Timesuck with Dan Cummins - 383 - The Iron Claw: The Von Erich Curse

Episode Date: January 15, 2024

The story behind the new Iron Claw movie starring Zac Effron and Jeremy Allen White. Was the Von Erich wrestling family actually cursed? I understand why some people think so. Five out of six of wrestling star Fritz Von Erich's sons would die prematurely and tragically, many of them dying shortly after the family became the most famous family in all of professional wrestling. Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T6Rc-_-Bk04Merch: https://www.badmagicmerch.comTimesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious Private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: [e-mail] (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. And you get the download link for my secret standup album, Feel the Heat.

Do you watch wrestling? Some you might. Today, the WWE world wrestling entertainment, formerly the WWF world wrestling Federation broadcast to more than 180 countries and has approximately 11 million fans in just United States. The employee around 800 people took 1.3 billion in revenue in 2022 and while more financially successful now, they were even more popular three or four decades ago. In a day of the 1980s and early 90s, the golden era of wrestling, wrestling wasn't only something to watch, it was a way of life for tens of millions of diehard fans. In 1988, Andre the Giant versus Hulk Hogan drew 33 million viewers. Still the most watched wrestling match in history, at least when you're

talking about viewers watching it live. Hogan's popularity cannot be understated. Hulk Mania was very, very real. I was a member. Hulk Mania is coming for your brother. You'll be trying to drink your own sweat to survive brother. No one has ever had more brothers than Hulk Hogan. The Hulkster was six was six seven three hundred pounds of pure muscle bound brother spouting entertainment I loved it And his popularity was in large part due to a perfect lightning in a bottle situation With world wrestling Federation CEO Vince McMahon Jr Catching the cable TV wrestling wave just in time and having the capital and confidence to invest in the company's future

The modern day interpretation is at Vince McMahon took pro wrestling from a series of small regional promotions spread out across the United States to a unified national promotion featuring modern production and some rock and roll energy. But in reality, many of the innovations credited to the WWF had already happened in Dallas, Texas in world class championship wrestling WCCW years before the first WrestleMania. And the man in charge of that promotion was one of the most famous names in wrestling at that time. Fritz Von Eric, born Jack Adcason, he played football at Southern Methodist University as a young man, but when he was kicked off his football team for having the audacity to marry a sweetheart Doris

After some soul searching he decided to pivot to a different sport professional wrestling He'd christian himself fritz von erich a nazi heel and over the top wrestling villain villain caricature The baddest of the bad. He was often built in newspapers as a stormtrooper from stuttgart Who subdued his terrified rivals with his trademark finishing move, the iron claw. Spreading and clenching his fingers over his opponent's face, Von Eric would apply pressure until the blood flowed. He was smashing their faces, brother, with a demonic unnatural power of Hitler's evil flow as he was cold anti-American veins brother.

Or maybe those guys might have cut their own faces with a little wrestling trick. Or Fritz, nick their faces, with some other kind of entertainment trickery, whatever the case, it looked like he was squeezing blood out of his opponent's faces with impossible strength. Pretty bad at signature move. Fritz would soon not only wrestle

but get into where the real money and pro wrestling was. Promotion. He learned how to book wrestlers and market matches in the Dallas Fort Worth area, starting in 1966. In 1982, his promotion, then known as Big Time Wrestling, changed his name to World Class Championship Wrestling in concert with the beginning of a new television show

on Channel 39 in Dallas Long before Vince McMahon Fritz was drawing thousands and thousands of viewers making national TV syndication deals packing stadiums and making millions But his pursuit of making more and more body slam checkles came at a price a terrible price No other family and professional wrestling has ever endured more tragedy than the Von Erichs. Beginning with the death of Fritz's six-year-old son, Jack Jr., the Von Erich legacy would become one tainted by blood, drugs, medical complications, and a hefty dose of familial

pressure that would lead to the premature deaths of five of Fritz's six sons, many of them by their own hand. By the end of the 1990s, the Von Erich legacy was one of death and illness, isolation and injury. And now the pro-resting world started referring to the curse of the Von Erichs. Were the Von Erichs truly cursed? Is that the only thing that explains the bizarre magnitude of their tragedies? Let's find out on this week's Sunday, Sunday Sunday, the Von Erich's take on the world. Super stars of wrestling edition of Time Suck. This is Michael McDonald and you're listening to Time Suck.

You're listening to Time Suck. Happy Monday, mead sacks. Welcome to another installment of the cult of the curious Dan Cummins, Suck Master General, man who wants to pour ants into baby killers eye sockets. Dude who wishes he was half of stuff is the KFC's Colonel Sanders and you are listening to Time Suck. Hail Nimrod, Hail Lucifer, he'd be a good boy a good boy with jangles, and Glory beat at Triple M. I've to excuse my voice if you get a little scratchy today. Apparently, Cordillane is just ground zero right now for just every virus that's going around the planet.

