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Road Warriors: The Life and Death of the Most Dominant Tag-Team in Wrestling History

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Silvervision.co.uk has released information in regards to the matches that will
be in the forthcoming Road Warriors DVD release from WWE. They've really packed
the two disk set with matches as they'res nearly 30 matches on it from the NWA,
WWF and AWA. Head to the site to see the cover art of the DVD and more
information. The DVD is set to be released on Tuesday, June 14, 2005.


Disc One

NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (11/06/83) vs. Joe Young & Randy Barber

NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (07/08/83} vs. Arn Anderson & Paul Jones

NWA World Championship Wrestling Omni (28/08/83) Texas Tornado Match vs. The
Brisco Brothers
Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal

NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (03/01/83) vs. Mike Jackson & Stone

AWA All Star Wrestling (25/08/84) AWA World Tag Title Championship vs. Baron
von Raschke & The Crusher
Alternate Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal

NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (27/08/83)

AWA All Star Wrestling (28/07/84)

AWA ESPN Championship Wrestling (15/10/85)

NWA World Championship Wrestling (03/10/87)

NWA World Championship Wrestling (10/10/87)

NWA World Championship Wrestling (28/01/89)

WCW Wrestle War (25/02/90)

Brutus the Barber Beefcake's BarberShop Wrestling Challenge (28/09/91)

Royal Rumble (21/01/92)

In Your House: Degeneration X (07/12/97)

Hawk Tribute Part 1 Confidential (08/11/03)

Hawk Tribute Part 2 Confidential (08/11/03)

Trophy Room

Paul Ellering "Go For It"

Michaels Hayes "A Lesson in Striving for Success"

Road Warriors Music Video

Disc Two

AWA All Star Wrestling (21/08/85) vs. Larry 'the Axe' & Curt Hennig

Superclash (28/09/85) AWA World Tag Team Title Match vs. The Fabulous Freebirds

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Cup (19/04/86) vs. Magnum TA &
Ronnie Garvin
Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal

Great American Bash (05/07/86) Russian Chain Match vs. Ivan & Nikita Kolaff

Starrcade (27/11/86) Scaffold Match vs. Midnight Express

Starrcade (29/11/87) NWA Tag Team Championship vs. Tully Blanchard & Arn
Anderson

New Orleans (29/10/88) NWA World Tag Team Championship vs. Midnight Express

Challenge (09/02/91) vs. Demolition

Wrestlefest (12/03/91) vs. Hart Foundation

Tokyo Egg Dome (30/03/91) vs. Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu
Japanese Commentary, Alternate Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal

Summerslam (26/08/91) WWE Tag Team Championship vs. Nasty Boys

Summerslam (29/08/92) vs. Money Inc.

Superbrawl (02/11/96) WCW Tag Team Championship Match vs. Sting & Lex Luger

RAW (13/10/97) WWE Tag Team Championship vs. The Godwinns

This DVD set is a combination of a tribute and a documentary of sorts. It features some of the more memorable matches in the Legion of Doom's career as a tag team and it also puts a spotlight on the tumultuous life of the late, great Hawk.

I was afraid the latter would be a tacky show on exploitation on Vince McMahon's part, as he's had an up and down relationship with both Road Warriors. However, the look back at Hawk's rocky life is done in a classy way with insight on his life, commentary by Animal and none of the "shock value" stuff that the WWE used in their more recent Ultimate Warrior DVD.

It's the matches that make the DVD set, though. There are so many great selections from the LOD's time in Georgia Championship Wrestling, the AWA, the NWA/WCW and, of course, the WWE. Some of these matches even include commentary by Animal himself. A really cool feature, in my opinion.

If you're a lifelong wrestling fan, such as myself, you're bound to enjoy this selection. One of the better "legend" compilation DVD sets out there right now. Even better than The History of The Undertaker, as far as I'm concerned.

