I remember when One Man Gang arrived on World Class Championship Wrestling with his manager Gary Hart. The big man had a look that was more than intimidating. The mohawk with the skull tattoos on either side of his head showed fans just how tough this guy was. Remember, this was before we got a look at Bam Bam Bigelow's tattooed skull a few years later.
The Gang was double tough and went toe-to-toe with all the company's top good guys, including the Von Erichs and Bruiser Brody. OMG's look reminded me of a biker, complete with a chain that came into play in matches more than once. But eventually, he would travel to the UWF and win the promotion's heavyweight title. He lost the belt to his future tag team partner Big Bubba Rogers (the Big Bossman) and then headed to the WWF.
In the WWF, One Man Gang would challenge Hulk Hogan. His size and strength made him the perfect foil for Hogan in that era. For some crazy reason, Vince McMahon decided to change the persona, and the street-tough from Chicago became a shucking and jiving guy from deepest, darkest Africa.
I was disappointed overall with the Akeem character, though he was quite memorable. However, One Man Gang was the better gimmick as far as I'm concerned. I think even WWE would agree, having brought back the Gang for the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17.
Early in my wrestling fandom, a bizarre wrestler entered the scene in World Class Championship Wrestling. He had green face paint, an indescribable haircut, and an impressive physique. He was the Missing Link.
The Link was part of Gen. Skandor Akbar's Devastation Incorporated. He came to the ring to Quiet Riot's Bang Your Head and put his head to good use. His headbutt devastated most of his opponents. The Link would leave WCCW and wrestle very briefly in the WWF. He was a member of the Heenan Family, but from what Bobby Heenan said in interviews years later, the Missing Link was a pain in the ass.
That being said, I always enjoyed his work. He wasn't a master technician in the ring. But he was entertaining. He stayed in character and instilled fear in his opponents' hearts and the fans watching each week. Even when he returned to WCCW and UWF and turned good, he was an intimidating force in the ring.
Sadly, Dewey Robertson, the man who brought the Link to life, died in 2007. Thanks for the memories.
You never know what you're going to come across on the world wide web. I recently saw a post in a Facebook group I'm a part of called 'The Von Erichs' that stated Kerry Von Erich was one of three men considered for the role of Ivan Drago in the iconic film Rocky IV. I've been a fan of pro wrestling since the early 80s and had never heard this story. I did some searching and found that one of the other contenders for the role, Nikita Koloff confirmed the story.
The role eventually went to Dolph Lungren. But how cool would it have been for Kerry to have won the part? I'm a self-confessed KVE mark. It was his match against Ric Flair inside a steel cage in 1982 that helped hook me on wrestling. My fandom for him never wavered. I can admit Kerry wasn't the greatest on the mic. However to think that he could have been in my favorite film of the Rocky franchise would have been amazing.
In doing the research for this post, I found an interview with Koloff who explained why Kerry didn't get the role. Simply put, it sounds like he wasn't prepared at the audition. I find it interesting a wrestler from the NWA and World Class Championship Wrestling were under consideration and not a WWF Superstar. Remember just a few years earlier, Hulk Hogan was a small part of Rocky III. Some would argue that move is what helped put Hulkamania on the map.
I wonder how life for Kerry or Nikita would have changed inside the ring. Drago is an iconic movie villain. Rocky IV is the highest grossing film of the franchise, making more than $300 million worldwide. One would have to assume Vince McMahon would have loved that kind of publicity in his company, snatching up either Von Erich or Koloff much like he did with Hogan during the publicity for Rocky III.
We all know Kerry eventually went to the WWE but not until 1990. Koloff never made it up north, but he would have been a great foil for Hulkamania as the mighty Russian heel. I've fantasy booked Kerry in the WWF before so I won't repeat myself here.
Kerry did have a small role in the film Problem Child, something I learned years after the fact. He had the look but could he have done the role of Ivan Drago justice on the big screen? We'll never know but it's fun to think of where his career would have gone had he gotten the part.
First, credit where credit is due. Tom and Jason Skull tackle the topic of Hulk Hogan not existing and who would Vince McMahon have picked to lead the way for his expansion of sports entertainment. You can listen to all of their picks on this week's SkullBuster WrestleCast here. I agree with most of their ideas but when I saw the headline for the show one name stood out to me immediately and that's Kerry Von Erich.
