Kerry Von Erich spent several years competing in the WWE, and his crowning achievement would be winning the Intercontinental Championship by defeating Mr. If you are unfamiliar with this family, then get ready to learn some truly tragic facts about the Von Erichs. Left a note that said he was joining his brothers in heaven. When he later had Lawler in a clawhold on the mat with Lawler's shoulders down, the referee saw the blood on Kerry's head, thought it was excessive, and stopped the match. He outlived five of his six children. It was dubbed the "Iron Claw" match because it was to pit two wrestlers using a maneuver where the opponent's head is grabbed and held. He was brilliant in the ring, and was exceptional on the microphone as well. The first was in 1959, when Jack Adkisson Jr. died of an accidental electrocution at age 7. He was brilliant in the ring, and was exceptional on the microphone as well. The resulting wreck crushed his right foot and dislocated his hip. In a tribute to David, his younger brother Kerry Von Erich would take his place in the NWA and defeat Ric Flair for the world title. While attempting to pass a truck on a two-lane road, Von Erich crashed into the back of a police car. Bret Hart wrote about this in his book, Hitman. Chris had bones that were brittle, and they were highly susceptible to breakage while performing in the ring. admit that he was wrestling without a foot, despite rumors about it circulating In 1985, Von Erich spent nearly a month in Baylor University Medical Center, where he was treated for the bacterial infection known as toxic shock syndrome. Doris Adkisson would carry on quietly away from the horrors of her family. 10 Provoking Photos Of Lacey Von Erich . When he beat Ric Flair for the NWA World Championship, it was clear Flair carried the match, but all Kerry had to do was hit his moves and show his smile, and the fans ate it up. From there, he tragically drowned. Dr. Rodney Crow, chief of identification services with the Tarrant County medical examiner's office, said the autopsy concluded that Von Erich, whose birth name was Kerry Adkisson, had signs of cocaine in his urine and a blood-alcohol content of .10 percent. He even won the Intercontinental title from Hennig, holding that championship for nearly three months before dropping the title back to him. Visit Shawn Lealos' website to learn more about his novel writing and follow him on Twitter @sslealos. April 28 (UPI) -- An isolated private island off the coast of Scotland is for sale with an asking price of about $188,000. It is a tragic tale that can serve as a warning for those interested in getting into wrestling. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. He made an appearance for Eastern Championship Wrestling on January 23, 1993, for ECW's Battle of the Belts against Salvatore Bellomo in a double disqualification. Tragedy waited around each corner for this family, and despite their talents in the ring, personal demons from mounting pressure and drug abuse led to the demise of what could have been wrestling's most dominant family. Wrestling for Fritz Von Erichs World Class Championship Wrestling was an interesting time for Terry Taylor. They found success in their fathers wrestling promotion, and even when they performed in other promotions, they were met with great acclaim and fanfare. PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE. Von Erich had competed in the top wrestling promotions in the country, and had competed againstRic Flairon a number of occasions. [14][15] After having short angles as a singles wrestler, he began teaming with his brother Kevin. He went on to say that he tried to talk Kerry out of it, saying that Kerry's children would need their dad. Kevin received rings for his father, Fritz, as well as each of his brothers. UPDATE: Brother told investigators child got in trouble for messing with fish tank. Jack Jr., 7, died after being electrocuted in 1959, family members said. He has covered Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games. They were set to take over the wrestling world, and instead, traveled a road that led to death and devastation. In 1991, PWI listed Kevin at number 78 in the top 500 singles wrestlers of all-time. David and Kevin both had brief stints with the company, but did very little during their time in the WWE. initial surgery, or had it amputated later (with some even saying it was removed We want to study the impact of the squared circle on the talent, the fans and the world at large. WebWhile working out of Buffalo in 1959, son Jackie, then six, touched a live wire while he was outside during a storm, was given a major jolt and was knocked unconscious. While undefeated against them in multiple matches, Von Erich was unable to move back up into contention as he suffered several losses against Rick Martel, Nailz, and Kamala. He would go on to receive a prosthetic foot, and even wrestled with