Pro Wrestlers on How the Von Erichs were in Real Life - Behind WCCW Wrestling

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

Timecodes: 00:02 One Man Gang 03:43 Demolition 04:25 Bam Bam Bigelow 07:12 The Grappler 09:27 Pat Tanaka 13:33 Tito Santana 14:37 Bushwhackers 15:14 Black Bart ➡TitleMatchNetwork.com

[@davidmetz1893]

Thanks for the timestamp breakdown!

[@juanta1108]

Wrong

[@troylowe814]

Sad that Bigelow is no longer with us.

[@Ru_bizzy]

@@troylowe814BAM BAM in Peace

[@InternetSearchBibleErrors]

18:00 More black Bart please 😂

[@Fried-MMA]

If only Kerry knew how much he would have been respected and praised wrestling at such a high level with one foot . Its such a damn shame

[@jaythor70]

Everyone I have ever heard speak of Kerry says he was the nicest, sweetest, most thoughtful guy. That is an awesome testimony to have. Despite the demons in his life, even in all the pain he must have been in, he was still a good-hearted soul. May we all be thought of so highly by our peers.

[@kevinmacdougall6665]

Completely by accident I worked out with him once around 1985. Couldn't have been nicer.

[@KD_SWAGGER]

David Von Erich was on the brink of super stardom and in my opinion the Von Erich Family had a hard time rebounding from his death.

[@ludotoyhunter8492]

I disagree. If that was the case Kerry wouldn’t have been nwa or intercontinental champion afterwards. I think once Fritz started declining and then pulling away from the business, that’s when they started declining. Remember, Fritz was the clean up man for them. They get wasted, he sends Ken mantell or Brody in on clean up duty. They get sick or miss a show, Fritz rearranges the booking. They were really daddy’s boys, like for real for real. The real sad part was that since Fritz played favorites, Kevin missed out on a lot of pushes and opportunities when quite honestly he was the better wrestler (whereas Kerry was the better all around Athlete, Kev was better in the ring). Fritz was done after David but he knew he had more responsibility so he soldiered on. By the time like 85 or 86 came around and the heart attack angle popped up he along with the promotion was done as far as ‘Von Erichs’ go. If Fritz was still involved with wrestling overall as a business and not just his sons and close friends he could’ve made something of WCCW. Remember, when Joe Blanchard defaulted on payment and lost his slot with the USA network (pre WWF I’m talking, the USA network was only 3 years old at this time) the very next company they went to was WCCW to get a weekly show for Sunday mornings but Fritz declined (either on his own accord or because of the unanimous NWA board vote I don’t know.)to do it. I think had he not become jaded on the business the Von Erich sons would have done a lot better.

[@KD_SWAGGER]

@@ludotoyhunter8492 Your comment basically supports my comment. I said David Von Erich was on the brink of super stardom. Many experts in the wrestling business including wrestlers feel the same way. He would have defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Texas. Who knows if his brothers would have had drug problems specifically Kerry if he didn't pass away.

[@mattrice3993]

​​@@KD_SWAGGERI think Wccw would've survived a little longer if David didnt die. Dude was the complete package and was still very young. He would've became a mega star forsure

[@KD_SWAGGER]

@@mattrice3993 Agreed!

[@WinstonWolfe21]

Yep David was the total package

[@testodude]

Who would have taken odds in 1984 that One Man Gang would outlive damn near EVERYBODY? Good on you, George.

[@misterelom]

Pat Tanaka sounds like a real chill dude.

[@dwade6322]

Tanaka is a good friend to have. You can tell he knows more,but he doesnt tell to protect his friends.

[@jonrife8226]

Von erichs were incredible especially with the freebirds feud ! Sad that all these tragedies had to happen !

[@charles1964]

Them and the 2nd Dynamic Duo

[@johnnyssik]

Von erics and the freebirds I had some of the best matches ever they were my introduction to pro wrestling.

[@dougfredricks2017]

I remember Kerry as MDW ie. The Modern Day Warrior

[@keyopronin4134]

David Von Erich was the truth, of all the brother's he had pure Wrestling skills.

