When you hear the name Von Erich, many things go through other wrestling fans' heads. World Class Championship Wrestling Royalty, Texas Champions, worldwide recognition, and unfortunately, tragedy. 

Born Kerry Gene Adkisson on February 3, 1960, Kerry was born into a wrestling family that would change the record books. His father’s promotion to WCCW in Texas sold out stadiums and had some of the most dynamic wrestlers. But Kerry was different. 

He was chiselled like a Greek God. Had a fantastic look that connected with the audience. His charisma was like no other. His in-ring abilities, albeit not like his other brothers, were more than serviceable to get him over with greats like Curt Hennig, the Freebirds, Chris Adams, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Ric Flair. As the WWF (former World Wrestling Federation and now the WWE) took notice of Kerry’s power, people knew he was on the radar of one Vince McMahon. 

When WCCW ceased operations, Kerry, who had been well-travelled, was finally signed to WWF, and his first opponent was “Playboy” Buddy Rose, which coincidentally was his very first in-ring opponent ever in a wrestling ring, on Saturday Nights Main Event XXVII in June of 1990. 

Noticeable was the lack of his in-ring name Kerry Von Erich as the WWE pushed him as The Texas Tornado. The WWF announcers did call him Kerry Von Erich, but over time the name disappeared, and he was only referred to as The Texas Tornado. 

Kerry’s big break in the WWF came two months into his employment with the WWF, at Summerslam 1990, when he was put into the Intercontinental Championship picture, replacing an injured Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake (boating accident) and taking the title off current champ “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig after applying the famous “Von Erich” Iron Claw, and then finishing off Mr. Perfect with his new move the Tornado Punch.

At Survivor Series 1990, the Texas Tornado, still holding the IC title, joined the team The Warriors with The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) along with the Ultimate Warrior versus The Perfect Team of Mr. Perfect and Demolition (Ax, Smash, and Crush). Although Kerry was eliminated from the match by his rival, Mr. Perfect, his team would still get the W, and the remaining Survivors were the LOD and Ultimate Warrior. 

In Bret Hart’s Autobiography, My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, The Hitman recalled Kerry stating that he was ready to join his brothers in heaven in 1990. Bret and others advised Kerry that his daughters needed him more than his brothers did in heaven. 

Fortunately, Kerry fought off those feelings, but only temporarily. 

Tornado’s WWF run with the IC Title saw him defend against the likes of Haku and others over three months before losing the belt back to Mr. Perfect at a TV Taping of WWF Superstars aired in December 1990 due to interference by “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase. This led Kerry to feud and exact revenge on Dibiase. 

The Texas Tornado’s strong start continued at the 1991 Royal Rumble, where he was the entrance number five and lasted over 24 minutes before getting eliminated by the Undertaker. 

While Kerry didn’t have any elimination, he did have a solid showing lasting longer than the average WWF match. 

Following the Royal Rumble, the Texas Tornado entered a rivalry with Canadian Strong Man Dino Bravo, culminating in a Wrestlemania VII match. This was Kerry’s only Wrestlemania appearance, and he would get the winning pinfall via his Tornado Punch. 

Momentum during the first portion of 1991 should have led to bigger things, but it was derailed after being defeated by the Warlord in Landover, MD. 

Fortunately, The Texas Tornado bounced back at SummerSlam 1991 when he teamed with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and Davey Boy Smith, aka The British Bulldog, to defeat the team of the Warlord and Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma). Unfortunately, this is where many former wrestlers and peers believe his slide began. 

Kerry was moving a little more slowly, wasn’t as graceful in the ring and stopped acting like himself. He seemed to be getting harder and harder on his in-ring performance.

This was due to the little-known fact that Kerry had been in a nasty motorcycle accident in 1986, which nearly killed Kerry but did result in the amputation of his foot as the doctors saved the rest of his leg.  

Kevin Von Erich, Kerry’s lone surviving brother, gave  interviews about Kerry’s accident, how great his pride was, and how Kerry felt “maimed and half a man” because of the amputation per “Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw.” Bruce Prichard echoed this, stating, “Kerry became concerned with his work.” 

With Ric Flair signing with the company, the WWF naturally paired The Nature Boy with his former rival, the Texas Tornado, as the two battled across the pond in the UK during a series of matches. 

Flair got his arm raised during these matches. 

Many believe this also led to Kerry’s most lopsided loss to the Undertaker, who received a monstrous push in a four-minute squash match on Wrestling Challenge. 

Kerry’s push had seemingly evaporated by this point, though he got another Survivor Series alongside Sgt. Slaughter, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and Tito Santana over Colonel Mustafa, The Berzerker, Skinner, and Hercules.

Kerry’s final WWF Pay Per View appearance transpired during the much acclaimed 1992 Royal Rumble for the vacated WWF Heavyweight Championship belt. This time he was entrance number nine and was eliminated by the eventual winner Ric Flair after almost 10 minutes. 

Kerry’s slide from the top of the card was hitting rock bottom after soon being regulated to a feud with Skinner during house shows. 

Next, Kerry faced Rick Martel but ended up losing against The Model. 

Following these losses, The Texas Tornado disappeared for several months, but Kerry was going through a divorce. 

Upon returning, Kerry was slotted into lower-card matches against Kato, Skinner, and Barry Horowitz. While earning victories, Kerry’s matches were not receiving much television, if any. 

Additional losses to Rick Martel, Naiz and Kamala further him from prominence, with his final televised match against Shawn Michaels on WWF Prime Time Wrestling on July 26, 1992. 

Kerry was initially scheduled to face Papa Shango at SummerSlam 1992, only to be replaced by “El Matador” Tito Santana. 

Dealing with an addiction that cost him his job with WWF, and a marriage that collapsed, Kerry officially left the WWF in August 1992. 

Facing potential jail time related to drug charges, Kerry Von Erich ultimately escaped the nightmare that became his life on February 18, 1993, with a single gunshot to the heart while on his father's ranch. 

This was using the same gun Kerry gifted his father Fritz for Christmas. 

Left behind were Kerry’s ex-wife Catherine Murray and his daughters, Hollie Brooke and Lacey Adkisson. 

The WWE would induct the Von Erichs as a family into the WWE Hall of Fame 2009 class with family, which included Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris being inducted by former Freebird Michael “PS” Hayes and Kevin accepted on behalf of his dad and brothers in Houston Texas. 

In the eye of the tornado, there's no more high and low, no floor and sky.