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Kevin Von Erich Talks About His Wrestling Family, The Iron Claw Movie and Opening Up to His Fans on Stage

Posted: Aug 20th 2023 By: Danny Gallagher

Legendary wrestler Kevin Von Erich is usually the biggest guy in just about any room, but he has a way of making other people feel like the star.

He recalls a wrestling match in Wichita Falls where he was invited to be the celebrity judge at a Halloween costume contest for kids. Von Erich says he'd lift up each kid to show off their costume and stand them on the top rope so everyone could see and cheer the little ones.

"This one little girl dressed as a witch kept backing away from me," he says. "She was the last little girl, and she was heavy. I didn't realize how heavy. So I picked her up, and the rope popped."

Von Erich says he worried someone would start to snicker and the crowd would follow and humiliate this cute kid in her costume. He says he continued to champion this brave "witch," and the crowd didn't make a sound.

"I was so proud of the people of Wichita Falls because it would've broken her heart," Von Erich says. "They didn't make a sound. That was my greatest moment. It's so good to have something that gives you some gratification rather than just another day, another dollar."

Kevin is the second-oldest and last living son of the equally legendary wrestler Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson), whose family built a wrestling kingdom in North Texas. The Von Erichs' story, including all of their successes and struggles, serves as the basis for an upcoming film called The Iron Claw, named for the signature move of Fritz the German Bomber. Zac Efron will star as Kevin alongside The Bear's Jeremy Allen White as Kevin's brother Kerry, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich and Mindhunter's Holt McCallany as the family patriarch.

Von Erich says when he heard about The Iron Claw movie, he wanted to maintain some control over his family's story. So he decided to tell his story directly to his fans in a live Q&A show called Stories from the Top Rope on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Majestic Theatre. The event will be hosted by former WFAA sportscaster and commentator Dale Hansen.

"I caught wind of this movie coming out, and it's kind of a shocking thing," Von Erich says. "I don't know what I'm gonna say or anything."

He's eager to see how his family's story plays out on the big screen. Von Erich says he spoke to Sean Durkin, director of The Iron Claw's, just as the film went into production and was invited to the set. He met McCallany on set in his full makeup and costume as Fritz, and Von Erich's niece Hollie "was shocked. She gasped and cried. Hollie loved him so much."

"[Durkin] said this was a labor of love," Von Erich says. "[Durkin] said he always wanted to do this. It's something he wanted to do in his life and I think it could really be something good."

Von Erich has reason to be concerned. Thanks to the lack of fact checkers, the internet has spread a lot of unfounded rumors about the Von Erichs' story, even in the midst of very real tragedies in the family's life.

"That's what was tearing at me," Kevin says. "If you're gonna go by what's on YouTube, you get a bunch of crap out there. These wrestlers commenting on it hardly knew me, to talk about [how] we were like this or always on drugs. It's just not true."

He also wants to set the record straight about his father, whom he describes as "a strong man" who "demanded a lot from people but he gave his best.

"All of the great promoters cherished every word my dad said," Von Erich says. "My dad's handshake was considered like a contract. If he gave you his word, it wasn't gonna be broken. He used to tell me a man's only as good as his word. Never break your word."

Von Erich says he's ready to talk about his family to put his legacy into perspective and to address a wrestling industry that's changed and grown in ways no one could've predicted.

"I don't mind that a bit," Von Erich says. "I probably should be, but I'm kind of looking forward to it. I'm gonna be talking to people who've been my neighbors for so long. We didn't act like big shots. We knew the fans loved us, and we loved them. We never did have talent agencies or many big media machines pitching us. It was all organic, all word of mouth. The way we saw our fans, they are really our loved ones. It's just different now. We didn't consider them like a ticket."

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title

04-27

Yasu Fuji Apr 27th Today!
Siva Afi Apr 28th
Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
Sunshine Apr 29th
Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
Prince Maivia May 1st
Barrett Brown May 2nd
Americos May 2nd
Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
Big Bossman May 2nd
Kari Wright May 2nd
Don Fields May 2nd
Lester Welch May 3rd
Lily McKenzie May 3rd
Johnny Humble May 3rd
Malik Mayfield May 4th
El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
Dory Funk May 4th
Jay Hazzard May 4th
Bull Schmitt May 4th
Olivier Vegos May 5th
Bill Watts May 5th
Zane Morris May 5th
El Gallardo May 5th
Princess Victoria May 5th
El Matador Dos May 5th
Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
Maria Brigitte May 5th
Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
Claire Watson May 6th
Hercules May 7th
Richie Adams May 8th
Jake Danielsson May 9th
Tito Santana May 10th
Billy Brown May 10th
Sunny War Cloud May 10th
Rook Tyler May 10th
Jerry Brown May 10th

1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

More Look Back In History

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Junkyard Dog is a former WCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion with Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich.

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