Everybody I know is sick, had one thing a couple weeks ago, and then got better for one day, and then immediately got another thing. I'm asleep in, I'm asleep in more than I've probably slept in years, but still got a little scratchy voice. One of the last reminders that I'll be at the blue note in Honolulu Saturday, January 27th. That'll be my last standup show for quite a while, I think, probably the only date for 2024. Stick around for today's updates at the end of this show for some in-sell related hilarity coming from a post in the cult of the curious three out of five stars private Facebook group

A lot of clever meat sacks over there And now let's get started when I saw the poster for the new movie about the Von Eric family the iron claw I grabbed my phone started googling in the theater right away knew I wanted to research this Still haven't seen the movie we're waiting to watch it my son Kyler who wants to see it in the theater of a Christmas break. That's what I'm recording this. Based on how much real drama it is based on, I'm gonna guess it's a fucking awesome film. So what do you know about curses? It might seem like a topic more suited for scared of death. But bear with me, it's relevant. Are they even real? For about the entirety of recorded human civilization, and I imagine for centuries previous to the written

word, many, many of us meat sacks have believed in the magical power of curses. Spells placed on an object, person, place, family, etc. that lead to inevitable tragedy and misfortune, often including death. According to supernatural legend, many famous objects are claimed to be cursed, things like King Tut's tomb and the Hope Diamond. Even pieces of writing, like the Shakespeare play McBeth, have been considered cursed. An American popular culture, most curses, and efforts to try and break them seem to reside in one very specific arena. No pun intended. The World of sports. Throughout

American sports history, fans, players, owners of the like have indulge in very odd rituals intended to bring about victory, right? From playoff beards to wilder trends, right? professional baseball manager, George Staling was famous for freezing in place whenever his team started a rally. He remained frozen until the rally was over, no matter how long that took, which would be pretty entertaining to watch. I would be extra motivated as a player to try and keep the rally going just to see how long he could stay frozen. Ideally, until he pissed or shit himself, how committed are you, George?

Michael Jordan always wore his North Carolina shorts under his bulls trunks, weighed bugs, would eat chicken on game days. Can any of that actually affect the game? Sure. At least in a placebo, you know, kind of way. I mean, sometimes really believe in a placebo effect, placebo effect rather. Sometimes really believing that something works actually does make it work. Most would argue that it's this belief, not the ritual or the object or whatever, that

helps create the desired outcome. Maybe it's all psychological. Maybe the act of doing something specific, a ritual, just give superstitious people comfort, helps them believe that victory is assured, which then boosts their confidence, which then does actually help pave the way to success. Maybe it's that easily explainable. But some epic runs of bad luck in sports seem to be less explainable. They feel almost supernatural, like strange and dark forces, or at work. There's always the argument, of course, for coincidence, but sometimes even the most skeptical person is given pause over how certain curses defy the odds. One of the most famous sports curses is the supposed Billy Goat curse placed on the

Chicago Cubs. One of the most famous sports curses is the supposed Billy goat curse placed on the Chicago Cubs. In 1945, a tavern owner, known as William Billy goat, Siannis, was reportedly prevented from bringing his pet goat Murphy into Chicago's wriggly field to see the Cubs play the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. And supposedly Siannis put a curse on the Cubs saying that they would not win that or any other World Series ever again. Before this, the Cubs had only won the World Series twice before in 1907 and 1908.

When they lost the World Series in 1945, the Curs gained credence. And then in 2016, when the Cubs finally won the World Series for the first time in over a century, the media promoted the idea that the Curs had finally been broken. So the Cubs did win another World Series again after Cionis's curse, but it took them over seven decades to do so. The Billy Gelt Curse, similar to the Curse of the Bamboo, which supposedly began when the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth in 1919 and then ended 85 years later when the team won the World Series in 2004.

There's also a rapper, Lil B's curse on Kevin Durant, which Lil B issued in a 2011 tweet and then lifted in 2017 and another tweet. When the Golden State Warriors won the NBA finals that year with Durant earning MVP, many sports media members jokingly or maybe not entirely jokingly, proclaimed that Lil B had helped by lifting his curse. And there are even weirder curses like the Madden curse. The running joke is that every year NFL stars send letters to EA games begging them not to have their likeness used on the cover of the annual Madden football video game. The very first cover guy in 1999 was running back Garrison Hurst.

He broke his leg following being placed on the cover, then went on to miss two full seasons and missed out on a decent chance at making a hall of fame when he was never the same when he came back. Following running back, Barry Sanders on the cover in 2000, best pure running back ever to play the game of my opinion. I got that guy was a fucking beast. He retired during training camp, despite still being at the peak of his athletic powers. Following his cover feature in 2002, quarterback Dante Colpepper threw a career high 23

interceptions and also fumbled in additional 23 times, which was an NFL record as well. Dude played in the pro bowl two years prior. Now he was turning the ball over like no one had ever done in pro football before. Running back Marshall Fock. That guy was also incredible. Saw his career started to decline right after being the 2004 cover after making the 2006 cover, quarterback Donovan McNeb, towards ACL 2007 cover running back Sean Alexander, injured his foot would never be the same. Be out of the league two seasons later and on and on

and on. And then there are these sports curses that involve not just losing or injuries, but death. A lot of race car drivers, for instance, believe there might be something cursed about Taladega. Legend says that Taladega Super Speedway was built to top sacred land taken from the Creek Nation in the 1830s and that a medicine man looked back and cursed the land for all time, as his people were being forced march from Alabama to Oklahoma. Bobby Isaac would leave his car on the track in 1973 because he claimed he started hearing some spooky-ass voices shortly after a young driver had died several laps earlier. In 1974, multiple cars were found with slashed tires and sand in their gas tanks and a crewman lost his leg in a freak crash. Bobby Allison badly wrecked 1987 and then

a son died in a helicopter crash on the racetracks field years later. Obviously, all of that could be chalked up to coincidence. Also, these little bits of trivia ignore the overwhelming number of other people who raced at Taladega, for example, who didn't have shit happen to them. When you look at how infrequent bad things actually do happen there, right? The curse gets harder to believe it. But maybe harder to write off the curse of the Von Erichs. Perhaps the most tragic sports curse of them all. I certainly don't know of a worse one. According to some, it started when Jack Addison, Adkinson, excuse me, a young man from the zero-stoplight town of Juitetexas adopted a new name for his resting identity fritz von erich he did it so that he could wrestle as a heel for a bad guy in this case the nazi uh who

