THE ERICH FAMILY – AN INTRIGUING STORY OF THE FIVE SONS
THE ERICH FAMILY
When generating ideas for family-friendly activities for an upcoming reunion, engaging in physical combat such as kicking and punching are probably not the initial choices that come to mind. However, there is one American family that may hold a different opinion. During the period from the 1950s to the early 1990s, the Von Erich family, consisting of a father and five sons, exerted significant influence and control over Texas’s regional wrestling circuit.
Many of them appeared ready to achieve national success, but the family was repeatedly struck by tragedy. The Von Erichs were collectively inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame in 2009.
This page seeks to elucidate the identities of the Von Erich family wrestlers, their rise to fame, and the reasons for the belief that they were afflicted by a curse.
The Beginnings of a Dynasty
Firstly, it may be asserted that Von Erich was not the authentic surname of the Erich family. Furthermore, it was discovered that Fritz was not truly Fritz. Jack Barton Adkisson was his name, married to Doris and he had six boys. After establishing himself as a professional wrestler, he adopted the Von Erich persona. Motivated by the loss of his eldest child, professional wrestler Fritz Von Erich dedicated himself to shaping his five younger boys into exceptional athletes, ensuring their invulnerability to any harm or adversity.
Throughout their journey, the brothers forged unbreakable connections and emerged as one of the most legendary lineages in the world of wrestling. A primary focus of the recently released biography The Iron Claw is on the connections that exist within the Von Erich family, which includes the brothers Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike. The Iron Claw offers a sensationalized portrayal of the Von Erichs’ ascent to fame, along with the distressing events that occurred beyond the wrestling arena, resulting in a succession of fatal family calamities.
The series of personal difficulties experienced by the Von Erichs has caused several fans and onlookers to believe that they must have been afflicted by a curse, a belief that Kevin Von Erich (portrayed by Efron) denies. Kevin and his family started from modest origins in rural Texas and eventually achieved Hall of Fame status in professional wrestling. Death itself is the only object that could impede their progress. Here is essential information about each wrestler from the Erich family.
David Von Erich (1958–1984)
David, commonly known as “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” was the most promising wrestler among the Von Erich brothers. He achieved numerous state and regional titles during his early adulthood. He frequently engaged in battles alongside his siblings as a “tag team,” but his expertise was in individual contests; by the mid-1980s, he was seen as a potential challenger for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship.
David passed away in Tokyo in 1984 at the age of 25, after experiencing a prolonged period of sickness. He had been experiencing untreated acute enteritis, which is an inflammation of the intestine. David’s demise was a subject of dispute among other wrestlers, especially his frequent rival Ric Flair, who alleged that his death was a result of a cocaine overdose.
Fritz Von Erich (1929–97)
After making his first appearance using his real name in 1952 and taking on the role of a firefighter in a small town, he discovered that it was not very profitable. During his time as a wrestler on the regional circuit, Fritz Von Erich, previously known as Adkisson, participated in approximately 26 wrestling matches in the span of roughly a year. Recognizing the potential for greater success in portraying a villainous role, he turned to the iconic villains of the 20th century, specifically the Nazis.
Adkisson wrote in a letter at the time that his character Fritz Von Erich, a German giant from Munich, did so well with the audience that he had to fight his way to the dressing rooms among the many supporters.
As a fighter, Fritz Von Erich is known as a “heel,” which is a villain who yells obscenities at the crowd, cheats opponents, and acts as the match’s antagonist. Von Erich, much like other renowned heels such as Steve Austin, also known as “Stone Cold,” and Dwayne Johnson, well known as “The Rock,” became more popular than some of his opponents who were considered to be “babyfaces.” A “babyface,” sometimes known as a “face,” refers to the opponent of the heel in professional wrestling. Several wrestlers, including The Rock, have taken turns portraying either a “face” or a “heel” at different points in their careers.
During his time wrestling in Japan, Von Erich gained recognition for his distinctive wrestling maneuver, known as the Iron Claw. Von Erich executed the manoeuvre by firmly grasping his opponent’s head with one hand and applying pressure. Fritz Von Erich ceased his wrestling career in 1982, but, his family name and his distinctive manoeuvre persisted. In addition, he held the position of president of World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), a regional wrestling federation based in Dallas. Fritz’s five kids, namely David, Mike, Kerry, Chris, and Kevin, pursued a career in boxing just like their father.
