Delivering an inside account of one of wrestling's most famous fighters, this autobiography offers a rare chance to learn about Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis's life both inside and outside the ring. Revealing riveting stories about his participation in the 1980s and 1990s superstar wrestling team the Road Warriors, it recounts memorable fights with his partner Mike "Hawk" Hegstrand. He describes how he and Mike rose to become a revolutionary tag team—reinventing themselves with spiky accessories and wearing face paint before it was popular—and chronicles famous rivalries, movement between different wrestling associations, and dealing with Mike's longtime struggle with drugs and alcohol. He also invites fans into his personal life and discusses his family and newfound Christian faith. Featuring stories of incredible physical feats and deep-felt companionship, this testimony will help fans relive the glory days of a wrestling legacy.
The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
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Pro-wrestling fans will instantly recognize Laurinaitis as one half of the Road Warriors, a tag team who were, for roughly 20 years, superstars in the wrestling game. With his friend Mike Hegstrand, Laurinaitis helped turn pro wrestling from a sideshow curiosity into a mainstream sport and a business empire. Laurinaitis takes us through his professional career, and while the book includes its share of descriptions of in-the-ring dramatics, it also has some pretty shrewd commentary on the wrestling business. You don�t often see, for example, a wrestler come right out and say that the fighting is faked, but here Laurinaitis takes us through the training process and shows how he and Hegstrand learned to put on a show for fans without inflicting any real physical punishment (slamming their foot down hard on the canvas, for example, while pretending to punch an opponent). He also touches on such subjects as steroid abuse, psychological trauma, choosing a �character,� and the behind-the-scenes business of pro wrestling. A lively, highly informative look at an ever-more-popular though still controversial sport. --David Pitt
Review
"A riveting memoir that pulls no punches and is every bit as powerful as the pair that once dominated the wrestling scene." —Mike Mooneyham, Post and Courier (March 2011)
"In a business where so many copy so many others, the Road Warriors stand tall as originals in both performance and presentation and are undoubtedly the greatest professional tag team wrestling duo of all time." –Powerlifting USA
"This excellent book will bring him back, hopefully to the WWE Hall of Fame."–Alan Wojcik, Gerweck.net: Pro Wrestling and MMA News (March 4, 2011)
"If you are a fan of The Road Warriors, then you definitely want to read this book. The writing is easy to follow, and once you pick it up, you won’t put it down. In the end, The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling was a ‘rush.’" —Rick Rockwell, The Examiner
"An extraordinary tour de force, enthusiastically recommended to wrestling fans in general and Road Warrior fans in particular." —James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review (March 2011)
"A unique insight into professional wrestling. . . . Laurinaitis speaks with a welcome candor." —Publishers Weekly (February 2011)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Any fan of the Road Warriors, the most dominant tag team in wrestling history must get this book. It is a must read. Even if you were not a fan of the Road Warriors it is an excellent book. It is one of the best wrestling biographies written. Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis spends little time on growing up and gets right into the story of how he and Mike Hegstrand formed the Road Warriors, how they were brought into wrestling by Ole Anderson, their relationship with Paul Ellering, the evolution of the face paint, and how they became the most dominating tag team of all time. Animal gives the background story of how the moved from the NWA to the AWA, back to the NWA and then to the WWF, and he talks about all their great matches. He also writes about their trips to Japan. Many of his behind the scenes stories are the first time they have been put in print. And there are some suprises! He also talks about the downward spiral Animal found himself in and how he pulled himself out of the spiral before his untimely death. He also talks about his friendship with such wrestlers as Barry Darsow (AKA - Axe), Dusty Rhodes, and Nikita Koloff. What emerges is a story of a man who worked hard at his profession, who rose to the top, and prospered. You also see the family side of Animal - how devoted he is to his wife and his three children. My favorite part of the book is when a young Animal meets Roddy Piper and asks him if he would make it in the business. Roddy Piper tells him no way. Years later when he and Hawk are in the WWF he sees Roddy Piper again. He asks Piper what he thinks now and Roddy Piper says, "You did good kid."
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By RB416
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is excellent historical read from Animals perspective with every major event in pro wrestling history from the past 30 years at least mentioned. The chapters that are written about his wife and children shine with pride, appreciation, and love. By the end of the book you get the feeling of a genuine gratefulness Joe(Animal) has for his opportunity to entertain and being forever know as a legend.
I'm a long time wrestling fan, well familiar with the history of the Road Warriors. I have followed their career, seen the WWE released DVD from several years ago, and read many, many books about wrestling and wrestling memoirs/biographies. Among the best in my opinion, (in no particular order) are the bios from Bret Hart, Dynamite Kid, Ted DiBiase's "Every Man Has His Price", and Mick Foley. I also enjoyed Bischoffs' bio as well.
