Update on Hawk's death

[masterragu]

FLORIDA CHANNEL 9 PICKS UP ROAD WARRIOR HAWK STORY

by Mike Johnson Updated: 10/20/2003 6:12:50 PM


The passing of Michael Hegstrand, professionally known as Road Warrior Hawk, was covered by Tampa Bay, Florida channel 9.

The station reported that Hegstrand had developed a heart condition called Cardiomyopathy (an enlargement of the heart) several years back but was able to return to the ring. Hawk suffered from cardiac issues during a summer 2001 tour of Australia promoted by Andrew McManus.

The station also noted that Hegstrand had become a born-again Christian and was working regularly on events headed by Ted DiBiase with religious themes.

Hegstrand passed away early Sunday morning in his sleep. A cause of death has not been determined.

To read the complete story, click Here

[masterragu]

A BADSTREET PERSPECTIVE REMEMBERS ROAD WARRIOR HAWK

by Dave Whitaker 10/20/2003 10:45:00 AM


As I hurried on Sunday afternoon trying to get ready to go cover a play for the newspaper, I quickly skimmed the newsline of 1Wrestling.com. I knew full well news could happen anytime. And a deep sense in me told me that a sudden death might be there. But never in my deepest horror did I expect to see that Road Warrior Hawk has left us. It is truly a dark day on Badstreet.

The Road Warriors were one of the first tag teams I watched when I discovered pro wrestling. On Saturday’s I’d see them and Paul Ellering on TBS. The Warriors would be destroying jobbers like Pat Rose and George South. Then “Precious” Paul would rant about the destructive power of the Legion Of Doom. They were truly a revolutionary tag team. You had the raw power of Animal. Then you had the power and speed of Hawk.

The Warriors were truly one of the biggest deals of the 80's. They’d go to Florida and feud with Billy Jack Haynes and Wahoo McDaniel. They took on the Youngbloods. They fought the Barbarian before he was a member of the Powers Of Pain. He teamed with “Hands Of Stone” Ronnie Garvin. They took on King Kong Bundy and Masked Superstar. One of my favorite feuds of the early Warrior days was them taking on “Pistol” Pez Whatley and “The Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant. Any team, Animal and Hawk would take on, anytime.

Hawk was always my favorite member of the Warriors. He was the man who got to say all the cool catchphrases. When Animal would say “We snack on danger, dine on death,” Hawk would chime in “And dead men don’t make money!” Hawk was the one who said “What a rush!” He was the flyer in the Warriors infamous “Doomsday Device” finisher that took the heads off of many a hapless opponent over the years.

When I tried to paint my face up for Halloween in high school (or was it college) I wanted to do it like Hawk. I loved the team of the Warriors themselves. From the time they came running to the ring accompanied by the thunderous tones of “Iron Man” to the way they destroyed anyone who dared got in their way, I was in awe of them. Even as I became a smart mark and began to learn about things like no-selling, gimmicks, etc., I still respected the Warriors.

Because during their heyday of the 80's and early 90's, the Road Warriors were one of the best tag teams in the world. They were not just musclemen who did power spots. They could work. Tag team maneuver like the powerslam off the ropes, Hawk’s hanging vertical suplex, the afore mentioned Doomsday Device, the Warriors were one of the best tag teams to watch. They had great matches with Buzz Sawyer and Brett Sawyer, the Freebirds, the Koloffs, they were involved in great matches. They didn’t just wrestle in the states, they sought out the best competition in the world by going to Japan.

The Road Warriors really touched my life. No, I never met them. But their fire, their determination, the entrance music, all motivated me. In the ring, they never gave up. Their theme song literally touched my heart. Yes, Iron Man is a dark song full of rage and revenge. But being able to let your emotions flow through the music is better than acting on them in a bad way. Being a fan of the Warriors, of Animal and Hawk, helped me through certain dark times in my own life.

Of course, like any wrestler, Hawk had his bad times too. Like that time he was embarrassed during the “attitude” era of WWE. I refuse to remember Hawk’s “drinking problem.” I won’t think about his free fall from the Titantron. I also won’t remember that equally embarrassing time in the mid 90's when the Warriors were being led by a dummy, literally. “Rocco” was the LOD’s “mascot.” Not exactly one of Vince McMahon’s finest hours.

No, I chose to remember Hawk as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time. As a man who was a member of a great tag team. A man who had the courage to fight on a scaffold (Skywalkers) despite recovering from a broken leg. God speed, Hawk. Thank you for the many rushes you gave me over the years as a wrestling fan

[PhilNYCE]

nomore L.O.D :*(

R.I.P HAWK...

did you see bubba last night on raw ragu?