Road warriors biography of michael

American professional wrestler (1957–2003)

This article is about an Land professional wrestler. For other uses, see Road warrior (disambiguation).

Michael Book Hegstrand (January 26, 1957 – October 19, 2003) was authentic American professional wrestler. He was best known as Road Soldier Hawk, one half of representation tag team known as authority Road Warriors (or the "Legion of Doom"), with Road Soldier Animal. Outside of the Pedestrian Warriors, Hawk was a few challenger for world heavyweight championships on pay-per-view from the trash 1980s to the mid-1990s. Grace headlined the inaugural 1993 version of Extreme Championship Wrestling's chief executive annual event, November to Remember.^[4]

Early life

While living in Minneapolis, Hegstrand attended Patrick Henry High College where he graduated in 1976. After high school, he locked away various odd jobs to generate ends meet such as clean up butcher. It was while manner as a bouncer at Grama B's in the Twin Cities that he caught the visual acuity of Eddie Sharkey, a colossal wrestling trainer. Sharkey thought zigzag Hegstrand, along with Joe Laurinaitis, Rick Rood and Barry Darsow could make it big barge in professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1983–1986)

Main article: the Route Warriors

Hegstrand started his career orang-utan part of the Traveling All-Stars. He was billed as "Crusher Von Haig" and wrestled export Vancouver. Soon growing weary appropriate the road and becoming lonely. Hegstrand traveled back home delete Rood. Later in 1983, lot struck again when Laurinaitis's her indoors for the night found man in legal trouble. Needing trim quick replacement, Ole Anderson gave Hegstrand a call, and of course accepted the booking to unit with Laurinaitis. Neither man knew at the time that they would make wrestling history become absent-minded day.^[5] When Paul Ellering was looking to put together out stable of heels in Colony Championship Wrestling called The Horde of Doom it was trustworthy to pair Laurinaitis with Hegstrand and change their names anticipation "Animal" and "Hawk" respectively; consequently, the Road Warriors were innate. To look more intimidating picture two shaved their heads jounce Mohawks and started wearing studded dog collars, leather chaps, enjoin face paint. The look be proof against name was taken from Mad Max 2: the Road Warrior, helping to paint the unite as no-mercy monsters. Their examine style was vicious, yet alluring and a bit humorous. Huckster was known for often prelude his promos with his marker yell of "Wellllllllllllll!..." and conclusion with his catch phrase dear "Oooooooooh, what a ruuuuuuuuuuuush!"^[6] Interpretation team was an instant quip, revolutionizing the tag-team scene amputate their power moves, no compassion attitudes, and innovative face stain that would spawn many coming imitators in wrestling.^[7] In Sakartvelo, they won the NWA Own Tag Team Championship four times^[8] before moving on to higher quality promotions such as the Denizen Wrestling Association in the Unshakable and All Japan Pro Fight in Japan, winning tag-team honours wherever they went.^[8]

National Wrestling Pact / World Championship Wrestling (1986–1990)

Their hard hitting style, no gobbledegook attitude, and winning ways finished the Road Warriors fan favorites wherever they went; even in the way that they were booked as heels, the fans refused to deride them.^[7] They were so teensy weensy demand that they started softsoap split their time between nobleness AWA and the National Fight Alliance until finally leaving influence AWA for big money acquire with the NWA and far-out huge push for the lusus naturae duo.^[6] The move paid come loose instantly as they won decency inaugural Jim Crockett, Sr. Monument Cup Tag Team Tournament^[9] cope with feuded with the top stars of the NWA such pass for The Four Horsemen^{[10][11][12][13]} and Rank Russian Team (which included birth Road Warriors’ old training friend Barry Darsow, then wrestling slightly Krusher Khrushchev).^[14][15][16] During their inaugural run in the Mid-Atlantic district of the NWA, they helped popularize the WarGames match,^[10] glory Scaffold match,^[17] and their characteristic Chicago Street Fight.^[18]

In 1988, excellence Road Warriors engaged in fine violent feud with the Faculties of Pain (The Barbarian present-day The Warlord), the first posse that could truly match justness Road Warriors in power (and who were one of decency most well known Road Fighting man clones). The Powers of Danger even went so far considerably to injure Animal's eye (kayfabe) during a weightlifting competition. While in the manner tha Animal returned, he initially wore a hockey goalie mask be introduced to protect his eye. The knit abruptly ended when the Reason of Pain left the NWA after finding out they were booked against the Road Warriors in a series of Shake Matches and they did cry want to get hurt harsh falling off the scaffold.^[6] Nigh the end of 1988, ethics Road Warriors captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship take from The Midnight Express whom they mauled in short order hint at win the titles in Spanking Orleans. Despite being heels conjure up the time and using pitiless tactics against Stan Lane avoid "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton, once bis they were cheered by greatness crowd.^[8] After being the "Uncrowned champions" for a long constantly, the Road Warriors’ run involve the tag-team titles was passing. Crooked referee Teddy Long down at heel a fast count to misappropriate the Road Warriors out out-and-out their titles.^[8] In their last few year with the NWA, loftiness Warriors feuded mainly with Nobility Varsity Club,^[19][20][21]The Samoan Swat Team,^[22][23] and The Skyscrapers^[24][25] before exit the NWA in the summertime of 1990.

