Tag: road warrior animal

Daily Update: NJPW G1 fan fest, MJF, Road Warriors A&E doc

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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Thursday Update

Road Warrior Animal WWE
Road Warrior Animal battles D’Lo Brown. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • The Rich Eisen Show interviewed John Cena.
  • AJ Styles streamed a live Q&A edition of his Phenomenally Retro podcast.
  • Nattie shared a photo from the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles last night: “Working on my LOW-KEY LEGENDARY dreams today…”
  • Kim Laurinaitis, the widow of Road Warrior Animal, made an appearance on Busted Open Radio to discuss her criticism of A&E’s Biography: WWE Legends episode on The Road Warriors. She wishes the documentary was more positive instead of focusing on Hawk’s addiction struggles so much. And along with some inner-family squabbles affecting her view of the show, Kim did not like that Bruce Prichard was interviewed:
    • I’ll be quite honest, Bruce Prichard, I battled with him online lately. He rips my husband on his podcast a lot of times or little clips. And I’m thinking, why are you even on here talking about him? We know you don’t really care for him. So I would have rather had people that had positive things to say and really meant them.
  • On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T called Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano’s MMA fight the “biggest heist” he’s ever seen:
    • This fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, I’ve seen a lot of fights in my life. I’ve seen a lot of fights in my life. And I’ve been in the wrestling business for 35 years now. It’s three things I look for when it comes to combat, you know, when I’m in certain places, especially when I’m watching something like this. And it’s a work, it’s a worked shoot, and it’s a shoot, okay?
    • This was a worked shoot. That was not real, that thing wasn’t real. I mean, it was real as far as the takedown goes. But everything after that, it was, ‘I’m ready. I’m ready. Let’s go home.’ It was one of those type of deals. And if you go back and watch it and study it, you’re going to come to the same consensus that I’m saying right now. That fight, that was not fair. That fight was not fair for the people for Ronda Rousey to come back. And literally, that was like the biggest heist I’ve ever seen.
  • LA Taco published a story on Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins’ new coffee brand AMO.
  • Saturday Night Live cast member Michael Che was the guest on this week’s episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast.
  • WWE Vault uploaded the full “Superfan” documentary on Vladimir Abouzeide, who is battling Parkinson’s disease and was hospitalized this week due to a fall.

Other Wrestling

  • NJPW announced that, the day before night one of G1 Climax 36, the promotion will be holding a fan fest in Chicago on July 10. It will include a talk show segment as well as meet and greets with some of the G1 competitors:
    • NJPW fans! Make your plans to be in Chicago early for a special G1 Climax Fan Event ahead of opening night G1 Climax 36 action!
    • The July 10 event will feature a special talk show segment, along with two meet & greet sessions with select G1 Climax 36 participants!
    • More details are coming soon but get ready to be in Chicago for this great fan experience!
  • While speaking with The Takedown on SI, MJF said Vince McMahon is to blame for some fans being preconditioned to believe that hair match stipulations are a joke:
    • You can thank Vince McMahon for that. It wasn’t comedy in Memphis, it wasn’t comedy in World Class, it wasn’t comedy in Mexico. Listen, I can’t speak for anybody else, all I know is – I make money off of this hair. I’m in movies. I’m a top guy in this industry. And if I want to be a top guy in this industry, I can’t be bald. Bald doesn’t sell. It just doesn’t.
  • Shelton Benjamin told The Wrestling Classic that, aside from getting Cedric Alexander back in the group, Kevin Knight would be his first choice for a new Hurt Syndicate member. Benjamin sees Knight as someone who will be a star for the next 10-20 years:
    • If it were my choice today, if I said I wanted a new member in the Hurt Syndicate, the Hurt Syndicate wants a fourth member, without a doubt, my first pick would be Cedric Alexander. My second pick would be Kevin ‘Jet’ Knight.
  • Bobby Steveson (formerly known as Damon Kemp in NXT) teased an in-ring return while confirming that he was backstage at Monday’s ROH TV taping in Jacksonville: “Felt good to be back around the squared circle.. Soon?…”
  • Trevor Lee vs. Austin Aries (taped in January) will be part of the lineup for MLW Fusion’s return episode on May 30.
  • Evil Uno’s Mystery Wrestling promotion announced three new events:
    • July 25 at Bain Mathieu in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • August 29 at Big Penny Social in London, England
    • September 13 at The Rec Room in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Chris Jericho interviewed Frankie Kazarian on Talk is Jericho.
  • Comedians/wrestling fans Dan Soder & Will Sasso were guests on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.