Kerry vs. Flair (1982)
I've professed my fandom for Kerry numerous times here on the blog and on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast. His 1982 steel cage match against Ric Flair is one of the moments that hooked me and made me a fan. Yes, he ruled Texas but could have ruled the world and taken pro wrestling to the next level. Here's why I believe that...
Kerry as NWA Champion
Back in 1984, Hulk Hogan beat the Iron Sheik for the WWF Championship. A few months later, Kerry pinned Flair at Texas Stadium to win the NWA World Championship. His reign only lasted 18 days. But fans clearly loved Kerry and voted him Pro Wrestling Illustrated's 'Most Popular Wrestler' that year. I believe those awards were legitimately selected by readers of the magazine (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). The match against Flair was also voted 'Match of the Year'.
The Hulkster
So that being said, there's no doubt McMahon and the machine could have propelled Kerry even further into Superstardom. Hogan had been back in the WWF less than a month when he pinned Sheik for the title. Kerry could have easily started at that same time frame and pulled off the victory. That's not to say Hogan only made his success based on McMahon's marketing. It was a team effort, coupled with the right mix of opponents for Hogan like Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and Bob Orton in the early days.
Kerry had the look. His physique was phenomenal. He was young. Had he beat Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in January 1984, he would have been champ at age 23. Hogan was 30. Kerry's mic skills weren't great and he wasn't as large a personality as Hogan. However, I think some of those skills could have been taught along the way or even prior to the victory at MSG.
Kerry vs. One Man Gang
Kerry faced guys like Kamala, One Man Gang and Terry Gordy in World Class Championship Wrestling and slammed all of them. Hogan battled many of these same monster heels in WWF. Because I saw him first and became a fast fan, Kerry was always the bigger deal to me than Hogan. He could do no wrong, but I know that wasn't always the case.
Kerry had a problem with addiction. I never noticed it impeding his ability. Imagine had he had all of those problems in check how much more potential he would have had. Perhaps outside of Texas and under the WWF/Titan Sports umbrella he could have and would have gotten the necessary treatment.
Kerry vs. Mr. Perfect Courtesy: WWE
Eventually, Kerry did make it to New York. As the Texas Tornado, he had a short run as Intercontinental Champion. I'm bummed it didn't last longer than that. But I'm grateful he had a chance to shine on the grandest stage of all for a brief period of time.
A few others I could have seen in the role of Hogan; "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. He was a bit older but wildly popular prior to Vince Jr. taking over the WWF. Sgt. Slaughter and Junkyard Dog fall into a similar category. I won't name the other guy because he was a surprise pick mentioned in the podcast, so go listen.
Please note, Brickhouse Brown has NOT died. The coroner was called in, but Brown has not died. But I'm keeping this blog up to share the story of meeting him in 1998. My first exposure to Brown came via the Apter magazines as a kid. He wrestled primarily in the south and where I lived at the time, those shows weren't aired on TV. I think the first time I saw him on television would have been on World Class Championship Wrestling.
Then in early 1998, I was living in Alabama and an independent wrestling show was happening. Up until then, I'd only ever been to WWF or WCW events. I was excited about this event because I was also covering it for the TV station. I still remember walking into the locker room area and being in awe of all the wrestlers I encountered. Keep in mind this was long before iPhones and really even digital cameras so I have no documentation of this experience.
Ricky Morton and Kid Kash (he was wrestling as Morton's son in the New Rock 'n Roll Express), Bunkhouse Buck, Bullet Bob Armstrong and Brickhouse were among the stars I met that night. I remember Brickhouse coming up to me and by the look on his face, he wasn't as happy to meet me as I was him. He quickly asked what my plans were for the story and said he had concerns about me being there with my camera.
I explained to him I was a lifelong pro wrestling fan and I was there to cover the event and showcase the talent. I also told him had all the respect in the world for him and the other wrestlers on the card. His icy exterior quickly melted and we chatted for several minutes about my fandom and growing up in St. Louis.
While I wasn't quite ready for the reaction I initially got, I completely understood where Brickhouse was coming from. Yes, the Monday Night War was bringing pro wrestling to the forefront at that time, but for years mainstream media treated the business like a joke. Brickhouse was simply protecting something he loved. My respect for him increased that night, especially after our conversation.
