His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. The next Von Erich brother to fall victim to the pressures of the wrestling industry was Chris, who was the youngest of all the Von Erichs. 'Fog of bees' briefly interrupts PGA Tour's Mexico Open. Kerry and I talked on and on about our brothers and the good times that wed both had as famous families in such a strange business. [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. In June 1990, Von Erich signed a contract with Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF). [16] On June 4, Von Erich defeated former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race, elevating him to main event status.[17]. (Sidenote: Fusing an ankle joint is a legitimate medical procedure, which lent Von Erichs story some credibility. Prosecutors had said they would push for revocation of his parole and a jail sentence. Back in 1959, the first child born to Fritz Von Erich tragically drowned when he was only 6 years old. AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON ANOTHER WRESTLING VON ERICH. Unfortunately, those low valleys that Kerry saw during his professional career would reach the bottom after he was involved in a brutal motorcycle accident. In a span of just 6 years, 3 Von Erich brothers would take their own life due to the pressures of the wrestling industry. He was destined to become a future world champion and the NWA had big plans for the Yellow Rose of Texas. Unlike his sons who died at a relatively young age, Fritz was able to live a full life. The Yellow Rose Of Texas was only 25 years old when he tragically passed away in Japan. 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. Their father was a football lineman for Southern Methodist and the Dallas Texans, but turned to wrestling after being injured. Lacey discusses being Von Erich Kerrys daughter, his death, her wrestling career and being a mom. 30 Wrestlers You May Not Know Were Related! 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. The two youngest sons were the ones who had it roughest in professional wrestling. 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. 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 WebKerry Von Erich's NWA Championship Defenses. During the height of their angle, Kerry abruptly left the USWA/World Class and joined the WWF, leaving the Von Erich tradition to older brother Kevin (who was considered semi-active) and Chris. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. On March 16, 2009, WWE.com announced that the Von Erich family would be inducted into the 2009 class of the WWE Hall of Fame by longtime rival, Michael Hayes. Beginning with their first son, it seemed that no Von Erich son was safe from living a short life on this earth, and each passing death of a Von Erich brother left holes in the wrestling community. The Yellow Rose Of Texas was only 25 years old when he tragically passed away in Japan. Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com. ``Chris has been living on the farm with them. "This time he said, 'I love you, Dad,' " the father said, losing his composure and wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. 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. During the match, he also received a cut to the head. Kerry was said to have been very embarrassed about having to wear the foot, and he went togreat lengths to keep it concealed while wrestling. [25], On December 2, the Von Erichs defeated the Freebirds for their second NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Of their six sons, only Kevin remained. While he received preferential treatment as a member of the Von Erich family, he had the look and charisma of a star. WebThe Von Erich home, as big as a Ramada Inn, holds few mementos of the familys wrestling legacy. WebThe Von Erichs were still the kings of North Texas. If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, Von Erich The couple divorced on April 22, 1992.[58]. To be the man, you need to beat the man, and in the 1980s, David Von Erich was all set to be the man in the NWA. A few weeks later, the Adkissons were living in Buffalo, where Fritz was wrestling, and Jackie was electrocuted by a power line at a trailer park. Hayes, as the special guest referee. He was found dead several days later. His attorney, Grey Pierson, said the show would still go on fTC without his star, explaining, "In the past, when things like this have happened, when his brothers died, he insisted that it go on. I said, Kerry, your children will always need you, even more than your brothers do. Web87K views 3 years ago. [30] The title was held up due to the Freebirds winning after interference by Killer Khan. Kerry Adkisson's wife of nine years, Cathy, had removed all guns from their house. 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. The accident also led to addiction issues that themselves led to legal problems. In the latter days of World Class Championship Wrestling, Von Erich would enter the dressing room with his boots already on to keep his disability hidden from his co-workers. [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. 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. The same thing took Mike Von Erich on April 12, 1987. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Instead, on February 18th, 1993, he took his own life, firing a single bullet into his heart while at his fathers ranch in Denton County, Texas. 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. His short stature and brittle bones made life miserable for Chris, and this led him to doing something that everyone feared. Alligator removed from South Carolina resident's garage. However he now found himself as an opening card act programmed against low level competition like Barry Horowitz, Kato, and Skinner. [21][36] 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 WebIn 1997, 4 years after the death of his son Kerry, Fritz Von Erich would die from brain and lung cancer. However, Roddy Piper stated in his autobiography: "We were the best of friends. [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]. The occasional death in the wrestling community isn't unusual, but the story of the Von Erichs is unlike any other in wrestling history. Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson) was a longtime pro wrestler and promoter who had six sons. Though it is pretty uncommon in men, Mike would suffer from toxic shock syndrome, which can prove fatal. I just wished there had been something I could have done to help Kerry. When he beat Nature Boy Ric Flair for the NWA World Championship at a show dedicated to his brother David, it was one of the biggest moments in Texas wrestling history. And the youngest brother, Chris, had shot himself on September 12, 1991. Get everything first at patreon.com/ahlhelm. Perfect in a rematch on the December 15 (taped November 19) edition of Superstars. Unfortunately, this would be the only title that a Von Erich brother would win in the WWE. After resisting a move to WWE for many years, he finally relented in 1990 and signed on with Vince McMahon's promotion. In 1991, at 21, he took his own life. Von Erich's final wrestling appearance on WWF TV was a loss to Shawn Michaels on the July 26, 1992, edition of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. [18] On December 25, Kerry got his next title shot against Flair in a no disqualification steel cage match, with Michael "P.S." Von Erich worked for various promotions working for All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, UWF Mid-South, Championship Wrestling From Florida, and Central States Wrestling. Perfect, but his team won the match. Due to the damage that he sustained in the accident, Kerry wound up losing his right foot. Murray. If you like wrestling, you should try online games. No ruling has been made in his death, The injury required doctors to insert pins into bone in his foot. 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. [11] He lost the title to Ken Patera before winning his second NWA American Heavyweight Championship from The Masked Superstar. Despite his premature passing, Kerry Von Erich will forever be remembered as a remarkable athlete. Only four hours after finding his son's body, Jack Adkisson stood on the front porch of his A-frame home and calmly spoke to reporters about his son. Regardless of the actual circumstances, David Von Erich's death left a major hole in the wrestling community, and it kicked off a string of tragedies that would plague the Von Erich brothers throughout the next decade. His tragic death in 1993 left the wrestling world stunned, and those who had watched him perform still remember his impact on their lives. Von Erich, 33, was the fifth brother from the legendary wrestling family to die and the third to commit suicide. We all did." 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. They were set to take over the wrestling world, and instead, traveled a road that led to death and devastation. Kevin received rings for his father, Fritz, as well as each of his brothers. 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. PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE. More than 150 beverages delivered to woman's home without explanation. The Von Erichs made names for themselves in the 1980s before death began to follow each brother like a shadow. One day after being indicted for the second charge, which likely would have resulted in extensive jail time (being a violation of his probation), Kerry died by suicide with a single gunshot to the heart with a .44 caliber pistol on February 18, 1993, on his father's ranch in Denton County, Texas, just 15 days after his 33rd birthday.[3]. 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. Mike Von Erich was undersized, but seemed like a scrappy underdog. Unlike some of his other brothers, Mike never achieved the level of success or adoration that they got. Their father began wrestling during the 1950s as Fritz Von Erich. Stranded bear rescued from Nevada tree using tranquilizer, tarp. Kerry's angle with Adams was born out of Adams' angle with his brother Kevin, which began on September 28, 1984 (when Adams turned heel against Kevin following a tag team loss). Despite this, the Von Erichs are among the most respected performers in wrestling history, and in 2009, the WWE inducted the family into the WWE Hall of Fame. He even won the Intercontinental title from Hennig, holding that championship for nearly three months before dropping the title back to him. The family members inducted were Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris Von Erich. 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. Perfect at SummerSlam. His wife was due to have their second child later that summer, and he was one of the top stars in professional wrestling. It was perhaps the premiere wrestling organization in the United States, and a Von Erich was all set to rule it with an iron fist. After a second drug arrest, he was looking at potentially spending a significant amount of time in prison. Adkisson held forty championships in various promotions during his career. 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. This also led to two drug-related arrests. 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. [14][20] On July 4, Kerry and his elder brothers Kevin and David defeated the Fabulous Freebirds in a two out of three falls match to win the NWA Texas Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Texas, crashing into the back of a police car while trying to pass a truck on a 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. 