Not that there's ever been any doubt, but this collection cements the fact that the Road Warriors/Legion of Doom changed the face of tag team wrestling forever and proved themselves worthy of the accoladed heaped upon them. The main feature has Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis discussing the Warriors entire existence from their first meeting in Chicago to their move to Minneapolis to their early days in Georgia right up until Hawk's tragic death in 2003. There are plenty of other wrestlers, managers, friends and colleagues adding comments and memories about the duo throughout including my personal favorite moment where Barry Darsow aka Demolition Smash claims Demolition wasn't a ripoff of the LOD. Good candid stuff much like the ECW dvd and much like that set, the feature ends on a down note. It's sad that the Road Warriors went out with a whimper rather than a roar, but this set does a good job of closing their chapter of professional wrestling history properly.

I bought this 2-disc DVD set after reading the wonderful Road Warriors book by Joe 'Animal' Laurinaitis. Although not intended as a connected release, that is how they come across. Read the book, see the movie!

Disc One: The documentary on the first disc is surprisingly thoughtful and well-edited. I am subtracting one star for the absolutely terrible generic heavy metal played continuously through every interview. It sounds like a rejected score from the old Smackdown Two PS1 game. Thankfully they change the music when it comes time to relate Hawk's tragic early death.

Do not pass up the Extras on disc one, some hilarious promos from the Road Warriors. But more importantly, and this is worth the purchase of the DVDS: Brief 1-minute commentaries from Michael 'P.S.' Hayes and Paul Ellering about life, and striving for goals. These guys look into the camera and tell the viewers (and aspiring wrestlers) to get up in the morning and reach for goals. And if you're not getting up in the morning with something to get up for, then FIND SOMETHING! And get up. Surprising, but effective advice. (Also great 2005 commentary from Jim Ross and Animal on an early match against two legends in Las Vegas.)

Disc Two: One of the highlights of Animal's book (and a great recommend there) is his recall of the time the Road Warriors finally got to wrestle Hulk Hogan in Japan. Here, we see the actual 1991 Japanese match, to a sell-out Japanese crowd. Hulk Hogan and the Road Warriors are in their prime, and it shows. Hogan is almost a heel for this match, since it wouldn't be aired in America. Great stuff to watch, as hardcore as anything the later 'Attitude Era' could come up with. Hogan gets his own face paint shortly into the match, his own blood! Hawk gets busted open, too. The new alternate commentaries by Jim Ross and Animal for several of these matches is a true highlight, you've gotta hear them call these matches!

After I bought this, I put off watching it for a few weeks. I thought I knew the Road Warriors. When I finally sat down to watch it, I was blown away. One of the best DVD releases from the WWE that I can think of. Buy it!

Here it is. The lifes & career of the Road Warriors, Hawk & Animal. The 1st disc contains an almost 2 hour look at the Road Warriors, from the streets Mike & Joe grew up on, to The Gym, bouncing, training, getting their look, to their start in Georgia Championship Wrestling, their classic feuds, all the way to their runs in the WWE & everything in between, this DVD set delivers. Comments by Barry Dorso (Demolition Smash), Paul Ellering, Jim Cornette, Michael Hayes & others make this truely an incredible look at two amazing individuals.

Disc One -
Matches:
- NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (11/06/83) vs. Joe Young & Randy Barber
- NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (07/08/83} vs. Arn Anderson & Paul Jones
- NWA World Championship Wrestling Omni (28/08/83) Texas Tornado Match vs. The Brisco Brothers
Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal
- NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (03/01/83) vs. Mike Jackson & Stone
- AWA All Star Wrestling (25/08/84) AWA World Tag Title Championship vs. Baron von Raschke & The Crusher
Alternate Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal

Interviews:
NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling (27/08/83)
AWA All Star Wrestling (28/07/84)
AWA ESPN Championship Wrestling (15/10/85)
NWA World Championship Wrestling (03/10/87)
NWA World Championship Wrestling (10/10/87)
NWA World Championship Wrestling (28/01/89)
WCW Wrestle War (25/02/90)
Brutus the Barber Beefcake's BarberShop Wrestling Challenge (28/09/91)
Royal Rumble (21/01/92)
In Your House: Degeneration X (07/12/97)

Other features:
Hawk Tribute Part 1 Confidential (08/11/03)
Hawk Tribute Part 2 Confidential (08/11/03)
Trophy Room
Paul Ellering "Go For It"
Michaels Hayes "A Lesson in Striving for Success"
Road Warriors Music Video