were especially hated by audiences in nineteen fifties america uh as one would hope pretty fucking weird and sad if nazis were fan favorites that be a you know a little bit of a slap in the face to the soldier who just died the decade previous uh fighting them also also pretty insulting the millions of member of millions of people who had just lost family members to not see aggression but fritz you know was not glorifying the Nazis wrestling more theater than sports and it was basically like he was an actor playing a not seen a theatrical presentation while fritz would lie about where he was from saying he was born in Berlin his

new name didn't actually fall too far from home. Von Eric was his grandma's maiden name. Some say the tragedy had previously followed that side of his family and now when Fritz took on the name, it started to follow his family. Or perhaps the curse had nothing to do with Fritz's grandma. A story retold in sports journalist David Shoemaker's book, The Squared Circle, Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling, life, death, and professional wrestling claims that a man appeared at Von Erick's dressing room after a match in his in Chicago.

Going off on him for wearing Nazi symbols and using Nazi gestures, he found that I'll extremely offensive for good reason. The man rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo inked by actual Nazis during a World War two at a concentration camp where he'd been held and he said he'd lost all seven of his sons in Nazi death camps. When Fritz didn't agree to leave his Nazi act behind, the man said ominously that he sincerely hoped that nothing like that would ever happen to Fritz. Shoemaker wrote. And then of course, Fritz would lose almost all of his sons.

Not quite all of them, but real fucking close. Whatever the true origin of the curse, it certainly looks like the Von Erichs were cursed. The poor family have suffered an almost an unimaginable amount of tragedy for one group of parents and their kids. The first incident occurred when the couple's first child, Jack Jr. died in a very freak accident when he was just six. But the legend wouldn't really start to take off until

Fritz's other sons, all of them wrestlers like their dad began to die one after another, after another, most by the age of 25. Did a true curse take them down? An incredible run of bad luck. What? I'm gonna lay it all out. And you can come to your own conclusions as I come to mind Before we get into all of that in the timeline. I'd like to first walk you through a brief overview of the history of professional wrestling So we know what we're talking about and because it's fun to learn some shit I'll walk you to the history of wrestling starting with the sports origins as a bunch of sweaty Grease-step naked parents of man meat

Pushing and shoving and slamming and thrusting to a more refined sport. It was practicing medieval courts and top by wrestling masters of their day to a sort of side show act that ended up looking a lot more like an elaborate play than an actual sport. Complete with characters with origin stories, motivations and feuds, a big soap opera on steroids, quite literally on steroids. Then in today's timeline, we'll see how Fritz Von Eric rose from a young football player named Jack Adkusen to a famous wrestler and an important wrestling promoter, very wealthy one in Dallas, Texas, where he eventually would establish the powerful Von Eric wrestling dynasty.

And then see it take a fast and tragic fall. Let's, let's begin. Should come as no surprise, the wrestling is a very old sport, almost as old as human civilization itself. In some forms, probably older. After all, in the days before modern technology and outfits, it is a sport, along with racing on foot, that has basically no overhead. All you need, or at least two people, willing to struggle around in the dirt, and you got yourself a resting match My body's and I got into resting each other when I was in college and we would body slam the shit out of each other

One minute you might be at a party everyone's standing around chatting a chatting around the keg and the next You might be getting out and do by two idiots thrashing around on the ground in some primitive show of strength. I Loved it We only actually retired after I DDT to buddy and we all thought for a second that he broke his neck. Since we were friends with the grad student who became a quadriplegic when he got body slammed at a party as an undergrad and did break his neck. We felt like we should probably leave the body slamming and fucking pile drivers and DDT's to the pros. I think it was the right call. Wrestling most likely originated

at a true hand to hand combat, substituting the submission of a contestant for his death. Because you know, it's harder to convince somebody to participate in a fun sport if the loser dies. Real death matches, gladiatorial battles, where people were forced to fight to the death and sometimes did wrestle also occurred. Works of art from as far back as around 3,000 BCE to pick ancient wrestling matches in Babylonia and Egypt. The Samaritan Gilgamesh epic has a description of some wrestling. Organized wrestling as a sport in India dates back to before 1500 BCE. Chinese documents from 700 BCE describe wrestling as do Japanese records from the first century BCE. And there are all kinds of records of wrestling coming in from the ancient Greeks. The Greeks were big, big on wrestling.

Those hot, hard Greek fathered daddies loved to slather themselves in some olive oil, rather naked bodies against one another. They really did. Young men belonged to palastras, or excuse me, palastras, palastras. Formal wrestling schools that were the focal point of their social lives. Illustrations of wrestling on Greek vases and coins, vases are common throughout all periods

of ancient Greece. And those guys interestingly did Russell Bucknacken and they would rub all the oil on their muscles. I feel like all of that could have been a bit problematic. You know, I don't mind some wrestling, but would I would rather not I would prefer not to have someone's ball sack swing around in front of my face during the match. You know, I don't want to get tea back as I'm wrestling and wrestling a guy with a boner a boner lubed up with some oil perhaps that would

certainly change the tone of the match, right? It could open the door to, uh, to quite the intrusive finishing move. Uh, wrestling, nude wrestling was a spectator sport for the Greeks and part of their Olympic games going back to at least 776 BCE. There were two wrestling championships in these games, a top lane event for the, excuse me, top lane event for the best two or three of three falls and the paying creation, which combined wrestling and boxing and ended in the total submission