Kerry Von Erich (1960 – 1993)
After David’s demise in 1984, Kerry engaged in a contest against Ric Flair as an homage to his brother. Kerry emerged victorious and ascended to the position of NWA World Heavyweight Champion. He participated as a wrestler with a positive and heroic persona in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; now WWE), where he adopted the name “The Texas Tornado.” Kerry’s right foot was amputated as a result of a severe motorbike accident in 1986. He persevered in competing with a concealed prosthetic, ultimately achieving victory and securing an Intercontinental title in 1990.
However, the consequences of the event continued to affect Kerry throughout his entire career. Struggling with his artificial limb caused him great discomfort, and several reports suggest that he developed a dependency on prescription pain medication. Drug utilization was prevalent in the wrestling industry, with a significant number, if not the majority, of athletes relying on painkillers and steroids to enhance their performance. In February 1993, Kerry, who was already on probation for a previous narcotics offense, was formally accused of possessing cocaine. Kerry, anticipating imprisonment, took his own life prior to his sentencing.
Mike Von Erich (1964–1987)
Despite his initial reluctance, Mike Von Erich eventually joined his brothers in professional wrestling as a member of their tag team battles following the death of David. Despite achieving success alongside his siblings, Mike felt uneasy as a wrestler and was ill-suited for the rigorous physical requirements of the sport. Following the surgical procedure for his shoulder injury, he acquired toxic shock syndrome, which subsequently led to organ failure. Despite enduring a fever of 107 °F (42 °C), it is possible that he suffered from brain damage. Mike, aged 23, passed away in 1987 due to a fatal overdose of tranquilizers.
Kevin Von Erich (1957 – Present)
Kevin excelled in wrestling when he competed alongside his brothers, Kerry, David, and Mike, as a tag team. His triumphs were primarily achieved in this collaborative format. Kevin predominantly retired from wrestling following the demise of his siblings, departing from the wrestling arena as a solo fighter in 1995. Kevin, the sole survivor of his immediate family, has dismissed the notion of a Von Erich curse. During an interview for the documentary series Dark Side of the Ring, he voiced his skepticism over the notion of a curse afflicting his family, deeming it absurd.
In a 2005 interview with Texas Monthly, Kevin clarified that the event was undoubtedly tragic, but he emphasized that it was not a curse. Kevin has consistently recounted the narrative of his estranged family through interviews and appearances in documentaries. Two of his sons engaged in the sport of wrestling, following in the footsteps of their father and uncles, forming a tag team. The 2023 film The Iron Claw, directed by Sean Durkin and featuring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson as Kevin, Kerry, and David Von Erich, respectively, drew inspiration from the Von Erich family.
Chris Von Erich (1969 – 1991)
Chris Von Erich, born Chris Barton Adkisson on September 30, 1969, in Dallas, Texas, was a member of the Von Erich clan and was also the shortest in terms of physical stature. Due to his diminutive height (5’5″), asthma, and highly fragile bones that were susceptible to fractures, Chris was unable to attain the same level of success as his father and siblings. Driven by an immense passion for wrestling, he persevered through multiple injuries, making numerous efforts to achieve success in the squared circle. He engaged in a significant battle with Percy Pringle in the USWA/World Class, but his professional journey did not achieve the same level of success as the rest of his family.
Occasionally, he and his brothers Kerry and Kevin, along with Chris Adams, engaged in tag-team wrestling battles against Percy Pringle and Steve Austin. However, Chris only battled against Pringle, while the significantly more athletic Adams, Kerry, or Kevin wrestled against Austin. Following a prolonged period of unsuccessful endeavors in the wrestling industry, Chris had feelings of depression and frustration.
In addition, he suffered from profound grief due to the demise of his brother, Mike, and grappled with drug dependency. On September 12, 1991, at the age of 21, he inflicted a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. On that very day, his brother Kevin and his mother made efforts to discourage him from his suicidal inclinations. A purported suicide note was discovered at the location of his death, and toxicology analyses indicated the presence of cocaine and valium in Chris’ system at the moment of his demise.