Bios
Animal
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 286 lbs.
From: Chicago, IL
Birthday: Sep 12th
Pro Debut: September 11, 1982
Aliases: Road Warrior Animal, Animal Warrior, The Road Warrior, Joe Lauren
Feds Worked For: MSW, UWF, AWA, NWA, NWA-TNA, Pro Wrestling USA, TNA, WCW, WWE, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Big Time Wrestling (CA), Capitol Sports Promotions (Puerto Rico), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Georgia (GA), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Fighting Investigation Team Battlarts (Japan), Fighting of World Japan Wrestling (Japan), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Houston Wrestling (TX), i-Generation Wrestling (Australia), International Wrestling (Canada), IWA Japan (Japan), IWA Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico), Jersey Championship Wrestling (NJ), Kensuke Office Pro Wrestling (Japan), Lucha Libre Internacional (Mexico), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), Memphis Wrestling (TN), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC/VA), Minnesota Independent Wrestling (MN), National Wrestling League (MD), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Birmingham (AL), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Premier Championsho Wrestling (Canada), Pro Wrestling ZERO1 (Japan), Southwest Championship Wrestling (OK/TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Super World Sports (Japan), Superstars of Wrestling (Australia), Toryumon Mexico (Mexico), Ultimate Pro Wrestling (CA), USA Pro Wrestling (NY), Ward Family Promotions (VA), World League Wrestling (KS/MO/OK), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico), Wrestle Association-R (Japan), X Wrestling Federation (FL/IN/WI)
Finisher: Power Slam
Signature Moves: Gorilla Press Slam, Punch (Animal Strike), Shoulderblock, Jumping Elbow Drop
Career Highlights: -AWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Hawk)
-iGW Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Hawk)
-IPW Tag Team Champion (w/ Hawk)
-NWA International Tag Team Champion (w/ Hawk)
-NWA National Tag Team Champion (4x; all w/ Hawk)
-NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Hawk & Dusty Rhodes; 1 w/ Hawk & Genichiro Tenryu)
-NWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Hawk)
-SOW Tag Team Champion (3x; all w/ Hawk)
-UWA Tag Team Champion (w/ Power Warrior)
-WWE Tag Team Champion (w/ Heidenreich)
-WWF World Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Hawk)
Affiliates: Hawk, Paul Ellering, Heidenreich, Sunny, Droz/Puke, Dusty Rhodes, Christy Hemme, Genichiro Tenryu, Arn Anderson, Jake Roberts, King Kong Bundy, Matt Borne, The Iron Sheik, The Sheik, The Spoiler, Buff Bagwell, Jeff Jarrett, Lex Luger, Ric Flair, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner, Kensuke Sasaki/Power Warrior, Ultimate Warrior, Nikita Koloff
Notable Feuds: Ivan Koloff, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Jerry Sags, Man Mountain Darsow/Krusher Khrushchev/Smash/Repo Man, Brian Knobbs, Stan Lane, Lex Luger, Ronnie Garvin, Ric Flair, John Tenta/Earthquake, Tully Blanchard, Brett Sawyer, King Konga/The Barbarian, Tugboat/Typhoon, Nikita Koloff, King Kong Bundy, Dennis Condrey, Crush/Brian Adams, The Warlord, Ron Simmons/Faarooq, Mike Enos/Blake Beverly, Wayne Bloom/Beau Beverly, Fatu, Samu/The Tahitian Prince, Mike Rotundo/Mike Rotunda/Irwin R. Shyster, Masked Superstar/Ax, Hawk, Sting, Paul Diamond, Pez Whatley/Shaska Whatley, Kip Montana/Billy Gunn, Michael Hayes, Jesse James, Steve Williams, Baron Von Raschke, Curt Hennig/Mr. Perfect, Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, Pat Tanaka, Rick Rude, Dusty Rhodes, Buzz Sawyer, Ole Anderson, Henry O. Godwinn/Mark Canterbury, Skull, 8-Ball, Phinneas I. Godwinn/Dennis Knight/Mideon, Steve Keirn/Skinner, Ray Traylor/Big Bubba/Bubba Rogers/Big Bossman, Barry Windham/Blackjack Windham, Rob Rechsteiner/Rick Steiner, Butch Reed, Tommy Rich, Jimmy Garvin, Mr. Fuji, The Crusher, Dan Spivey, Jacques Rougeau, Jr./The Mountie/Quebec Jacques, Larry Hennig, The British Bulldog, Manny Fernández, Owen Hart, Jumbo Tsuruta, Kevin Sullivan, Genichiro Tenryu
Other Facts: -Real name was Joseph Michael Laurinaitis
-Brother of pro wrestlers John Laurinaitis and Fury
-Father of former NFL player James Laurinaitis
-Former member of Legion of Doom
-Former member of LOD 2000
-Former member of The Magnificent Seven
-Appeared in 2 episodes on the TV show "Learning the Ropes" in 1988
-The book "The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling" was released in 2011
-Voted Rookie of the Year (w/ Hawk) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1983
-Voted Tag Team of the Year (w/ Hawk as The Road Warriors) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1988
-Voted Feud of the Year (w/ Hawk, Dusty Rhodes, & Nikita Koloff vs. Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger, & Ric Flair) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1987
-Voted Comeback of the Year by the readers of pro Wrestling Illustrated in 2005
-Ranked #18 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked #24 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked #224 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked #135 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked #82 in the 1998 PWI 500
-Ranked #258 in the 1999 PWI 500
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012 (w/ Hawk & Paul Ellering as The Road Warriors)
-Passed away September 23, 2020 due to a heart attack
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31
- 10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
- 10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
- 10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
- 10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
- 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
- 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
- 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
- 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
- AWOL Oct 27th Today!
- Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th Today!
- Miss Linda Oct 27th Today!
- Chris Smith Oct 28th
- MVP Oct 28th
- Jake Boulder Oct 28th
- Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
- D. J. Hall Oct 29th
- Mischief Oct 29th
- Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
- George Wells Oct 30th
- Debbie Combs Oct 30th
- Danny McShain Oct 30th
- Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
- Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
- Jayson Boss Oct 31st
- Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
- Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
- Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
- Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
- Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
- Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
- Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
- Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
- Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
- Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
- Max Leon Nov 4th
- Assassin 1 Nov 4th
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
- Bill Decker Nov 5th
- Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
- Darin Matthews Nov 6th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
- Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
- Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
- Nick Patrick Nov 9th
- Kolossus Nov 9th
- Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
- Gil Knutson Nov 9th
- Joyce Grable Nov 9th
- Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Card Results
- RDW · Oct 23rd 2026 · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Oct 22nd 2026 · Oklahoma City
- EDW · Oct 22nd 2026 · Tulsa
- TexPro · Oct 17th 2026 · Ardmore
- EPW · Oct 17th 2026 · Spencer
- NAW · Oct 17th 2026 · Watts (Chewey)
- WAH · Oct 16th 2026 · Tulsa
- UWO · Oct 15th 2026 · Oklahoma City
- BCW · Oct 11th 2026 · Guthrie
- BCW · Oct 10th 2026 · Guthrie
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