February 18, 2018, marks the 25 year anniversary of the death of Kerry Von Erich. Regular readers here know Kerry is one of my all-time favorites and growing up I ranked him higher than Hulk Hogan himself. Instead of focusing on his death though, I wanted to use this day to remember a few of my favorite Kerry Von Erich matches.
1. Without a doubt his winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship is not only my favorite Kerry Von Erich match but one of my all-time favorite matches. It features two of favorite wrestlers. Kerry fulfilled his promise to honor the life of his brother David that day. In front of a then-record crowd, Kerry battled the "Nature Boy" for just over 11 minutes before catching Flair with a backslide and winning the gold.
I was 11 years old then and through the roof with excitement. Kerry's reign only lasted 18 days and I was deeply disappointed by the loss, but I viewed it as a huge accomplishment for Von Erich. He went on to appear on the covers of many wrestling magazines in the weeks that followed holding that ten pounds of gold. I collected those mags and hung posters featuring the "Modern Day Warrior" on the wall of my bedroom and even my locker at school. Less than a year later, I was fortunate enough to see a rematch between the two in St. Louis. Flair got himself disqualified.
Texas Tornado vs. Mr. Perfect
Courtesy: WWE
2. Kerry stormed into the WWF in the summer of 1990 as the Texas Tornado. It was my senior year in high school and when he was placed in the Intercontinental Championship match against Mr. Perfect at that year's SummerSlam, I was stoked. After five minutes of action, Kerry pinned Perfect and was crowned the IC champ.
Again, his title reign didn't last nearly as long as I had hoped it would. But he got the rub of hanging with The Ultimate Warrior on several occasions. I think had Kerry been in a different place in his personal life back then, his WWF tenure and championship run could have had more meaning than it did ultimately.
Kerry Von Erich vs. Kamala
3. As I mentioned earlier, Kerry was to me what Hulk Hogan was to millions of fans. Before the Hulkster bodyslammed Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy or One Man Gang for that matter, Kerry was performing these feats of strength. I remember vividly Von Erich battling Kamala on slamming him. I believe the announcer, Bill Mercer, said it was the first time the Ugandan Giant had been body slammed. I have no idea if that's true, but to me, it was a feat of superhuman strength. As the years passed, Kerry slammed other big men, including Gang.
There are plenty of other fond memories I have of Kerry Von Erich. His feuds with the Freebirds, Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez are also among some of my favorites. There are too many instances in those battles to pick favorites. And I still think he should have won the battle with Jerry Lawler in the AWA Championship matches. What are some of your favorite moments of the "Modern Day Warrior"?
"Macho Man" Randy Savage & Elizabeth, Goldust & Marlena, Eddie Gilbert & Missy Hyatt. They're among my favorite couples in pro wrestling. They all seemed to match together perfectly. But this is pro wrestling of course and not all matches are ones made in heaven. Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd look at three of my favorite odd couples in the biz.
The delivery Courtesy: WWE
1. Mark Henry & Mae Young. This pairing was created during the Attitude Era. Mark Henry was an admitted sexaholic. And Mae Young was a sassy old timer who needed some lovin' too. The romance budded and Mae ended up pregnant and giving birth to a hand. Yes, a hand. I don't know why, but that hand showed up at Raw 1,000 years later all grown up.
Ellsworth and Carmella Courtesy: WWE
2. James Ellsworth & Carmella. There was something about this duo I really enjoyed. Ellsworth was an unexpected signee with the company after being destroyed by Braun Strowman. After spending some time with Dean Ambrose I knew Ellsworth was on borrowed time. He added to his 15 minutes of fame by joining forces with Carmella. I loved the way she treated their relationship. But let's not get too caught up in the Money in the Bank incident. Some still argue Ellsworth is the true winner of that match, I, however, am not in that camp. The relationship was fun while it lasted.
3. The Missing Link and Sunshine. Get in your way back machine for this one. The Missing Link had worked as a heel in World Class Championship Wrestling and WWF before coming back to Texas. Sunshine found herself in a tough spot and Link made the save. I don't recall him ever talking and I don't believe they were ever an actual couple, but I did enjoy the pairing of a 'Beauty and the Beast' scenario. The idea carried over into MidSouth or UWF when Link joined up with Dark Journey. If only George "The Animal" Steele could have wooed Miss Elizabeth.
