Description
This article is from the Pro-Wrestling
FAQ, by macika@emunix.emich.edu (Dominic Macika) with numerous
contributions by others.
13.6. Who are the Von Erichs?
To begin with, there are no "real" Von Erichs. The Adkisson
family has used the last name "Von Erich" for their wrestling
personas for years.
The patriarch of the Adkisson/Von Erich clan is Jack Adkisson. He
took the ring name Fritz Von Erich and wrestled in the 50's and
60's with a Nazi German gimmick, complete with goose step and
iron claw.
Waldo Von Erich was Bill Sheppard, no relation to the
Adkissons. He formed a successful tag team in the 60's with
Fritz.
Jack had six sons, five of whom were involved with wrestling.
Jack's first son, Jackie, died of electrocution at age 6 in 1959.
Kevin Von Erich began wrestling in the mid-70s. He rarely
competed outside of his home state. His few trips out of Texas
saw him compete in Japan, and in St. Louis. Kevin is currently
wrestling for Jim Crockett's NWA promotion in Dallas. Kevin is
the only of Fritz's sons still alive.
David Von Erich (nicknamed "the Yellow Rose of Texas") began
wrestling on June 28, 1977. David was the most successful of the
Von Erich boys in the late 70s and early 80s, competing in
St. Louis, Japan and Florida, as well as his home state of
Texas. David was found dead in his hotel room in Japan on
February 10, 1984. His dreams of winning the NWA World title were
never realized.
Kerry Von Erich achieved the most national fame of the Von Erich
boys. His pinnacle came on May 6th, 1984, when he defeated Ric
Flair for the NWA World title in Texas Stadium, at a memorial
card for David. This event made Fritz and Kerry the only father
and son duo to hold World singles titles (Fritz had held the AWA
title in 1963) Kerry lost the title back to Flair in Japan on May
24, 1984.
Kerry's entire career was haunted by troubles stemming from drug
use. On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved in an automobile
accident in which his right leg was severely damaged. It wasn't
until after Kerry's death in 1993 that his family would confirm
that he had lost his foot in the accident. He wrestled for the
rest of his career with a prosthesis on his leg. He did not
return to the ring full time until late 1987. On February 18,
1993, Kerry shot himself in the heart at his home in Sandy Shore,
TX. He was 33.
Mike Von Erich debuted in November,
1983. Months later he was thrust in
the role of being David's successor, a role he never quite looked
comfortable in. In 1985, on a tour of Israel, Mike suffered a
shoulder separation on an exceptionally hard ring. During
recovery, Mike contracted toxic-shock syndrome. He recovered, but
he had lost much weight and strength during his layoff. He
returned to the ring in July 1986. Mike died on April 13, 1987,
at the age of 23, of an intentional overdose of Placidyl
(depressant/muscle relaxant).
Chris Von Erich, the youngest of Fritz's sons, began appearing at
ringside for his brothers matches in the mid-80s. He was involved
in a few angles. He finally made his wrestling debut in the late
80's. Chris died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head
on September 12, 1991. Chris was 21.
In 1985, Fritz brought in Kevin William Vaughn, using the ring
name Lance Von Erich, and billed as a cousin of the Von Erich
boys, a son of Waldo. In reality, he was no relation to either
Fritz's family or Waldo. Fritz's plan of creating a new Von Erich
eventually backfired, after Lance left Fritz's promotion and
Fritz admitted publicly that he actually wasn't related.
Recently in Texas, local wrestler Rick Lerebeus has been
wrestling as Mark Von Erich.
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