[@adamdaw5313]

He was touched in a personal way

[@johnsawh8459]

WOW - Pat Tanaka said he accidently pulled off Kerry's leg and then everyone acted as if it did not happen. Kerry was very liked

[@evanabbott2737]

Yeah! They were looking out for their buddy!👍

[@c0uchsl0uch]

Leg❓ what leg❓ I didn't see anything👀

[@dhare07]

That's how bad ass he was. Fighting with one foot.

[@johnsawh8459]

@@dhare07 agreed

[@baymaxc1647]

Everyone needs a Friend like Pat.

[@shannonpattenthetexasbb]

I used to watch it with my grandma every Saturday night KTVT Channel 11 back in the day

[@marcusmays8296]

KTVT Channel 11 The Super Ones

[@bigroy38]

Championship Sports.Big Time Rasslin’before that.

[@dieselbank82]

Those old channels man.... Miss it

[@HOOKEMHORNSGAL1978]

Same!!! I’m an East Texas girl!!

[@boomhaueroo8703]

Lol... my grandma, my cousin, and me... staying "up late" to watch the wrasslin and all three of us sleeping during the church service the next morning. Good times.

[@kevinmacdougall6665]

Grew up in the Dallas area near where the Von Erichs lived. It's hard to express how huge they were. WCCW did a fundraiser for our football team's booster club in the Spring of '83. I got to ring the bell. By bell I mean a tire rim that was hung by a rope from the ring apron that I wailed on with a hammer. Fun memory.

[@cernunnos_lives]

I love the workmanship these guys have. It's very telling about these guys. It shows what top notch performers are like.

[@eatabeaver1554]

Grew up in Ftw, TX. Watching them on TV every Sat night. Dad even got me to some live shows at Will Rogers Coliseum ❤

[@donnachesser9245]

I'm glad to say that I was blessed to live in that era! The von erichs were phenomenal! They were the only reason that wrestling was big in the sportatorium in my day and time! If they weren't on the card we weren't interested in going 🤗 Friday night at the sportatorium and Saturday night on channel 11.. a pallet on the floor in front of the TV and a big bowl of popcorn cooked in a cast iron skillet!!!! Man those were the days 🤗😍

[@jackburton4892]

Almost identical to my household growing up. We always sat where the heels left the ring. I remember being so scared of the Kamala. 😆

[@travobrady768]

Same here except my family hated wrestling so I got rid of the family lol

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Lucky !!!! I remember racing home from school just to catch WCCW on ESPN a t 4 o clock !

[@yankees29]

@@Brando-Lee3725same here. Late 80’s early 90’s in NY it played on ESPN after school.

[@jeremymccarley8333]

Man them were the good oldays 80ies rocked for a 9 to 13 year old😂

[@karenthomas4849]

I grew up in Fort Worth, TX and I remember watching them on TV every Sat night with my grandma. They would film wrestling matches in the FW stockyards.

[@Think1st512]

I remember every Friday or Saturday at 10 pm to 12 pm wccw. Damn I lived to watch them fight. It wasn't as fake as folks think. At the sportatorium. One night Kerry and Michael Hays threw down in that Gravel parking lot for real!! About 100 mf's watching. Kerry picked him up..Threw him threw a windshield of some dudes Buick Rivera. True Story. Then I heard gun shots. We all took off running. FACTS

[@Stonymoj]

You mean 12am?

[@Think1st512]

@Stony420 yep my bad I was high

[@Think1st512]

@@Stonymoj But True Story!!

[@walkawaycat431]

I grew up in Ft.Worth. My Poppy would take us to the sportatoriam and Will Rogers, we'd go once or twice a month. I had Kevin and Kerry's autographs. I absolutely loved Andre the Giant. Saw him twice. Such good memories.

[@rodgerpowell1796]

I can honestly say they were very very nice to me and my friends as a kid they would sit in the stands in my hometown and was very approachable

[@dhare07]

Even outside the arena he was a great guy. We felt every loss deeply. Denton born felt as close to family without being blood. Meet Kerry twice each time a hug and huge as smile. Loved them all and Kevin teaching and training his boys and Lacey doing her thing now. I'm forget a Von Eric fan💖💖💖

[@LinkRocks]

This is when I watched wrasslin'. I couldn't get enough of the Von Erichs and The Freebirds. I haven't watched wrasslin' since because I saw it at its peak.

