He was one of the shining stars of the Von Erich family. He was destined to be NWA World champion.
And he was the beginning of the family’s tragedies.
38. DAVID VON ERICH
Real Name – David Adkisson
Aliases – The Yellow Rose of Texas
Hometown – Denton, Texas
Debuted – June, 1977
Titles Held – AJPW All Asia Tag Team (2x, with Kevin Von Erich); NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight; NWA Florida Television; NWA Florida North American Tag Team (with Dory Funk Jr.); NWA Texas Heavyweight (8x); NWA United National; NWA Texas Tag Team (3x, with Kevin Von Erich); NWA Texas World Six-Man Tag Team (with Kevin and Kerry Von Erich); NWA American Tag Team (with Kevin Von Erich); NWA Missouri Heavyweight
Other Accomplishments – Second Von Erich brother to turn pro ; Reportedly scheduled to win the NWA World Heavyweight title at the time of his death – the only man to die between the time the decision was made for him to win the title and actually doing so; Died on February 10, 1984 of acute enteritis while on a tour of Japan; Recipient of PWI Stanley Weston (Editor’s) award in 1984
David Von Erich was a special individual in the world of wrestling. After all, this top 100 list only covers wrestlers who competed after 1980. David passed away only four short years after that date, and his career began three years before it. Still, David managed to pack a memorable career indeed into those seven short years.
In 1977, David dropped out of college (where he had basketball and football scholarships) to begin his pro wrestling career. As mentioned above, he made his debut during June of 1977. In August, he wrestled Harley Race to a 30 minute time limit draw for the NWA World championship.
After having a great deal of success in Texas (racking up four Texas Heavyweight title reigns, two Texas Tag Team title reigns, one run with the NWA Texas World Tag Team titles, and one NWA Texas American world title reign), David decided to test the waters outside his home state. After a run in All Japan, David headed to Florida, where he began working as a heel. By December, he had defeated Jack Brisco to capture the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight title. He held the belt until the following July, when he was defeated by David Draper. In addition to that, he allied himself with Dory Funk Jr. to capture the NWA Florida North American tag team belts in March. They held those titles for about a month, losing them to Bruce Reed and Sweet Brown Sugar. Even after losing those titles, David captured the NWA Florida Television title, which he ironically finally lost to former partner Dory Funk Jr.
As 1982 wound down, David returned to Texas and brought a friend with him from Florida – Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin. The feud saw the two begin trading the NWA Texas Heavyweight title back and forth. David had defeated Wild Bill Irwin to win the belt in August of 1982. Garvin took the belt away in March of 1983, and David recaptured it in April. However, the belt was soon held up.
The belt was on the line again at the July 4 show at the Tarrant County Convention Center. David won the belt, and the services of Garvin and Sunshine (Garvin’s real-life cousin and manager) as his valets for a day. Needless to say, WCCW sent cameras and announcer Bill Mercer to thoroughly document the experience.
A week later the belt was held up again and again later that year David won the rematch. Garvin left the company for the AWA shortly thereafter.
With Garvin gone, David was free to devote his attention to his brothers’ war against the Fabulous Freebirds. He, Kevin, and Kerry dethroned the Freebirds to capture the six-man titles on the same July 4th show where he faced Garvin.
The Freebirds, however, would not be denied. They took the belts back on August 12. It would take until December 2nd for the Von Erichs to reclaim their belts. In January, the Freebirds captured them again.
Also during this same timeframe, David began appearing for the NWA Central States promotion and was placed in contention for their heavyweight title. This belt had gained a great deal of respect after Harley Race had moved on from the belt to capture the NWA World title, and it became known as a stepping stone to the world title. David defeated Ric Flair on September 16 to gain the coveted title. He held it until January 6th, when he was defeated by Harley Race.
David was now primed for a run with the NWA World title. The NWA board of directors had agreed, and it was only a matter of time until he gained the belt.
Unfortunately, those dreams ended on February 10th. David was on tour in Japan with All Japan when he passed away at the age of 25. The official ruling was a heart attack due to ruptured intestines caused by acute enteritis. Several WCCW personalities have noted that David was exhibiting symptoms of enteritis when he departed for the tour.
On May 6th, WCCW held its first Parade of Champions in honor of David. That day Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair in the main event to win the NWA World Heavyweight title. He would lose the belt back to Flair 18 days later in Japan.
David represented perhaps the best of all of the Von Erich brothers. He was skilled in the ring (something common to both Kerry and Kevin as well). While he didn’t have the rock-star look of Kerry, he still had a decent look to him.
Another thing that David excelled at were his interviews. David was easily the best of the brothers on the microphone. Another facet was the fact that David portrayed a character that he’d developed while in Florida – a red-blooded Texas boy with a hot temper (which is who he was).
David was also reported to be sharp with the business end of wrestling as well. He is reported as always keeping an eye open for new merchandising opportunities and soon became one of the two people that Fritz Von Erich relied on for advice (the other was Gary Hart).
As mentioned above, while David may have represented the best of the Von Erichs and WCCW, his death would also be the first of many to shadow the promotion. Within five years, he would be followed in passing by Gino Hernandez, Bruiser Brody, and his brother Mike. In addition, Kerry would be injured in a motorcycle accident that would culminate in the loss of his right foot.
Had David lived, an NWA title reign seemed assured. In addition, it is highly likely that, with him, World Class may have enjoyed a longer period of popularity that may have seen them continue on longer after their separation from the NWA.
The entire Top 100 Wrestlers feature can be found here.