of one contestant, when they were just too exhausted to continue to fight. Early origins of modern MMA upright. Restym is also part of the pentathlon event in the Olympic Games about being fought until the clear cut fall of one of the wrestlers. The most famous ancient Greek wrestler was Milan of Croton or Croton who won the wrestling championships of the Olympic Games six times, right? Legend. OG Holkogen. Milan Amania, no one escapes the cultures of the Greek freak brother. There's not enough olive oil and all of Greece to loob your way out of getting pinned this Friday night in Athens. The power of Melonomania will not be denied brother. Rest would be farthest popular among the Romans that had been with the Greeks and with the fall of the Roman Empire

references to wrestling disappeared in Europe until about 800 CE. Meanwhile in the Middle East when the Islamic rulers of Persia began hiring Turkic mercenaries around 800 CE, the soldiers brought with them a style of wrestling called Kuresh, in which grips may be taken on their long, tight leather pants worn by the resters and the bout would end when the loser is thrown down on his back. A variation on this style continues today for many years, resters would use towels to wrap up opponents and manhandle them. Pants and legs would not be able to be grabbed. Gradually, the Turks wrestling ways took over the entire Muslim dominion

and their wrestling style spread. Later, Mongolian invaders in the 13th century introduced Mongolian wrestling, which received royal patronage and wrestling became the national sport of modern Iran. And we can't forget about a former resting that most of us are familiar with, at least by name, Sumo wrestling. Sumo, a Japanese belt wrestling style, was a popular spectator sport under imperial patronage, starting in about 710 CE lasting until 1185 CE. Originally a submission spectacle, Sumo became a highly ritualized, uh, as a toply, top lane match with victory coming from forcing an opponent

outside of this 12 foot circle, you know, kept going after the, 12th century by the 17th century, similar wrestling had become a professional sport in Japan. Meanwhile, back in Europe, resting occurred in several styles throughout the continent and the Middle Ages. The first recorded English match was held in London early in the 13th century. In England and Brittany, a former jacket wrestling commonly called Cornwall and Devon survived from at least the 4th or 5th century.

Rustin's a martial skill was taught the Knights the Holy Roman Empire and Rustin instruction books appeared in manuscripts back before the introduction of printing even. And thereafter in print, they knew the introduction of printing even, and they're after in print. The news of sport at that time is grappling. One writer of such books was a man named Ott Yudh, a Jewish German 15th century wrestling master, and he has credited in multiple medieval combat treatises with a series of wrestling techniques including joint breaks, arm locks, and throws. Pretty bad ass. As the modern era began, the English kings Henry VIII and Charles II and the French king Francis I were some notable patrons

of wrestling. Wrestling is a popularity that infated for a few centuries, but from the 18th century on, a procession of wrestlers or strong men would appear before crowds of spectators at fairs and theaters and in circuses. Typically challenging all comers. Now you can just join the show. You can get in there and rattle yourself. Notable figures from this era began with Englishman Thomas Topham of London in the 18th century and would culminate with Eugene Sandow, a German-born international figure whose popularity continued into the beginning of the 20th century. In the US during the 19th century, wrestling became popular as a frontier sport. Abraham Lincoln was a noted local wrestler. This is crazy. Who reported the Amaz 300 victories, bounced it would usually last until one contestant would verbally submit.

According to legend, honest Abe only lost one match in a dozen years. Hank Thompson during the Black Hawk War of 1832, where Lincoln was serving with the Illinois volunteers, bested him. And Lincoln was said to be gracious and that defeat. This is the first time you're hearing about Abraham Lincoln, badass wrestler. If I knew what I forgot, I don't feel like I knew that before this week. That has absurd to me. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! At the fourth, leader in Western DC,

we have the match of the century! Let's get presidential. Honest Abe, the Kentucky Kid Lincoln faces off on a steel cage match against John Wilkesley, assassin Booth! Two men enter, only one leaves. The Kentucky Kid has the advantage of heightened weight But booth doesn't play by the rules and he'll have a loaded gun tickets are selling fast don't wait out and miss out on this once in a lifetime event

1992 Lincoln was officially recognized by the national wrestling Hall of Fame as an outstanding American in the sport The wrestling obsessed city of Lincoln Nebraska the University of Nebraska cornuckers, corn huskers have produced over a hundred and thirty one, uh, all American wrestlers, or at least a hundred and thirty one, as last counted on the site over the last 100 years. In the second half of the 19th century, two wrestling styles developed that ultimately would come to dominate international wrestling. Greco Roman and catch as can or freestyle wrestling. Greco Roman wrestling popularized first in France,

got his name for being based on the wrestling ways of the ancient Greeks and later the Romans. But you know, now those hot, hard father-daddies kept their dingolinks wrapped up. Greco Roman wrestling for bids holds made below the waist, which results in an emphasis on throats. Since wrestlers can't use trips to bring opponents to the ground

or hook and or grab opponents' legs to avoid being thrown. I highly recommend watching some Greco Roman highlight videos on YouTube. It appears that you have to possess a real bendy neck to survive these matches. Like it's fucking crazy. I can't believe how some of these guys pop right back up after being slammed so hard down on their heads and just their next bent at crazy angle. So if you want to see a dude with some legendary strengths, look up highlights of Russian Greco-Roman wrestling champion, Alexander Carellin.