[@chrish8229]

97 to 2005 was the best time of wrestling

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Being English I only knew of Texas Tornado in WWF as a kid me and my brothers loved him and Ultimate Warrior. Such a sad story about the family

[@davidmetz1893]

Up here in western Canada, us poor kids with just cable and not a 20 foot satellite dish in our back yards only had Stampede wrestling in the late 70s/ early 80s. And then the WWF and AWA in 84 ish. Stampede will always be bar none my favorite Indy style promotion but I would have killed as a kid to see this (Frits's) promotion and all the other great ones in the States! I'm still grateful and blessed to see all the Harts and a young Benoit, plus the infamous ROAD WARRIORS in their prime!

[@michaelkeller5927]

In the mean time, and in between time...

[@SKYDADDY08]

I lived in Abilene , channel 11 at 10 on Saturday nite, wrestling for hour and half, good memories

[@shaynewest8757]

These clips are great, good job!

[@billblaski9523]

Ricky Morton told one that once Kerry was so f*cked up, that in the locker room as Kerry was putting on his gear, he somehow laced up his Walkman headphone wires into his wrestling boots😂

[@jeffreygaylord1913]

This is The Missouri Tiger my comment is I personally had a close and wonderful relationship ship with them. They we're very kind to me and went out of there way to always help me in the business in my early year's. Soon u will see my interviews and know the truth. Instead of the mistruths. God bless u all

[@ddave7026]

Our area didn't get the show till Sunday afternoon. I swear when the Von Ericks, The Freebies, Kabuki, Devastation Inc, Gino Hernandez or The Missing Link would be on the card. It was guaranteed to be a amazing show! Such a great energetic show!

[@mikecleary9376]

I love listening to Black Bart tell stories.

[@robertcurbo2436]

It was the 80's The Von Erich's we're not the only wrestlers doing drugs The same ones that were talking poorly about them we're probably the ones doing drugs alongside him

[@IcyWisdom]

Well considering the fact Bam Bam Bigelow did indeed die of a drug overdose I don't think he room to say much of shit for the interview he did.

[@spidey1z]

True but the Von Erichs were portrayed as All American God fearing Good’Ol boys. In fact when Kerry was busted for pot, they spun it that Michael PS Hayes planted it on him. It didn’t help WCCW when the truth came out.

[@donnachesser9245]

Probably getting the drugs for them!!

[@Iconhulk]

@@spidey1z Pot.. smh. Weed, Green. 2021 And say "POT"... lol

[@diablo666541]

None these were no better expt tanaka black bart was drunk n coke head

[@lesliemiros6743]

I used to watch it KTVT TV in Dallas, Texas.

[@briangreen550]

Hell yea same here

[@Thundarr995]

That first wrestler One Man Gang/African Dream? I haven't seen either one in a long time. Loved both of those characters. Freakin hilarious when Hakeem would dance. Heck,that character in general was hilarious. One Man Gang,he just looked like a big bad dude. And he could pull off some pretty athletic moves considering he was billed at 450 lbs. I liked Big Boss Man too. But he sadly passed away almost 20yrs ago.

[@yoholmes273]

One Man Gang was one of the scariest monster heels I ever saw as kid. He was exactly the guy you didn't want to meet in a dark alley on the wrong side of town. When he turned African, forget about it. The Hakeem The African Dream dance with Slick to this day is one of the most absurdly funniest things ever in the wrestling business.

[@WillStevens8]

Great video! Thanks for the upload.

[@up-statestrong4451]

Always love Black Barts interviews!

[@DeaconYormouth]

Me too. The amount of knowledge Bart has is incredible.

[@up-statestrong4451]

@@DeaconYormouth yes, his knowledge and also how he tells the story… “raslin” and “dabgum” kill me every time

[@CRClouse13]

Really neat to see Bam Bam on here. I feel like people forget him, he was great, as well as Tito Santana, I loved watching them two as a kid.

[@_2LiveQ]

It was NOTHING like The Von Erichs in the 1980s in Texas they were like The Beatles !

[@pi6835]

I discovered World Class flipping through my UHF stations. It came on at 9am in the Philadelphia market. The picture was a bit grainy, but I was hooked immediately.