These are just a few of my favorite odd couples in wrestling. Who are your favorites?
Follow my blog with Bloglovin I'm starting a new feature here on the blog with a story about something I didn't know about. As a lifelong wrestling fan, I feel like there isn't much I don't know. But with the evolution of podcasts hosted by wrestling insiders and the boom in social media, I'm learning there are things I didn't know. For the first installment, I have to give credit to World Class Memories (@WCCWMemories). They recently tweeted the photo of Kevin Von Erich vs. Brian Lee. At first, I didn't give the picture much thought. But when you look at the turnbuckle pad, you clearly see the WWF logo on it. I never knew Kevin joined his brother Kerry in the Fed.
Heading to the ring Courtesy: Bud Horne
After doing some research on my "Google machine" I found that Kevin had a dark match against Lee at a Wrestling Challenge taping in Texas. It happened on December 2, 1991. Kevin didn't sign with the World Wrestling Federation, and the article I read doesn't say why. I'm hoping to get him on my podcast in the near future and learn more about this story. We all know Lee went on to become the "fake" Undertaker in 1994 and after that Chainz in WWF.
This particular match happened six days before WWF came to Cape Girardeau, where I was attending college at the time. Kerry Von Erich, who remains one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, didn't appear on that card. He was wrestling the same day at a WWF show in Los Angeles. I never got to see the Texas Tornado live in a WWF ring, however, I did see him battle Ric Flair for the NWA World Title in 1985. But I digress...
Kerry & Kevin Von Erich
Courtesy: WWE
Kerry was no longer wrestling for the Intercontinental Championship at this time and was facing the likes of The Berzerker and Skinner. How awesome would it have been for Kevin and Kerry to reunite and have a run as a tag team in the WWF? Although good guys vs. good guys were rare back then, a match between the brothers and The Legion of Doom would have been epic. No doubt the Von Erichs could have been top contenders for the WWF Tag Team Titles and would have likely had a run. I know I'm biased, so what do you think? Weigh in here or on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page and don't forget to like it.
Bromances are awesome. We see them in all walks of life. I even have a couple myself. In the world of professional wrestling, it seems these relationships always end up going south. It's inevitable, so let's take a look at some of the best bromances in the business.
Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens Courtesy: WWE
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho's bromance came to a screeching halt on the most recent episode of Monday Night Raw. When the union formed last summer it gave new life to the Jericho's character and helped endear Owens in the eyes of fans. Their SummerSlam victory over Enzo and Big Cass surprised me and I thought for a moment the two would get a run as Raw tag team champions.
The timing of the breakup concerns me, though. My hope was that Owens would retain the Universal Championship against Goldberg later this month with the help of Jericho and then set up a match between the two at WrestleMania. But now I'm worried Goldberg will emerge as champ because of Jericho's interference, still leading us to an Owens-Jericho Mania matchup.
I would have loved to see the two stick it out together longer, but with WrestleMania coming, you knew the fun was going to come to an end. Now I look forward to seeing what both of them can do against each in the ring.
The MegaPowers Courtesy: WWE
In the late 80s, "Macho Man" Randy Savage was on the verge of turning good when he feuded with the Honky Tonk Man. Then one Saturday night the fans fully embraced Savage after he was attacked by HTM and the Hart Foundation. Miss Elizabeth summoned the help of Hulk Hogan and the two became fast friends. For more than a year the Mega Powers dominated the WWF with their bromance, but all the way seeds of dissension were being planted. It was great storytelling and the Mega Powers exploded prior to WrestleMania V, 18 months after the bromance began.
Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez
I'm going old school for this last bromance. "Gentleman" Chris Adams proved to be anything but when he turned on the Von Erichs in World Class Championship Wrestling. He aligned himself with Gino Hernandez and the two ran amuck on the babyfaces of the company. They were joined at one point by Jake "The Snake" Roberts and won the WCCW 6 Man Tag Team Titles. Adams and Hernandez also had a run with the tag team titles.
