Sad news for wrestling fans...

~~Leo656~~ · 10-19-2003, 04:10 PM

Continuing the absolute barrage of wrestlers' deaths this year, which left off with the death of Stu Hart earlier this week...

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003...1066586209.php

It is with great regret to announce that Mike Hegstrand, better known to the wrestling world as "Hawk", and half of the legendary "Road Warriors" passed away in his sleep at 1:30 a.m. this morning. He was 45 years old

Hegstrand's greatest success in wrestling was as one half of the legendary tag team "The Road Warriors", also known as "The Legion of Doom". They were former two time WWE Tag Team Champions, former two time WCW Tag Team Champions, and have also had tag team championship reigns in the NWA, the AWA, New Japan, All Japan, and more.
-------------------------------------------------------

While I myself have been an outspoken critic of the Road Warriors the past few years as their skills deteriorated past the point of reason, this is still a sad day for wrestling fans and anyone who was a fan of the days when "real" tag teams like the Road Warriors, Demolition, the Rock N Roll Express, Midnight Express, Brain Busters and the Hart Foundation dominated wrestling rings.

Sadder still is that at the age of 45, it's probably yet another drug-related death, like Curt Hennig's death from cocaine at 44 earlier this year. While it's too early to speculate, people simply don't die in their sleep at that age. When are people going to learn? How many well-known wrestlers have "died in their sleep" this past year alone? A dozen? More? Don't even get me started on people like Rick Rude and Brian Pillman, whose deaths are STILL being debated by some with everything from arteriosclerosis to cocaine to painkillers being listed as possible reasons.

Kinda makes all Hawk's "I'm a devout born-again Christian" interviews over the past year seem kind of hollow.

Blaze DTGG · 10-19-2003, 04:48 PM

Christians aren't perfect. and being clean can still kill you. It's possible that his body was just too damaged to continue to function.

I was a Road warriors fan from way back. and yeah this is sad news. not surpriseing. but still sad. I am truely sorry to hear that he is gone.

Blaze DTGG

~~Leo656~~ · 10-19-2003, 05:00 PM

Yeah I admit that last comment I made sounded like a cheapshot... mostly because I'm jaded since most Christians I've dealt with (mostly in my own family) are far from perfect, yet they act like they are.

Personally, though, I think Hawk was lying out his ass about quitting drugs and steroids and that he was only trying to clean up his image so he could find work... which, while shady, still doesn't change the fact that it's a shame.

But I think it's even MORE of a shame that people in general, not just wrestlers and athletes and entertainers, can't just wake the f*ck up and realize that a cheap and quick high just isn't worth the f*cking risk.

Blaze DTGG · 10-19-2003, 05:04 PM

its not just wrestlers. I know tons of people who are too stupid to live. Drugs are NOT worth it, EVER. But for some reason they seem to think they are. and its their life. They can live it as they choose.

I am sorry he is dead. I am not sorry how he died. He did drugs. he deserved what he got. It still doesn't make it easier on his family. and I am sure that the "deserved" comment makes me sound harsh but thats how I feel. If you are stupid enough to to something that will get you killed. DONT be surprised when it kills you. I have no sympathy for those people. Sad that he is gone.. but no sympathy

Blaze DTGG

*That Matt Guy* · 10-19-2003, 08:41 PM

Is he the one that "fell off" the giant screen on Raw a long time ago?

~~Leo656~~ · 10-19-2003, 08:56 PM

Yeah, during the "Hawk is a suicidal drug addict" angle when Darren Drozdov joined the Legion of Doom, and the announcers were all "speculating" whether Hawk fell or was pushed off by Droz. God, that was one of the stupidest, most insulting angles ever.

~~Reznorite420~~ · 10-19-2003, 10:34 PM

Why do wrestlers have to die before they reach 50? That's kinda young...

~~Leo656~~ · 10-19-2003, 11:27 PM

Because they abuse their bodies beyond the point of reason while living on the road 300 days a year with little time to rest or recover between travel, working out, and the actual wrestling, and they turn to painkillers, cocaine and other substances to cope with the life.

Which is why even though I'm not a huge fan of his, I respect Mick Foley... despite all the abuse he took he (claims that he) never turned to drugs to cope, making him a much stronger person than most...

