Wrestling World Reacts to Death of Joe ‘Road Warrior Animal’ Laurinaitis

Tributes poured in for Joe “Road Warrior Animal” Laurinaitis after his death on Wednesday.

Courtesy of WWE

Tributes poured in from around the wrestling world for Joe “Road Warrior Animal” Laurinaitis after his death on Wednesday.

Laurinaitis, 60, teamed with Mike “Road Warrior Hawk” Hegstrand for two decades in numerous wrestling promotions, most notably the WWF. Their Mad Max-inspired entrance gear and unmistakable theme music made them one of the most popular tag teams of their era. They won the WWF tag team championship twice and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, eight years after Hegstrand’s death. 

After the news of his death, many of Laurinaitis’s former colleagues and the performers of today who grew up idolizing him paid tribute to him on social media. 

The Road Warriors were a team who personified excitement, physicality, and the undeniable ability to energize the crowd. @StephMcMahon and I join the Superstars, legends, and our @WWE fans in offering our condolences to the Joe Laurinaitis’ family at this difficult time. https://t.co/pDu4BH77uY

— Triple H (@TripleH) September 23, 2020

Today we lost the engine of the train
LOD. Animal was a partner, warrior, and friend. He will be welcomed home by a waiting Hawk. pic.twitter.com/pJ3BSYRSnQ

— Paul Ellering (@PaulElleringWWE) September 23, 2020

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It’s very sad to hear about the passing of Joe @RWAnimal Laurinaitis today. Animal & Hawk took tag team wrestling by storm & made it cool as hell. Thank you for paving the way. We’re gonna miss you, Joe. My thoughts are with the Laurinaitis family today. #RIPAnimal pic.twitter.com/jBP9q4goKw

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) September 23, 2020

Just found out that Road Warrior Animal has left us. Very sad to hear this, always such a nice guy whenever I would see him. So, I have a Tasmanian Devil tattoo on my right arm, he was my inspiration to get that before I started wrestling training. #RIP pic.twitter.com/iynxmE8pkb

— taz (@OfficialTAZ) September 23, 2020

AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary Road Warrior Animal, our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. pic.twitter.com/xAzwv8gngw

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 23, 2020

The greatest tag team of all time was the Road Warriors. Often imitated, never duplicated. Loved both of them as friends and idolized both as the GOATs. RIP Animal-love you my brother, my condolences to everyone affected by this tragic loss. pic.twitter.com/pf2DshCSnB

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) September 23, 2020

Shocked to hear of the passing of @RWAnimal.

An iconic figure in our business who I was looking forward to seeing this Saturday night in Jackson, Tennessee at the @JerryLawler celebration.

Condolences to Joe’s family and friends. 🙏🤠

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) September 23, 2020

I’m totally shocked to hear my friend and brother in Christ, Road Warrior Animal, has passed away. My thoughts and prayers as well as my heart, go out to the family. RIP my friend. 🙏

— Ted DiBiase (@MDMTedDiBiase) September 23, 2020

Very Saddened To Hear of The Passing of “Animal” Joe Laurinaitis This Morning & That Was NOT A ”Rush” For ME😢My Heart Felt Sympathies Go Out To His Loved Ones. R.I.P. My Friend 🙏🏻

— SGT SLAUGHTER (@_SgtSlaughter) September 23, 2020

Wow this shocked me... My good buddy @RWAnimal passed today. What Great guy he was! My deepest sympathies go out to Marcus & Johnny and the entire family! You will be deeply missed my brother! RIP #RoadWarriorPOP Love you bro DDP pic.twitter.com/RWUpmbsU7p

— Diamond Dallas Page (@RealDDP) September 23, 2020

I got to know Jess and James, Animal's kids, because we all went to the same high school. Animal would periodically come by the school and I would and tell him how I wanted to be a wrestler too. He was very encouraging. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Animal. https://t.co/y1DOmm9ftV

— Ariya Daivari (@AriyaDaivari) September 23, 2020

I’ve often been asked ...

“Who is the greatest Tag Team of All Time?”

The answer has always been the same.

Rest in Power brother. 💪🏽

My sincere condolences to family, friends and fans of Animal all around the world. #RIPAnimal pic.twitter.com/hQ2Av7xw1X

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) September 23, 2020

The Afterlife needed their Survivor Series team. #RestInPower 😢 pic.twitter.com/lEsBUv2VOV

— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) September 23, 2020

The Road Warriors were one of my favorite tag-teams, destroying theirs opponents with overwhelming strength and power. RIP, Animal. https://t.co/Se4ZVDo6rt

— Kane (@KaneWWE) September 23, 2020

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Laurinaitis’s two brothers, John (aka Johnny Ace) and Marcus (aka Terminator), were also professional wrestlers. John continues to work in a backstage role with WWE. Laurinaitis was also the father of former Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis.