Post by RoadWarriorYajuta on Jul 8, 2004 20:31:26 GMT -8
Joe and Mike were a couple of kids that grew up in Minnesota. They grew up watching Verne Gagne's AWA. The lifelong friends became bouncers after College and there they met Eddie Sharkey. He trained Hawk, Animal, and Rick Rude to become professional wrestlers. Hawk was the first to make it, wrestling as Crusher Von Haig in Al Tomko's promotion in Canada. Animal packed up all his belongings and headed to the Mid Atlantic region. He was a job guy there known as Joe Lauren. He traveled to the Georgia area where he wrestled as the Road Warrior. He hardly looked like the face painted terror we know, instead looking like a biker reject from the Village People. After a couple appearences under that guise, booker Ole Anderson pulled him off the show. Ole was looking for a Tag Team to replace the team of Arn Anderson and Matt Borne when Borne was fired for legal problems. It was at that time Animal placed a call to Hawk, who had returned home from Canada. The Road Warriors were born.
They debuted as the Georgia National Tag Champions, and became the cornerstone of Paul Ellering's Legion of Doom stable. They had feuds with the likes of Bret and Buzz Sawyer, King Kong Bundy and Masked Superstar, Wahoo McDaniels and Jay Youngblood, Tim Horner, Ronnie Garvin, Arn Anderson, and Mr. Wrestling II. When they cut their hair, and painted their faces fans became enamored with them. Super muscular, they were the epitome of a power tandem. They often times bumrushed the ring and beat their opponents before Ironman quit playing. They became sensations and were in demand everywhere. While in Georgia they began barnstorming, traveling around to the various territories as a special attraction. They hit Midsouth, Memphis, Mid Atlantic, and Southwest as well as being fulltimers in Georgia.
They decided to return to their roots and went home to the AWA. They were brought into be heel foils for the recently signed Fabulous Ones. The Road Warriors were so popular, that they became faces by default. They defeated the Crusher and Baron Von Rashke for the AWA Titles, the first of their World Titles. While in the AWA The Road Warriors engaged in some memorable and high profile battles with the Long Riders, Fabulous Ones, Crusher Blackwell and Boom Boom Bundy, High Flyers, Jerry Lawler and Baron Von Rashke, Harley Race and Stan Hansen, The Freebirds, and Steve Regal and Jimmy Garvin. The Freebirds were their most persistent foes, and they engaged in a great feud.
They went on the first of many tours with All Japan while in the AWA. They ransackd Japan like noone had since the glory days of Godzilla. They became instant legends there. They engaged in some memorable matches during this run. The two highest profile battles they had were against the Funks and Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru. Bouncing between the AWA and All Japan, and still barnstorming various territories, the Warriors legend spread like wild fire. They enaged in some great Title vs. Title Matches against NWA Champions the Koloffs. When they lost the AWA Titles to Steve Regal and Jimmy Garvin with the help of those accursed Freebirds, they left the AWA to compete for Crockett Promotions.