*R-iZZy* · 10-20-2003, 12:21 AM

Geez... it seems as though legends disappear, and all we have left are the ticket-sellers. I think there needs to be a change in policy, because this has gone beyond the point of ridiculous. I've always loved the Road Warriors (or the Legion of Doom). I show all my sympathy for him, whether he did drugs or not. Yes, he killed himself... but I'm sure that wasn't his intention. He knew the risks, and his ignorance was the cause of his downfall. It's just a shame it happened so soon...

~~Leo656~~ · 10-20-2003, 12:44 AM

Sadly, as Vince McMahon has publicly stated many times, "it's not his responsibilty to babysit the grown men who work for him". There is no official drug testing in professional wrestling, because Vince knows that without coke, painkillers, and steroids, normal people simply could not do the insanely ridiculous things he asks them to do. He's not stupid... he knows what's going on. But it's "don't ask, don't tell." He won't ask what's going on, and nobody gets in trouble. Sadly, the only time people get in trouble for it are when they end up missing shows and becoming erratic backstage, like Eddy Guerrero and Jeff Hardy. Yes, the only time drug abuse is seen as "bad" is when it causes you to miss work. And you know what? I'm a mover, and it's the same damn thing in my business. Guys do coke and smoke crack and pop pills like candy (one of my co-workers died last month at 33 while waiting for a heart replacement that was made necessary by all the drugs he was taking... 33!) and the bosses know, but they don't care. It's the same as in wrestling. Show up, and show up on time, and the "problem" doesn't exist as far as anyone is concerned.

It's to the point where Roddy Piper was fired a few months ago for exposing what goes on and talking about his own experiences from years and years ago (he says he is now clean). The WWE claimed Piper was fired "in an effort to prevent Roddy from becoming a victim of his past demons", but any imbecile can see that it was because he told the truth: that the business and the lifestyle FORCES people to turn to drugs to cope.

A change in WWE policy just won't cut it... for anything to change, people's attitudes towards drugs and abuse in general need to change. Not just in the WWE and sports, but everywhere. People everywhere need to wake the hell up and realize that there is no guarantee, that the risks are just too high. Once we get to that point, THEN maybe Vince and other promoters will stop and think "Hmm, if someone needs to do a line just to get hyped for their match because they've been on the road for 6 days without a break, and then they need to take Oxycontin afterwards because they're in so much pain... hm, maybe I CAN afford to give them a little time off with pay AFTER all..."

*R-iZZy* · 10-20-2003, 01:03 AM

So true, but the problem is that people would rather feel the sensation of a buzz or a high rather than the sensation of truth going through them. "Life is like being at sea. Truth is the wind that goes through our sails." And you wonder why no one has gone anywhere lately. People don't care about the truth. People approach situations this way: "if it hasn't happened to me yet, then I don't see it happening two days from now." Unfortunately, the majority of people that think with that mentality end up learning the lesson the hard way (death). It's hard to change the mentality of people. Showing them consequences isn't enough. They need to look at the victims. If that wasn't enough evidence for them to stop abusing their bodies, then there is nothing left to do but to let them be. Vince isn't going to go bankrupt any time soon, so why in the hell won't he fire those that do drugs? He knows the only reason these people abuse their bodies is simply to maintain a chiseled figure in front of the camera. Firing them will only take away the purpose of doing the drugs (until they find some Indy Federation).

Vince is truly Satan, regardless of the fact that he is one of the most intelligent marketmen. To allow employees to do this to themselves is a shame, and to fire Piper for exposing the truth is wrong. Vince knows that this is a problem, and as you said, he finds no problem with them doing this, as long as they show up and catch ratings. Next victim, in my mind, should be Scott Steiner. Anyone can highly doubt that is his actual body... and I predict his death will come just as terribly as Hawk's.

*That Matt Guy* · 10-20-2003, 08:18 AM

A lot of wrestling almuni have died this year. It is sad really, no matter what.

*Taloniss* · 10-20-2003, 10:46 AM

I doubt he ever quit. Most wrestlers have a hard time because of the lifestyle (lots of painkillers, which is what alot of them get addicted too) It reminds me of how Jake tried to quit, even had the gimmick of recovery in '96, but never quite made it off them. Sad really. Hope they do a video package for Stu and Hawk on Raw tonight, or sometime this week.