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. [38] Von Erich made his Madison Square Garden debut for World Wrestling Federation on March 24, 1980, defeating Jose Estrada. Mike was only 23 when he died. At this point, its widely known that Kerry Von Erich suffered a significant accident toward the end of his life. 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. WebRecently divorced and despondent over an impending prison sentence. He was brilliant in the ring, and was exceptional on the microphone as well. WebBy 1993, culminating with Kerry Von Erich's death by suicide, Fritz had lost five of his six sons. [48] He made his only WrestleMania appearance at WrestleMania VII, defeating Dino Bravo following a Tornado Punch. Were not interested in simple recaps and results. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Police release ID of Greensboro resident killed in fatal crash Tuesday, Jonathan Brown won't race in Modified Division this year at Bowman Gray Stadium, Troopers: Man now faces felony after failing to stop for school bus, striking 6-year-old boy. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Feb. 18 in a field behind the family farm. 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. He said everyone at the hospital and, later, the physical therapists, had been sworn to secrecy. "Owen and I were deeply saddened, but who could be surprised? Kerry Von Erich Adkisson was scheduled to wrestle tonight in a Global Wrestling Federation match against "The Angel of Death" at the Dallas Sportatorium. April 28 (UPI) -- An isolated private island off the coast of Scotland is for sale with an asking price of about $188,000. His death was due to an overdose of a tranquilizer, and authorities found notes at his car and residence. Nebraska students toss water balloons for Guinness World Record. "He just couldn't see over the hill, it piled up so high.". Sadly, he suffered brain damage from his bout with toxic shock syndrome, and he would never be the same again. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). He really felt like he would be with them the way he did it. It is a tragic tale that can serve as a warning for those interested in getting into wrestling. 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. April 28 (UPI) -- A lost dog in Northern Ireland was found 26 days later after walking more than 40 miles to the home of his former owners. On December 28, 1980, his first NWA American Heavyweight Championship reign came after he defeated Gino Hernandez for the vacant title. Best Online Casinos in South Africa at CasinoHEX.co.za. Kerry Adkisson took his own life on February 18th, 1993, at the family ranch. At the time of Jacks death, only 2 other Von Erich brothers were alive, and the oldest wasnt even 2 when his brother died. photo: wwe.com 1960-1993 (age 33) Kerry Von Erich made his debut as a professional Photos like this always haunt me - similar to the last pics of Benoit and Robin Williams with fans. David Von Erich was the third-oldest Von Erich son and the most talented of the entire clan. The other five kids all grew up and became professional wrestlers, although only three of them became stars. [56], After the amputation of his foot, Kerry became addicted to pain killers, followed by several drug problems. He tried to get back into physical shape, but the damage that he sustained robbed him of his muscle mass, and he was never able to achieve the level of fitness that he once had. The boys' mother, Doris, and father were divorced last summer after 42 years of marriage. WebUnfortunately, those low valleys that Kerry saw during his professional career would reach the bottom after he was involved in a brutal motorcycle accident. I need to do some thinking.' ", He added that his son was having income tax problems and was worried about the indictment. 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. While attempting to pass a truck on a two-lane road, Von Erich crashed into the back of a police car. Ive always thought that despite the Von Erich boys closeness, they were still so competitive that they thought topping one another with this final exit was the ultimate act of bravado. Beginning with their first son, it seemed that no Von Erich son was safe from living a short life on this earth, and each passing death of a Von Erich brother left holes in the wrestling community. Year by year, Doris Von Erich has taken down the pictures and posters. The elder Adkisson said his son had been despondent recently because of the legal problems and had frequently mentioned taking his own life. Sadly, David Von Erich would never get to defeat Ric Flair in the NWA, and he would tragically pass away while competing in Japan. 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. [11][33] On November 22, he teamed with Iceman Parsons to defeat Jake Roberts and Kelly Kiniski. His family had to have known that Kerry was about to do the unthinkable. Flair defeated Von Erich multiple times during the WWF's October tour of the UK. In October 1991, Von Erich renewed his old rivalry with Ric Flair, being among the first names to face him in the ring after the NWA World Champion joined the WWF that August. Wrestling for Fritz Von Erichs World Class Championship Wrestling was an interesting time for Terry Taylor. Grandmother is charged with murder. UPDATE: Brother told investigators child got in trouble for messing with fish tank. We all did.. He left behind 2 daughters, and had gone through a divorce just one year before he decided to take his life. https://twitter.com/imdoyleking/status/303659135604510720 1 Reply Kerry's marriage had fallen apart earlier in 1992 and according to Hart, Kerry believed that his death was inevitable. 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. 