it on. The only surviving son is Kevin, 34, also a wrestler, who was en route from Jefferson, Texas, to the family home after Kerry's death. David, considered the best wrestler, died at age 25 of an inflammation of the intestine during a wrestling tour of Japan in 1984. Flair defeated Von Erich multiple times during the WWF's October tour of the UK. Of course, this secrecy also led to one of the more embarrassing moments in Kerrys career, when Ed Wiskoski (then working as Col. DeBeers) accidentally yanked off Kerrys boot during a live AWA event, exposing the amputated stump during a match at the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to reports, Jack was playing outside when he came into contact with a wire that was attached to an electric fence. The wire electrocuted the young boy, and he fell into a puddle. The couple divorced on April 22, 1992.[58]. Sadly, he suffered brain damage from his bout with toxic shock syndrome, and he would never be the same again. Mr. Adkisson hadn't seen his son for two weeks until 1:30 p.m. yesterday, when he came to the house and hugged his father for the last time. She would In fact, outside of Kerry and Kevin, no other Von Erich brother lived to see the age of 30. His depression wouldn't subside, and he was heading down a very dark path. His short stature and brittle bones made life miserable for Chris, and this led him to doing something that everyone feared. Since he was on 10 years' probation for a drug conviction in September, prosecutors were seeking to revoke his probation and send him to prison. 2002 - Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo defeated Rico & Rikishi for But even after that, Von Erich went on to the WWE, debuting as the Texas Tornado and getting into high-profile feuds with other gifted grapplers, such as Mr. He was so talented and was such a highly-regarded performer that he was set to win the prestigious NWA World Title from The Nature Boy himself. Photos like this always haunt me - similar to the last pics of Benoit and Robin Williams with fans. He formed a tag team with Jeff Jarrett, winning the Tag Team Title with him. Adkisson held forty championships in various promotions during his career. 1 On Billboard, The Highest-Grossing Tracy Morgan Movies, Ranked, A Peek Inside King Charles III's Luxurious Watch Collection, Kate Middleton Honors Princess Diana In L.K. Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 February 18, 1993),[1][2] better known by his ring name Kerry Von Erich, was an American professional wrestler. [34] He later refereed a Texas Deathmatch between longtime rival Terry Gordy and Killer Khan, which Gordy won, via Kerry's decision. Shortly before his death, Mike had gotten a DUI, and had truly reached the lowest point in his life. Mike had overdosed on sleeping pills, leaving his family members to mourn the loss of another Von Erich. His five other sons became wrestlers. He wasn't the best on the mic and his move-set was limited in the ring, but he had an "it" factor that won fans over regardless of his limitations. With Kerry Von Erich also dying by suicide in 1993, Kevin Von Erich was the last brother left alive. [39] On September 28, 1985, Kerry made an appearance for American Wrestling Association's SuperClash defeating Jimmy Garvin to retain the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. On August 15, he got his very first shot at the NWA title against Flair in a two out of three falls match, which Flair won to retain the title. "He was always in pain, walking on that foot," he said. In 1991, at 21, he took his own life. Jack Adkisson found his son's body in a blackberry vine thicket on the family's 140-acre ranch in this community of Denton County north of Fort Worth. RELATED: The Von Erich Family - Wrestling's Most Unheralded Megastars. David Von Erich left behind a wife and a daughter from a previous marriage. On February 22nd, Owen and I flew to Texas for Kerrys funeral, held in the local Baptist church. He is set to be portrayed by Jeremy Allen White in the upcoming A24 movie The Iron Claw, based on the life of Kerry and The Von Erich family. Chris, at 21, was the youngest brother to lose his life during that time period. Kerry had become addicted to painkillers following his accident and amputation. David Von Erich left behind a wife and a daughter from a previous marriage. [1][2][29] He lost the belt 18 days later in Yokosuka, Japan, back to Flair in a bout that was marred by controversy: Von Erich's feet were on the bottom rope following a reversed rollup, but the referee ignored this and made the count. He was destined to become a future world champion and the NWA had big plans for the Yellow Rose of Texas. (Sidenote: Fusing an ankle joint is a legitimate medical procedure, which lent Von Erichs story some credibility. Outside of his numerous in-ring accomplishments, Kerry had even acted in films. About 2:15 p.m., Jack Adkisson said he got worried because he knewKerry had to pick up his daughters, Holly, 9, and Lacy, 6, from school in Dallas County. [46] Von Erich lost this match, and the title to Perfect due to interference from Ted DiBiase. Kerry mostly convinced Bret that he had changed his mind, but Bret feared that it was only words. No one was bigger than Kerry Von Erich at the time. Unlike his brothers who were larger men that possessed tremendous athletic gifts, Chris was only 5'5", and he had suffered from asthma his entire life. 3) wins the Royal Rumble Match to become WWE Champion", "RCS Exclusive: Texas Tornado promo facing Papa Shango at Summer Slam 92", "Free Family Tree, Genealogy, Family History, and DNA Testing", "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)", National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title (Texas) history, "Pro wrestling history (01/23): Hulk Hogan defeats Iron Sheik for WWF title", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_Von_Erich&oldid=1152372174, Professional wrestlers from New York (state), Sportspeople from Niagara Falls, New York, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, TWF Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time), USWF Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time), The Dalton Brothers (Jack Dalton and Jim Dalton), The Kozak Brothers (Jerry Kozak and Nick Kozak), This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 21:04. [11][12] In May and June 1981, Kerry exchanged the NWA American Heavyweight Championship with Ernie Ladd. Scottish Island for sale with asking price of $188,000. Bret Hart states in his autobiography, My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, that while he and Kerry were on the road to Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 29, 1990, Kerry had told him that he had decided to join his late brothers in heaven, and was waiting for God to tell him when. DALLAS - Professional wrestler Kerry Von Erich ended his troubled life Thursday with a single bullet in his chest, becoming the fifth of the family's six brothers to die young. The Texas Tornado had a monster physique to go along with his good looks, and fans quickly grew to love his work in the ring. Kerry returned to Texas and claimed the USWF Texas Heavyweight Championship, which he lost to Dynamite Dixon in November 1992. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Manager Percy Pringle also turned heel, and began feuding with Kerry. This, of course, comes as no surprise to those who have seen clips of Kevin performing. As one of the most infamous families in all of professional wrestling, the Von Erich brothers made names for themselves in the 1980s one brother,Kerry Von Erich even winning a WWE title, but death began to follow each brother like a shadow. He was arrested once on a drug charge and received a probationary sentence. Bret told Kerry that his living daughters would need him more than his late brothers. This author needs to do their research. After a second drug arrest, he was looking at potentially spending a significant amount of time in prison. Wrestling Arrests You May Not Be Aware Of! [1] Terry Gordy slammed the cage door on Kerry's head, which led to Flair winning the match and retaining the title. Bobby Mathews is a contributor for Pro Wrestling Stories as well as a veteran journalist whose byline has appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Birmingham News, The Denver Post, as well as other newspapers around the country. Losing a family member is always difficult to deal with, but losing a young child has to carry an immense amount of pain with it. Beginning with the death of his 6-year-old son, Fritz had to watch nearly every one of his sons descend into darkness, and had to watch 3 of them take their own lives. Von Erich Check. Kerry Von Erich was to be the headliner in an "Iron Claw" match tonight. He was a genuine modern day hero in Texas. [2], Most of Kerry's fame was made in Texas' World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he was nicknamed "The Modern Day Warrior", a reference to his entrance music ("Tom Sawyer" by Rush). [7][53] Kerry's push continued to subside in early 1992. [51] The following month, "The Texas Tornado" suffered his first lopsided loss when he was squashed by The Undertaker in less than four minutes on the November 10, 1991, episode of Wrestling Challenge. Historically, patients with problems such as polio or club foot might have this done to help them walk more normally.). WebIn 1997, 4 years after the death of his son Kerry, Fritz Von Erich would die from brain and lung cancer. However, many people believe that David died of a drug overdose, and that his friend and fellow wrestler Bruiser Brody got rid of the evidence. Slaughter, Jim Duggan, and Tito Santana against Colonel Mustafa, The Berzerker, Skinner, and Hercules. World Class Championship Wrestling, the Von Erich family's show, was syndicated in 66 U.S. television markets, Japan, Argentina and the Middle East. Imagine feeling pressured to do something that you have little interest in and nearly dying because of it. 