“Tell ’em, Hawk”: Former AWA, NWA, WWE World tag champions The Road Warriors to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame
A ruuuush to the Hall of Fame: To mark the occasion, Animal's plans for the evening include snacking on danger and dining on death.
Hawk (Mike Hegstrand) and Animal (Joe Laurinaitis), The Road Warriors-one of my favorite tag teams from the ’80s-will be inducted into the 2011 class of the WWE Hall of Fame.
The announcement was made, fittingly enough, in the Warrriors’ adopted hometown of Chicago in the final hour of last night’s fantastic Monday Night RAW from the Windy City. As one of my readers pointed out, it’s a shame that Hawk isn’t still alive, as that would be one hell of an acceptance speech. Still, there’s hope that WWE includes Paul Ellering, the pair’s legit manager and the mastermind behind the Legion of Doom, as part of the proceedings to articulately say more than a few words.
When WWE announced Atlanta as the sight of this year’s WrestleMania, most observers assumed longtime Peachtree State favorites like the Warriors, the Freebirds, Arn Anderson, possibly even Tommy Rich or Mr. Wrestling II, along with WCW stars Goldberg, would be natural selections. (Rich was contacted but ultimately cut from consideration.) Only the Warriors made it, along with Georgia Championship Wrestling stars “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and Abdullah the Butcher (who also operates a popular rib joint in the city). For Animal, the timing couldn’t be better, with the release of his new book, The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling, which is available below for just $14.20. I’ve read the first three chapters, up to the point Ole Anderson discovers Animal and Rick Rude working as bouncers and decides to book them at the urging of their trainer Eddie Sharkey. Pretty good read so far, but the warning flag went up immediately in the first chapter when Animal talks of their tag-title win over the Nasty Boys in kayfabe fashion, which he also did at times in the WWE DVD release featuring the team (also available below).
For my earliest childhood memories of the Road Warriors, click here and for the story of how Hawk no-sold a piledriver in Jerry Lawler’s backyard at the Memphis Mid-South Coliseum, click here.
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“And to induct the Road Warriors and Paul Ellering, here’s Stan Lane and Steve Keirn.” (…or maybe not.)
Lived out in the country and my grandmother didn’t get cable, but her cousin did and HER husband was a wrestling fan. One of those few times I was able to watch the SuperStation at their house was the day Animal made his debut as “The Road Warrior” (singular). Looked like a giant version of the “leather man” from the Village People. Luckily that look didn’t last too long.
Always loved the Road Warriors. If any team deserves to go in the HOF, it’s them. I was five when they debuted in the WWF and I remember marking out big time when they interfered in the Hart Foundation/Demolition match at Summerslam. I wish they wouldn’t have made a joke of Hawk during the Attitude Era and their portrayal of him during that time is even worse now with how things turned out. That being said, I’m glad to see them do good by the Roadies and put them in the Hall.
Kinda sucks that Tommy Rich got passed over … was surprised they even considered him, though he really deserves some kind of recognition for all those scars and bruises. What say you to that Scott? Glad Bullet Bob didn’t get snubbed though, it’s actually a good looking cast this year minus the obligatory celeb. induction.
I believe the call to Tommy was strictly a courtesy, at the urging of Doug Gilbert to John Laurinaitis (Animal’s brother, who’s head of talent in WWE). There was talk of adding Tommy to the fan fest proceedings to sign autographs as a Georgia wrestling legend, but I’m not sure if that’s a go or not. (I would imagine there’s concern over what kind of condition Tommy would show up in, but I think he’d consider it a real honor and would be OK…until after the ceremony, that is.)
I think Tommy definitely should have gotten the nod over Bob Armstrong, who was more a star in Alabama than Georgia; then again, WWE has stressed all along that the host city doesn’t necessarily play a part in who goes in-hence Sunny. Tommy was the number-three babyface in the country for nearly three years, right behind Andre and Dusty and the second-youngest NWA champ ever. I would have loved for him to get it, but in today’s WWE, it just wasn’t going to happen.