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. Jordan said Adkisson, 21, was found by a brother and his mother outside the family farm at Edom, about 75 miles east of Dallas. Historically, patients with problems such as polio or club foot might have this done to help them walk more normally.). His tragic death in 1993 left the wrestling world stunned, and those who had watched him perform still remember his impact on their lives. Mike, 23, died in April 1987 after a series of health troubles. 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. His five other sons became wrestlers. We all did.. But by this time, Von Erich was dealing with a painkiller addiction, and he found himself falling down the card for the WWE. While he received preferential treatment as a member of the Von Erich family, he had the look and charisma of a star. Kerry 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 of Wrestling, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18. Kerry Adkisson's wife of nine years, Cathy, had removed all guns from their house. Tension between preservation groups leads to closure of longtime Greensboro showroom, Jim Spivey, a former athletics director at Reynolds High School, dies, Man arrested in Guilford County on felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, Greensboro police release video in fatal officer-involved shooting of 17-year-old, One person killed and another injured in a traffic crash Saturday morning on I-40 East in Greensboro, Hero Henry: Fourth-grader used Heimlich maneuver to help best friend who was choking in Greensboro school cafeteria, Greensboro police seek tips about woman who robbed gas station at gunpoint early today, Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. Kevin received rings for his father, Fritz, as well as each of his brothers. 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. [42] While WWF announcers didn't openly mention Kerry's past accomplishments, they did acknowledge that he was a veteran superstar who didn't have to prove anything to anyone. Outside of brothers David and Kevin, Kerry was the only Von Erich brother to compete under the bright lights of the WWE. 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. In fact, he felt comfortable enough to sit with me in a hotel and shoot the breeze with his prosthetic off". 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I also couldnt forget that cold day in February 1984, when Dynamite, Davey, and I were working over in Japan and heard that Kerrys older brother, David, who was in Japan working for Babas promotion, had just died of an overdose. They were set to take over the wrestling world, and instead, traveled a road that led to death and devastation. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. THIS DAY IN HISTORY: KERRY VON ERICH SEVERELY He has won awards from press associations in several states, including a General Excellence award from the Georgia Press Association while sports editor at The Statesboro Herald. No ruling has been made in his death, Fritz Von Erich, born Jack Adkisson, was trained by Stu Hart and became a huge wrestling star in the NWA and AWA wrestling promotions. He apparently used a gun he had given his father two Christmases ago. The tragedy started early, and it never ended up until Fritz's death from lung cancer in 1997. Wrestling, abuse and death: the twisted tale of the Von Erich World Class Championship Wrestling, the Von Erich family's show, was syndicated in 66 U.S. television markets, Japan, Argentina and the Middle East. ", He said Kerry didn't want to tell because "Fellas might think he was weaker.". While attempting to pass a truck on a two-lane road, Von Erich crashed into the back of a police car. [46] Von Erich lost this match, and the title to Perfect due to interference from Ted DiBiase. A publication all about taking longer form looks at the world of professional wrestling. Check out these recent photos of former TNA Knockout Lacey Von Erich: On January 30, 1984, he teamed up with his brothers Mike and David against the Fabulous Freebirds in a six-man tag team match, which the Von Erichs lost by disqualification. Their father was a football lineman for Southern Methodist and the Dallas Texans, but turned to wrestling after being injured. Given the nature of their deaths and the fact that Kevin is the only brother to make it out of wrestling alive, many people feel that the Von Erich family was cursed during their hay day. On May 6, 1984 at the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions Kerry Von Erich pinned "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in-front of 32,000 people at Texas Stadium to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Von Erich suffers a Before his death, David had begun to compete in Japan, though he was planning to return to the United States to continue his wrestling career in his native land. Nebraska students toss water balloons for Guinness World Record. However, there was one thing that many fans didn't know about Kerry at this time. Kerry told Bret again in the summer of 1992 that he wanted to follow his three late brothers David, Mike and Chris (the latter two of whom had died by suicide), and that they were calling him. Grandmother is charged with murder. There are several schools of thought about what actually happened to David Von Erich, though the official report states that it was acute enteritis. In reality, the NWA only allowed Kerry a short reign, and was told to drop the belt to Flair before the Night of Champions encounter on May 29 between Flair and Ricky Steamboat. The story of the Von Erich family is a tragic one. On March 15, 1982, the two brothers wrestled Gary Hart and King Kong Bundy to a double disqualification. Back in 1959, the first child born to Fritz Von Erich tragically drowned when he was only 6 years old. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! 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. Both of the players involved in this story would unfortunately find tragic ends: Warrior succumbed to a heart attack mere hours after appearing on a WWE television show in 2014, and Kerry Von Erich would take his own life in 1993, another casualty in his familys horribly sad legacy. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! Instead of going to jail, Kerry returned home to his father's ranch and died by suicide, firing one single bullet into his heart. Sadly, Von Erichs demons were beginning to catch up to him. The Fall of Kerry Von Erich | DARK SIDE OF THE RING - YouTube Back in 1959, the first child born to Fritz Von Erich tragically drowned when he was only 6 years old. They found success in their fathers wrestling promotion, and even when they performed in other promotions, they were met with great acclaim and fanfare. [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. It is well documented that the brothers, much like other wrestlers during that time, were no strangers to indulging in drugs and partying. Kerry's final match took place on February 12, 1993. FORT WORTH, Texas -- The medical examiner says popular professional wrestler Kerry Von Erich had alcohol and cocaine in his system when he killed himself last month near the family's north Texas farm. [2], On July 4, the Von Erichs lost the six-man tag title to the Fabulous Freebirds. He still tried his best when healthy enough to compete, and even had a tag team match against future legend Steve Austin. World Class Wrestling shut its doors and merged with the USWA. https://twitter.com/imdoyleking/status/303659135604510720 1 Reply Outside of Jack who was 6, Chris was the youngest Von Erich brother to lose his life. The crowd thought Kerry won by submission but instead "due to excessive bleeding" the referee stopped the match and awarded the decision and the WCWA Championship to Jerry Lawler. In September of 1991, Chris Von Erich, the youngest of 6 boys, took his life. His death was due to an overdose of a tranquilizer, and authorities found notes at his car and residence. [11][33] On November 22, he teamed with Iceman Parsons to defeat Jake Roberts and Kelly Kiniski. Kerry had become addicted to painkillers following his accident and amputation. The injury required doctors to insert pins into bone in his foot. April 28 (UPI) -- A British piercing enthusiast broke his own Guinness World Record when the number of flesh tunnels in his face increased to 17. Wrestling afficianado. [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. [37] This would mark the end of Kerry's WCWA run. Me And You And A Dog Named Boo What The Sweet Song Is Really About, 9 Unforgettable MTV Unplugged Performances. On December 28, 1980, his first NWA American Heavyweight Championship reign came after he defeated Gino Hernandez for the vacant title. Outside of his numerous in-ring accomplishments, Kerry had even acted in films. In his short stint in Dallas in 88, he feuded with Chris Adams, won the Texas Heavyweight Championship from Matt Borne, and defended it against Adams, Kevin Von Erich, and many others.. Terry also held the tag team title The Saturday Night Main Events of the WWF, at the time a ratings success story around the country, was destroyed head-to-head by Adkisson's local television show on KTVT. He was hospitalized shortly after 10 p.m., said Diane Ohmes, a medical center spokeswoman. He was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers. and several fans saw that he had no foot). It was a tag team match in the GWF at the Sportatorium on which Kerry and Chris Adams lost via disqualification to Johnny Mantell and Black Bart. It was extremely painful at first," Mr. Adkisson said. "The Yellow Rose of Texas" was the third Von Erich son born to father Fritz, and he was considered the best all-around wrestler of the family. [46] Von Erich would go on to get revenge against Dibiase in a series of matches. 'Fog of bees' briefly interrupts PGA Tour's Mexico Open. 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. David Von Erich was the third-oldest Von Erich son and the most talented of the entire clan. American professional wrestler (19601993), NWA Texas / World Class Championship Wrestling (19781989), American Heavyweight Champion and American Tag Team Champion (19801983), NWA World Heavyweight Champion and feud with The Fabulous Freebirds (19831984), United States Wrestling Association (19891990), Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship and various feuds (19901991), Final storylines and departure (19911992), Posthumous induction in WWE Hall of Fame (2009), David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, 12th shortest NWA World title reign in history, World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment, WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "Wrestling 85: Interview 85:Kerry Von Erich", "WWE Intercontinental Championship official title history", World 6-Man Tag Team Title (Texas) history, "Independence Day Star Wars 1983 results", "1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions results", World Class Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title history, "Saturday Night's Main Event results July 28, 1990", "Texas Tornado's first Intercontinental Championship reign", "Saturday Night's Main Event results October 13, 1990", "Hulk Hogan (spot No. Instead, tragedy struck. However, Kerry found things getting rough starting in 1989. He was featured in an ESPN documentary calledWrestling the Curse, which gives an inside look at the family that changed wrestling in the 1980s. Due to the damage that April 28 (UPI) -- Animal services officers in South Carolina responded to a home where a resident was shocked to find an alligator in his garage. surgery. He was high when he zipped himself inside a sleeping bag filled with rocks, rolled himself out of a small boat, and drowned. In fact, outside of Kerry and Kevin, no other Von Erich brother lived to see the age of 30. Each brother's death no doubt had a massive impact on the ones who remained alive until they inevitably took their own life. [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). His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. Before his death, David had begun to compete in Japan, though he was planning to return to the United States to continue his wrestling career in his native land. We learned that the hard way. HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! ". Kerry Von Erich was a huge star in World Class Championship Wrestling. [58] They had two daughters, Hollie Brooke (born September 19, 1984) and Lacey (born July 17, 1986). After resisting a move to WWE for many years, he finally relented in 1990 and signed on with Vince McMahon's promotion. He allowed me to think Id made him change his mind, but I feared it was only lip service. WebKerry Von Erich, known as the Texas Tornado in the WWF Dead at 33 from suicide. Funeral arrangements will be announced later, Jack Adkisson said. PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE. [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. Unlike his sons who died at a relatively young age, Fritz was able to live a full life.
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