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WWE Hall Of Famer Kevin Von Erich Shares Concerns About The Iron Claw Movie

WWE Hall Of Famer Kevin Von Erich Shares Concerns About The Iron Claw Movie

Posted: Nov 11th 2023 By: Liam O'Loughlin

The upcoming release of "The Iron Claw" film, detailing the lives and careers of the Von Erich wrestling family, is nearing a release in theatres and garnering plenty of interest. The movie will be led by Hollywood superstar Zac Efron, who will play the role of Kevin Von Erich — the only remaining member of the brothers who lit up the Texas scene in the '80s.

With the global premiere screened on Wednesday and Kevin in attendance, the 66-year-old spoke to "Busted Open" about his initial concerns over the release of the movie, which have since been allayed after conversations with director Sean Durkin.

"I talked to the director ... I loved my dad and my brothers loved my dad too, so I was kind of worried about it," Von Erich said. "I know when you look on YouTube and see some of the things wrestlers are saying that are not accurate, I was thinking where are they getting all this information from? He told me that 'everything that was in the movie was either something I heard you say or read that you said.' I think it's really gonna be a good thing and I'm hoping that people from this movie, people are going to take the fact that life is hard, but we're men and we have to be hard ... I'm not the only one, a lot of people have lived tough lives."

Von Erich also praised Efron, who underwent an extreme transformation to play the role, describing him as a "first-class guy" and admitting he was "amazed" by how much knowledge the former "High School Musical" heartthrob had about the family's history.

Kevin Von Erich explains feelings after watching The Iron Claw

After watching a sneak peek of the film prior to the premiere, Kevin Von Erich revealed his initial reaction to seeing himself portrayed on the big screen and continued to heap praise on those who made the story come to life.

"It's something different, I'll tell you that ... it's strange," he said. "To look up there and see someone looking like me, dressed like me and going through the same situations I went through, it's kind of surreal. They came out to San Antonio and played it for the family, but I've had a lot of concussions and my ears ring and I missed a lot of the audio. I'm gonna watch it again tonight and they're gonna turn it up a little louder for me. The movie is awesome and I really think this people did a great job."

Von Erich's father, Fritz, is expected to be portrayed in a somewhat negative light — something Kevin is more than ready for — but hopes fans will understand the times they were raised in were different to the current landscape in pro wrestling.

The A24 Studios production is scheduled to be released in late December in the United States, with current AEW World Champion MJF set to appear in his first acting role.

 

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  • 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
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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
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  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
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  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
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  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
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  • 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
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  • 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
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