Yeah, Alexander Carellin. Holy shit. This guy might be half bear. It's fucking crazy. I got sucked into watching these like videos. The man widely considered to be the greatest, most dominant and just flat out scariest Greco Roman wrestler of all time. He won the gold medal at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games before finishing with a silver medal after Rulongarner bested him into the 2000 games 6 foot 3 286 pounds of freakish strength Who would just pick up other 300 pound-ish dudes and just toss them over his head on a regular basis like it was nothing He's now a Russian Federation Senator and I imagine he intimidated the fuck out of some

of his fellow politicians. I would let he still looks like he could throw down. I would just he just he just looks like he's a giga chat, okay? He's a fucking giga chat. He's got thick wrists. He got big skull, great jawline, deep set eyes, like a predator. We'd love to see, you know, him come out of retirement for one more match and wrestle strong pony boy Putin and just not hold back. That would be so entertaining. That would

probably be the most watched video of all time by millions and millions, by hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. Anyway, originally, Greco-Roman wrestling matches were popularized at international expositions held in Paris. then after its inclusion in the revived Olympic Games in 1896, Greco-Roma and R.S.T. events were held at subsequent Olympic Games, except in 1900 to 1904. In the more popular freestyle wrestling, closer to today's WWE style wrestling, any fairhold, trip or throw is permitted outside of holds that endanger life or limb. Strangleholds, for example, are forbidden, as well as kicking, punching, butting with the head and holding your opponent's clothing. Both styles became a Nancy popular and were soon regulated in formal competitions.

On continental Europe, prize money was offered in large sums to the winners of Greco-Roman tournaments and freestyle wrestling spread rapidly in the UK, the United States, and a few other Western nations like Canada and Mexico. An early golden age for the sport followed, cut short with the break out of World War One in 1914. In 1898, the Frenchman Paul Ponds, the Colossus, became the first professional world champion. In the US, early professional wrestling was dominated by Martin, farmer Burns, and his pupil, Frank Gouch.

Burns was renowned as a competitive wrestler who despite never weighing more than about 175 pounds during his rest of career, it said to have fought over 6,000 matches, like over 6,000 other wrestlers at a time when most matches were competitive contests and there were no weight classes and he lost fewer than 10 of those matches. So he won at least 5,990 matches. That guy had some moves. While he was never big dude, the 5-11 guy, you know, pretty slender build had a huge neck, like preposterously big neck. Burns Rigger rigorous program of neck development built him in a man's 20 inch, yeah, 20 inch neck that possessed enough strength.

He could be dropped six feet on a hangman's noose and not be hurt. And that wasn't just him talking shit. That was a stunt. He would often perform it carnivals and fairs. That's absurd. The average neck circumference size today for a grown man of just a grown man of any size 15.2 inches So it seems like farmer burns was mostly neck He weighed 175 pounds and about 165 of those pounds were neck

His pupil Frank got's regarded as peerless during his peak was the first to actually claim the world's undisputed Heavyweight championship by beating all contenders he faced in both North America and then Europe. He's a bigger guy, 511, weighed about 210. He became the world champion by beating European wrestling champion, George Hackensmith, both in 1908 and 1911, seen by modern wrestling historians as two of the most significant matches in modern professional wrestling history. By the end of the 19th century, in the US, UK, and a few other places, there were now two main strains of wrestling, one that was primarily an athletic competition, and another that was based more on entertainment aimed to spice up

carnivals and variety shows. And it was that kind that would lead to today's WWE. Now there was a division formed between quote, professional wrestling based in non-competitive acrobatics and showmanship and quote amateur wrestling, which was actually the more competitive athletic version that was truly treated as a real sport. The container's deen that the better wrestling tacticians were the amateur ones now and not the professionals. Despite ironically not being as good at wrestling as amateur wrestlers, professional wrestlers

became far more popular and got paid a lot more. Excuse me, like many others, George Hackensmith, that guy who was a beat by American Frank Gotch, started as an amateur wrestler but then quickly signed to promote her Charles B. Cochran, who realized that Hackensmith's superior in the ring was boring. It wasn't making for super interesting matches. It was slow, plotting, technical. The style was very tactical and not very theatrical. Cochran persuaded Hackensmith to learn some showmanship and wrestle many of his matches for entertainment rather than for sport and it worked.

Suddenly Hackensmith was doing a lot more theater work than actual fighting. And he was making a lot more money than he ever did when he truly dominated the ring. It was clear by that, excuse me, it was by that by this point, the future of wrestling was tied entertainment. These new entertainment matches would be called worked matches. That is purely performative matches with everything being choreographed ahead of time. Winners, losers are predetermined. Storylines are introduced. Excuse me.

This all enabled promoters to introduce things like seemingly more violent styles with weapons and chair shots becoming popular. And since people weren't directly in danger, weak little crybaby women were even given permission by their patriarchal righteous masters to compete. Lucifino, though she's aware I'm being sarcastic, still looks like she's about to kick me in the nuts and pile drive me After got to the retirement in 1913 amateur actual wrestling, which was already fighting the losing battle and popularity boxing Came to an end as a serious professional sport in both the US and the UK

There after especially the US through radio broadcast and later through telecasts Professional wrestling became more and more based and spectacle, right? The winners divided deliberately into heroes and villains. Excuse me, we're determined by promoters, financial desires, with the pay notions wanted to watch rather than by athletic skill. Wrestling maneuvers became increasingly extravagant and artificial and lost most of their authenticity.

Bouncing off the ropes to close line somebody, you know, or drop kick them. Actually not a great fight move. Good luck pulling that shit off in the streets, but it's fun to watch in the ring. And the early 1900s, regional professional wrestling promotions became popular in Mexico, turning into a version of the Lucha Libra we recognize today. Colorful mass performers with high flying aerial moves. Some of the first American counterparts to Mexico's Lucho Libra resters were Ed Lewis, Billy Sandow and Tutzmont. Yes, Tutz. Like everybody,

Tutz Martinez. And these three guys joined together to form their own resting promotion company in the 1920s. The three would be referred to as the Gold Dust trio due to their financial success. While he's not a household name now in the 1920s, Ed Lewis rivaled the baseball player, Bay Ruth and boxer Jack Dempsey in popularity. Big time, you know, wild, wildly popular. Promotions became very lucrative. And we're kind of ran like the mafia. Promoters by having a strangle hold on regional matches had a lot of power when it came to controlling and reducing the wages of wrestlers and their territories. As a promotion system grew, there were fewer independent promoters where independent wrestlers could find work and wrestlers, if they wanted to make money, had to sign contracts with big, low-paying cartels.