10-19-2003, 04:10 PM	#1
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Sad news for wrestling fans... Continuing the absolute barrage of wrestlers' deaths this year, which left off with the death of Stu Hart earlier this week... http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003...1066586209.php It is with great regret to announce that Mike Hegstrand, better known to the wrestling world as "Hawk", and half of the legendary "Road Warriors" passed away in his sleep at 1:30 a.m. this morning. He was 45 years old Hegstrand's greatest success in wrestling was as one half of the legendary tag team "The Road Warriors", also known as "The Legion of Doom". They were former two time WWE Tag Team Champions, former two time WCW Tag Team Champions, and have also had tag team championship reigns in the NWA, the AWA, New Japan, All Japan, and more. ------------------------------------------------------- While I myself have been an outspoken critic of the Road Warriors the past few years as their skills deteriorated past the point of reason, this is still a sad day for wrestling fans and anyone who was a fan of the days when "real" tag teams like the Road Warriors, Demolition, the Rock N Roll Express, Midnight Express, Brain Busters and the Hart Foundation dominated wrestling rings. Sadder still is that at the age of 45, it's probably yet another drug-related death, like Curt Hennig's death from cocaine at 44 earlier this year. While it's too early to speculate, people simply don't die in their sleep at that age. When are people going to learn? How many well-known wrestlers have "died in their sleep" this past year alone? A dozen? More? Don't even get me started on people like Rick Rude and Brian Pillman, whose deaths are STILL being debated by some with everything from arteriosclerosis to cocaine to painkillers being listed as possible reasons. Kinda makes all Hawk's "I'm a devout born-again Christian" interviews over the past year seem kind of hollow.

10-19-2003, 04:48 PM	#2
Blaze DTGG Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 673	Christians aren't perfect. and being clean can still kill you. It's possible that his body was just too damaged to continue to function. I was a Road warriors fan from way back. and yeah this is sad news. not surpriseing. but still sad. I am truely sorry to hear that he is gone. Blaze DTGG __________________ "Life's a B*tch, and then you hit it on the nose with a rolled up newspaper for pissing on the carpet"

10-19-2003, 05:04 PM	#4
Blaze DTGG Stone Warrior Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 673	its not just wrestlers. I know tons of people who are too stupid to live. Drugs are NOT worth it, EVER. But for some reason they seem to think they are. and its their life. They can live it as they choose. I am sorry he is dead. I am not sorry how he died. He did drugs. he deserved what he got. It still doesn't make it easier on his family. and I am sure that the "deserved" comment makes me sound harsh but thats how I feel. If you are stupid enough to to something that will get you killed. DONT be surprised when it kills you. I have no sympathy for those people. Sad that he is gone.. but no sympathy Blaze DTGG __________________ "Life's a B*tch, and then you hit it on the nose with a rolled up newspaper for pissing on the carpet"

10-20-2003, 12:21 AM	#9
R-iZZy The Long Con Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: G'ville, FL (Gator Country), USA Posts: 3,007	Geez... it seems as though legends disappear, and all we have left are the ticket-sellers. I think there needs to be a change in policy, because this has gone beyond the point of ridiculous. I've always loved the Road Warriors (or the Legion of Doom). I show all my sympathy for him, whether he did drugs or not. Yes, he killed himself... but I'm sure that wasn't his intention. He knew the risks, and his ignorance was the cause of his downfall. It's just a shame it happened so soon... __________________

10-20-2003, 01:03 AM	#11
R-iZZy The Long Con Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: G'ville, FL (Gator Country), USA Posts: 3,007	So true, but the problem is that people would rather feel the sensation of a buzz or a high rather than the sensation of truth going through them. "Life is like being at sea. Truth is the wind that goes through our sails." And you wonder why no one has gone anywhere lately. People don't care about the truth. People approach situations this way: "if it hasn't happened to me yet, then I don't see it happening two days from now." Unfortunately, the majority of people that think with that mentality end up learning the lesson the hard way (death). It's hard to change the mentality of people. Showing them consequences isn't enough. They need to look at the victims. If that wasn't enough evidence for them to stop abusing their bodies, then there is nothing left to do but to let them be. Vince isn't going to go bankrupt any time soon, so why in the hell won't he fire those that do drugs? He knows the only reason these people abuse their bodies is simply to maintain a chiseled figure in front of the camera. Firing them will only take away the purpose of doing the drugs (until they find some Indy Federation). Vince is truly Satan, regardless of the fact that he is one of the most intelligent marketmen. To allow employees to do this to themselves is a shame, and to fire Piper for exposing the truth is wrong. Vince knows that this is a problem, and as you said, he finds no problem with them doing this, as long as they show up and catch ratings. Next victim, in my mind, should be Scott Steiner. Anyone can highly doubt that is his actual body... and I predict his death will come just as terribly as Hawk's. __________________

