Need to Know Facts: Born Kerry Gene Adkisson on February 3, 1960, “Modern Day Warrior” Kerry Von Erich was a professional wrestling god in the 1980’s. He possessed the perfect physique, was a tremendous athlete, was loaded with charisma and ultimately became the second youngest world champion when he would capture the industry’s top jewel at the time, the National Wrestling Alliance’s world title.
Kerry, like his older brothers Kevin and David, dropped out of college after his first year to begin his career in professional wrestling in 1979. At the age of 22, Kerry nearly captured the NWA World Championship from Ric Flair at Reunion Arena in a best 2 of 3 falls match in 1982, before over 10,000 wrestling fans. Many wrestling insiders feel this match truly set Kerry in the elite circle of true superstars within the industry. From this point on, his father, World Class owner Jack Adkisson, referred to Kerry as “the uncrowned world champion”. Later in 1982, during his Christmas cage match with world champion Flair, the legendary Von Erich-Freebird feud was born as guest referee Michael Hayes and cage door keeper Terry Gordy turned on Kerry during the match, ultimately costing Von Erich the title. Throughout 1983, Kerry, along with brothers Kevin and David, feuded with the Fabulous Freebirds. As the feud became more intense between the two tandems, ticket sales and television viewership went through the roof. By the end of 1983, Kerry was considered by both his peers and wrestling insiders as one of the top five workers within the industry and also one of the most popular -- attaining the admiration of a rock star, having recently married and having the world at his command, it seemed his life was too good to be true.
On May 6, 1984, in front of over 32,000 emotional fans in Texas Stadium, Kerry main-evented World Class’ biggest card ever: the Parade of Champions, an event dedicated to the memory of brother David. At the ripe age of 24, Kerry Von Erich became the second youngest NWA World champion (Lou Thesz was the youngest at 21 in 1937) when he defeated champion Ric Flair with a backslide in a near-13 minute match, which was cut considerably short compared to their previous battles as the temperature on the Texas Stadium field reached 110 degrees on this particular day. As Von Erich held the belt for all to see, the Texas crowd shamelessly shed tears as their beloved Kerry had triumphed on a day that was dedicated to everyone’s beloved “Yellow Rose of Texas”. However, Kerry’s reign (which was a political favor to Jack Adkisson by the NWA) would prove to be short-lived as he lost the title back to Flair on May 24, 1984 in Yokosuka, Japan. Kerry and Flair would continue to sell out arenas everywhere they wrestled, as World Class Championship Wrestling and the Von Erich name remained strong throughout 1985. Honolulu, St. Louis, Texas and Louisiana would be just some of the areas treated to “broadways” (time limit draws, usually going a full hour) between the two legends. On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in which he hit a parked police car. The accident would keep Kerry away from regular in-ring competition for nearly 17 months, and would ultimately cost him the majority of his right foot.
Unbeknownst to most wrestlers and insiders, when Kerry made his full-time return to the ring in late 1987, he would wrestle on a prosthetic right foot. Today fans would see such a feat as courageous, but the issue embarrassed Kerry -- so much so that he often showered with his wrestling boots on so that others would not find out about his condition. Rumors about the amputation started circulating within the industry in late 1988, when Colonel DeBeers accidentally pulled off Kerry's right boot during a match in Las Vegas on November 12, revealing to those in attendance that night his handicap.
Kerry’s next big move would occur in the Summer of 1990 when he entered the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he would be known simply as the Texas Tornado. Subbing for an injured Brutus Beefcake, Kerry won the prestigious WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight championship when he defeated “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig at Summerslam 1990. Kerry's reign, however, would be brief, and the painkiller addiction he had developed as a result of his injury began to catch up with him. At his father’s urging, Kerry entered drug rehabilitation in February of 1992. While the treatment initially seemed to do Kerry some good (please see the interview which was done right after his stint in rehab), his recovery was short-lived. He was eventually let go by the WWF in the summer and returned to Dallas, where he soon began wrestling for Grey Pierson's GWF. Tragically, on February 18, 1993, Kerry became despondent after learning he had been indicted on a drug possession charge stemming from an arrest the previous month. As he was already on probation for ten years due to another charge, a jail sentence was not to be ruled out this time. Kerry’s father Fritz discovered his son's body behind his ranch (where the Von Erichs grew up) with a self-inflicted gunshot through his heart. Kerry was only 33 years old.
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Kerry Von Erich
Even in high school, Kerry had a physique that most bodybuilders would be envious of, was a standout football player, and set junior and national records with the discus. Kerry would go on to receive scholarships to play both football and track at the University of Houston. While red-shirting in football, Kerry continued to excel in track, where he triumphed at the Texas Relays in the discus throwing event.
On a cold Texas morning on February 10, 1984, Kerry was awakened by a phone call from his sister-in-law, who broke the news that his older brother David had been found dead in his hotel room in Tokyo, Japan. Suddenly the charmed life Kerry had been leading abruptly came to a screeching halt.
Due to the steep decline in business in the World Class promotion during his leave, and seeing the pressures it was putting on his brother Kevin to be the lone wrestling Von Erich brother (Mike had passed away in April 1987), Kerry returned to wrestling on a full-time basis in November 1987. He had initially attempted a comeback in February 1987 against in-ring nemesis and real-life best friend Brian Adias. However, it was this match that was rumored to be the cause of Kerry reinjuring the foot and ankle causing a major setback in his return to the ring.
Kerry would recapture a world’s title when he defeated “Latin Heartthrob” Al Perez for the World Class Wrestling Association’s world title on March 6, 1988. Kerry would swap the title with both Jerry “The King” Lawler and Tatsumi Fujinami during 1988, before the title was finally eliminated altogether by then-American Wrestling Association champion Lawler, who captured the WCWA belt with a victory over Kerry in a title unification match at Superclash III held in December of that year in Chicago, Illinois.