[@sugewhitejacoby8654]

Tanaka was trying his best to just be nice and respectful

[@stealthmode9086]

My grandma used to cuss out one man gang at Spartanburg memorial auditorium when he first started.. had the Mohawk and long hair.. he would cuss her right back🤣🤣

[@LarryDawson57]

Lived in Ft Worth so we went to those matches every week and watched the Dallas broadcast on Saturday

[@philliplyn2692]

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@SomeDudeInTheChat]

I was living in Lubbock, TX when all this was going down, and because of me watching it, I would have fought ANYONE that ever said wrestling was fake. These dudes were really fighting in the ring back then. Dammitman.

[@speedgriffon2504]

Well, they weren't REALLY.

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

lol.

[@ninettaflores7515]

Don’t care what is said I totally loved the Von Erich’s Especially Kerry

[@brucedavis3816]

Kerry was my favorite, Kevin was the one I wanted to look like, David was the best, Mike I felt sorry for, and just god bless Chris!!!

[@newwavepop]

i never really saw David, i think i was just discovering wrestling not long after his passing. but Kerry was my favorite wrestler growing up, and honestly im not really even sure why. i mean obviously he looked great, but there was something else there, some sort of charisma or presence he had. i barely ever heard him talk, i didnt really know anything about wrestling and whether he had good technique or anything like that. there was just something about him that radiated through the tv screen. it is a shame the way so many things went for him and his brothers.

[@andrewmunoz9961]

I always loved One Man Gang. His yell alone

[@Thumper17]

I just today found out the Bushwhackers were capable of speech

[@Seryma86]

Other than not having great promos, the Von Erich’s really were a complete. David was a star and great in ring. Kevin had the high flying, fast paced style (he would’ve been much more appreciate in todays era, then Kerry was the powerhouse.

[@eriksvane3247]

Very interesting, but disappointing that no pictures of the wrestlers in their prime were included not to mention photos (or video!) of the very wrestling matches that are mentioned

[@normangabbard8816]

Many people didn't know.. Kerry lost his foot in a motorcycle accident. I remember. When it happened. But Kerry was so freaking talented in hiding it. He had moves like a Magician.. By doing those moves, to think he had any artificial part just wasn't a thought. His tornado spin.. Man.. What an inspiration.. I see these guys talk about them boys.. My heart just breaks. No matter what bad anyone thought of them young men.. They drew crowds.. They made people big money.. They give it all in the name of entertainment.. Man.. Yes I can just imagine the pain professional wrestlers endured. Matches night after night.. Injuries match after match.. They had to keep going.. People doesn't understand this. I do.. Almost every bone in me has been broken. Because I always in everything, held nothing back. God i wish someone could have saved them good ole boys.. They were so loved.. They are so missed.. Legends is the best I can describe all them good ole boys..

[@oliverjackson6992]

is this a poem?

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

@@oliverjackson6992LOOOOOLLLLLLL

[@harshtruth5003]

Fritz really fucked them up.

[@mrmrsnever]

love the von erichs ... Kevin has always been my fave..wccw and later when kevin was on usaa

[@charles1964]

Kerry looked like a million bucks, but I too thought Kevin was the best wrestler of the bunch

[@nichhodge8503]

Tito: “Kerry ended up decapitating one of his foot” 🤣🤣

[@hollymartens8059]

I almost peed myself. 🤣🤣

[@JayReaction530]

And he is an educator lol

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

I laughed when he said it lol

[@kyndread71]

Black Bart is "The Man Who Knows Too Much." After watching The Iron Claw, I now understand why Fritz reacted to David's death the way he did.

[@Panwere36]

I remember hearing about a scathing expose article done on the Von Erichs and WCCW that was published in _Penthouse_ magazine.. and from the parts that were quoted some of this stuff is true.

[@tigers7834]

Kevin was one of my favorite wrestlers back then

[@rogerbartley2225]

I only realised today that One Man Gang and Bam Bam Bigelow are 2 different people, lol

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

Those two and Vader could be triplets lol

[@34blackula]

Yeah there was definitely some mad love for the Von Erich's in North Texas for sure, he ain't lying about people believing its real to lol. My grandmother would cuss out the refs and any heels that went against the Von Erichs, we would be laughing our asses off till she turned her gaze on you lol. Man the Freebirds were my favorite all time heels for the Von Erichs, those matches were just so brutal and epic every time. I also remember when Abdullah the Butcher came to the sportatorium lol, him and Bruiser Brody had one of the best matches I've ever seen in my life.

