The Von Erichs

[radhead]

Does anyone remember professional wrestling in the 1980's before it became the circus and spectacle that it is today?

The Von Erichs were a family of wrestlers that were legends. I used to watch wrestling on television every week, religiously. I was young enough to believe it was all real, and it engrossed me like nothing else.

But tragedy hit the family and most or all of them died in some way. I still find it hard to believe, even though I have not watched the sport in twenty years.

 

[BeautyForAshes]

Ahhh, back when wrestling was safe for thew hole family to watch, instead of the smut that it is now.

I do remember them. Along with Roddy Pipper, The Iron Sheik, Sgt Slaughter and my all time fav - Arn Anderson.

 

[JPPT1974]

No never heard of them
As I can't stand wrestling at all
Sorry if I offend any fans of wrestling!

 

[imawebmonkey]

I remember Jerry Lawler, Bobby Eaton, Tojo Yamamoto, and of course Jimmy Hart (the mouth of the south).

 

[CarrieAg93]

I was never into wrestling, but I do remember the Von Erichs.

 

[radhead]

No never heard of them
As I can't stand wrestling at all
Sorry if I offend any fans of wrestling!

Don't worry. I don't think wrestling fans are the type who would get easily offended.

My favorite of the Von Erichs was David. He didn't have the flashy long hair of Kerry, but he was bigger and tougher. He was famous for the "claw" hold. The first time I saw him on TV I was intrigued by him: tougher than his brother, but not seen as much. Unfortunately he died shortly after that. 1984 I believe.

 

[dalej42]

Sure. I was a serious wrestling fan in the 80s. Now that I live in Texas, it is interesting to see the former arenas that World Class Championship Wrestling used to hold matches in.

A DVD has been released of the best of World Class. It was quite an interesting memory trip.

 

[radhead]

As much as I liked wrestling, I grew to hate it in the late 80's. It was when reporters first started to question the "reality" of the sport. John Stossel of 20/20 got hit in the ears by one wrestler and got permanent hearing damage. Richard Belzer (the comedian) had Mr. T and Hulk Hogan on his talk show, and they put him in a sleeper hold and he collapsed on stage. When he got up the back of his head was bloody

All of that happened early 1987 or early 1988 I believe.

 

[JPPT1974]

As much as I liked wrestling, I grew to hate it in the late 80's. It was when reporters first started to question the "reality" of the sport. John Stossel of 20/20 got hit in the ears by one wrestler and got permanent hearing damage. Richard Belzer (the comedian) had Mr. T and Hulk Hogan on his talk show, and they put him in a sleeper hold and he collapsed on stage. When he got up the back of his head was bloody

All of that happened early 1987 or early 1988 I believe.

No wonder I hate the WWE
Sorry if I offend any fans!

 

[Daisysqueaks]

Wrestling was so much better back then. Just my opinion.

 

[HumbleMan]

I grew up watching the Von Erichs, the Freebirds, JYD, King Parsons, Jimmy Garvin, and all the rest at WCCW. I used to get excited when Ric Flair or Harley Race came through and there was an actual World Championship match.

Texas Monthly had a full feature on the Von Erichs a few months back. It really is heartbreaking to see what happened to them.

 

[JPPT1974]

Wresting is fake, especially the WWF!
Sorry if I offend any fans at all!

 

[radhead]

Does anyone remember when singer Cyndi Lauper was in the ring and got kick in the head by Rowdy Roddy Piper?

 

[radhead]

"Talk"

That was really a big element of professional wrestling. And I'm not just talking about the loud, in your face types. I'm also talking about the good guys speaking slowly and quietly about how the bad guys had been terrorizing them outside the ring, in their private lives. Threatening their loved ones, etc. That was the kind of thing that really drew me in.

 

[JPPT1974]

I remember when Rod Roddy kicked her in the head
That had to hurt
I mean ouch!

 

[spdnet75]

I remember the Von Erichs and The four Horsemen, Nikita Koloff, The rock 'n Roll Express, Andre The Giant and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

I also remember my little sister and I having to be punished and separated for imitating our favorite wrestlers.

Those are good and innocent days to think back on.

 

[JPPT1974]

Some people here must love WWF
Now don't they!

 

[Longacre]

I didn't get to watch World Class until 1985 when I lived in Tucson. I had read about the Von Erichs in wrestling magazines and remembered Kerry Von Erich had a cup of coffee (a wrestling term for a short title reign) with the NWA world title.

Besides the Von Erichs, I also remember guys like Iceman King Parsons, Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams(RIP), Skandor Akbar, the Dingo Warrior (who became the Ultimate Warrior) and a lot of others. WCCW was a great promotion and it was too bad it went the way of all the other regional promotions under Vince's WWF steamroller.

 

[radhead]

Actually Kerry had more opportunities for the title and in some cases he should have gotten it. But usually the referee was distracted by something outside the ring and he didn't see what was going on, and didn't give him a fair victory.

 

[JPPT1974]

Well thanks for explaining what they were like
As I never heard of them before in my life
Don't follow WWF!!