The tragedy of the Von Erich brothers is one of the most harrowing stories in wrestling history. Ever since they were children, death lingered around Kevin and his brothers; it started with the death of Fritz’s eldest son, Jackie, in 1959. David Von Erich passed away from acute enteritis in 1984, right when David was on the precipice of becoming a global star in the business.
After the loss of David, the family’s showman, WCCW was left in the hands of Kevin, Kerry, and Mike Von Erich. The burden of carrying their father’s promotion took a massive toll on the brothers, both physically and mentally. Mike had a brush with death in 1985 after contracting toxic shock syndrome. The following year, Kerry would almost lose his life, too.
1986 was a tough year for World Class Championship Wrestling. In February, the company lost its top heel through the sudden death of Gino Hernandez. A few months later, one of its top babyfaces would be put on the shelf indefinitely.
On June 4, 1986, Kerry was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. He sustained a dislocated hip and a grotesquely injured right leg. Kevin Von Erich, the only surviving member of his generation of Von Erichs, has stated that Kerry lost his foot in the initial accident, but photographic evidence and other firsthand accounts say otherwise. Kerry did not lose his foot in the accident itself. Doctors were ready to amputate Kerry’s right foot once he was brought to the hospital, but were told not to by Kerry’s father, Fritz Von Erich. Kerry remained in the hospital for months and was out of action for nearly a year.