[@ddave7026]

Someone's grandma we knew swore up and down that Gary Hart was the most evil man alive😅

[@34blackula]

@@ddave7026 lol

[@craiglibby7731]

This is missing the best take on the Von Erics ever, Jack Vicotry, his RF shoot was classic especially the parts about the Von Erichs

[@DQ-su6qf]

Great interviews…

[@ronsilvia8127]

World class championship wrestling was the best wrestling there ever was or ever will be. Thats a fact.

[@brianuntalan1306]

The theme song to WCCW still relaxes me when I have trouble sleeping at night.

[@scootmcgoot570]

I was raised on continental championship wrestling with Gordon Solie. Loved bullet bob and Adrian street

[@jackbarnes9728]

Crockett has them beat.

[@ronsilvia8127]

@@jackbarnes9728 crockett had the road warriors but world class championship wrestling had freebirds vs von erichs that is the greatest rivalry in the history of wrestling.

[@robertlucas2420]

Facts brother I grew up there

[@ChillydontCap]

I really loved David and Kerry

[@corybowman9583]

Pat Tanaka is an underrated wrestler.

[@hollymartins6913]

Kerry was the only person to ever "decapitate his foot".

[@martinalarcon3108]

Good interviews 😮

[@Thathorrorguy12FU]

Dam I really loved Bam Bam! What a great dude! RIP BUD

[@chadnixon4236]

In fairness to that family, those boys were young rich good looking popular and everyone wanted to be their friend. Men and women alike. And during the hedonistic 80s. It's really no surprise the way things turned out if there's any surprise, It's that it didn't happen in more examples with other people. It's just too bad that those boys' parents weren't a little more strict. World Class sounded like a CRAZY place

[@mickeybickeyboston]

Kerry losing his foot over a drug deal? 👀 First time I've ever heard that comment. They were phenomenal to watch together. It's such a sad ending that that family.

[@TEXASLOYAL]

Motorcycle accident

[@phil-1115]

Who knows if that was true or not. Look at the source. Didn't Bigelow die of a drug overdose? He was found with toxic levels of cocaine and benzodiazepines in his system.

[@amuddymoose]

@@TEXASLOYALyeah running away from drug deal gone bad

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

@@amuddymooseallegedly lol

[@mikeervin7654]

Pat Tanaka seems like a cool guy

[@babbyfacerevocation2740]

I love pro wrestling it's the live action comic book you got these amazing people doing these amazing things suspension of disbelief if you see wrestling for being fake you're missing out 🤯

[@GooglyMcDoubleface]

awesome wrestling back then. just sad the way sports entertainment is. excellent interviews.

[@boysrback5690]

I lived it breathed ate it every Sat night. Reason I got into weight lifting because of Kerry. In Texas back in late 70s to mid 80s was the Von Erichs were royalty and I was the biggest fan ever my younger brothers took the Torment Suplexes,The Claw,Sleeper holds even pile drivers etc,etc,etc on mattresses that we would set up in the backyard with ropes corner poles with two king sized mattresses...and Kids sleeper holds will put you out so don't try it. Till my Dad found out we couldn't sit for a week!!! The good ol days. Great years till we saw the sad Truth it all was a lie...

[@scottbrown5587]

What why is that that wrestling is fake.? I don't care what anybody says those guys are high level athletes and big guys like that throwing each other around like that and putting football style hits on each other with no pads, yeah jump on in the ring with one of those guys and tell him how fake it is and let him show you ! Guarantee if those guys wanted to put a real hurting on somebody the average guy wouldn't be getting up, he had to be carried out on a stretcher.

[@boysrback5690]

@@scottbrown5587 I should have clarified the whole Kayfabe thing we believed it in the 70s and 80s as kids then all the drugs they were our hereos. It's a given they could hurt you.

[@kordaiforwardhandy2921]

They all say Kevin is crazy and a weirdo but he the only one alive

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Pat Tanaka !!! I loved that dude! I thought Badd Company was a great team . The Orient Express was kinda cool too . But Pat seemed like the key member to both teams . I really Liked Paul Diamond a well though . I would be interested in seeing a documentary or a quick package history on both guys

[@seanB009]

Badd Company was highly underrated, especially with DDP as the manager. They were fluid and had skills.