They quickly became cornerstones for the flagship of the NWA. They had some great battles with the Koloffs and The Midnight Express upon first entering the NWA. They continued to travel to All Japan and finally captured the prestigous NWA International Titles form Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru. They returned for a one shot with the AWA in a Cage at Wrestlerock, where they exacted revenge on Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes for the loss of their AWA Titles. The First Title they won in Crockett was the NWA Six Man Titles. They teamed with Dusty Rhodes to defeat the Koloffs and Baron Von Rashke for the titles. They continued to feud with the Koloffs and Midnight Express. The Warriors won the innaugural Jim Crockett Memorial Tag Tournament, defeating Magnum TA and Ronnie Garvin in the finals. They faced then champions Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez for the titles. They also began what would become their defining feud in the NWA, by locking Horns with the Horsemen. They engaged in some titanic battles with them, culminating in the legendary Wargames match. The Road Warriors were as popular as ever. They lost the International titles to Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshi Yatsu, in a unification match involing the PWF and International Titles. The loss was by DQ, and did little to hurt their success. They returned to the NWA and ran smack into their stiffest test yet. Paul Jones was managing a team of the Warlord and Barbarian. This impressive duo was better known as the Powers of Pain. This tandem was as imposing and intimidtaing as the Road Warriors, and even stole their gimmick. Their matches were stiff and exciting. The Powers of Pain challeneged the Road Warriors to a weight lifting competiton. The Powers pearl harbored the Warriors, and in the process broke Animal's orbital socket around his right eye. Animal returned to the ring sporting a hockey mask that had his familiar spider web design on it. The Powers of Pain teamed with longtime Warrior's foe Ivan Koloff and captured the 6 Man belts. They reclaimed them in a Barbwire match at the first Clash of the Champions show. The Warriors turned on Sting later that year, setting up a shocking heel turn for the ultra popular Warriors. It was during this run as heels that they gouged Dustty Rhodes in the eye in a bloody scene. They went on to capture the NWA Tag Titles from the Midnight Express. They toured Japan as the NWA Champions, and avenged their loss to Jumbo and Yatsu by succesfully defending the NWA Titles against them. Their heel turn did not last long as fans still loved the Warriors. Hawk and Animal engaged the Varsity Club in a very stiff and brutal feud. They lost the NWA belts to the Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda of the Varsity Club thanks to some shoddy officiating and a very fast count by Teddy Long. It was about this time that Crokett sold to Ted Turner. During their stay in WCW, they enaged in some intense feuds with the Samoan Swat Team, Freebirds, Varsity Club, Doom, and The Skyscrapers. The Warriors won the only Iron Team Round Robin Tournament at Starrcade '89 despite a pinfall loss to the Steiners.
The Warriors became stagnant in Crockett and decided to ply their trade in the WWF. It was during this time that they left All Japan for Super World Sports. The Warriors won a one night tag tournament in SWS. They enaged in one of the highest grossing matches ever in Japan when they defeated the Super Team of Genichiro Tenyru and WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. They went by the name Legion of Doom in the WWF, and they had to tone down their gimmick to fit the WWF of the time. They faced off against Demolition in a dream match, as Demolition blatantly stole The Warriors gimmick. After dispatching them, they set their sights on the Nasty Boys who were the WWF Tag Champions. They defeated the Nasty Boys for the titles and cemented their place in history. They became the only team in wrestling history to win the AWA, NWA, and WWF Tag Titles. Hawk started having problems with Vince McMahon at this time. Hawk was suspended and Money Inc. was awarded the tiles in a phantom switch. Animal breifly teamed with Crush during this stint. Hawk resolved his issues with Vince and returned to the WWF for Summerslam '92. The Warriors split up after this.
They debuted as the Georgia National Tag Champions, and became the cornerstone of Paul Ellering's Legion of Doom stable. They had feuds with the likes of Bret and Buzz Sawyer, King Kong Bundy and Masked Superstar, Wahoo McDaniels and Jay Youngblood, Tim Horner, Ronnie Garvin, Arn Anderson, and Mr. Wrestling II. When they cut their hair, and painted their faces fans became enamored with them. Super muscular, they were the epitome of a power tandem. They often times bumrushed the ring and beat their opponents before Ironman quit playing. They became sensations and were in demand everywhere. While in Georgia they began barnstorming, traveling around to the various territories as a special attraction. They hit Midsouth, Memphis, Mid Atlantic, and Southwest as well as being fulltimers in Georgia.
They decided to return to their roots and went home to the AWA. They were brought into be heel foils for the recently signed Fabulous Ones. The Road Warriors were so popular, that they became faces by default. They defeated the Crusher and Baron Von Rashke for the AWA Titles, the first of their World Titles. While in the AWA The Road Warriors engaged in some memorable and high profile battles with the Long Riders, Fabulous Ones, Crusher Blackwell and Boom Boom Bundy, High Flyers, Jerry Lawler and Baron Von Rashke, Harley Race and Stan Hansen, The Freebirds, and Steve Regal and Jimmy Garvin. The Freebirds were their most persistent foes, and they engaged in a great feud.
