Road Warrior Hawk The Wrestler Bibliography

Copyright (c) 2010 Davide Botticelli

Road Warrior Hawk was born on the 12th of September in 1957. His real name was Michael James Hegstrand. He led a fairly normal child life attending high school and graduating in 1976. He then had a few jobs including being a bouncer due to his hefty size and power. He was working one night and wrestling trainer Eddie Sharkey attended and noticed Hawk's big and powerful presence and so invited him to train with him. Eddie believed that Hawk, along with 5 other wrestlers he trained had huge potential in the wrestling world so he trained them personally.

Hawk started his professional career in Georgia Championship Wrestling where he was part of a heel stable called The Legion of Doom. They decided to make Joe Laurinaitis and Michale tag together and change their names to Hawk and Animal. They then had a mean makeover by adding their trademark attires like dog collars and spiked shoulder pads. also shaving their heads to a Mohawk. They instantly dominated the tag division by exhibiting their awesome power and charisma. They won tag titles where ever they went.

The Road Warriors first big federation was in the National Wrestling Alliance. They had numerous feuds with the likes of: The Four Horseman and The Russian Team. They made 2 matches famous as well they were the Scaffold match and the Chicago Street Fight. However their biggest feud was against The Powers of Pain. They were regarded as the clones of the Road Warriors as they were their matches in power and performance. The feud went so far as to Animal injuring his eye and wearing a hockey goalie mask to protect him. However the feud ended when the Powers of Pain left due to fear of hurting themselves when they were placed in Scaffold matches against The Road Warriors. Seriously. It's wrestling you signed up to hurt yourself. So after that Road Warriors gained the tag titles only to lose them after Teddy Long used a fast 1, 2, 3 count. Not a good move playa. They had a few feuds with other tag teams before leaving National Wrestling Alliance for the World Wrestling Federation! in the summer of 1990.

When they first arrived they were pushed to feud with Demolition. However due to bad health a Demolition member left and was replaced by someone else. The charisma and chemistry of Demolition was gone and the feud failed. However the Legion Of Doom captured the WWF Tag titles and held them for around 8 months before losing them. Then they returned with Paul Ellering and a wooden dummy 'Rocco'. However Hawk, Animal and the fans thought the gimmick was stupid and this led to Hawk leaving Animal fir the first time in nearly a decade.

Hawk then went to Japan where he had a great run in singles action but he was still seen as a tag wrestler. So he formed a tag team with a Japanese star before winning a European Heavyweight Championship.

The Road Warrior then made appearances in WCW helping the likes of Sting and Dustin Rhodes in 1993 in their respective feuds. Then after recovering from a career threatening back injury Animal joined Hawk and the Road Warriors were reunited. They made challenges to the WCW Tag titles but to no avail. The 2 returned to the WWF.

When the Legion of Doom returned to the WWF they instantly got involved with the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Hart Foundation feud. They then became 2 time Tag Champions on the October of 1997 before losing them to the newbie team of Billy Gunn and Road Dogg. Then came along the Attitude Era and the Road Warriors brought on a gimmick about Hawk's real life drug and alcohol addiction. The team then did a few suicidal acts until a third member was added. He was Puke. No not sick his name was Puke. This controversial addition to the Road Warriors came to an end when Puke accidentally pushed a suicidal Hawk off the top of the Titan tron. Apparently he was trying to save him but he failed. It was later known that Puke wanted to replace and kill Hawk. However the gimmick became too much for the Legion of Doom and both men quit WWF.

Hawk then had problems with his addictions and was later diagnosed with cardiomyopathy however he overcame it and appeared in one match with Animal for TNA. Before the Legion of Doom returned briefly to the World Wrestling Entertainment for the Tag titles but lost. However in the match LoD looked good and were thinking of rejoining World Wrestling Entertainment however Hawk died in his home in Florida on October 19th 2003 aged 46. Supposedly of a heart attack. Animal rejoined the World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005 and dedicated his entire World Wrestling Entertainment run to Hawk even his tag team title win with Heidenreich.

So with that we conclude our trip down the road of Road Warrior Hawk. Hawk was a great competitor and an idol for tag teams everywhere. He and Animal were surely a force to be reckoned with wherever they went.I remember distinctly watching them on t.v when I was very young. But Hawk shall always be remembered as one of the tag team gods. Join me next time loyal readers with my next article but until then I'm "Unstoppable" Jack Johnson and you have been a great reader. Oh and before I forget someone please contribute to the damn gas money!! Also don't forget to comment! Hehe see ya next time folks!