Their contracts would legally forbid them from wrestling independent venues. R wrestlers who refused to play by the cartels rules, excuse me, oh my god, it won't leave me alone, it would be barred from performing at its venues. Reminds me of the stranglehold that the improv and funny-bone comedy club chains. For a while, both owned and booked by the same people used to have on the standup world. Before it was common to build up your own fan base

through social media, specials, podcasts, whatever. Most comics focus very little on marketing and a lot on the craft of standup. But since most working comics, no matter how funny they were, we're now totally dependent on having clubs to give them work, right? The clubs could really get away with paying them

almost nothing. And the improv and funny bones because they offered you the most work, they could pay the least. You might only get $1500 a week, the headline four to seven shows that week, but they could give you 35 plus weeks of work a year. And for years, they were the only chain in the country that could give you that much work.

So, they were able to do that. If you took a $2,000 weekend to work for one of their competitors, well, they might take all your other weeks of work off of your calendar. So glad those days are over. And glad, you know, it sounds like a lot of this regional stuff with wrestling is now over. A good thing the wrestling cartels did was to begin to nationalize professional wrestling and help establish an authority to sign who was the one true world champion.

Before a national promotion system, there were a ton of wrestlers across America simultaneously called themselves world champions, which would sap public enthusiasm, you know, for professional wrestling in general. I mean, who cares if you're the world champion? If you know, two dozen other American wrestlers also the world champion. And there's more world champions in Europe, you know, and more world champions all of the place really devalues the whole sport. Also a smaller group of regional wrestling barons were able to work together and agree

on a common set of match rules that fans could now easily keep track of, have some consistency. The issue over who got to be the champion and which promoter controlled said champion still a major point of contention among the early members of regional wrestling promotion zone. Own of the champion would draw the biggest crowds wherever, you know, he performed and make the best money. And that would occasionally dischisms. By 1925, the promotion system had divided the country up into territories, which were the exclusive domains of specific promoters. And that system of territories would endure right up until Vince McMahon, co-founder of the WWE, drove those fragmented cartels out of their markets in the 1980s. While that small cartel of promoters

hurt the income of a lot of wrestlers, also made others famous. And to truly get famous in wrestling, historically in the words of the 1959 musical Gypsy, you got to get a gimmick. By the early 1930s, most wrestlers had adopted larger than life personas to generate more public interest. These personas could be broadly characterized as either faces, good guys, audience generally cheered for, or heels, villains, the crowd loved to boo and root against Native Americans, Cowboys, and Snobbish English aristocrats randomly were the most common wrestling personas in the 1930s and 1940s. In addition to creating a memorable wrestling persona, the most popular wrestlers also had

some kind of gimmick in the form of a finishing move. Right? Russian wrestler Andre Chikotilo at a very memorable finishing move. He was stabbed the shit out of you As he tried to sexually assault you and then spontaneously ejaculate what is big deal? So that's how I rattle everyone have secret your move Some maybe have special slam I jerk in corner soft shamecock and bother no one Well, maybe bother someone very much when you know stab and come the butcher rostoff Making cameos for five years now and suck first brother.

Fritz von Eric would develop a super entertaining and popular trademark finishing move. The iron claw, the most successful and enduring gimmick to emerge from the 1930s. Previous to that were tag team matches. Promotors noticed prior to their introduction that matches would slow down, get boring as wrestlers and the ring got tired. But with a partner, they could tag get an outwith, you know, that gave him a chance to recharge their batteries, keep things fresh and exciting. Also gave heels, another way to misbehave by double teaming, one of the other team's members to the delight of the crowd. Towards the end of the 1930s, faced with declining revenue, thanks largely to the great depression. Promoters chose to focus on grooming charismatic wrestlers with little regard for their actual skill,

because it was charisma that drew the crowds and wrestlers who were both skilled, grappling and charismatic were hard to come by. Since most of the public by that time knew and accepted the professional wrestling was fake to a degree, realism was no longer paramounts, and a background in authentic wrestling no longer matter. The 40s introduced another important aspect of modern professional wrestling, patriotism, U-S-A, U-S-A, stand in sluts the stars and strife brother, or the collective strength of the US the fucking A will body slam you to oblivion.

Woo! Turn World War Two, wrestlers in the US toured, starred in large war bond rallies, others hired by the armed forces to provide instruction and hand-to-hand combat, other future Matt legends serving on the front lines around the world and will return to use their wartime contributions to boost their fame. Perhaps the most decorated American wrestler of this era was Brooklyn native Paul Bosch who left wrestling to enlist in the army where he earned a purple heart silver star and cluster Bronze star and cluster and French Crod DeGur for actions in the battle of the Hurtken forest while serving with the 121st Infantry Regiment

Bosch authored a memoir about his experiences rode to Hurtken forest in hell and also led the Houston and also would lead the Houston wrestling promotion until 1987 Another restaurant of the World War II era worried about his family's German heritage and then he might be thought of as being unpatriotic Frederick Kenneth Blassey uh later to become known as the outrageous heel competitor and manager classy Freddy Blassey uh excuse me and listed in the Navy Where he served for 42 months in the Pacific to prove his loyalty to America.

