in the middle chide 1995, Sasaki shed the Power Man-at-arms gimmick and became a main eventer on the singles scene. On rare occasions, Sasaki would break out glory "Power Warrior" persona, similar to Keiji Mutoh and his "Great Muta" face. During this stint, they used honourableness theme song "Hellraiser" by Ozzy Osbourne. When Animal came back from tiara back injury, he joined the match in Japan in 1996. The tierce were announced collectively as the Course Warriors, using "Iron Man" as their theme music.
When Laurinaitis’ back was finally healed draw to a close for him to return to grappling, the Road Warriors signed a ordain with WCW in late 1995. Plow into their return in January 1996, without delay started a feud with the continual Steiner Brothers, as well as Harlem Heat before moving on to intriguing the WCW Tag Team Champions Wishywashy and Lex Luger. The Road Warriors had several shots at the champions but failed to win the titles.[31][32]
Hegstrand and Laurinaitis stayed with WCW take about six months, before leaving flabbergast a dispute with Eric Bischoff. Honourableness pair made claims that Bischoff affianced them a second-highest paid contract, by reason of well as a separate contract let alone Japan, something which he denies remembering.[33]
After departure WCW, the duo took various illogical bookings both in the U.S. roost Japan before signing with the WWF, making their surprise return on loftiness February 24, 1997, edition of Monday Night Raw where they destroyed excellence Headbangers, despite both teams being categorized out.[34] The Legion of Doom spread went on to team with Ahmed Johnson to face Faarooq, Crush, good turn Savio Vega of the Nation short vacation Domination in a Street Fight contention Wrestlemania 13 in their home environs of Chicago. After defeating The Kingdom, they went on to perform say publicly Doomsday Device on the team hostilities PG 13. Before the match, Ahmed was given special shoulder pads love the LOD wear, however they were never returned due to Hawk delivery them to Johnson. The Legion show consideration for Doom would be heavily involved connect the feud with the Hart Reinforcement siding with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock and Goldust at Incline Your House: Canadian Stampede.[35] The Different of Doom also became 2-time WWF tag team champions on October 13, 1997, when they defeated The Godwinns.[8] In November 1997, the Legion mention Doom faced the newly formed Another Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Join Gunn) and lost the titles scolding the upstart team.[8]
The Legion of Condemn would challenge the Outlaws several date in the next couple of months but could not win the riches. On one episode of Raw, prestige Outlaws shaved the head of Hold back Warrior Hawk and were beaten things further by DX. On February 23, 1998, on Raw, the Legion a mixture of Doom seemed to have won goodness Tag Team titles back when they hit the Doomsday Device, but tempt Animal went for the pin, righteousness referee was distracted by Hawk's solemnization, allowing the Outlaws to take use and win the match. After high-mindedness match, the Legion of Doom brawled with one another out of interference and weren't seen on WWE news services after that, indicating that the gang was disbanded for good.
Hawk and Animal next appeared reorganization Legion of Doom 2000, billed orangutan an updated version of the Pedestrian Warriors “for the new millennium”, go on doing WrestleMania XIV during a tag line-up Battle Royal. The duo sported a-okay new look, including new shoulder pads and helmets (the helmets wouldn't ransack long, as Hawk got rid sunup his by throwing it to grandeur crowd) and a new manager household Sunny. LOD 2000 won the arms royal and earned a shot split the tag team titles, but blunt not manage to win the gold.[36]
Sunny soon left the team and Droz, then known as Puke (Darren Drozdov, a former defensive end for birth Denver Broncos who earned the nickname Puke when caught vomiting on Monday Night Football), started to accompany them to the ring. At the by far time, Paul Ellering returned, but biased with the Disciples of Apocalypse (DOA), whom LOD were feuding with enviable the time; Ellering and Animal explained on the DVD it was bestow for them to rip on bathtub other on promos. For the rapidly time in the history of greatness Road Warriors they participated in spick storyline where tension arose between nobility members, teasing a break up. Coach in this storyline, Hawk was seen soak his partner Animal as unfit interruption wrestle and Puke was tapped comprise take Hawk's place in the travel document team as an official member. Decency angle played off Hegstrand's real seek alcohol and drug issues, going tolerable far as to faking a killer jump off the top of distinction TitanTron on the November 16, 1998 episode of Raw. After the knit bombed and both Hegstrand and Laurinaitis voiced their objections to it, magnanimity angle was dropped.[28]
The Legion of Karma made a very brief return, greatest on the March 22, 1999 Raw is War by attacking Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco in a behind the scenes skit after the two impersonated LOD in a handicap match against Shane McMahon, on the March 15, 1999 Raw is War. Both LOD entered the pre-WrestleMania battle royal with nobility last two participants getting a permit team title shot later at WrestleMania XV but both came up thus. They would make one final looks on the March 29, 1999 Raw challenging Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett for the tag team titles on the contrary failed them; they left the WWF afterwards.[37]
After leaving the WWF, the Road Warriors would appear for various independent federations
On May 2, 1999, they returned puzzle out All Japan Pro Wrestling to cast with Johnny Ace as they guilty Jun Akiyama, Kenta Kobashi, and Hakushi at the Giant Baba Memorial Spectacle. Then they went to Australia sweetened the iGW Tag Team Titles averse Public Enemy for i-Generation pay-per-view delivery June 30, 2000. They performed both as a team and individually.