Disc Two - Matches:
- AWA All Star Wrestling (21/08/85) vs. Larry 'the Axe' & Curt Hennig
- Superclash (28/09/85) AWA World Tag Team Title Match vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
- Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Cup (19/04/86) vs. Magnum TA & Ronnie Garvin
Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal
- Great American Bash (05/07/86) Russian Chain Match vs. Ivan & Nikita Kolaff
- Starrcade (27/11/86) Scaffold Match vs. Midnight Express
- Starrcade (29/11/87) NWA Tag Team Championship vs. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson
- New Orleans (29/10/88) NWA World Tag Team Championship vs. Midnight Express
- Challenge (09/02/91) vs. Demolition
- Wrestlefest (12/03/91) vs. Hart Foundation
- Tokyo Egg Dome (30/03/91) vs. Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu
Japanese Commentary, Alternate Commentary by: Jim Ross & Animal
- Summerslam (26/08/91) WWE Tag Team Championship vs. Nasty Boys
- Summerslam (29/08/92) vs. Money Inc.
- Superbrawl (02/11/96) WCW Tag Team Championship Match vs. Sting & Lex Luger
- RAW (13/10/97) WWE Tag Team Championship vs. The Godwinns

Overall, some great matches to see on DVD & an awesome look at one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history. The Toyko Egg Dome match is quite a surprise, as Hogan actually works some & the match gets pretty brutal, with both Hogan & Hawk getting busted open. And yes, for those who like to piss & moan about uncontrollable stuff like copyrights, the old style 'WWF' logos are blurred, but that should be expected by now. Regardless, another great DVD set from the WWE.

My favorite tag team in the history of professional wrestling is The Road Warriors. Is this an excellent DVD presentation on them? No but it's definitely good.

The background information provided by Animal, Paul Ellering, Barry Darsow and others was priceless. Disc 1 features the making of the Road Warriors and their growing up tales. It was good to see the place where they trained and also the spots where they served as bouncers. It was also interesting hearing other professional wrestlers giving their account of The Road Warriors and what the team did for professional wrestling.

DVD 2 features some classic matches from The Road Warriors during their tenure in AWA, NWA, WWF/E and WCW. Unforunately, as a big fan of Black Sabbath's Iron Man intro music, I was somewhat miffed that I did not get to hear the original theme music. Whenever The Road Warriors matches were featured in AWA, NWA or WCW, the footage begins with The Legion of Doom in the ring. So mark fans of the Iron man music will be somewhat disappointed. Matches from their WWF/E days feature the Oooooooooooooooh What A Rush theme music and entrances. It's on account of the missing Iron Man music I gave this DVD 4 stars. As Hawk would say, "You don't like it, we don't care."

All in all, this DVD is a must have for fans of The Road Warriors, The Legion Of Doom.

Hi:
As a longtime fan of the Wrestling Business,I wanted to add this Dvd to my collection.
Alot of Matches were advertised on the package,but what they were ,were snippets of Matches and it was mainly commentary by Jim Ross.
Alot of discussion about the Road Warriors and thier legendary career,but no full matches,so its your call-
I thought it was good but not great,I would have loved to see the entire Scaffold Match vs the Midnight Express or the Entire Match vs Tully and Arn-but wasnt to be.
Mike-Middleburg,Fla

The Legion Of Doom are one of the greatest tag teams of all time. In a time where promotions were based around single wrestlers, they became the attraction people wanted & payed to see. Roadwarrior Hawk, Roadwarrior Animal, and manager Precious Paul Ellering...the Road Warriors.

The documentry starts with stories of Hawk & Animal growing up & working out at the gym which lead to them being trained as wrestlers. The evolution of their look & characters are discussed along with their relationship with manager Paul Ellering. Their stints in both Georgia Championship Wrestling and the AWA including fueds with famous teams like The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke, Fabolous Freebirds, Midnight Express, Four Horsemen, and the Koloffs are looked at in detail along with funny stories about Dick The Brusier & The Crusher and the Fabolous Ones. Their first run in the WWE goes over the fued with Demolition and if they were Road Warrior imitatiors & their historic SummerSlam '91 match. But just like everything in life, all good things must come to an end and that's where this documentry starts to go downhill as Hawk's problems & actions outside the ring led to the breakup of the Road Warriors, a brief discussion of the Japanese version of the Road Warriors, and their return to WCW that didn't work out well. Returning to WWE as L.O.D. 2000, the entire storyline involving Droz, and the death of Roadwarrior Hawk round out this documentry.