They went on the first of many tours with All Japan while in the AWA. They ransackd Japan like noone had since the glory days of Godzilla. They became instant legends there. They engaged in some memorable matches during this run. The two highest profile battles they had were against the Funks and Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru. Bouncing between the AWA and All Japan, and still barnstorming various territories, the Warriors legend spread like wild fire. They enaged in some great Title vs. Title Matches against NWA Champions the Koloffs. When they lost the AWA Titles to Steve Regal and Jimmy Garvin with the help of those accursed Freebirds, they left the AWA to compete for Crockett Promotions.
They quickly became cornerstones for the flagship of the NWA. They had some great battles with the Koloffs and The Midnight Express upon first entering the NWA. They continued to travel to All Japan and finally captured the prestigous NWA International Titles form Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenyru. They returned for a one shot with the AWA in a Cage at Wrestlerock, where they exacted revenge on Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes for the loss of their AWA Titles. The First Title they won in Crockett was the NWA Six Man Titles. They teamed with Dusty Rhodes to defeat the Koloffs and Baron Von Rashke for the titles. They continued to feud with the Koloffs and Midnight Express. The Warriors won the innaugural Jim Crockett Memorial Tag Tournament, defeating Magnum TA and Ronnie Garvin in the finals. They faced then champions Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez for the titles. They also began what would become their defining feud in the NWA, by locking Horns with the Horsemen. They engaged in some titanic battles with them, culminating in the legendary Wargames match. The Road Warriors were as popular as ever. They lost the International titles to Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshi Yatsu, in a unification match involing the PWF and International Titles. The loss was by DQ, and did little to hurt their success. They returned to the NWA and ran smack into their stiffest test yet. Paul Jones was managing a team of the Warlord and Barbarian. This impressive duo was better known as the Powers of Pain. This tandem was as imposing and intimidtaing as the Road Warriors, and even stole their gimmick. Their matches were stiff and exciting. The Powers of Pain challeneged the Road Warriors to a weight lifting competiton. The Powers pearl harbored the Warriors, and in the process broke Animal's orbital socket around his right eye. Animal returned to the ring sporting a hockey mask that had his familiar spider web design on it. The Powers of Pain teamed with longtime Warrior's foe Ivan Koloff and captured the 6 Man belts. They reclaimed them in a Barbwire match at the first Clash of the Champions show. The Warriors turned on Sting later that year, setting up a shocking heel turn for the ultra popular Warriors. It was during this run as heels that they gouged Dustty Rhodes in the eye in a bloody scene. They went on to capture the NWA Tag Titles from the Midnight Express. They toured Japan as the NWA Champions, and avenged their loss to Jumbo and Yatsu by succesfully defending the NWA Titles against them. Their heel turn did not last long as fans still loved the Warriors. Hawk and Animal engaged the Varsity Club in a very stiff and brutal feud. They lost the NWA belts to the Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda of the Varsity Club thanks to some shoddy officiating and a very fast count by Teddy Long. It was about this time that Crokett sold to Ted Turner. During their stay in WCW, they enaged in some intense feuds with the Samoan Swat Team, Freebirds, Varsity Club, Doom, and The Skyscrapers. The Warriors won the only Iron Team Round Robin Tournament at Starrcade '89 despite a pinfall loss to the Steiners.
The Warriors became stagnant in Crockett and decided to ply their trade in the WWF. It was during this time that they left All Japan for Super World Sports. The Warriors won a one night tag tournament in SWS. They enaged in one of the highest grossing matches ever in Japan when they defeated the Super Team of Genichiro Tenyru and WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. They went by the name Legion of Doom in the WWF, and they had to tone down their gimmick to fit the WWF of the time. They faced off against Demolition in a dream match, as Demolition blatantly stole The Warriors gimmick. After dispatching them, they set their sights on the Nasty Boys who were the WWF Tag Champions. They defeated the Nasty Boys for the titles and cemented their place in history. They became the only team in wrestling history to win the AWA, NWA, and WWF Tag Titles. Hawk started having problems with Vince McMahon at this time. Hawk was suspended and Money Inc. was awarded the tiles in a phantom switch. Animal breifly teamed with Crush during this stint. Hawk resolved his issues with Vince and returned to the WWF for Summerslam '92. The Warriors split up after this.
I also heard Hawk had gotten into trouble for cocaine possession at that time. But I don't know if it is true or not.