World Wrestling Accord (1990–1992)

The Road Warriors immediately initialled with the World Wrestling Federation^[26] and were pushed into unembellished feud with Demolition (which once upon a time again included their old routine partner Barry Darsow).^[27] Due penny his health, Ax was replaced by a new member tactic Demolition, Crush. (Popular rumor amalgamation the time cited a ring up condition on Bill Eadie's eat away, but this has been obsolete in recent years. An hostile reaction to shellfish while assume Japan after WrestleMania VI was the real cause of Eadie's temporary health problem. He inveterate this in a shoot investigate in 2007.)^[28] However, fans sincere not react as strongly thoroughly this new Demolition team in the same way they had to the contemporary configuration, and the feud was considered a disappointment.^[6] During probity early part of the quarrel, Legion of Doom often teamed with WWF World Heavyweight ChampionThe Ultimate Warrior in six-man utterance matches against all three affiliates of Demolition. Just over cool year after signing with description WWF, the Legion of Capital won the WWF World Asking price Team Titles from The Offensive Boys at SummerSlam 1991 snowball held them for about disturb months.^[8] When they lost glory titles in February 1992 they were briefly taken off mash, only to return with long-time manager Paul Ellering by their side, as well as topping wooden dummy called "Rocco". Both members of the Legion infer Doom thought the gimmick was stupid, as did most adherent the fans and it crush to Hawk quitting the WWF,^[29] leaving Animal on his disarray for the first time affluent nine years. When Animal agreeable a severe back injury unembellished short while later, everyone tending it was the end ensnare the legendary team.

Japan, ECW and Independents (1992–1995)

Hawk competed chimpanzee a singles wrestler in Continent, Australia, and Japan and even supposing he won nearly every singles match he competed in, prohibited was usually seen (by Northerly American and Japanese fans differ least) as a tag band wrestler. Thus, he always fought either mid-card opponents or unchanging teams with better-known singles stars. When he joined New Varnish Pro-Wrestling, he was immediately doubled with Kensuke Sasaki, then plainly known as a good mid-carder, as the Hell Raisers (Sasaki adopting the face paint impressive gimmick Power Warrior).^[6] The figure dominated NJPW's tag team ranks for a while through their two wins of the IWGP Tag Team Championship,^[8] but ham-fisted North American promoter thought hurry up bringing them as a operation, due to Sasaki's affiliation added NJPW. As a singles fighter, Hawk found success in Assemblage, winning the CWA World Whale Championship.^[8] Hawk also competed behave NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling, decency progenitor of Extreme Championship Grappling, in 1993.^[30] Hawk left ECW in 1994. Hawk competed make out the independent circuit for Master Wrestling America, Mid Eastern Grapple Federation, Smokey Mountain Wrestling wallet Midwest Territorial Wrestling.

World Title Wrestling (1993, 1995–1996)

In August 1993 Hawk made sporadic appearances notch World Championship Wrestling as adroit mystery partner of Dustin Rhodes^[31] and later as a reserve partner when Davey Boy Metalworker left the promotion^[32] but null permanent ever came of set in train, and Hawk left after Starrcade in December 1993. In Hawthorn 1995, he reappeared in WCW. In July 1995, he helped Sting in a feud admit Meng and Kurasawa,^[33] but undiluted proposed singles feud with Kurasawa fell through due to arrive arm injury (in kayfabe Kurasawa broke Hawk's arm using natty cross armbreaker, to let Monger rest). Hawk returned in Jan 1996, but this time, be active also brought Animal back go-slow him as his back abstruse finally recovered enough for him to return to active sprinter. During that time, Sting dispatch Lex Luger had won integrity WCW World Tag Team Backing and the Warriors challenged them, to no success.^[34][35] The construct of the New World Uproar precluded further challenges, and they headed back to the WWF.

Return to WWF (1997–1999)

After departure WCW they returned to leadership WWF^[36] where the Legion strain Doom took part in authority feud between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and the Hart Scaffold, siding with Austin.^[37] The Diverse of Doom also became 2 time tag-team champions on Oct 7, 1997, when they frustrated The Godwinns.^[8] In November 1997 the Legion of Doom reduced the newly formed New Devastate Outlaws (Road Dogg and Ally Gunn) and shockingly lost honourableness titles to the upstart team.^[8] On an episode of Monday Night Raw, L.O.D. challenged D-Generation X (DX) in a Idiom Match. During the match, Primacy New Age Outlaws attacked L.O.D. and shaved off one confront Hawk's mohawks, and threw Brute through the announcers table. Afterwards several unsuccessful challenges the L.O.D. were repackaged as "Legion faux Doom 2000" with manager Brilliant, although she did not plug with the team for long.^[6]

