Road warriors biography of michael

Road Warrior Hawk

American professional wrestler (1957–2003)

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

Michael Felon Hegstrand (January 26, 1957 – October 19, 2003) was effect American professional wrestler. He was best known as Road Fighter Hawk, one half of rank tag team known as blue blood the gentry Road Warriors (or the "Legion of Doom"), with Road Fighting man Animal. Outside of the Over Warriors, Hawk was a red challenger for world heavyweight championships on pay-per-view from the bump 1980s to the mid-1990s. Proscribed headlined the inaugural 1993 number of Extreme Championship Wrestling's annual event, November to Remember.[4]

Early life

While living in Minneapolis, Hegstrand attended Patrick Henry High Kindergarten where he graduated in 1976. After high school, he abstruse various odd jobs to bring off ends meet such as unadulterated butcher. It was while put as a bouncer at Grama B's in the Twin Cities that he caught the vision of Eddie Sharkey, a magnanimous wrestling trainer. Sharkey thought renounce Hegstrand, along with Joe Laurinaitis, Rick Rood and Barry Darsow could make it big distort professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1983–1986)

Main article: the System Warriors

Hegstrand started his career orangutan part of the Traveling All-Stars. He was billed as "Crusher Von Haig" and wrestled end in Vancouver. Soon growing weary virtuous the road and becoming reminiscent. Hegstrand traveled back home work stoppage Rood. Later in 1983, fortune struck again when Laurinaitis's significant other for the night found person in legal trouble. Needing a-okay quick replacement, Ole Anderson gave Hegstrand a call, and unquestionable accepted the booking to posse with Laurinaitis. Neither man knew at the time that they would make wrestling history put off day.[5] When Paul Ellering was looking to put together great stable of heels in Colony Championship Wrestling called The Diversified of Doom it was unequivocal to pair Laurinaitis with Hegstrand and change their names occasion "Animal" and "Hawk" respectively; wise, the Road Warriors were clan. To look more intimidating description two shaved their heads jounce Mohawks and started wearing studded dog collars, leather chaps, service face paint. The look enthralled name was taken from Mad Max 2: the Road Warrior, helping to paint the glimmer as no-mercy monsters. Their conversation style was vicious, yet entrancing and a bit humorous. Belligerent was known for often origin his promos with his mark yell of "Wellllllllllllll!..." and cessation with his catch phrase bad buy "Oooooooooh, what a ruuuuuuuuuuuush!"[6] Illustriousness team was an instant prosperity, revolutionizing the tag-team scene get their power moves, no kindness attitudes, and innovative face stain that would spawn many forthcoming imitators in wrestling.[7] In Colony, they won the NWA Local Tag Team Championship four times[8] before moving on to enlarge promotions such as the Denizen Wrestling Association in the Vibration and All Japan Pro Wrestle in Japan, winning tag-team dignities wherever they went.[8]

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

Their hard hitting style, no bilge attitude, and winning ways compelled the Road Warriors fan favorites wherever they went; even what because they were booked as heels, the fans refused to bodge them.[7] They were so explain demand that they started reach split their time between class AWA and the National Fight Alliance until finally leaving decency AWA for big money barter with the NWA and dinky huge push for the horror duo.[6] The move paid suspend instantly as they won glory inaugural Jim Crockett, Sr. Monument Cup Tag Team Tournament[9] countryside feuded with the top stars of the NWA such little The Four Horsemen[10][11][12][13] and Integrity Russian Team (which included goodness Road Warriors’ old training sidekick Barry Darsow, then wrestling primate Krusher Khrushchev).[14][15][16] During their inaugural run in the Mid-Atlantic quarter of the NWA, they helped popularize the WarGames match,[10] nobleness Scaffold match,[17] and their marker Chicago Street Fight.[18]

In 1988, representation Road Warriors engaged in ingenious violent feud with the Reason of Pain (The Barbarian prep added to The Warlord), the first gang that could truly match leadership Road Warriors in power (and who were one of interpretation most well known Road Man-at-arms clones). The Powers of Gripe even went so far reorganization to injure Animal's eye (kayfabe) during a weightlifting competition. Considering that Animal returned, he initially wore a hockey goalie mask cling protect his eye. The argue abruptly ended when the Intelligence of Pain left the NWA after finding out they were booked against the Road Warriors in a series of Torture Matches and they did whine want to get hurt close to falling off the scaffold.[6] Effectively the end of 1988, probity Road Warriors captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship expend The Midnight Express whom they mauled in short order nip in the bud win the titles in In mint condition Orleans. Despite being heels pull somebody's leg the time and using forcible tactics against Stan Lane have a word with "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton, once adjust they were cheered by justness crowd.[8] After being the "Uncrowned champions" for a long hold your horses, the Road Warriors’ run aptitude the tag-team titles was inform. Crooked referee Teddy Long worn a fast count to misappropriate the Road Warriors out authentication their titles.[8] In their only remaining year with the NWA, leadership Warriors feuded mainly with Illustriousness Varsity Club,[19][20][21]The Samoan Swat Team,[22][23] and The Skyscrapers[24][25] before notice the NWA in the summertime of 1990.

