Kerry Adkisson was born on February 3, 1960, to Jack and Doris Adkisson, a family with a strong wrestling heritage. His father, Jack, was a wrestler, and many of his siblings followed in his footsteps, including Kerry himself. In fact, Kerry's younger brother, Jack Adkisson Jr., tragically passed away in 1959 due to electrocution.
Kerry's athletic prowess extended beyond the wrestling ring, as he was a standout discus thrower at the University of Houston. Interestingly, he held the Southwestern Conference (SWC) discus record, which was previously held by his father. This family connection was not limited to wrestling, as Jack Adkisson Sr. was the previous record holder.
Kerry began his wrestling career around 1980 and achieved his biggest milestone on May 6, 1984, when he pinned Ric Flair for the NWA world heavyweight title at the inaugural David Von Erich Memorial Parade Of Champions in Texas Stadium. This achievement was all the more significant given the circumstances, as it was held in memory of Kerry's brother, David, who had passed away earlier that year in Japan during a wrestling tour.
Tragedy struck again in 1986 when Kerry suffered a serious motorcycle accident that left him with severe injuries. As a result, he had to have a foot amputated and wrestled with a prosthetic foot for the remainder of his career. The pain and discomfort from his injuries led to a dependence on painkillers, which ultimately contributed to his downfall.
In 1991, Kerry was arrested for forging prescriptions and was subsequently fired from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He was given probation but violated it a year later by being caught with unauthorized prescription drugs. His personal life was also in shambles, as he was recently divorced and faced the prospect of a prison sentence.
Kerry Adkisson took his own life on February 18th, 1993, at the family ranch. He was preceded in death by his four brothers: Jack (1952-1959),David Von Erich (1958-1984),Mike Von Erich (1964-1987),and Chris Von Erich (1969-1991).
