Kevin Von Erich Talks Why His Sons Turned Down WWE, “A New Day In Wrestling” Coming With AEW, MLW
Posted: Jun 5th 2020 By: Carolina Alexis - WrestlingNewsPlus.com
During the 1980s World Class Championship Wrestling experienced its greatest success and some even thought it could eventually compete with the then-WWF. That proved to not be the case as WCCW went out of business in 1990, but there is another wrestling promotion on the scene trying to compete with WWE in All Elite Wrestling.
Kevin Von Erich, whose father Fritz was the owner of WCCW, talked about AEW and Cody when he spoke to Wrestling Inc.
“I love that kid; I love his family,” Von Erich said of Cody and the Rhodes Family. “That kid is a good businessman and I expect big things from him. We’re gonna have a new day in wrestling and a bomb is ticking. It’s gonna go off and it’s a great company to wrestle in.”
Von Erich’s and Dusty Rhodes’ paths didn’t cross that often back in the day, but the two did get along when they were paired together.
“Everybody loves Dusty and he’s the kind of guy that’s impossible not to like. We didn’t wrestle each other very often because we were both good guys. But we were in tags and were in Japan but we’re all family and know each other pretty much,” said Von Erich.
“That’s what got me excited about MLW – all the second generational wrestlers. These are guys whose hearts are after wrestling. I wanted to be just like my dad and that’s natural for these guys to want to be like their fathers. These second generation wrestlers just have a little something extra they bring to the table and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
The wrestling styles of today are much more athletic and acrobatic than during Von Erich’s day and he talked about what he likes and what he doesn’t like with today’s styles.
“I think it’s changing all the time and I think that’s natural. For instance, I don’t like the barbed wire and broken glass in the ring. I want to get in the ring and beat my opponent – that’s what my dad taught me to do,” stated Von Erich. “I don’t wanna get in with that junk. I’m sure there’s a demand for that but there’s a risk losing your eye or something like that. There are just better ways to make a living.
“My brothers and I wanted to change this business by making [wrestling] faster, more aggressive and two-to-three times more intense. We weren’t stuck on 20- or 30-minute matches; 15 minutes is a good time for a match. Quality not quantity… The acrobatic stuff – I don’t like that.
It has to be all about beating your man. Your opponent is No. 1. Doing tricks – that may just happen in the match but I don’t think you should get in there and do acrobatics. My dad told me to not be an acrobat as a kid and I tried not to be. Just beat your man and how it comes about is okay with me.”
Von Erich’s sons, Ross and Marshall, recently joined MLW despite offers from other promotions. Their dad talked about why MLW is the right company for them at this time.
“They talked to WWE and all the big companies but they didn’t want to do that,” revealed Von Erich. “They kind of have an idea of what they want. They would say that they are not ready but I would say that they are. When you go to WWE it’s gonna be everyday for months on end and they don’t wanna do that right now. They live in Hawaii and they are with their dad and learning stuff and traveling all over the world.
“MLW is a bunch of hungry, young, killer cats and that’s what I want my boys to be. They’re gonna make exciting shows and keep the people watching.”
Ross and Marshall represent the third generation of the Von Erich Wrestling Family and Kevin talked about what’s next for the Von Erichs. Kevin noted that he hopes to be at MLW’s War Chamber event on September 7th at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
“Since my boys have come along, it’s given me a new excitement about it. … I’m gonna come to Dallas and watch my boys. I’m not for sure if I’m going to, but I want to come to Dallas and hoping I can work that out,” said Von Erich who then added he has trouble flying due to his bad back but is hoping to fly on his friend’s learjet so he can lay down during the flight.
Von Erich’s full interview with Wrestling Inc was included as part of today’s episode of our WINCLY podcast. The full audio can be heard via the embedded audio player at the bottom of this post.
In the full interview Von Erich discusses his sons Ross and Marshall signing with MLW, Ross and Marshall’s upcoming Dallas debut for MLW, pro Wrestlers deserving insurance and retirement plans, his thoughts on Cody Rhodes, Gino Hernandez, “The Last Of The Von Erichs” episode of Dark Side of The Ring, the legacy of The Fabulous Moolah, Bruser Brody’s murder and more.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12
- 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
- 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
- 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
- 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
- 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
- 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
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