[@fryguy714]

It's so sad when I hear this because these guys I love watching that championship wrestling I live here in Houston I've lived here my whole life I remember Fritz Von Erich coming to Houston wrestling several times but I would watch that Von Erich wrestling on Saturday nights Friday or Saturday nights

[@guywilliams6569]

I bet Butterfinger LOVED the promo spot!!!

[@InternetSearchBibleErrors]

17:00 more black bart please 😂

[@kidz4p509]

I still respect the Von Erich Family regardless.

[@magusxxx]

Agreed, but I always hoped they'd be looked upon as a cautionary tale. But that never seems to be the case.

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

@@magusxxxcautionary tale of what? The effects of drugs on people?

[@magusxxx]

@@RobertRobinson-od6eq The effects of an overbearing parent pushing a kid too hard regardless of health concerns.

[@angier4748]

I live in Alabama and yeah here in Alabama we get wrestling a lot, some fans take it seriously as well lol

[@adg4875]

I used to go and get at least second row seats every month and in Lubbock Texas to watch these guys you were so awful and your family continues to keep the legend going I will continue watching as long as you continue wrestling

[@UnkleRuckusNoRelation]

I think you meant "you were so awesome" not awful

[@yeoedwin1619]

I would like to have match with Von Erich vs: Four Horsemen, Hart Foundation, Demolition, Road Warriors, NWO, Money Inc, Million Dollars Corporations, Mega Power

[@bigroy38]

The Sheepherders!!!That would’ve been brutal.

[@diablo666541]

Kerry went against demolition with ultimate warrior.

[@Jay_Cannon]

13:49 Tito, you’re a school teacher, you can’t dec*pitate a foot. Dec*pitation is when someone get their head c*t off.

[@izzy3166]

Good luck CLEANLY beating those Von Erichs in Texas! lol

[@E.C.2]

They were all glazed and glassed out not just the Von Erichs. Fritz was a terrible horrendous Father.

[@ALO1820-f1]

The demolition boys are always a class act

[@Bridgeburner4477]

Tito looks young. I remember watching him wrestle when I was a kid and I look older than him right now.

[@joelsolotv7960]

I heard Kerry would be jamming out. laces boots into his headphone 🎧 cable.

[@Stationary76]

Someone buy One Man Gang some sunglasses that fit. :)

[@Stationary76]

and get Black Bart some dentures.

[@tgzaks7527]

For those who watched David, I never saw David wrestle but I remember hearing the Von Erich's and World Class via Pro Wrestling Illustrated or various pro wrestling magazines and of course watching the NWA on TBS with Ric Flair as World champion. I started watching the NWA on TBS right after Magnum's accident where Dusty was cutting a promo with Nikita Koloff, this is my timeline around the time I started watching the NWA and then World Class and the AWA on ESPN. My question regarding David, would David been able to have been a member of The Four Horsemen in the Luger/Windham spot?

[@bigroy38]

Seeing those three was like seeing the Beatles.It was unreal.Pure magic.

[@harshtruth5003]

No not a good fit

[@DabsDad]

I knew David from CWF in 82 before we got cable tv and World Class. I learned about Kerry and Kevin from PWI and other wrestling magazines. David was the best of them all. He was going to be NWA World Champion.

[@ferroseed8768]

@@harshtruth5003 I agree. Technically David was a savant and absolutely had the skills to be a Horseman but his rough & tumble no-nonsense cowboy personality wouldn’t have meshed well with the suit wearing playboy image the 4H had. Plus I couldn’t imagine he nor Fritz would have wanted him in any other longterm stable or partnership besides one with his brothers. The Von Erich’s were a package deal.

[@dougrose467]

Hate to call out Bam Bam, but “first wrestler to have a Sports Illustrated write up”? Must not have known about Andre in 81 or Hogan in 85. Also, he said David was a great guy, which may be what he heard, but David passed in 84 and Bam Bam didn’t make it to World Class until late 86. He wasn’t even in the business in 84.

[@jumptube]

Bam Bam has to be getting Kevin and Kerry mixed up.

