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Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 – February 18, 1993) was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich and The Texas Tornado (World Wrestling Federation or WWF) and part of the famous Von Erich family.

Career

Kerry was the son of legendary wrestler Fritz Von Erich. His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris were also wrestlers. His oldest brother, Jack, Jr. died as a child after being electrocuted and drowned.

Kerry excelled as a discus thrower in high school. He also played football at Lake Dallas High School.

Kerry always had an impressive strongman physique, although his heavy use of steroids contributed. Some of his moves were the "Discus Punch" and the famous Von Erich family "Iron Claw."

Most of his fame was made in Texas' World Class Championship Wrestling, where he was nicknamed "The Modern Day Warrior" (his entrance music was Rush's "Tom Sawyer"). Kerry's biggest career highlight was on May 6, 1984, when he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in front of a capacity crowd at Texas Stadium to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Kerry's victory was a tribute to his brother David, who had died three months earlier, and whom the event (the David Von Erich Memorial Parade Of Champions) was named in honor of. He lost the belt 18 days later in Tokyo, Japan back to Flair by the same move he won the title with: The backslide. Kerry had the third-shortest NWA World title reign in history.

On June 4th, 1986, Kerry was in a horrendous motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. With a dislocated hip and a badly injured right leg, Kerry was in bad shape. Doctors tried hard, but could not save his foot, eventually amputating it. According to brother Kevin, Kerry injured the foot following surgery by attempting to walk on it prematurely, crushing the bones beyond repair and thus forcing the doctors to amputate it. He was able to continue wrestling after the accident with a fused ankle and until his death kept the amputation secret to the majority of fans and even some fellow competitors.

He, along with his brothers, had a famous feud with another tag team called the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael P.S. Hayes, Terry "Bam-Bam" Gordy and Buddy "Jack" Roberts). Their six-man matches were some of the most exciting matches in WCCW history. Kerry was also engaged in lengthy feuds with Chris Adams between late-1984 and early-1986, Brian Adias in 1986 and 1987 and Iceman Parsons in 1988. Kerry also had a long-standing feud with Gino Hernandez on and off during the 1980s.

Near the end of his career he ended up in the World Wrestling Federation as the "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich, where he briefly held the WWF Intercontinental Championship after substituting for a hospitalized Brutus Beefcake at SummerSlam in 1990. He continued to wrestle even with the loss of his foot. Kerry began wearing a prosthetic foot while in the ring. Kerry left the WWF in 1992 and returned to Dallas to compete in the Global Wrestling Federation, where he began teaming with former arch-rival Chris Adams.

Drug Problems & Death

Kerry's history of drug problems covered most of the 1980's. He was arrested at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1983 after U.S. Customs agents, during a routine inspection, caught him with 18 unmarked tablets in his right front pocket. Inside the crotch of his pants was a plastic bag containing an assortment of nearly 300 other pills (including codeine, diazepam, Librium, and possibly Percodan), ten grams of marijuana, and 6.5 grams of "blue and white powder". Eighteen months later the charges were dropped by the Tarrant County district attorney.

Drugs were also a factor in his motorcycle crash in 1986 that cost him his right foot as it is believed he was under the influence at the time of the crash.

In February 1992, Kerry was arrested for forging a prescription. In October, he was sentenced to a $6000 fine and 10 years of probation.

On February 17, 1993, Kerry was arrested at an apartment complex in Irving, Texas, for possession of cocaine. Fearing a prison sentence for violating his probation, Kerry committed suicide the next day on his father's ranch with a .44 caliber pistol he had given his father for Christmas the year before.

Finishing and signature moves

Championships and accomplishments

Championship succession

WWF Intercontinental Champions Preceded by:
Mr. Perfect First Followed by:
Mr. Perfect NWA World Heavyweight Champions Preceded by:
Ric Flair First Followed by:
Ric Flair NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champions Preceded by:
Dick Murdoch First Followed by:
Ken Patera NWA Texas World Tag Team Champions Preceded by:
Great Kabuki & Chang Chung First w/ Terry Orndorff Followed by:
Bill Irwin & Frank Dusek Preceded by:
Bill Irwin & Frank Dusek Second w/ Al Madril Followed by:
Bill Irwin & Bugsy McGraw Preceded by:
Bill Irwin & Bugsy McGraw Third w/ Al Madril Followed by:
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External link

  • Official Family Site: http://www.vonerich.com/

American professional wrestlers | Deaths by firearm | Entertainers who committed suicide in their 30s | People from New York | People from Texas | Sportspeople who committed suicide | Suicides by firearm | Von Erich wrestling family | World Class Championship Wrestling alumni | 1960 births | 1993 deaths

ケリー・フォン・エリック

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Kerry Von Erich".

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