Kerry Adkisson

Kerry Gene Adkisson aka Kerry Von Erich (born February 3, 1960 in Niagara Falls, New York, died February 18, 1993 in Denton, Texas) was a professional wrestler & legend from the tragically famous Adkission (Von Erich) family.

Career

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

Most of his fame was made in Texas. Near the end of his career he ended up in the World Wrestling Federation as the "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich, where he won the Intercontinental Title.

Kerry always had an impressive strongman physique. Some of his moves were the "Discus Punch" and the famous Von Erich family "Iron Claw." Kerry was a wonderful discuss thrower in high school and even qualified for the 1980 Olympics, but the U.S. boycotted them so he didn't get to compete. He also played football at Lake Dallas High School.

Kerry's biggest career highlight was when he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in Dallas, Texas, at a memorial card for his late brother David in front of a packed stadium of fans for the NWA World Championship.

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 lost a foot in a motorcycle accident and wore a boot to cover the prosthetic foot he had put on so nobody would know. He even wore the boot in the shower.

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

Kerry died after committing suicide, a tragedy that also befell multiple brothers of his (specifically Mike and Chris). He had a cocaine addiction and had been caught with it at the Mexican border on February 17. He was scared of going to prison (this arrest would violate his probation) and went out on February 18, 1993 and shot himself in the heart.

Championships/Accomplishments

• 1-Time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
• 3-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Al Madril twice and Terry Orndorff)
• 1-Time WWF Intercontinental Champion
• 3-Time USWA Texas Heavyweight Champion
• 4-Time WCCW Heavyweight Champion
• 5-Time WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
• 4-Time WCCW Tag Team Champion (with Kevin Von Erich 3 times and Jeff Jarrett once)
• 6-Time WCCW American Tag Team Champion (with Bruiser Brody 3 times, Kevin Von Erich twice and Al Madril once)
• 3-Time WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion (with Bruiser Brody, Skip Young and Tiger Conway Jr.)
• 8-Time WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with David & Kevin Von Erich twice, Kevin & Mike Von Erich 3 times, Kevin Von Erich & Brian Adias once, Lance & Kevin Von Erich once and Kevin Von Erich & Michael Hayes once)
• 1-Time USWF Heavyweight Champion

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 24 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 23 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" in any combination of his brothers, David and Kevin.

• Kerry won the 1984 PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award and was involved in the 1984 PWI Match of the Year (vs. Ric Flair).

External Links

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