Road Warrior Animal’s widow blasts ‘disgusting’ A&E documentary

Posted on by Joseph Currier

To put it lightly, Road Warrior Animal’s widow Kim Turman Laurinaitis wasn’t a fan of A&E’s documentary on her late husband.

A new episode of “Biography: WWE Legends” premiered on Sunday night chronicling the story of The Road Warriors, Animal (Joe Laurinaitis) & Hawk (Mike Hegstrand). Kim, who was married to Laurinaitis at the time of his death, took to Facebook shortly after the documentary began airing to state that she was not asked to be involved with the project. She called it “disgusting” and took aim at unnamed “phony” people who were interviewed:

  • For all of you, reaching out to me right now, asking if I’m part of the A&E biography….NO HIS ACTUAL WIFE (the one that was with him the [night] he died & years before) WAS NOT CONTACTED TO FILM BELIEVE IT OR NOT.. THE ONE THAT PAYS FOR THE TRADEMARKS AND IS WORKS TO CONTINUE HIS WISHES & LEGACY WITH THE LOD EXPERIENCE AND MANY OTHER THINGS BUT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT RESPECT FOR JOE AND THE LOD/ ROAD WARRIOR RIGHT??? Yeah ok believe what you want…
  • I can guarantee you my husband is NOT happy in heaven BUT his story, the REAL story and TRUTH OF ALL OF IT will come out. This is disgusting literally disgusting at his expense and I will not be quiet anymore.Shame on all involved …THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS COME OUT!! They only did it this way because he was not here, but I still am and will fight for HIS wishes!
  • Do they give out Oscar’s for acting performances in this?? WOW Some of the people on here never kept in touch, wouldn’t even walk over to speak to him, & talked so much [sh*t]! Phony asses getting their irrelevant ‘moment’

Laurinaitis’ first two wives, Nancy and Julia, were among those interviewed for the documentary. When covering Laurinaitis’ death, his daughter Jessica is the one to tell the story of what happened. Kim especially had a problem with this portion of the documentary and felt like her husband’s death was inaccurately portrayed:

  • WHAT IN THE F**K AM I WATCHING?!!! OMG I AM SO DONE. THIS IS NOT HOW MY HUSBAND DIED & FYI HE DIED 9/22 AT OUR HOTEL NOT A HOSPTIAL,THEY NEVER TOOK HIM TO A F***ING HOSPITAL, HAD TO TRY TO SAVE HIM IN OUR HOTEL ROOM!! I WAS THE ONLY 1 THERE W/PARAMEDICS… ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? I HELD HIM FOR OVER AN HR TRYING TO WAIT FOR JESSICA AND LINDSEY BOTH DAUGHTERS TO GET THERE BEFORE THEY TRANSPORTED HIM TO A FUNERAL HOME!!! WHAT THE FCK IS HAPPENING!!??? I AM ABOUT TO LOSE MY GD MIND RIGHT NOW. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MAD….
  • Can anyone tell the truth anymore???? What fake ass phony people…. People pretending to be friends people pretending to tell the truth at my husband’s expense God Almighty help you all that have you used him for the last freaking time!!!!! wow wow wow wow no words all of you know y’all just put on a fantastic performance standing ovation for that bullsh*t show!!! why didn’t we talk about how disrespected my husband was during his memorial planning, let’s talk about the struggles and how much he went through and cried over the past 10 years about how he had been treated by the people he loved so much… y’all wanna talk about sh*t that’s not true. Let’s talk about the truth!!!!!! and what was really important to Joe!!!! Shady ass produced show NOT endorced by his wife the one who pays for the trademarks, bills, taxes, etc!!!