Matches Include:
vs. Joe Young & Randy Barber - This was during their early days before the facepaint look with them looking like a couple of bikers. As you would expect, they completely squashed the other team.
"NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling" June '83

vs. Arn Anderson & Paul Jones - This was back in the days of a young Arn Anderson as the Warriors completely destroyed this team as well.
"NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling" Aug. '83

Texas Tornado Match vs. Brisco Brothers - The Warriors used their usual "power/street fight" offense in the beginning but Gerald & Jack were able to fight back & gain an advantage with outwrestling the Warriors with moves like the figure four. The Warriors throughout the match worked on their backs with various bearhugs & backbreakers before things just got completely out of hand with chairs getting involved. A different match than expected from the Biscos Brothers but a very good match.
NWA, Aug. '83

vs. Mike Jackson & Stone - Just the Warriors eating up another team before spitting them out.
"NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling" June '83

vs. AWA Tag Team Champions Baron Von Raschke & The Crusher - This match saw Baron & Crusher used a strategy that worked in their favor by using the Warrior's strength against them while also out-wrestling them. Hawk & Animal stuck to their usual brawling/ground & pound offense but also showed smart tactics in cutting the "ring in half" and keeping the other guy in close to their corner before going on to win their their first World Tag Team Championship.
"AWA All Star Wrestling" Aug. '84

AWA Tag Team Championship Match vs. Larry & Curt Hennig - This was another match that saw Hawk & Animal work a "smart" match in that Larry Hennig matched power with the Warriors so the focused & worked heavily over the younger, less experienced & less powerful Curt.
"AWA All Star Wrestling" Apr. '85

AWA Tag Team Championship Match vs. Fabulous Freebirds - It should be noted that this combination of the Freebirds was Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy with Buddy Roberts in the corner while the 'Birds decided to paint their own faces, like the Warriors, with the image of the rebel flag. This was just a very entertaining match as Hayes had just natural heat here as they didn't even lock up yet & the crowd was all over him while Gordy was a great bumper for his size. The ending was something out of the "Dusty Rhodes" playbook but it didn't take away from this good match.
AWA SuperClash '85

vs. Magnum T.A. & Ronnie Garvin - This was the finals of the two day tag team tournament with a rare match with everyone being babyfaces while it should be noted that Ronnie Garvin had his hand taped due to an injury suffered by the Horsemen. Good back & forth encounter here before Ronnie Garvin's "hands of stone" came back to backfired him.
NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup '86

Chain Match vs. Ivan & Nikita Koloff - As you would just expect from these two teams, this was just a brawl from start to finish with the chains heavily coming into play to either whip, choke, or have leverage over your opposition here.
NWA Great American Bash '86

Scaffold Match vs. Midnight Express - The first major scaffold match in wrestling history. The match itself wasn't good by normal standards since they were very limited on what they could do but for the time, it was really a sight to see both teams being so high up, knowing how one team was going to fall all the way down, and the way they used the scaffold during the match. Watch out for the ending with Bobby Eaton & what happened to Jim Cornette afterwards.
NWA Starrcade '86
("Starrcade: The Essential Collection")

vs. NWA Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard - In their hometown of Chicago, the Warriors were after the Tag Team titles. This a clash of power in the Warriors vs. the wrestling technicians of the Horsemen with great storytelling by both teams.
NWA Starrcade '87
("Starrcade: The Essential Collection")

vs. NWA Tag Team Champions Midnight Express - This was during the process of an attempt to turn Hawk & Animal heel after they had already beaten down & taken out the eye of Dusty Rhodes. The Warriors divided & conquered as they had completely beaten down Bobby Eaton on the outside forcing Stan Lane to fight alone for a majority of the match before the odds just caught up to the Express leaving the Warriors to win their first (and only) NWA Tag Team Championship.
"NWA Main Event" Oct. '88