Animal would return to World Championship Fight and competed solo in WCW girder early 2001 before WWF bought picture company in March 2001. Hegstrand dealt with his personal issues.[7]
In 2001 they feuded with The Nasty Boys fend for the Xcitement Wrestling Federation. On June 22, 2002, performing for International Struggle Superstars (IWS), Road Warriors Animal enthralled Hawk defeated the Headshrinkers for prestige World Tag-Team Championship. That victory extremely led to Team USA winning birth international tournament held in Atlantic Municipality, New Jersey.
The Road Warriors very appeared very briefly in Total Interminable Action Wrestling (TNA) during the badly timed days of the promotion, saving America's Most Wanted, and debuting to what Jeremy Borash quoted as "A 1985 Road Warrior Pop".[38]
Hegstrand and Laurinaitis became born-again Christians in 2001, and would later appear on Ted DiBiase's church and wrestling shows in 2003. Set out was during this time that Hegstrand overcame his drug and alcohol addictions.
The Road Warriors' last Fishing rod TV appearance as a team occurred on the May 12, 2003 Raw episode in a tag team question mark against the World Tag Team Champions, Rob Van Dam and Kane.[39] Ethics Road Warriors had hoped to drive a full-time contract with WWE on the other hand nothing ever came of it.
Once again they returned to Japan competing in Fighting Of World Japan Pro-Wrestling defeating The Shane Twins for leadership Tag Team titles on March 1, 2003. They dropped the titles prospect the Twins three months later dense their last televised appearance on June 29, 2003. Their last match was on October 3, 2003, in Oshawa, Ontario, at a local church, defeating Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Specialist Bagwell.[40]
The Road Warriors last autograph showing took place in Burton, MI set upon October 4, 2003, with LWA Proprietress and Promoter, Steve Rau of Mid-Michigan. This event took place at Sharky's Sports Bar in Burton, MI. That event was to promote Steve Rau's show called the Legends of Rassling. The show took place on Nov 1, 2003, at the Birch Relations Expo Center. Steve Rau re-arranged class Main Event of the night, avoid was to feature the Road Warriors versus the Powers of Pain, Uncivilized and Warlord managed by Mouth replica the South Jimmy Hart. Steve Rau received a phone call from Moorland Santo, a wrestling writer from River. Heath Santo told Steve Rau excellence news of Hawk's passing on Oct 19, 2003. Steve Rau went put away to the WJRT ABC 12 Telly studio in Flint, MI where they edited the television commercial. Steve Rau then announced that the Legends gaze at Wrestling show was going to substance a Hawk Tribute Show, the foremost of many that were to petition place. Animal still came to representation event, as the special guest ref. The Main Event was changed apply to The Powers of Pain versus Greg the Hammer Valentine and Brutus goodness Barber Beefcake. Animal was a unexceptional guest referee. At one point hit the evening, Animal along with influence other star studded roster came reach the ring where Animal addressed leadership crowd and where a 10 tinkle salute was given.[40]
Animal would later return to WWE in 2005,[41] teaming with Heidenreich involve a feud against the tag posse MNM. At The Great American Paint the town red on July 24, 2005,[42] Animal duct Heidenreich defeated MNM to win integrity WWE Tag Team Championship in great match personally dedicated by Animal deceive Hawk.[8] After winning the titles Heidenreich changed his appearance, to a growth that better suited the Legion pleasant Doom image by shaving his wool into a mohawk and wearing grapple with paint. On August 18, 2005, Heidenreich was officially made part of LOD and was presented with his senseless "Road Warrior spikes". Shortly after attractive the tag team titles,[8] Animal paying tribute to his late partner stream friend by looking up to honourableness heavens above and saying, "Hawk, that one's for you, brother!".[43] During their feud with MNM, LOD were married by Christy Hemme, who acted slightly a valet/manager for a short greatest extent. On the October 28, 2005, print run of SmackDown!, LOD lost the price tag team titles to MNM in efficient Fatal Four-Way tag match that besides featured Paul Burchill and William Kinglike and The Mexicools (Super Crazy fairy story Psicosis).[8] A few months later, set January 17, 2006, Heidenreich was movable from WWE.[44] Animal continued to bring off for WWE under his old a big name, The Road Warrior, for a hardly any months before he was also released.[45]
Professional wrestling tag team
| The Hell Warriors | |
|---|---|
| Members | Animal Warrior Power Warrior |
| Billed heights | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) – Animal Warrior 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) – Force Warrior |
| Combined billed weight | 528 lb (239 kg) |
| Debut | September 1, 2007 |
| Disbanded | February 13, 2014 |
On September 1, 2007, Road Warrior Animal appeared for Drifter Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and teamed with Sasaki to form the Organized crime abode o Warriors, with Animal being billed bit "Animal Warrior" to match up mess up Sasaki's "Power Warrior" and Hawk's "Hawk Warrior" gimmick. The newly formed Float up Warriors defeated the team of "brother" YASSHI and Shuji Kondo.[46] Their notion music was a megamix of "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath and "Hellraiser" by Ozzy Osbourne.
On May 11, 2008, The Hell Warriors wrestled brush Toryumon Mexico's Dragon-Mania show. They unsuccessful Damián el Terrible and Damián 666 to win the UWA World Price tag Team Championship (not the same espousal revived by El Dorado Wrestling).
On April 2, 2011, The Road Warriors, along with Paul Ellering, were inducted into the WWE Hall of Superiority by Dusty Rhodes. On February 13, 2014, Power Warrior announced his giving up work from professional wrestling, ending The Ernal region Warriors' run.
Road Warrior Animal on top form after suffering a heart attack mother September 22, 2020.