The Von Erich Wrestling Family “Curse”, Explained
The Von Erich Wrestling Family "Curse", Explained
There are numerous well-known wrestling families. The Usos and Roman Reigns are the biggest TV factions right now, and the Anoa’i family currently controls all of professional wrestling. With Cody and Dustin Rhodes continuing their father, Dusty Rhodes,’s legacy, the Rhodes family is always on our minds. There are numerous others, but very few wrestling families have achieved the same things as the Von Erichs, and no family has had to deal with shattering heartbreak after heartbreak the way they have.
The Von Erich Family Altered The Landscape Of Wrestling
The Von Erich family’s legacy begins with Fritz, the father. He gained popularity in the 1960s and was well-known for his finisher, “The Iron Claw.” However, he had his greatest success outside of the ring as the founder of the Texas-based regional promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). His sons were the show’s main attraction, but one by one, nearly all of them passed away in their primes.
They created an enduring impression before they actually passed away. In Texas, they were held in awe. They competed against well-known wrestlers like Harley Race and Ric Flair. They achieved victories. Some individuals appear destined to rank among the top stars in the industry. One even gained attention from WWE, the biggest spotlight ever. However, only one of the five sons would live.
Death Struck The Von Erich’s So Often That It Came To Be Seen As A Curse
Before wrestling, the family’s tragic history began when son Jack perished in a terrible accident at the young age of 7. Through the 1980s and 1990s, that tragedy evolved into a full-fledged curse. When David Von Erich, a.k.a. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” to wrestling fans, passed away in Tokyo at the young age of 25, it marked the beginning of the era. Although acute enteritis, an inflammation of the small intestine, was determined to be the cause of death, many of his friends and coworkers attributed it to drug usage.
Just three years later, in 1987, Mike Von Erich died in Texas after overdosing on tranquilizers. He didn’t have the same love for wrestling that the rest of his family did, but still he took part, until an injury to his shoulder injured his career. Not long after, he was dead at 23.
While two brothers would pass away from drug overdoses, two more would die by suicide, starting with Chris Von Erich. Although he wasn’t as well-known as some of his brothers, he had a great deal of enthusiasm for the industry. In 1991, he put a gun to his head due to his developing sadness about his perceived failures and the pain he felt for his brothers. Unbelievably, he was only 21.
The most well-known brother was the last to pass away. Kerry Von Erich was destined to become well-known because of his adorable babyface appearance. Kerry joined the WWE, where he went by the name The Texas Tornado, after defeating Ric Flair to win the NWA Heavyweight Championship. Although he won the Intercontinental title at the 1990 SummerSlam very rapidly, his promotion only lasted a short time due to a terrible name change, poor booking, and the secret pain he bore from missing most of one foot. In 1993, Kerry shot himself in the heart following a trying divorce. He wasn’t even 34.
The Von Erich Family Still Lives On In Wrestling Today
The only Von Erich brother to survive the purported curse was Kevin Von Erich. Not just via his presence and his words, but also through a third generation of wrestlers, he ensures that his family’s history continues.
Despite the past, Kevin kept up his passion for wrestling throughout the years, and his sons Ross and Marshall could sense it. They both became professional wrestlers, and although though neither was particularly successful by conventional measures, they both succeeded. They competed as a tag team in Pro Wrestling NOAH and even TNA. They still compete today, most recently losing to The Briscoes at Ric Flair’s Last Match after starting out in MLW (Major League Wrestling).
The family name was continued by others than them. Lacey Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich’s daughter, briefly worked for WWE before going on to represent TNA as a Knockouts Tag Team Champion.
Even after all these years, people still remember the Von Erichs. The family was admitted to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
Kevin Von Erich Almost Joined His Brothers In Death
It almost didn’t end that way, even though Kevin Von Erich is still the only survivor in his family. Kevin had considered suicide at one point, since his family was revealed in the Dark Side of The Ring episode. He went into a gun shop and attempted to take a pistol there, but he was stopped by a fan who told him they loved him. This was sufficient to reassure Kevin that he wasn’t alone and to inspire him to carry on life.
The Von Erichs’ Story, Told On The Big Screen
The Iron Claw, an anticipated movie from A24, will tell the tale of the Von Erich family later in 2023. A24 Studios may already be well-known to viewers because to their acclaimed movies Moonlight and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Stars in The Iron Claw include AEW World Champion MJF as the notorious Lance Von Erich, a family buddy who purported to be the family’s cousin, as well as The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich and Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich.
The Von Erichs’ narrative will be told in this movie in a way that has never been done before. The film should be an excellent, if not terrifying, learning experience for both wrestling enthusiasts and people who are new with the sport, assuming that it truly depicts their narrative.
On December 22, 2023, The Iron Claw will have its theatrical debut. If you decide to watch the movie, we suggest bringing Kleenex. It will be difficult to watch.
