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Kevin Von Erich

Nickname: High Flying; The Golden Warrior

Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 235 lbs

From: Denton County, TX

Birthday: May 15th

Pro Debut: August 9,1976

Aliases: Cosmic Cowboy #1

Feds Worked For: MSW, PZWA, SoCW, TSW, USWA, WCCW, WCW92, AWA, GWF, MLW, NWA, ROH, TNA, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Big Time Wrestling (MI/OH), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Empresa Mexicana De La Lucha Libre (Mexico), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), International World Class Championship Wrestling (CT/ME/NJ/NY/PA/VY), Los Angeles Wrestling (CA), M & M Promotions (HI), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Dallas (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Texas Wrestling Federation (TX), Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (NJ/NY/PA), World Class II: The Next Generation (TX), World League Wrestling (KS/MO/OK), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico)

Finisher: The Iron Claw

Signature Moves: Flying Cross Body, Dropkick

Career Highlights: -AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion (w/ David Von Erich)
-NWA American Champion (5x)
-NWA American Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Kerry Von Erich, 1 w/ David Von Erich)
-NWA Missouri Champion
-NWA North American Champion
-NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ David Von Erich)
-NWA (Texas) World Tag Team Champions (w/ David Von Erich)
-TWF Texas Champion
-WCCW Texas Champion
-WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion (11x; 3 w/ Kerry Von Erich & Mike Von Erich, 2 each w/ David Von Erich & Kerry Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich, 1 each w/ Fritz Von Erich & Mike Von Erich, Brian Adias & Kerry Von Erich, Chris Adams & Steve Simpson, and Kerry Von Erich & Michael Hayes)
-WCCW World Champion
-WCCW World Tag Team Champion (3x; all w/ Kerry Von Erich)
-WCCW World Television Champion
-WCW92 Texas Champion

Affiliates: Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, Fritz Von Erich, Chris Adams, Brian Adias, Steve Simpson, Lance Von Erich, Michael Hayes, Skandar Akbar

Notable Feuds: Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts, Gino Hernández, Chris Adams, Tim Brooks, The Great Kabuki, Kazuo Sakurada/Chang Chung/Kendo Nagasaki, King Kong Bundy, Bill Irwin/Super Destroyer #2, Gary Hart, Al Madril, Jimmy Garvin, Brian Adias, King Parsons

Other Facts: -Father of pro wrestlers Ross Von Erich and Marshall Von Erich, who he trained for pro wrestling
-Son of pro wrestler Fritz Von Erich
-Brother of pro wrestlers Chris Von Erich, David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, & Mike Von Erich
-Uncle of pro wrestler Lacey Von Erich and pro wrestling personality Hollie Von Erich
-Billed as the nephew of Waldo Von Erich. According to some sources, they were distantly related through marriage (Waldo was a distant cousin of Fritz's wife, Doris), but that cannot be confirmed or denied at this time.
-Lance Von Erich was originally billed as Kevin's cousin when Lance started in WCCW
-Born in Belleville, IL, but raised in Denton, TX
-The eldest son of Fritz Von Erich that became wrestlers, and was the first to turn pro
-Turned pro on August 9, 1976 facing Paul Perschman (AKA "Playboy" Buddy Rose)
-Wrestled barefoot throughout most of his career. When asked why he wrestled barefoot, he said "Just because I felt better that way. I felt faster and that I could jump higher than anyone and could do more because I wasn't wearing shoes. I like being barefoot. It's a comfortable feeling and even today I walk barefoot or in sandals." In reality, someone hid his boots as a rib before his debut match in Texas, so he went out without them. Wrestling barefoot caused him a problem once when he accidentally kicked Buddy Roberts in the face and cut the bottom of his foot open on Buddy's teeth (which Buddy rarely if ever brushed). This led
-Was a minority owner in the USWA
-Is the only surviving member of the Von Erich dynasty and therefore had complete possession of the entire World Class Championship Wrestling tape library until selling it to WWE in 2006.
-Holds the record for the longest reigning WCCW World Title reign (10 months, 9 days)
-Holds the record for the longest WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Title reign (w/ Lance & Mike Von Erich; 10 months, 8 days)
-Trained Earl Kennedy for pro wrestling
-Appeared in the movie "G. Whilliker!" in 1993
-Appeared as himself in an Israeli soap opera in 2005. He was flown over to tape the appearance by the producers, who were big fans.
-After selling the World Class tape library to WWE in 2006, Kevin moved his family and his mother Doris to the island of Kauai in Hawaii
-Was one of the many interviewees on WWE's "Triumph & Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" DVD.
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (w/ Fritz Von Erich, Chris Von Erich, David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, & Mike Von Erich as The Von Erichs) in 2009
-His family's turmoil was the subject of an episode of VICE's "Dark Side of the Ring" in 2019. The episode was entitled "The Last of the Von Erichs" and mostly centered around Kevin being the last surviving member of his family and generation.. The episode was narrated by Dutch Mantell
-Won Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Feud of the Year (w/ David Von Erich, Fritz Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, & Mike Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds [Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, & Terry Gordy]) in 1983 and 1984
-In 2023, a movie "The Iron Claw" was released chronicling the lives of the Von Erich family. Kevin was played by Zac Efron and is the central figure in the film.
-Won Wrestling Observer Newletter's Match of the Year (w/ Kerry Von Erich & Mike Von Erich v. The Fabulous Freebirds [Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, & Terry Gordy]) in 1984
-Ranked # 78 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 219 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 170 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 239 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 381 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Was a panelist on the "Tales from the Territories" episode entitled "WCCW: Wrestling's Lone Star Legacy" with Brian Adias, Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Jimmy Garvin, and David Manning