[@bigtimeinfluencer7628]

I knew Kerry Von Erich lost his foot. I forget when and where I learned it from, but I knew it had happened long before he showed up in the WWF. I remember a local wrestling writer in Toronto reported the story of Kerry losing his boot and exposing his stump. I don't know why every wrestler claims it was a big secret. I was just a fan who read magazines and the few wrestling stories in the newspapers but I knew Kerry Von Erich had lost his foot. To his credit, even though I knew The Texas Tornado only had one foot, you could barely notice it when he ran.

[@fryguy714]

We need a new one man gang there's plenty of big men to take that role but that is a name that almost cannot be replaced because there's only one one man gang

[@LadyJaneese]

Wow Tito Santana….Areebah!!!

[@grimecrimetime]

Bam Bam was my favorite wrestler, until he fought LT in wrestlemania. That match pissed me off

[@danielwebster5748]

Most people say hands down David von Erich was a world champion of the future. They say he was by far the best wrestler and that kerry got by on his body and Kevin got by on his good looks. I had an autograph of David von Erich one time but I would kill for if I can find it and I lost it and never found it. My aunt got kerrys autograph back then all the girls favorites was either Kevin or kerry. I don't know if it's true I have heard that Fritz's favorite was David and that he was very very hard on kerry. He tried to turn Mike von Erich into the next David and in fact that Mike suicide note, which he had suffered from brain damage, he wrote he was tired of embarrassing the family and that he can never be David von Erich. Mike and kerry were definitely savable. Mike one time he got talked into his body from a bacterial and suffered brain damage and he was seen one time beating up a streetlight. And carry basically told anyone that will listen other than his family that his dead brothers were basically calling muster on him. That family was at the height of power and it really I don't understand the suicides other than drug addiction. Very very close to Mike plus he knew he would never be a world champion and it was kind of understood in Fritz's eyes, all of his boys were future world champions. Chris new duty is brittle bones that were breaking quite often told to never wrestle again. He felt like he was a disappointment to his father and like I said he was very close to mike. What I don't know about wccw isn't worth knowing. I went to countless events met many of the superstars including the von erichs. A few times we were allowed behind the scenes because my cousin one time got crushed in an autograph stampede. Even as a kid I knew the von erichs were higher than a kite. Free it's basically should have reeled in men but they were grown at this point at the top of their game at that would have been extremely difficult. Mike would have been saved which would have saved Chris and kerry let everyone know.

[@Tobeterry-v8b]

they were all big strong men but a they were all weak azzzz mental midgets with pink slits

[@mattlewis6833]

You can probably count the number of times One Man Gang got body slammed on one hand.

[@normangabbard8816]

The Von Erichs.. They touched many hearts. I will always wonder if foul play took those brothers..

[@thomasbranham4374]

From what I saw on The Triumph And Tragedy Of World Class Championship Wrestling: David died of a ruptured stomach and gastroenteritis Chris committed suicide Kerry committed suicide Mike committed suicide Jackie (the first son) died of an accidental electric shock and drowning in 1959 at age 6

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

@@thomasbranham4374 Supposedly David actually died of a coke overdose in Japan with Stan Hansen and Broser Brody flushing down the remains of the coke immediately after first discovering the body...

[@thomasbranham4374]

@@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854 I had heard that too. But no one really knows

[@michaelhauser6440]

@thomasvranham4374 We actually do know Brody and other people have admitted to it

[@michaelgagliano450]

before idiots ruined pro wrestling the Von Erichs were the shit WCCW was a tie with NWA in my books

[@bobbywall172]

I met 1-man-gang in the Benton convention center for the annual met and greet all the greats, he was the friendliest guy ever, the best👌👌👌☝️

[@imyarDaWizard]

Super off topic, listening to bam bam talk reminds me of Stavros Halkias and how he talks lol

[@guywilliams6569]

How do you let Bam Bam say that about the foot/drug deal and NOT ask a follow up question...

[@chadwhite2931]

In hindsight, it fits the narrative much better than a motorcycle accident.

[@terryhill4732]

If you don't pay your drug debts to the cartel you lose a foot

[@TheDebonheir1]

Right

[@michaelhauser6440]

That guy is a terrible interviewer. Just goes down his list of questions. Has no social ability to improvise off of what's being said or ask follow up questions

[@RobertRobinson-od6eq]

Exactly! He just gave you GOLD and he acts like he didn’t hear it???

[@jamesconsiglio2709]

This is a first for me seeing the grappler unmasked???