Blassy's famous over-the-top interviews would go on to inspire a fellow Kentucky resident who grew up watching him. Colonel motherfucking Sanders, Harlan, the gas station assassin Sanders, the Kentucky fried brawler, the Henryville hammer, and the only attorney in America not afraid to beat his own clients' asses. No, no blasted over the top interviews would inspire fellow Kentucky resident caches clay. The man who later became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world Muhammad Ali, the greatest. The patriarch of the wrestling family were focusing on today initially made his name and right after all this history I just laid out out in the late 50s when he saw a market oversaturated with heroes, aka baby faces from the post war

era and decided the best thing he could do was to give the crowds a really, really good villain. Someone who they would want to see get beat again and again, but also somebody terrifying enough to sometimes triumph even against the greatest heroes. He wanted to ratchet up the drama, increase the stakes, and he would settle on the persona of Fritz von Eric, America-hating Nazi stormtrooper. Let's now learn about his evolution into this persona,

rise to wrestling fame, his raging of his badass wrestling sons, who would help him create a real royal family of wrestling, the most famous wrestlers in the world for a few years, followed by the incredible amount of tragedy he and his wife would endure. And today's let's get ready to rumble time suck timeline right after a word from today's sponsors. Thanks for sticking around. And now it's truly time for a big high-flying body slam in ironcloth filled von Eric timeline

Jack Bernard Atkison born August 16th 1929 and Jewett, Texas Adcason born August 16th 1929 and Jewett, Texas. Jewel located in Leon County was founded in 1871 by the international railroad company. It's tiny, just 2.1 square miles and pretty small population wise too. In the 1930 census, it registered just 516 people. Still pretty small with about 1200 people there today. Little town has had three notable inhabitants, Alger, Texas, Alexander, early 20th century American blue singer who died as syphilis at the age of 53. So it seems like you might have had a real good time touring before he left us. Roman's Virgin, US Marine author of the memoir,

Islands of the Damned, a Marine at War in the Pacific. He would be portrayed in the HBO mini series, The Pacific by Irish actor Martin McCann. And he died just a few years ago at age 96, also of syphilis. Had a great time last few years of his life after his wife passed. I actually don't know what he died of. And of course by far the most famous Fritz Adkinson, soon to become known as Fritz von Eric.

And it was Jack Adkinson. I don't know why I call him Fritz there. Soon to become known as Fritz von Eric and it was Jack Atkinson. I don't know why I call him Fritz there. Soon to become known as Fritz on Eric, he'll leave us at the age of 68 when he passes away from from Cifalus. It's rumored he contracted it from Rome's version rumored by me and only me. Everyone else says he passed away from brain and lung cancer and probably some fucking heartache. According to the secret of the Iron Claw by Ron Mullenax, a close friend of the Von Erichs who would write about Fritz during his final years in wrestling. Fritz would describe himself this way.

I was born Jack Bernard Atkison, August 16th 1929 in Leon County, Texas during the Great Depression. My father Benjamin Rush Atkison was a sheriff and my mother, Korn, Bessie Newberry Adkinson, a homemaker, and I, the only child. As a young boy, Jack's grandfather Ross took him hunting, especially duck hunting, fishing, walking in the woods. Jack would later give his grandpa credit for his lifelong love of the outdoors and outdoor sports. I love you to pass on to his children.

Excuse me. Quick note, I want, can scientists get to work and just eliminate viruses because they're pretty fucking annoying. Jack's family was poor, but he didn't seem to know it. I was referring to my head cold there or whatever this is. By the way, you're like, what are you talking about? Excuse me, Jack's family was poor, but he didn't seem to know it. Though the stock market crash had occurred just two months after he was born, sending millions

of Americans out of work and foreclosing on their homes Since basically everyone in jiu-t was poor and had been since before the depression Life seemed there, you know pretty much the same as ever The ex family got creative when it came to making sure everyone had what they needed at least sort of had what they needed We couldn't even afford a football or a baseball to throw around and there were very few kids around who owned one So what do we do Fritz would say a football or a baseball to throw around and there were very few kids around who owned one. So what do we do? Fritz would say granddaddy Ross and I made a football out of a bunch of rags that we

tied together with string and we played baseball with an old broomstick and rocks. A lot of his neighbors made a little extra cash making moonshine and whiskey. Since Jackson's dad was local sheriff, one of Jackson's earliest memories was being a seven year old riding around with his dad and sheriff's car while he hunted down those moon chinners. Being sheriff in Jewel was a pretty dangerous job at the time. Benjamin would have moon chinners, you know, fire at him numerous times, but he never let that make him quit. Maybe he just really loved being sheriff or maybe knew that if he lost that job, might

not ever be another one. There's good waiting for him. Most of the country was out of work after all. Little Jack was with his dad a few times when people, he was looking to arrest, would fire on the squad car, and Benjamin didn't seem overly concerned with putting his son in danger.

Maybe he wanted to tough and jack up. Even for an employed man, times were rough, and Jack and his family lived in the county or out in the country, excuse me, in a small frame house without running water to find the outhouse at night. Jack would follow a string that was tied from the corner of the house to the outhouse, which I guess was about 200 feet away. One time, Jack moved the string to send his dad out into the woods as a prank.

And then later that night, he said, you got the worst bank you never had my life. Sounds like I might have been worth it though. Pretty funny. According to a much later account by Fritz's son Kevin Benjamin was a pretty questionable dad in some ways, he would allegedly take little jack into town and then arrange fights between him and other little boys. Like what? No other details about this are given. That sounds insane. Who are these other kids?

Like are their dads bringing them to the fights? Did you have some kind of weird fucked up fight club? Where you didn't fight other dudes, you just brought your son to fight other sons. Should I have been doing this with my son, Kyler? Did I miss out on an incredible opportunity to toughen him up and have a lot of laughs, you know? Enjoy watching him. I don't know, you know, enjoying watching him.