vs. Demolition - It should be noted that Ax was long gone from the company so this is the Smash & Crush duo with Mr. Fuji returning as the team's manager. This was pretty short & sweet here as this was the blowoff of the feud for the past few months between Demolition & the Legion Of Doom.
"Wrestling Challenge" Feb. '91

vs. Hart Foundation - This was one of the last matches with the Hart Foundation together as a team before Bret broke off into his singles run. L.O.D. were on the defense for most of the match as Hawn was heavily worked over by the Foundation before being able to somehow pull off a win here in a match that had both teams gain respect for each other afterwards.
WrestleFest '91

vs. Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu - This match happened during the period where WWE was having a working relationship with the SWS promotion in Japan to use each other's talent & aid in WWE's global expansion into Japan (hense why Tenryu & Koji Kitao wrestled at WrestleMania VII that month) & for those who have never seen Hulk Hogan wrestle in the Japanese setting, your in for a treat as he puts in more wrestling than you normally would see from him in the United States. The Warriors used their power game here early even press slamming Hogan & Tenru early on. Both teams brawled on the floor & through the crowd resulting on both Hogan & Hawk heavily bleeding while using chairs & tables on each other. This match was very physical (maybe even stiff at times) that just got out of control between both teams but still a lost gem in the careers of not only Hawk & Animal but also Hogan during his period of his career.
Mar. '91

Street Fight Match vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Nasty Boys - Another match that was short & sweet and enjoyable. It wasn't a weapons spotfest but a big brawl that was very well planned out & giving us a historcal finish with the L.O.D./Road Warriors becoming the first & only team to hold all the championship of all the major fedeations at that time.
SummerSlam '91

vs. Money Inc. - Eventhough they weren't the champions, these were the two best tag teams WWE had at that time. This was a good solid match all around with Money Inc. being the great mat wrestlers but still cheating heels meshing well with L.O.D.'s powerhouse style...but pay attention to L.O.D.'s entrance, it was quite a sight.
SummerSlam '92
("Allied Powers: World's Greatest Tag Teams)

vs. WCW Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger - This was a very slow but physical match between these two & was very similar like the previous one in that there was tension between Luger & Sting but also the story was made clear that the Road Warriors had respect for Sting & wanted their hands on Luger. Overall, good match.
WCW SuperBrawl VI '96

vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Godwinns - The Legion of Doom had a long feud with the Godwinns beginning with Henry suffering a neck injury due to the Doomsday Device months earlier & this encounter was the L.O.D. putting their careers on the line for one last title shot so it was "win the titles or go home" situation. They went back & forth in this match with Animal getting hurt at one point while the Godwinns tried to take advantage of the "titles don't change hands on disqualification" rule before the L.O.D. made the emotional comeback & victory for their last set of tag team championships.
"RAW" Oct. '97

DVD extras include various promos, 3 Confidental pieces, additional comments from Michael Hayes & Paul Ellering, and the old school Road Warriors music video. Bottom line is that if you are a fan of tag team wrestling & classic "old school" footage then this DVD is a necessity.

Wow, what a DVD! This DVD is truly worth the price and great to add to your WWE collection. To get the commentaries from Animal and Paul Ellering really gives the Road Warrior story a more complete picture of what they've been through. The only thing I wish that they've added to this DVD is the matches with the Ultimate Warrior against all three Demolition members from the Survivor Series (I forgot which year, I think it's '90). The biggest surprise was the fact that Hawk really abused drugs and alcohol and he did it with Jake The Snake Roberts. It's an unfortunate tragedy. RIP Hawk as most of us old school Road Warrior fans truly miss you but the LOD and their legacy will continue to live on.

This DVD was outstanding. It captures the greatness of the Road Warriors. They were in my estimation the best tag team ever. It is sad that Road Warrior Hawk passed away. Viewing this film brought back a lot of good memories. I'm sure any wrestling fan would greatly enjoy this DVD ....