WRESTLING FAMILY PROFILES

[Von Erich Family Gallery] [www.Vonerich.com ]	Family: Von Erich Family (Adkissens) Known by many as the first family of wrestling.. Members: Fritz Von Erich Kevin Von Erich David Von Erich Kerry Von Erich Mike Von Erich Chris Von Erich Waldo Von Erich Lance Von Erich Lacey Von Erich Hometown: Denton County, Texas Debut: Previous Identities: Kerry=Texas Tornado Finishing Move: The Claw Notable Feuds: Harley Race Ric Flair Ken Patera Dick Murdoch Bruiser Brody Fabulous Freebirds Michael Hayes Terry Gordy Buddy Roberts Chris Adams Gino Hernandez
Virtually every title there is to be won in Texas....
1959: Jack Adkisson Jr. dies at the age of 7 from electrical shock.. David von Erich was the first von Erich brother to wrestle. 1978: David von Erich was voted 3rd place for rookie of the year.. February 10, 1984: David (25) was found dead in Japan, the victim of acute enteritis, a severe inflamation of the intestines.. David von Erich was given a hero's send off complete with a song entitled "Heaven Needed a Champion".. May 6, 1984: Fritz von Erich came out of retirement and teamed with his sons Kevin and Mike and they defeated the Freebirds.. ~~~But that night will long be remebered for Kerry von Erich defeated NWA champion Ric Flair with a backslide at 25:42.. ~~~This match was voted match of the year in 1984, in front of 43,517 fans in Irving, Texas.. August 22, 1985: Mike Von Erich was operated at Granville C. Morton Cancer and Research Center in Dallas,TX for an injured shoulder.. ~~~He is released four days later, with no complications, and later he has a 105 and 107 degree fevers.. ~~~Unfortunately, Mike begins a battle with the rare disease toxic shock syndrome.. ~~~Mike had to give up wrestling because of this disease.. April 12, 1987: Mike von Erich committed suicide by overdosing on a tranquilizer placidyl -- he was only 23.. May 11, 1987: Kevin von Erich collapsed in the middle of the ring during an eight-man bout; ~~~Kevin/The Fantastics/Bruiser Brody against Brian Adias/Black Bart/Al Madril/Al Perez.. ~~~The Fantastics Tommy Rogers, seeing von Erich turning blue, administers cardiopulmonary resuscitation.. September 12, 1991: Chris von Erich committed suicide by shooting himself he was only 21.. February 8, 1992: Kerry von Erich was arrested for attempting to falsify drug prescriptions and was released on bond and sent to rehab.. October 1, 1992: Kerry von Erich is sentenced on 6 felony counts of prescription forgery.. ~~~He recieves a 10-yr suspended license, 10-yrs of supervised probation and a $6,000 fine.. February 17, 1993: Kerry von Erich was indicited on a cocaine possession charge and was going to go to jail for violating his parole.. February 18, 1993: Kerry von Erich took his own life and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was 33 years old.. ~~~Sadly, Kerry was the third of the von Erich brothers to commit suicide, with brothers Mike and Chris taking their own lives before him.. September 19, 1997: Fritz von Erich was found dead at his home in Lake Dallas.. [read more].. Kevin von Erich is the only surviving member of the von Erich dynasty and attributes that to his marriage and direction in life.. March 20, 2009--SmackDown!: The WWE announced that the von Erich Family would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.. April 4, 2009--WWE Hall of Fame: The von Erich Family was officially inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Michael Hayes.. April 5, 2009--WrestleMania 25: The entire WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2009 was introduced to the live crowd as a tribute..