1986 - Kerry Von Erich is involved in a motorcycle accident in Argyle, Outside of brothers David and Kevin, Kerry was the only Von Erich brother to compete under the bright lights of the WWE. At Survivor Series in 1990, while still Intercontinental Champion, he wrestled in a Survivor Series match where he teamed with the WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior (formerly The Dingo Warrior in World Class) and the Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). ', Aussie tourist 'very sorry' for drunken, nude rampage in Indonesia. Kerry has the 12th shortest NWA World title reign in history. Kerry started feuding with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. He was hospitalized shortly after 10 p.m., said Diane Ohmes, a medical center spokeswoman. Theirs is a story that couldnt have been written by even the most talented authors. He was a genuine modern day hero in Texas. He appeared briefly as a prisoner in Problem Child. Kerry did continue to wrestle at the Dallas Sportatorium under the USWA banner, which acquired World Class in early 1989. He also won the Texas heavyweight title twice. Perfect Curt Hennig. Shortly before his death, Mike had gotten a DUI, and had truly reached the lowest point in his life. This, of course, comes as no surprise to those who have seen clips of Kevin performing. This article is all wrong. He killed himself a few days following this event. Kerry Adkisson's death was only the latest family tragedy. This limited him even more in the ring, and when he was in WWE, he wasn't the same Kerry Von Erich that won the NWA World Championship. Please subscribe to keep reading. I think it was very selfish of him.". WebFritz Von Erich died in 1997, from lung cancer. WebTHE DEATH OF KERRY VON ERICH. He survived the onslaught, but he was never the same again. His first son died at age 7 in 1959. There are several schools of thought about what actually happened to David Von Erich, though the official report states that it was acute enteritis. Honorary Von Erich "Gentleman" Chris Adams then became the Sportatorium's main headliner, feuding with Pringle, Steve Austin, and Jeanie Clarke. The tragedy started early, and it never ended up until Fritz's death from lung cancer in 1997. He currently lives in suburban Birmingham, Alabama and can be reached on Twitter @bamawriter. On June 4, 1986, Kerry was in a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. He has covered Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games. Each brother's death no doubt had a massive impact on the ones who remained alive until they inevitably took their own life. WebKerry in happier times, as NWA Texas 6-Man Tag Team Champion with brothers Kevin and David. However, Kerry found things getting rough starting in 1989. One by one, the Von Erich family slowly lost their brothers, though no one felt this loss as much as their father Fritz. Von Erich suffers a You have permission to edit this article. 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. Kerry Von Erich, 30, smashed his right foot in a motorcycle accident in June 1986. However, there was one thing that many fans didn't know about Kerry at this time. The Von Erich Brothers initial surgery, or had it amputated later (with some even saying it was removed Outside of his numerous in-ring accomplishments, Kerry had even acted in films. For example, Kerry Von Erich (actually, there was no such thing as a Von Erich; his real name was Kerry Adkisson) shot himself in The telephone number at the family farm is unlisted. 10 Wrestlers Who Surprisingly Had a WWE Championship Match, Chief Don Eagle: Native American Wrestling Pioneer, Rockin Rebel: Wrestlings Shocking Unspoken Murder, Sweet Daddy Siki A Flawed Yet Powerful Documentary. Fritz died of cancer at the age of 69 in 1997, while 65-year-old Kevin is still with us today. "I should have known something was wrong. His legacy isn't nearly as revered as David's or Kerry's, but Mike losing his life had an effect on the wrestling community. On February 18, I heard that Kerry Von Erich had shot himself in the heart. 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. Lacey would have her own notable wrestling career before starting an advertising agency in southern California. 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. Justice of the Peace Bill Lemmert of Tyler ordered the autopsy for the wrestler, who was the fourth son of Jack Adkisson to die young. The event was held in the family's home state of Texas, and Kevin, being the last surviving brother, was there to accept the prestigious honor. Bret told Kerry that his living daughters would need him more than his late brothers. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. With the place alongside the pantheon of other wrestling greats solidified, the Von Erichs will truly be remembered as one of the greatest wrestling families that the world has ever known. At the time of Jack's death, only 2 other Von Erich brothers were alive, and the oldest wasn't even 2 when his brother died. 24) wins the Royal Rumble Match", "Ric Flair (spot No. The event was held close to the Von Erichs' home at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 4, 2009.[57]. SHADY SHORES, TEXAS SHADY SHORES, Texas -- Wrestler Kerry Von Erich Adkisson, member of a star-crossed wrestling family that had already lost four of its sons, died yesterday of a bullet wound that was apparently self-inflicted. Friends said they believe Von Erich, 23, may have been driven to suicide because of health troubles. Due to the damage that If you are unfamiliar with this family, then get ready to learn some truly tragic facts about the Von Erichs. The first resulted in probation and the second saw Kerry facing significant time in prison. 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. 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. We want to study the impact of the squared circle on the talent, the fans and the world at large. [34] He later refereed a Texas Deathmatch between longtime rival Terry Gordy and Killer Khan, which Gordy won, via Kerry's decision. 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.