Men Wrestlers

Male Wrestlers

Perhaps the most tragic of deaths in professional wrestling, the Von Erich family produced five men wrestlers Four of which died before the age of 35. There was uncertainty surrounding the death of David, the first of the brothers to die. Some claim a drug overdose lead to the end of his life, while others, including his family, friends, and medical officials, claim that a stomach ailment actually killed him.

Men Wrestlers

His brother Mike stepped into the ring in place of his deceased brother eventually. After some time wrestling, he became injured and his shoulder required medical attention. He went into the hospital, had surgery on it, and was sent home. A short time after that surgery, he acquired a fever of around 107 degrees and was sent right back to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed with him a rare disorder; he contracted it from a virus during his shoulder surgery four days earlier. The troubled brother had his share of run-ins with the law after his last hospital stay, as the virus had affected his brain leaving him mentally unstable. After continued drug and alcohol abuse, he committed suicide at the age of 23. A third son of the Von Erich’s, Kerry wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Foundation (WWF) among other organizations. His downfall came after a motorcycle accident led to the amputation of his right foot. He was arrested on a cocaine charge and committed suicide a day after. Chris, the youngest of the deceased Von Erich brothers, killed himself also. At the age of 21, he shot himself in the head believing he would never live up to the name of his brothers. Born with little wrestling ability, asthma, and fragile bones, Chris never had much of future in the ring, but chose to end his life for this reason. Most men wrestlers had success in this family, they just had no idea how to handle it.

Male Wrestler

Kevin Von Erich is the only remaining brother of the five men wrestlers. “The Golden Warrior” spent most of his days in the WCW where he wrestled with the famous Chris Adams and Ric Flair, among others. The sons of Fritz Von Erich, an older generation wrestler, did not have much lasting power in the business. Talented and successful, the tale of this family is one of unfulfilled potential and sorrow. Drug abuse has destroyed the lives of many families in professional wrestling, not just the Von Erich’s. Steroids and other addictive drugs are commonly used amongst these athletes, but too often, it controls and alters the lives of these men along with the wives and children that support them.