On This Day in Wrestling History, we’re remembering Kerry Von Erich, also known as The Modern Day Warrior and The Texas Tornado.
The professional wrestling world received a shock on February 18, 1993 when the fourth of five Von Erich brothers died, cementing the Von Erich curse for many. Kerry Von Erich had dealt with personal demons and injuries that would have stopped a lesser man before he shot himself at his father’s ranch in Denton, Texas.
A world class athlete
This is a term that’s thrown around a lot, but it describes Kerry Von Erich perfectly. Born February 3, 1960 in Niagra Falls, New York, he was a high school track and field star, and broke the high school record in the discus throw. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1979 in his fathers’ Big Time Wrestling (NWA Texas).
Throughout his wrestling career, he held 40 championships in various promotions including the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
He wrestled with and against some of the best ever like Bruiser Brody, Ric Flair, and Jerry Lawler.
Despite his talent, his title run in the WWE was brief and he finished his career there as a jobber. What’s especially noteworthy about his WWE career was he wrestling with one foot, as his right foot had been amputated following a motor cycle accident in 1986. Unfortunately, the amputation was due to him walking on his right foot immediately after surgery, according to his brother Kevin.
He worked hard to walk and wrestle without showing any signs of his wearing a prosthetic. He was successful as few fellow wrestlers and fan knew he’d suffered an amputation. It was a glimpse into what kind of work ethic and heart he had. And it only makes his life all the more tragic.
His demons got the better of him
Substance abuse had been one of the biggest things Kerry couldn’t overcome. It had been behind him holding the NWA world title for only 18 days before losing it back to Ric Flair. Whether it played a part in his brief tenure in the WWE is open for discussion, but it’d speak volumes to how bad it was if it shortened his stay there. Of course, the fact he was dubbed the Texas Tornado instead of Kerry Von Erich to distance the WWE from the rest of his career may have played a part in that as well.
It’s been reported that his substance abuse developed into drug abuse following having his foot amputated. It would play a major role in his and his wife’s eventual divorce.
Five days after his 32nd birthday in 1992, Kerry was arrested for falsifying drug prescription, an dtwo months later his divorce was finalized.
His troubles continued as two months after leaving the WWE, he pled no contest to 6 felony counts of prescription forgery and was sentenced to 10 years probation and fined $6000. Then in 1993, he was arrested for cocaine possession and faced going to jail as he was on probation.
He killed himself the morning of his arraignment.
Final awards
In 2009, the Von Erich family was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for their contributions to professional wrestling.
What is perhaps the most tragic out of all of this is the Von Erichs were the most famous family in wrestling. The brothers had everything, great looks, awesome athletic skill, and natural charisma that could run circles around most others.
Kevin Vin Erich is the sole surviving brother out of the five, and the Von Erich family is better known for being cursed than their wrestling ability.
With every dream there’s a nightmare, and having so much tragedy within a single family in truly the stuff of nightmares.
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