But like all good things, the Gentleman and the Handsome Half-Breed had a huge falling out. Hernandez blinded Adams, which led to his return to being a face. Sadly, Hernandez died shortly after this while Adams was recovering from his injuries. The two never had that much-anticipated feud. Hernandez was just 28 years old and had so much potential.
Rock n Sock Connection Courtesy: WWE
Of course, there are plenty of other great wrestling bromances. Edge & Christian, Shawn Michaels & Triple H, The Rock & Mankind and Scott Hall & Kevin Nash just to name a few. These men have all had their ups and downs too, just like history has shown us.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin When I first started watching wrestling in the early 80s, World Class Championship Wrestling was my favorite. The Von Erichs, the Freebirds and Devastation Incorporated were among the cast of characters that stood out to me and made the promotion so great.
Akbar in action
Devastation Incorporated was headed by a ruthless figure named Skandor Akbar. Little did I know at the time "The General" had been an accomplished wrestler in a prior life and had transitioned into a managerial role. He wore Mideastern garb and chomped on cigars as he led a bevy of beasts into battle against some of WCCW's best and brightest baby faces. Akbar's army included monsters like Kamala, The Missing Link and One Man Gang. Memories of those days include the Link and Kerry Von Erich going toe to toe with the Link headbutting Kerry so many times commentator Bill Mercer was convinced Kerry's nose was broken. Akbar stood by encouraging the brutality.
Akbar & Bubba
He managed One Man Gang in UWF after jumping ship from World Class. Gang won the championship there after Terry Gordy forfeited the belt. But it wasn't long before Akbar switched his allegiance and helped Big Bubba Rogers (later the Big Bossman) win the championship.
Recognize the guy in the mask?
Akbar bounced between UWF and WCCW/USWA through the years. He was without a doubt one of the best managers in those promotions. Unfortunately, he never made his was to WWF like many of the men who were in his charge, including The Punisher who we know today as The Undertaker.
I credit Kerry Von Erich with being one of the wrestlers who got me hooked on pro wrestling at a young age. I remember seeing him battle Ric Flair inside a steel cage for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. It's the night the war between the Von Erichs and The Freebirds ignited and changed wrestling forever. It's also one of my earliest memories of the sport.
Right after the NWA Championship win
Kerry quickly became not only my favorite Von Erich, but my favorite wrestler. I had my standard wrestling magazine purchases each month: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler and Inside Wrestling. But if Kerry was featured on the cover or as the poster in any other publication, I added it to my collection. Despite Hulkamania running wild in other areas, I was 100% behind Kerry.
As NWA Heavyweight Champion
Of course he has a long list of accomplishments, winning the NWA Title from Flair eventually. He held several championships while in World Class Championship Wrestling and in 1990 when he signed with WWF my wrestling prayers had been answered. It didn't take long for the Texas Tornado to capture the Intercontinental Title.
After winning the IC Title
Courtesy: WWE
But Curt Hennig, Ted DiBiase and The Warlord weren't the only battles Kerry was facing. Outside the ring he had demons of his own. More than 20 years after his untimely death I am saddened as I wonder "what if..." Had he not been ill with addiction (as far as I'm concerned it's an illness), the sky would have been the limit for the Modern Day Warrior.
Courtesy: WWE
Kerry was in his early 30s when he arrived in the WWF. His short run as IC champion should have been a launching pad to bigger things in the company. As Vince McMahon was looking for new faces to replace Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Von Erich should have been on the short list. I've read on other sites that Kerry was supposed to get the "Bret Hart treatment" and the run with the belt. I can't tell you how much I wish this would have happened. Don't get me wrong, Bret Hart is an icon and one of the all-time greats, but Kerry was my guy. He could have had some epic battles against the Hitman, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon and the other members of the New Generation.
Kerry & Kevin Von Erich
He would have become a big time commodity during the Monday Night Wars as well. It would have been interesting to see where he ended up. His involvement in either WWF or WCW would have also likely meant Kevin joining him. The two would have made outstanding tag team champions and individual champs as well. Fantasy booking: Kerry as WWE Champion battling Kevin as IC Champion on a pay-per-view event. Kerry may be gone, but he's not forgotten. May he continue to rest in peace. Thanks for the memories.