'Fog of bees' briefly interrupts PGA Tour's Mexico Open. I just wished there had been something I could have done to help Kerry. According to his brother Kevin, Kerry injured the foot following surgery by attempting to walk on it prematurely, thus forcing the doctors to amputate it. Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com. [54] Although Von Erich was announced to face Papa Shango at the SummerSlam PPV card in London, UK, he was replaced by El Matador and he officially left the WWF in August 1992.[55]. [37] This would mark the end of Kerry's WCWA run. April 28 (UPI) -- A Nebraska high school said it broke a Guinness World Record when more than 1,000 students participated in a water balloon toss event. He still tried his best when healthy enough to compete, and even had a tag team match against future legend Steve Austin. He could have been a great manager for his brothers, or could have tried his hand at booking matches. His death was due to an overdose of a tranquilizer, and authorities found notes at his car and residence. In his autobiography, former WWE Champion and Hall-of-Famer Bret Hart wrote that Kerry had told him months before about his plans, that he had wanted to follow his three late brothers, and that they were calling him. April 28 (UPI) -- A South Carolina woman won a $300,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket just three years after winning a $250,000 lottery jackpot. WebThese undue pressures can lead to suicide. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Mike was only 23 when he died. From there, he tragically drowned. As one of the most infamous families in all of professional wrestling, the Von Erichs made names for themselves in the 1980s before death began to follow each brother like a shadow. 3/1/1993 Observer (pt 2) Kerry, who had teased fans for more than four years with his incredible near-misses in world title matches against both Harley Race and Ric Flair, had promised his fans he'd win the title in memory of his recently deceased brother. WebKerry Von Erich's NWA Championship Defenses. Stranded bear rescued from Nevada tree using tranquilizer, tarp. While in Israel, Mike passed out during a match, and was rushed to a hospital. Mike Von Erich was undersized, but seemed like a scrappy underdog. Kerry's marriage had fallen apart earlier in 1992 and according to Hart, Kerry believed that his death was inevitable. Von Erich suffers a dislocated hip and a severely damaged right foot and undergoes over 13 hours of surgery. WebKerry Von Erich posthumously appears in Dark Side of the Ring (season 1 episode 4) and the video games Legends of Wrestling, Legends of Wrestling II, Showdown: Legends In 1986, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that resulted in the amputation of his right foot. 24) wins the Royal Rumble Match", "Ric Flair (spot No. On February 18, I heard that Kerry Von Erich had shot himself in the heart. Tragedy waited around each corner for this family, and despite their talents in the ring, personal demons from mounting pressure and drug abuse led to the demise of what could have been wrestlings most dominant family. They helped redefine wrestling by implementing their unique take on the profession, and their contributions to the sport can be felt to this very day. After resisting a move to WWE for many years, he finally relented in 1990 and signed on with Vince McMahon's promotion. WebBy 1993, culminating with Kerry Von Erich's death by suicide, Fritz had lost five of his six sons. In order to remain on kayfabe terms, Adams and Kerry wrestled as a tag team two days later in San Antonio, since the heel turn had not aired on television yet. You can cancel at any time. Ric Flair and Bret Hart A War of Words! In 1987, he went into the woods and took his own life. They found success in their father's wrestling promotion, and even when they performed in other promotions, they were met with great acclaim and fanfare. Honorary Von Erich "Gentleman" Chris Adams then became the Sportatorium's main headliner, feuding with Pringle, Steve Austin, and Jeanie Clarke. [19] This culminated in a historic feud between the Von Erichs and the Freebirds that lasted for over five years. Only one lived past the age of 33. He was only waiting for God to tell him when. Despite five of the Von Erich brothers dying throughout the years, there is still one brother that remains alive. [35] On December 31, the Von Erichs defeated Hernandez, Roberts, and Adams to regain their NWA Six-Man Tag Team Title. surgery. The Von Erich Brothers [49] Von Erich continued to be heavily pushed for the first half of 1991 and did not suffer another pinfall defeat until August 17, 1991, when he was defeated by The Warlord in Landover, MD. [27], Kerry's biggest