But having been knowledgeable about the subject, I didn't find much in this book that I did not already know. I assumed that this book is not published under WWE (like Ted DiBiase's second bio, Edge, HBK, Bischoff, Austin, Goldust, etc.) that there would be more dirt or inside info.
I found the chapters that focus on the NWA days to spend too much emphasis on play by play during the matches, where as by the end of the book, feuds and matches are grazed over. My feeling is, I could just pop in the DVD and see for myself what Animal does to said wrestler after he clotheslines him. It is well known that many wrestlers from his era had substance abuse problems and died very early, so no new info there. Before opening this book, I hoped to learn more about his feelings about his bro, WWE Exec Johnny Ace, true feelings about Vince McMahon or other members of the WWE brass/big name superstars, any current relationships with Hawk's family, maybe even some insight on Paul Ellerings' feelings about the career path of LOD with and without him. He talks about starting up Zubaz, but fails to mention his role (if any) as the company progressed. While not sharing already common knowledge about other wrestlers vices, he doesn't reveal too much about his bad habits or troubles, if any. Any future career plans business ventures are also not disclosed.
This book is an enjoyable read and recommended, but is not in the higher echelon of wrestling memoirs. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this book was published by the WWE.
I'm a long time wrestling fan, well familiar with the history of the Road Warriors. I have followed their career, seen the WWE released DVD from several years ago, and read many, many books about wrestling and wrestling memoirs/biographies. Among the best in my opinion, (in no particular order) are the bios from Bret Hart, Dynamite Kid, Ted DiBiase's "Every Man Has His Price", and Mick Foley. I also enjoyed Bischoffs' bio as well.
But having been knowledgeable about the subject, I didn't find much in this book that I did not already know. I assumed that this book is not published under WWE (like Ted DiBiase's second bio, Edge, HBK, Bischoff, Austin, Goldust, etc.) that there would be more dirt or inside info.
I found the chapters that focus on the NWA days to spend too much emphasis on play by play during the matches, where as by the end of the book, feuds and matches are grazed over. My feeling is, I could just pop in the DVD and see for myself what Animal does to said wrestler after he clotheslines him. It is well known that many wrestlers from his era had substance abuse problems and died very early, so no new info there. Before opening this book, I hoped to learn more about his feelings about his bro, WWE Exec Johnny Ace, true feelings about Vince McMahon or other members of the WWE brass/big name superstars, any current relationships with Hawk's family, maybe even some insight on Paul Ellerings' feelings about the career path of LOD with and without him. He talks about starting up Zubaz, but fails to mention his role (if any) as the company progressed. While not sharing already common knowledge about other wrestlers vices, he doesn't reveal too much about his bad habits or troubles, if any. Any future career plans business ventures are also not disclosed.
This book is an enjoyable read and recommended, but is not in the higher echelon of wrestling memoirs. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this book was published by the WWE.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By dpdoty
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a fan of wrestling and the Road Warriors, I really enjoyed this book. Animal does a great job of detailing accounts of the past. However, I found greater excitement in learning about him and how his life has changed and how Hawk's life changed before his death. If teaches us that life as a star wasn't always so glamorous and the lives of those around us are the most important. This isn't just a wrestling book. It is a book about life and about the lives of the greatest tag team there was and always will be.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good read
This is a must for any true wrestling fan. Joe does what none of the other guys have been able to and that is drag you in the ring with him.
Published 11 days ago by terry schweitzer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Takes me back
Wonderful reliving the wrestling I watched as a kid. The only thing I would have loved to have seen was to have delved more into their losses and more matches but still was great... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Adam Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good read
Great read! From a critical side, I would have liked to see some more backstage stories, but overall, I think the book was excellent. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Phil Lanides
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ship
Great writing from the greatest tag team ever to step into a professional wrestling ring. Covers their entire career, beginning to the sad end.
Published 1 month ago by Ship
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must For Road Warriors Fans
Road Warrior Animal tells all. If you liked 1980s wrestling, this is a must-buy. I could write 2000 words about it, but that would be a waste. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Conrad Hoss
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read!
Any fan of The Road Warriors like me needs to get this book! Awesome story telling, couldn't put it down!
Published 1 month ago by Brian Miller
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
As a child who loved wrestling for fifteen years this book was awesome.
It shared and told a story about the best tag team.
Minnesota pride
It shared and told a story about the best tag team.
Minnesota pride
Published 1 month ago by Brent Stinson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Was Hoping For a Rush.
First, I was anticipating this book since 2004 when, during a random conversation with an editor from (the now defunct) Sports Publishing LLC (that published several very good,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jake Aurelian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Pro Wrestling Autobiography
This is one of the best wrestling autobiographies I have ever read. I couldn't put my Kindle down all week. Animal definitely knows what his fans want to read about. Read more
Published 3 months ago by viewer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable
Actually a very well written account of the most fantastic tag-team ever in professional wrestling. Engaging, interesting and quite revealing. Thanks Animal. Miss you Hawk!
Published 3 months ago by Gene
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