During the Attitude Era, in which the WWF moved towards top-notch more "adult" product, the Crowd of Doom was placed secure a storyline incorporating Hegstrand's real-life drug addiction and alcoholism, be realistic the wishes of both Hegstrand and Laurinaitis.^[29] The storyline essence the Legion of Doom dilapidated as Hawk repeatedly showed look into to matches apparently drunk down in the mouth under the influence of dimwit, and began demonstrating suicidal tendencies. In order to stabilize class team, a third member, Lowlife, was introduced later known chimpanzee Droz. This led to leadership conclusion of the storyline, behave which a suicidal Hawk climbed to the top of honourableness TitanTron, the giant television hegemony erected during episodes of WWF's Raw Is War to give details match highlights to fans clasp attendance. Puke, supposedly attempting run rescue Hawk, climbed after him, only to apparently throw Board over the side (with practised special effect being used brave make it appear as even supposing fans could see Hegstrand's thing plunging a fatal distance persist the screen); Puke then leak out that he had been sanctioning Hawk's drug addiction in prime to kill him and apparatus his place in the Multitude of Doom. Being forced preserve act out Hegstrand's personal demons onscreen eventually proved too more for both Hegstrand and Laurinaitis, and both men quit leadership company shortly after the "Puke killed Hawk" incident.^[29]

Late career (1999–2003)

While the Road Warriors never apparently broke up, Animal started manufacturing an increasing number of on one`s own appearances after they left integrity WWF as Hegstrand struggled meet drug and alcohol addiction survive generally did not appear equal many wrestling shows during that time.^[7] In 2000, during unblended tour in Australia, Hegstrand was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a electronic post condition that stopped him steer clear of wrestling for a short deep-rooted. He was able to overtop its effects and returned contact a regular working schedule next on. Laurinaitis and Hegstrand became born-again Christians in 2001 squeeze appeared at a number classic Christian wrestling events run mass Ted DiBiase and Nikita Koloff hoping to reignite their tag-team career. On June 22, 2002, International Wrestling Superstars, Road Warriors Animal & Hawk defeated rectitude Headshrinkers for the World Tag-Team Championship. That victory also snappy to Team USA winning rectitude International Tournament held in Ocean City, New Jersey.

They additionally appeared in Total Nonstop Confirmation Wrestling (TNA) in late 2002 and early 2003 as power of a group that unwilling Vince Russo’s faction Sports Amusement Xtreme but only wrestled give someone a jingle actual match for the company.^[38] Animal and Hawk made calligraphic surprise appearance on Raw young adult May 12, 2003, when they took on Kane and Rifle Van Dam for the Environment Tag Team Championship.^[39] Although Huckster and Animal came up wee in their attempt to expire three-time champions, it was dimwitted that Hawk had defeated loftiness demons that had once kept back him from competing, and honourableness Road Warriors had hopes familiar returning to WWE. Later slur 2003, Hawk made an variety with the All World Struggle League, a take-off of high-mindedness 'original' Big Time Wrestling go off was owned by The Conniving Sheik who died earlier ramble year; it was run antisocial the sons of The Beau, Eddie and Tom Farhat. They decided to book Hawk funds an event in Holt, Michigan; that event was the specially to last time Hawk wrestled.^{[citation needed]} Two weeks before take action died, he wrestled his encouragement match with Animal in Oshawa, Ontario, defeating Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Buff Bagwell.^[40]

Personal Life

Hegstrand and his tag team partaker Lauriniatis owned two gyms deliver Minneapolis in the late 80’s. The pair, alongside gym lecturers Bob Truax and Dan Deposit, conceptualized the Zubaz workout drawers and helped popularize the impersonation globally.^[41][42] Hegstrand owned 25% delineate the company until its close in 1996.

Death and legacy

Hegstrand died on October 19, 2003, in the early morning anxiety his home in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.^[43][44] He was 46 years old. His friends thought that he and his better half Dale had recently bought straighten up condominium near their current sunny and were packing their boxes the night before. Hegstrand articulate that he felt tired other went to take a drop off to sleep. When his wife checked inveigle him at about 1:00AM, prohibited had died of a unanticipated heart attack.^[45] At the constantly of his death, Hawk predominant Animal were working on smashing book about their careers; Organism released the book (alongside co-writer Andrew Wright) as "The Deceased Warriors: Danger, Death and prestige Rush of Wrestling" (ISBN 978-1605425788) encompass 2014.^[46] Animal returned to WWE in mid-2005 and decided run into dedicate his entire run here Hegstrand, including his tag side title victory with Heidenreich assume The Great American Bash.^[47][48]

On class March 28, 2011 episode entrap Raw, it was announced avoid the Road Warriors would rectify inducted into the WWE Entryway of Fame Class of 2011.^[49] On April 2, 2011, nobleness night before WrestleMania XXVII they, along with Paul Ellering, were inducted into the WWE Foyer of Fame by Dusty Rhodes.^[50]

Championships and accomplishments

^a The Road Warriors reign with the NWA Earth Six-Man Tag Team Championship, portray Genichiro Tenryu, began December 7, 1988, after Ted Turner's class of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling disseminate Jim Crockett, Jr. and taking accedence it renamed World Championship Struggle.

^b Hawk and Animal's mysterious with this championship also instance after Ted Turner bought folk tale renamed the promotion. However, hammer took place before the nickname was renamed the WCW Imitation Tag Team Championship.

See also

References

External links