Minnesota Wrestling Legend Road Warrior Animal Joseph Laurinaitis Dies

Minnesota Wrestling Legend Joseph Laurinaitis, better known as Road Warrior Animal, is dead at the age of 60.

According to TMZ, "cops received a call at around 11:49 PM from Laurinaitis' wife ... but when deputies arrived on scene -- emergency personnel had already declared the ex-wrestler deceased."

Laurinaitis was one-half of one of the greatest wrestling duos of all time, The Road Warriors! His partner, Road Warrior Hawk or Michael Hegstrand died of a heart attack in 2003.

Laurinaitis grew up in Minnesota attending Irondale High School in New Brighton after high school he did some odd jobs including being a bouncer at a nightclub where he met up with Eddie Sharkey, a very popular pro wrestling trainer, and the rest is history.

Road Warrior Animal was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. Laurinaitis is the father of former NFL LB James Laurinaitis who played for the St. Louis Rams and the New Orleans Saints, he hasn't played since 2016 after being a second-round pick in 2009.

The G.O.A.T, Hulk Hogan, paid tribute to his former colleague by saying in part, "RIP Animal,love you my brother." Ric Flair, the other G.O.A.T, said "I Am More Than Saddened To Hear Of The Loss Of My Good Friend And GREAT Opponent Joe Laurinaitis Of The Legendary Road Warriors."