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Fritz Von Erich

American professional wrestler (1929–1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fritz Von Erich
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Jack Barton Adkisson Sr. (August 16, 1929 – September 10, 1997), better known by his ring name Fritz Von Erich, was an American professional wrestler, wrestling promoter, and the patriarch of the Von Erich family. He was a 3-time world champion and a 20-time NWA United States Champion. He was the owner of World Class Championship Wrestling.[4]

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Early life

Adkisson was born in Jewett, Texas on August 16, 1929. He was the only child of Benjamin Rush Adkisson Jr. and his wife Coren.[5] He attended Crozier Tech High School in Dallas, where he was active in football and track and field, particularly in shot put and discus throwing.[5]

He attended Southern Methodist University initially on a music scholarship, where he continued to perform in athletics.[5] He later transferred to the University of Corpus Christi.[5] However, he dropped out following an ankle injury and to take care of his ill grandmother.[5] Between 1951 and 1952, he worked as a firefighter.[5]

He has been reported to have played with the now defunct Dallas Texans of the NFL (not the AFL team which became the Kansas City Chiefs),[6] but this is not true.[7] He was signed as a guard but was cut.[8] He then tried the Canadian Football League (CFL).

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Professional wrestling career

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Early career and training

Adkisson debuted as a professional wrestler under his real name in August 1952, under the auspices of local promoter Ed McLemore.[5] After relocating to New England in 1953, he adopted a new heel persona and ring name Fritz Von Erich, billed from Munich, Germany (or sometimes Berlin).[5] Wrestling historian Steve Johnson credits the gimmick to promoters Tony Santos and Jack Pfefer, who felt Adkisson's Texas babyface gimmick would not work in New England.[5] Years later, Von Erich would claim "Erich" was his mother's maiden name,[9] though this has not been substantiated.[5]

While in Edmonton, he met wrestler and trainer Stu Hart, and Hart decided to train and book him in his Klondike Wrestling promotion. Hart gave teamed him with kayfabe "brother" Waldo Von Erich.

Von Erich's oldest son Jack Barton Adkisson Jr. was born September 21, 1952. He died in 1959 after an accidental electrocution and drowning, and Jack Sr. stopped traveling to the east coast, allowing former partner Waldo to use the Von Erich name in the World Wide Wrestling Federation.

1960s

Despite Jack Jr.'s death, Von Erich continued to travel and wrestle. Von Erich won both versions of the AWA World title in 1963. His major circuit was Sam Muchnick's NWA territorial stronghold in St. Louis, Missouri. He wrestled there until 1967, when he voluntarily left the territory after losing a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against then-champion Gene Kiniski.[10] In the late 1960s, with Muchnick's backing, Von Erich became the promoter for the Dallas area, effectively overseeing the Houston and San Antonio territories, as well.[10]

Japan

Von Erich was a part of rebuilding Japanese wrestling after the stabbing death of Rikidōzan in 1963. He became a star due to his feuds with Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba, and his "Iron Claw" hold, which became one of the most popular wrestling moves in Japan.

Retirement

In 1982, he held his first retirement match against King Kong Bundy in the newly renamed World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) promotion, based in Dallas. The promotion was known for its high production values, use of entrance music and the use of television syndication. He wrestled his last match on November 27, 1986, defeating Abdullah the Butcher by disqualification in Dallas. By the end of the 1980s, the promotion's talent pool was thin and it was eventually merged with Jerry Jarrett's Continental Wrestling Association to create the United States Wrestling Association in 1989.

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In popular culture

Von Erich was part of the video game Legends of Wrestling series, first appearing in Legends of Wrestling (2001) as an unlockable character, in Legends of Wrestling II (2002) and Showdown: Legends of Wrestling (2004). Also appeared in the video game; Giant Gram 2000: All Japan Pro Wrestling 3 (2000) on SEGA.

In 2019, Von Erich was covered as part of the Dark Side of the Ring episode on the Von Erichs.

Personal life and death

See also: Von Erich family
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The Von Erich family (from left to right): Kerry, Fritz, Kevin, Chris (front), Mike and David

Von Erich married Doris J. Smith on June 23, 1950.[11] Together, they had six sons, including Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris. The couple divorced on July 21, 1992.

Von Erich died of brain and lung cancer at his home in Lake Dallas, Texas on September 10, 1997.[12]

Legacy

In 2009, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with his family. He was inducted by Freebird Michael Hayes. It was accepted by his surviving son Kevin.

The 2023 film The Iron Claw depicts the Von Erich family story, with Fritz played by Holt McCallany.

Championships and accomplishments

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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    This championship was later renamed the NWA American Heavyweight Championship in May 1968. It would later be renamed the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship after World Class' withdrawal from the NWA in February 1986.

References

Further reading

External links

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