career highlight was on May 6, 1984, when he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a historic match, in front of over 45,000 fans at Texas Stadium to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. This would be Kerry's last championship belt. RELATED: 15 Failures From Legendary Wrestling Families. and several fans saw that he had no foot). [7][28] Kerry's victory was a tribute to his brother David, who had died three months earlier and for whom the event, the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, was named. This occurred nearly 6 months before Jacks 7th birthday. The patriarch of the Von Erich family, Fritz, will be played by Holt McCallany.The role of his wife, Doris Adkisson, is taken by Maura Tierney.Fritz (Jack Adkisson) was the promotor for World Class Championship Wrestling and used his sons predominately in the promotion.. Their sons David, Kerry, and Mike will be played by [1][2][6] He is best known for his time with his father's promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he spent eleven years of his career, and his time in World Wrestling Federation (WWF), under the ring name The Texas Tornado. 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Outside of brothers David and Kevin, Kerry was the only Von Erich brother to compete under the bright lights of the WWE. A publication all about taking longer form looks at the world of professional wrestling. He was 68 when he died, and outliving nearly all of his children must have been an immense burden. According to reports, Jack was playing outside when he came into contact with a wire that was attached to an electric fence. He really felt like he would be with them the way he did it. Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? His story serves as an important reminder of the fragility of life and that we should take every opportunity to cherish it. His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. RELATED: Zac Efron To Star In New Von Erich Wrestling Film. Kerry started feuding with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. The family members inducted were Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris Von Erich. April 28 (UPI) -- A bear stuck in a Nevada tree was rescued by wildlife officials and firefighters who tranquilized the bruin and then caught the large animal in a tarp. Kerry confided that hed made up his mind to join his brothers in heaven. Instead of going to jail, Kerry returned home to his father's ranch and died by suicide, firing one single bullet into his heart. The tragedy started early, and it never ended up until Fritz's death from lung cancer in 1997. He said everyone at the hospital and, later, the physical therapists, had been sworn to secrecy. Mike Von Erich, 23, died in April 1987 of an apparent suicide after a series of health troubles. His youngest son Jack died when he was six, electrocuting himself in an accident via a power line at a trailer park. Year by year, Doris Von Erich has taken down the pictures and posters. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He continued wrestling after the accident with a prosthesis and kept the amputation secret to the majority of fans and fellow wrestlers, even going to the extreme of showering with his boots on. On June 17, 1983, he teamed with Bruiser Brody to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. April 27 (UPI) -- A Sydney, Australia, woman is trying to solve a mystery after hundreds of dollars' worth of drinks, including Gatorade, Powerade, Coke and Fanta started showing up at her home. While he received preferential treatment as a member of the Von Erich family, he had the look and charisma of a star. Being in top physical form is essential in having a successful wrestling career, and Kerry losing his foothad done more damage than his family even realized. The accident was so severe and Kerry was so impatient that his condition worsened to the point that he had to have a foot amputated. On December 28, 1980, his first NWA American Heavyweight Championship reign came after he defeated Gino Hernandez for the vacant title. Kerry Adkisson's wife of nine years, Cathy, had removed all guns from their house. He had a single wound in his chest from a .44-caliber Magnum handgun, county investigators said. [48] He made his only WrestleMania appearance at WrestleMania VII, defeating Dino Bravo following a Tornado Punch. The story of the Von Erich family is a tragic one. Despite their accomplishments and prestigious last name, the Von Erich brothers lived a life that was filled with incredible pressure to live up to their father's loft expectations, as well as the expectations of their fans. April 29 (UPI) -- An Australian tourist facing possible flogging after being accused of going on a drunken nude rampage in the Indonesian province of Ache says he felt "almost possessed" at the time.

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