Ill-Fated Facts About Kerry Von Erich, The Wrestler With A Life Of Heartache
Kerry Von Erich was tougher than tough in the wrestling ring, but not tough enough to fight off a terrifying family curse.
1. He Faced Unspeakable Tragedy
Family curses are no joke. Just ask the Kennedys. Kerry Von Erich and his family weren't presidential hopefuls, but they suffered a curse that some call even worse. This clan of wrestlers had six sons before this curse cost them nearly everything.
Of course, Kerry Von Erich had his share of wrestling triumphs—he won 40 championships after all—but there was a dark shadow hanging over his family, and he couldn't escape it in. the end.
2. He Was Born Into Sadness
Kerry Von Erich was born Kerry Gene Adkissen on February 3, 1960 in Niagara Falls, New York. When he came into this world, his family was already dealing with a terrible tragedy. The first son, Jack Jr, touched a wire near the trailer park where they lived a few months before Kerry's birth. The wire electrocuted the six year-old-boy, he fell into a puddle of melting snow, and drowned.
Sadly, it would be best for this family to get used to tragedy. There was a lot more coming their way.
3. He Didn’t Have Much Choice
As a teenager, Kerry’s dads’ career loomed large in the family. Jack Adkisson Sr. was a professional wrestler who used a very dark theme as his wrestling persona. He dressed like a member of the SS and took the name “Fritz Von Erich” because it fit his macabre character.
When Fritz Von Erich’s wife gave him five strapping young sons, he saw a vision of a squad of professional wrestlers. Kerry had little choice but to follow in dad’s footsteps. But as a trainer, dad had some rather bizarre ideas.
4. He Had Wacko Training
After a move to Texas, dad started training the boys to be wrestlers. In their large barn, dad would tie up Kerry and his brothers, hang them upside down from the ceiling by their ankles, and let them fight it out.
Maybe because of this bizarre training, Kerry wasn’t sure that wrestling was for him.
He decided to break away from it and try something completely different. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't escape his father.