10-19-2003, 05:00 PM	#3
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Yeah I admit that last comment I made sounded like a cheapshot... mostly because I'm jaded since most Christians I've dealt with (mostly in my own family) are far from perfect, yet they act like they are. Personally, though, I think Hawk was lying out his ass about quitting drugs and steroids and that he was only trying to clean up his image so he could find work... which, while shady, still doesn't change the fact that it's a shame. But I think it's even MORE of a shame that people in general, not just wrestlers and athletes and entertainers, can't just wake the fck up and realize that a cheap and quick high just isn't worth the fcking risk.

10-19-2003, 08:41 PM	#5
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	Is he the one that "fell off" the giant screen on Raw a long time ago?

10-19-2003, 08:56 PM	#6
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Yeah, during the "Hawk is a suicidal drug addict" angle when Darren Drozdov joined the Legion of Doom, and the announcers were all "speculating" whether Hawk fell or was pushed off by Droz. God, that was one of the stupidest, most insulting angles ever.

10-19-2003, 10:34 PM	#7
~~Reznorite420~~ Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 3,851	Why do wrestlers have to die before they reach 50? That's kinda young...

10-19-2003, 11:27 PM	#8
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Because they abuse their bodies beyond the point of reason while living on the road 300 days a year with little time to rest or recover between travel, working out, and the actual wrestling, and they turn to painkillers, cocaine and other substances to cope with the life. Which is why even though I'm not a huge fan of his, I respect Mick Foley... despite all the abuse he took he (claims that he) never turned to drugs to cope, making him a much stronger person than most...

10-20-2003, 12:44 AM	#10
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	Sadly, as Vince McMahon has publicly stated many times, "it's not his responsibilty to babysit the grown men who work for him". There is no official drug testing in professional wrestling, because Vince knows that without coke, painkillers, and steroids, normal people simply could not do the insanely ridiculous things he asks them to do. He's not stupid... he knows what's going on. But it's "don't ask, don't tell." He won't ask what's going on, and nobody gets in trouble. Sadly, the only time people get in trouble for it are when they end up missing shows and becoming erratic backstage, like Eddy Guerrero and Jeff Hardy. Yes, the only time drug abuse is seen as "bad" is when it causes you to miss work. And you know what? I'm a mover, and it's the same damn thing in my business. Guys do coke and smoke crack and pop pills like candy (one of my co-workers died last month at 33 while waiting for a heart replacement that was made necessary by all the drugs he was taking... 33!) and the bosses know, but they don't care. It's the same as in wrestling. Show up, and show up on time, and the "problem" doesn't exist as far as anyone is concerned. It's to the point where Roddy Piper was fired a few months ago for exposing what goes on and talking about his own experiences from years and years ago (he says he is now clean). The WWE claimed Piper was fired "in an effort to prevent Roddy from becoming a victim of his past demons", but any imbecile can see that it was because he told the truth: that the business and the lifestyle FORCES people to turn to drugs to cope. A change in WWE policy just won't cut it... for anything to change, people's attitudes towards drugs and abuse in general need to change. Not just in the WWE and sports, but everywhere. People everywhere need to wake the hell up and realize that there is no guarantee, that the risks are just too high. Once we get to that point, THEN maybe Vince and other promoters will stop and think "Hmm, if someone needs to do a line just to get hyped for their match because they've been on the road for 6 days without a break, and then they need to take Oxycontin afterwards because they're in so much pain... hm, maybe I CAN afford to give them a little time off with pay AFTER all..."

10-20-2003, 08:18 AM	#12
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	A lot of wrestling almuni have died this year. It is sad really, no matter what.

10-20-2003, 10:46 AM	#13
Taloniss Mad Scientist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,819	I doubt he ever quit. Most wrestlers have a hard time because of the lifestyle (lots of painkillers, which is what alot of them get addicted too) It reminds me of how Jake tried to quit, even had the gimmick of recovery in '96, but never quite made it off them. Sad really. Hope they do a video package for Stu and Hawk on Raw tonight, or sometime this week.