Laurinaitis, who suffered from congestive heart failure, died of a heart attack in Osage Beach, Missouri while he and Kim were celebrating their wedding anniversary in September 2020.

The Road Warriors episode (directed by Matt Laffey) was part of season five of “Biography: WWE Legends.” The season also included a two-part documentary on The Von Erichs and an episode on The Four Horsemen. A&E producers the show in partnership with WWE.

Daily Update: Road Warrior Animal, Miro, Alexa Bliss

Posted on by F4W Staff

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

WON NEWSLETTER: September 21, 2020 Observer Newsletter: Stacked NJPW G-1, more

With a huge feature on the crazy story of the original Hollywood Blonds tag team with the death of Jerry Brown, we’ve got a double issue this week of the Observer up on the site right now. 

Our lead story looks at this year’s G-1 tournament looking at every card, the stories going into the card, the restrictions, the odds, and the new Will Ospreay, start time for every show, complete lineups, comments by Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley regarding this year’s new format. 

Also in this issue:

Update on WWE Clash of Champions, with the matches announced, updates on titles not yet announced with matches and keys to the show.

The situation with Matt Riddle and Samantha Tavel.

Daniel Cormier getting COVID and a new UFC product being pushed.

Changes at the USA Network, Sasha Banks with a major acting gig, Update on Jeff Hardy, details behind the Paul Heyman/Roman Reigns pairing, new contracts signed in WWE, wrestler teases gimmick change, Mandy Rose angle, law being talked about reglated to the Sonya Deville incident, Retribution update, this coming week’s WWE television, Randy Orton new business, Ivar injury update, Ronda Rousey update, Next NXT Takeover, weird TV moment, Sports & International ratings, Jimmy Jacobs talks WWE protocol and Vince McMahon, injury update, movie with WWE performers, market value of WWE and the most-watched shows on WWE Network.

This past week’s UFC show with the stories behind the show and match-by-match coverage.

New Japan’s last show this past week before G-1, held at Korakuen Hall, with the matches and angles and what is being pushed.

Our huge feature covers the life and career of Jerry Brown, who teamed with Buddy Roberts to form the Hollywood Blonds, one of the greatest heel tag team acts of all-time. This major feature looks at their beginnings, their heyday in Quebec and Florida, places they went, who they faced, as well as the other territories they went, championships they held, the second version of the Hollywood Blonds people don’t remember, the mentality of the act and some crazy Jerry Brown stories, with lots of comments from Bill Watts, who put the team together.

Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • More details are out regarding the death of Joe Laurinatiis, best known as Road Warrior Animal, at the age of 60. TMZ is reporting that Laurinitis died at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri on Tuesday night. His wife called law enforcement at around 11:49 PM. By the time law enforcement arrived, Laurinitis had already passed away. The cause of death is said to be natural causes.
  • WWE has released their statement regarding Road Warrior Animals death.
  • Paul Ellering, longtime manager of The Road Warriors, commented on Animal’s death: “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.”
  • This week’s episode of The Bump has Paul Heyman, Jey Uso, Alexa Bliss, and Candice LeRae.
  • Roman Reigns appeared on the The Bloodline with LLS podcast, where he spoke about his experience with leukemia. 
  • Drew McIntyre spoke to PWInsider on the Thunderdome, Keith Lee, Randy Orton, and more.
  • The first episode of Alexa Bliss’ podcast, Uncool with Alexa Bliss, is now available.
  • Bliss spoke to Vicente Beltran. When asked about Ronda Rousey, Bliss said she didn’t think things have changed much since she left. “Our whole roster is dependent on more than just one person,” she said. “There wouldn’t be an impact if it wasn’t for the women opposite of her in the ring helping her to get there. A lot of bodies laid down for her success. It just goes to show that all of our women can be main eventers and all of our women can have that spotlight.”
  • John Morrison talked to Chris Van Vliet about returning to WWE, The Austin Aries incident at Bound for Glory, The Miz, and Taya Valkyrie.
  • PWInsider is reporting that WWE filed opposition on 9/21 against Cody, who is attempting to trademark the terms “Slamboree” and “Match Beyond”. WWE stated that they bought the rights to those concepts when they purchased WCW in March of 2001. 
  • WWEShop has added a new Cameron Grimes t-shirt.
  • Angel Garza turns 28 today, while Kairi Sane turns 32.