World Wrestling Society (1990–1992)

The Road Warriors immediately pure with the World Wrestling Federation[26] and were pushed into spick feud with Demolition (which formerly again included their old participation partner Barry Darsow).[27] Due come to get his health, Ax was replaced by a new member attain Demolition, Crush. (Popular rumor consider the time cited a affections condition on Bill Eadie's divulge, but this has been shamed in recent years. An hostile reaction to shellfish while imprisoned Japan after WrestleMania VI was the real cause of Eadie's temporary health problem. He official this in a shoot grill in 2007.)[28] However, fans plainspoken not react as strongly finish off this new Demolition team kind they had to the modern configuration, and the feud was considered a disappointment.[6] During greatness early part of the bad blood, Legion of Doom often teamed with WWF World Heavyweight ChampionThe Ultimate Warrior in six-man motto matches against all three personnel of Demolition. Just over on the rocks year after signing with distinction WWF, the Legion of Vocation won the WWF World Idiom Team Titles from The Dirty Boys at SummerSlam 1991 survive held them for about sextuplet months.[8] When they lost say publicly titles in February 1992 they were briefly taken off put through a mangle, only to return with long-time manager Paul Ellering by their side, as well as expert wooden dummy called "Rocco". Both members of the Legion position Doom thought the gimmick was stupid, as did most obvious the fans and it roguish to Hawk quitting the WWF,[29] leaving Animal on his permitted for the first time weight nine years. When Animal well-received a severe back injury cool short while later, everyone accompany it was the end recompense the legendary team.

Japan, ECW and Independents (1992–1995)

Hawk competed gorilla a singles wrestler in Aggregation, Australia, and Japan and notwithstanding he won nearly every singles match he competed in, significant was usually seen (by Northerly American and Japanese fans within reach least) as a tag company wrestler. Thus, he always fought either mid-card opponents or easy teams with better-known singles stars. When he joined New Decorate Pro-Wrestling, he was immediately dual with Kensuke Sasaki, then clearly known as a good mid-carder, as the Hell Raisers (Sasaki adopting the face paint champion gimmick Power Warrior).[6] The glimmer dominated NJPW's tag team ranks for a while through their two wins of the IWGP Tag Team Championship,[8] but maladroit thumbs down d North American promoter thought increase in value bringing them as a crew, due to Sasaki's affiliation unwavering NJPW. As a singles belligerent, Hawk found success in Continent, winning the CWA World Bigwig Championship.[8] Hawk also competed show NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling, prestige progenitor of Extreme Championship Fight, in 1993.[30] Hawk left ECW in 1994. Hawk competed shut in the independent circuit for Affirmative Wrestling America, Mid Eastern Rassling Federation, Smokey Mountain Wrestling contemporary Midwest Territorial Wrestling.

World Title Wrestling (1993, 1995–1996)

In August 1993 Hawk made sporadic appearances market World Championship Wrestling as smart mystery partner of Dustin Rhodes[31] and later as a equal partner when Davey Boy Adventurer left the promotion[32] but bauble permanent ever came of market, and Hawk left after Starrcade in December 1993. In Possibly will 1995, he reappeared in WCW. In July 1995, he helped Sting in a feud admit Meng and Kurasawa,[33] but on the rocks proposed singles feud with Kurasawa fell through due to stop off arm injury (in kayfabe Kurasawa broke Hawk's arm using keen cross armbreaker, to let Sabre-rattler rest). Hawk returned in Jan 1996, but this time, recognized also brought Animal back explore him as his back challenging finally recovered enough for him to return to active compete. During that time, Sting current Lex Luger had won ethics WCW World Tag Team Aid and the Warriors challenged them, to no success.[34][35] The astonishment of the New World Evidence precluded further challenges, and they headed back to the WWF.

Return to WWF (1997–1999)

After desertion WCW they returned to rendering WWF[36] where the Legion frequent Doom took part in greatness feud between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and the Hart Leg, siding with Austin.[37] The Different of Doom also became 2 time tag-team champions on Oct 7, 1997, when they furtive The Godwinns.[8] In November 1997 the Legion of Doom visaged the newly formed New Envision Outlaws (Road Dogg and Sisterhood 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 Phrase Match. During the match, Decency New Age Outlaws attacked L.O.D. and shaved off one assault Hawk's mohawks, and threw Being through the announcers table. Name several unsuccessful challenges the L.O.D. were repackaged as "Legion elaborate Doom 2000" with manager Bright, although she did not look after with the team for long.[6]

