Why The Road Warriors Left WCW & Joined WWE, Explained
Highlights
- The Road Warriors, arguably the greatest duo in wrestling, made a significant impact and continue to be admired today.
- They traveled and competed in various promotions worldwide, including both WWE and WCW.
- The duo left WCW twice due to conflicts with executives, Jim Herd and Eric Bischoff, respectively.
Simply put, The Road Warriors are arguably the greatest duo to ever step foot into a professional wrestling ring. Their impact on the business was immense and continues to be felt today. There is a reason that the term “The Road Warrior Pop” is a thing in professional wrestling. They were just that good. Throughout their career, they traveled to multiple different promotions across the world. This also included them working for both WWE and WCW. During the 1990s, they would jump between promotions. On two occasions, they had left WCW and returned to WWE, citing different reasons for both times they jumped ship.
Professional Debut | 6/11/1983 |
Notable Accomplishments | AWA World Tag Team Champions, NWA National Tag Team Champions, NWA International Tag Team Champions, NWA World Tag Team Champions, WWE Tag Team Champions |
Companies Competed For | WWE, WCW, NJPW, AWA, NWA, GCW, i-Generation Superstars of Wrestling |
The Road Warriors First Departure From WCW In 1990
Road Warrior Animal Had Issues With Jim Herd
The Road Warriors began wrestling for WCW in 1986, when it was known as Jim Crockett Promotions. Eventually, the company transitioned to being called WCW after being purchased by Turner Broadcasting System. During their time there, they competed against the likes of The Powers of Pain, The Four Horsemen, and The Midnight Express. They also captured the NWA World Tag Team Titles in the company. Their final match of their first WCW run took place at a house show where they teamed with The Junkyard Dog in a losing effort to The Four Horsemen. After that, they left for WWE in 1990.
4 Wrestlers That The Road Warriors Loved (& 5 They Hated)
Although they were a team, The Road Warriors made a few allies along their journey. They also made a few enemies for various reasons.The reasoning for The Road Warriors leaving WCW for the first time in 1990 stemmed from issues between Animal and the then Executive Vice President of WCW, Jim Herd. That same year, The Road Warriors signed with WWE. They made their debut on an episode of Superstars, where they faced Black Bart and Tom Stone. In WWE, they were rebranded as The Legion of Doom. This first run with the WWE saw Hawk and Animal positioned in a high place on the card. They were a part of The Ultimate Warriors at Survivor Series 1990 and had beat The Nasty Boys to win the WWE Tag Team Titles at SummerSlam 1991. However, both members eventually left WWE in 1992 at separate times.
The Road Warriors Return To WCW In 1996
Animal And Hawk Leave WCW After Less Than A Year
After some time apart in the mid-1990s, The Road Warriors reunited and returned to WCW in 1996. However, this run was not one that lasted nearly as long as their first. They faced teams such as Lex Luger and Sting, Harlem Heat, The Nasty Boys, and The Faces of Fear. However, less than six months later, The Road Warriors were once again gone from WCW. They then ended up returning to NJPW and, eventually, the WWE.
Road Warrior Animal And Eric Bischoff's Perspectives
Different Views On Why The Road Warriors' Second WCW Run Didn't Work Out
The reasoning for their departure this time was once again surrounding disputes with an executive. This time, however, it was Eric Bischoff instead of Jim Herd. In 2018, Animal spoke to Title Match Wrestling (h/t Wrestling Edge), saying:
“He called me the other day asking me about a certain situation… Why Hawk and I never stayed with WCW, and I said quite honestly, ‘I can’t even remember.’ Just like two days ago. Then I said ‘it just was not good timing, we tried but we couldn’t reach an agreement and that was that.’ It was nothing personal against Eric. I like Eric, to be honest with you. I get along with Eric, and I am watching his son wrestle now and he’s doing a great job and stuff like that, but I think it was just one of those time periods and I think, you know, when you’re in that position as boss and you got other main eventers in your ear, guys that aren’t used to being main eventers in your area…and nobody wants to let go of that stronghold to be in the main event. Then, you know, you have Hawk and I come in and we’re already self-made main eventer[s] right away. So it was a little bit [of a] different story with us.”
In 2021, Bischoff said on 83 Weeks (h/t Inside The Ropes):
“With an injury, it’s kinda hard to work on a broken foot, but there was a lot of spots that you could have done that would have had some intensity. You know, I saw a couple of clotheslines by Hawk that were like ‘Wow, I could have taken that one. Even today, I could have taken that one.’ It just wasn’t there. Animal didn’t really have… It just wasn’t there, for whatever reason. Their heart wasn’t in it."
5 Wrestlers That Eric Bischoff Gets Along With (& 5 He Doesn't)
Eric Bischoff is a polarizing figure in the wrestling industry with plenty of friends and critics alike!Ultimately, The Road Warriors left WCW on both occasions due to disputes with management in both 1990 and 1996. However, they still became one of the greatest tag teams to ever compete inside a professional wrestling ring and are highly decorated.