Other Wrestling

  • Miro talked to Sports Illustrated about his release from the WWE and his new role in AEW. He also hinted that he could be appearing elsewhere. “I love professional wrestling, and it has so much left to offer me,” he said. “As soon as I got that call [from WWE], I immediately knew I wanted to go two places. The first one, I’m already here. The second, you’ll find out when the time is right.”
  • Impact announced that along with the return of Victory Road in October, Turning Point will take place in November and Final Resolution will take place in December. All three events will stream live on Impact Plus.
  • Joey Janela announced that YOSHIHIKO will be a part of his Spring Break IV event on October 10.
  • ROH uploaded footage of their COVID-19 sanitizing during their Pure tournament tapings.
  • The latest Aces High column has Hiroshi Tanahashi talking about not going on an excursion trip and ultimately deciding not to join Keiji Muto in jumping to All Japan Pro Wrestling.
  • Matt Hardy turns 46 today. AEW wished him a happy birthday in a tweet.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Kurt Angle wins WWF title at Unforgiven 2001

CONTACT INFORMATION

Road Warrior Animal passes away at 60 years old

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

The family of Joe Laurinaitis tweeted Wednesday morning that the man known to millions as Road Warrior Animal has passed away at 60 years old.

One half of the legendary Road Warriors/Legion of Doom tag team, Laurinaitis leaves behind a wife, two sons, and a daughter. The family said they will release a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Laurinaitis was trained in Minnesota by Eddie Sharkey alongside future stars Mike Hegstrand (Hawk), Richard Rood (Rick Rude), and Barry Darsow (Demolition Smash). Soon after making his debut in 1982 as The Road Warrior, manager Paul Ellering put he and Hegstrand together and renamed them. After working out some early kinks with their look, the rest is history.

The two competed in every top promotion in the world, winning nearly every tag team championship imaginable. Hegstrand’s well-documented issues with drugs and alcohol caused the two to drift apart personally and professionally before they reunited. Hegstrand died in October 2003 of a heart attack at just 46 years old.

Laurinaitis and Hegstrand were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Through the latter years of his career and during his time away from Hegstrand, Laurinaitis was active as a singles wrestler with short runs in WWE, WCW, TNA, and the indies. He wrote a book in 2011 and launched the ‘What A Rush’ podcast in 2017.

NWA’s Crockett Cup tournament to return in 2019

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Crockett Cup will be making its return next year.

Road Warrior Animal made the announcement tonight after the team he was managing (Jax Dane and Crimson) defeated the Kingdom of Jocephus (Shannon Moore and Crazzy Steve). There wasn’t a specific date for the return of the tournament other than it would be held in 2019. It will be held in association with the Crockett Foundation, which helps provide services to military veterans with mental disorders.

The tournament ran for three years in the 1980s under Jim Crockett Promotions, first starting in 1986. The Road Warriors won the inaugural tournament, with the Superpowers (Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff) winning in 1987. The last tournament, held in 1988, had the team of Lex Luger and Sting defeating Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in the finals.

In the past, the tournament was held under single elimination rules, consisting of 24 (22 in 1988) teams.