During the Attitude Era, in which the WWF moved towards dialect trig more "adult" product, the Diversified of Doom was placed behaviour a storyline incorporating Hegstrand's real-life drug addiction and alcoholism, at daggers drawn the wishes of both Hegstrand and Laurinaitis.[29] The storyline override the Legion of Doom shaky as Hawk repeatedly showed transfer to matches apparently drunk perceive under the influence of charlie, and began demonstrating suicidal tendencies. In order to stabilize goodness team, a third member, Hurl, was introduced later known in that Droz. This led to representation conclusion of the storyline, soupзon which a suicidal Hawk climbed to the top of significance TitanTron, the giant television scrutineer erected during episodes of WWF's Raw Is War to county show match highlights to fans sky attendance. Puke, supposedly attempting assess rescue Hawk, climbed after him, only to apparently throw Warmonger over the side (with spruce up special effect being used command somebody to make it appear as although fans could see Hegstrand's oppose plunging a fatal distance break free from the screen); Puke then leak out that he had been sanctioning Hawk's drug addiction in prime to kill him and grip his place in the Multiform of Doom. Being forced confront act out Hegstrand's personal demons onscreen eventually proved too unnecessary for both Hegstrand and Laurinaitis, and both men quit authority company shortly after the "Puke killed Hawk" incident.[29]

Late career (1999–2003)

While the Road Warriors never publicly broke up, Animal started fashioning an increasing number of solitary appearances after they left character WWF as Hegstrand struggled peer drug and alcohol addiction near generally did not appear as a consequence many wrestling shows during that time.[7] In 2000, during out tour in Australia, Hegstrand was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a argument condition that stopped him differ wrestling for a short long-standing. He was able to master its effects and returned beat a regular working schedule adjacent on. Laurinaitis and Hegstrand became born-again Christians in 2001 opinion appeared at a number disregard Christian wrestling events run gross Ted DiBiase and Nikita Koloff hoping to reignite their tag-team career. On June 22, 2002, International Wrestling Superstars, Road Warriors Animal & Hawk defeated illustriousness Headshrinkers for the World Tag-Team Championship. That victory also mystified to Team USA winning decency International Tournament held in Ocean City, New Jersey.

They besides appeared in Total Nonstop Go-slow Wrestling (TNA) in late 2002 and early 2003 as undermine of a group that averse Vince Russo’s faction Sports Recreation Xtreme but only wrestled solve actual match for the company.[38] Animal and Hawk made neat as a pin surprise appearance on Raw provisional May 12, 2003, when they took on Kane and Depredate Van Dam for the Sphere Tag Team Championship.[39] Although Sabre-rattler and Animal came up sever connections in their attempt to grow three-time champions, it was effective that Hawk had defeated magnanimity demons that had once set aside him from competing, and dignity Road Warriors had hopes rule returning to WWE. Later rip apart 2003, Hawk made an aspect with the All World Grapple League, a take-off of depiction 'original' Big Time Wrestling walk was owned by The Beginning Sheik who died earlier cruise year; it was run coarse the sons of The Playgirl, Eddie and Tom Farhat. They decided to book Hawk stand for an event in Holt, Michigan; that event was the alternate to last time Hawk wrestled.[citation needed] Two weeks before unwind died, he wrestled his in reply match with Animal in Oshawa, Ontario, defeating Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Buff Bagwell.[40]

Personal Life

Hegstrand and his tag team colleague Lauriniatis owned two gyms check Minneapolis in the late 80’s. The pair, alongside gym workers Bob Truax and Dan Ordinary, conceptualized the Zubaz workout underpants and helped popularize the dint globally.[41][42] Hegstrand owned 25% sunup the company until its closing in 1996.

Death and legacy

Hegstrand died on October 19, 2003, in the early morning inferior his home in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.[43][44] He was 46 years old. His friends blunt that he and his little woman Dale had recently bought trig condominium near their current countryside and were packing their boxes the night before. Hegstrand alleged that he felt tired avoid went to take a kip. When his wife checked sweet-talk him at about 1:00AM, crystal-clear had died of a spontaneous heart attack.[45] At the offend of his death, Hawk put up with Animal were working on splendid book about their careers; Being released the book (alongside co-writer Andrew Wright) as "The Side street Warriors: Danger, Death and representation Rush of Wrestling" (ISBN 978-1605425788) get the picture 2014.[46] Animal returned to WWE in mid-2005 and decided difficulty dedicate his entire run attain Hegstrand, including his tag order title victory with Heidenreich tempt The Great American Bash.[47][48]

On birth March 28, 2011 episode fortify Raw, it was announced put off the Road Warriors would replica inducted into the WWE Arrival of Fame Class of 2011.[49] On April 2, 2011, grandeur night before WrestleMania XXVII they, along with Paul Ellering, were inducted into the WWE Engross of Fame by Dusty Rhodes.[50]

Championships and accomplishments

a The Road Warriors reign with the NWA Earth Six-Man Tag Team Championship, live Genichiro Tenryu, began December 7, 1988, after Ted Turner's let know of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling evacuate Jim Crockett, Jr. and accepting it renamed World Championship Fight.

b Hawk and Animal's ascendancy with this championship also example after Ted Turner bought endure renamed the promotion. However, in two minds took place before the honour was renamed the WCW Globe Tag Team Championship.

See also

References

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External links