I don't know, brawl with other little kids. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday at the McEwen Park basketball court in Cordelein-Aido, we have a bare knuckle underage brawl for the ages. Defending champ Sammy Wilson and Bubba McAllister, will we represent in the best of the local school system stirred grade has to offer? While neither man is over the age of nine Away's more than 80 pounds. They have dozens of fights beneath their belts and more scars on their knuckles and the average full grown adults They'll be facing any and all challenges under the age of ten fathers bring your sons and have them ready to knock out what few baby teeth Sammie and Bubba have left

I didn't time that right but I didn't want to cut any that Jack was apparently often beaten bad with these fights. He come up, you know, bloody noses, bloody mouth, black eyes, knocked down by bigger fighters all the time, but I guess he never got knocked out. With his dad cheering him on, why the fuck is his dad cheering him on? These little weird fights. He always got back up. He learned to fight, learned to be fearless.

His dad being a bad S-Brawler was what you. He learned to fight, learned to be fearless. For his dad being a bad ass brawler was what you needed to be. If you wanted to be a real man, a man's man. Jack would adopt this mindset. Being a man's man would be important to Jack, both in his early life. And when he became Fritz von Eric, wrestler and father, excuse me, to pass this don't show weakness mentality down to his sons. The Ed Cousins moved from Jewelto Dallas when Jack was nine when he was 12 granddaddy Ross died. And Dallas Jack intended Crosier Tech High School

where he trained in discus throwing and shot putting under a coach affectionately known as Uncle Rosie. That's a creepy name for a coach. I'm sure I want my kids getting one-on-one private practices, you know, with Uncle Rosie. Well, he was starting to throw these shot put. World War II was in full swing.

When he graduated high school, the war had just come to an end. New era of prosperity and optimism was beginning in America. Jack had several scholarship offers come his way. I think he was destined for a career in professional sports. Just not knowing that it was not going to be football. Jack accepted an athletic scholarship to play football at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. And in doing so interestingly, he turned down a music scholarship to the University of

Texas at Austin. Would you believe it? If I told you he was an accomplished clarinet player, photos in his yearbook would show him is just that Jack beaming proudly with his clarinet as an older man. He would never miss a Dallas classical music concert when he was home. I found that pretty funny. I just I love the big tough brawler who also likes the sweet sweet sounds of a clarinet. I've never been real big on clarinet. But honestly trying to find a video showing how bad clarinet sounded. I came across a lot of videos of people fucking killing it on a clarinet.

Especially with jazz. Check out this Boston area high schooler, Emma Lacey murdering some Duke Ellington just this last year. Man, it's pretty awesome. She's into it too. Just fucking dancing around. That was crazy facial expressions. Good on you. MLA-C.

Also kills it with a saxophone. I got lost in a fucking Wormel. Why did MLA C? Classical music videos or not whatever. Jazz videos, you know what I'm talking about. Pretty awesome. 1947, the six foot four inch clarinet love an athlete who already weighed over 200 pounds became a starter

on the freshman football team at SMU, playing on the offensive line. He'd also compete for the track and field team and actually set the national freshman discus record. 1949 Jack played in the game in which SMU beat Notre Dame 27 to 20 in the closing minutes of the SMU program's biggest win. And Fritz would later say it was the greatest game I ever played in or saw. Later that year the college kid developed another extracurricular interest girls. Oh one girl her name was Doris wanted to smith 17 year old Woodrow Wilson high school student who planned to attend SMU after graduation

surely after they met they decided to get married clearly they had some chemistry just one problem SMU coach Maddie Bell had a rule strictly forbidding married football players for being able to play on his team So what would they do? Well, no one he was risking his football career Which was at this point, you know his life's focus Jack tied the knot with Doris in secret on June 23rd, 1950 They wanted to get fucking if they weren't already fucking no time to waste and they wanted to risk the scandal of Doris You know being an unwed mother. I'm guessing

No time to waste and they want to risk the scandal of Doris, you know, being an unwed mother, I'm guessing. They helped keep the marriage of secrets. So they went to Denton, Texas with Doris's mother, brother, sister, the only witnesses. Then they rented a small cabin on the Texas side of Lake Tex, Homa for a brief honeymoon. As they returned to Dallas, they stopped at a gas station, were Doris bought a newspaper in the headline red, Atkison loses scholarship at SMU. Slow news day, I guess. And the headline was true.

Jack figured somebody recognized his name on the marriage certificate called Coach Bell who maintained that rules were rules. And whoever called him, what an asshole. Bell did, however, arrange for Jack to try out for a spot on Coach Bear Bryant University of Kentucky football team, which did allow married players. What a stupid rule.

Bell obviously thought you could be married and play football just not for him. Well, is he worried about too much fucking and sucking? Take your mind off football? Did he have a no jerk off rule too? Right? You get caught whacking, you get sent packing. What would that dipshit think of all the married NFL players who fucking kill it decade after decade. Man, people in their dumb needless rules. Optic Kentucky Jack endorsed went to check out the university Jack tried

out was accepted, but he said that his endorses family were all in Texas and they'd have to talk it over. They returned to Texas Jack visited Corpus Christi to check out the university there too. What impressed him most about the area was the wildlife, a lot of ducks, geese and fish. And he loved Texas, didn't really want to leave his home state. So Jack now decides that he will attend the University of Corpus Christi. In early 1952, the couple loads up their belongings into their decrepit, 1941 Mercury and head to Corpus Christi to live on the Gulf Coast about a three and a half hour drive from Houston

There they both enrolled the students at the University live in an old army barracks on campus where they slept on a mattress on the floor And Fritz later explained we were so much in love that we didn't care as long as we were together But there was a no kissing or dancing on campus rule They began to annoy Jack so Jack eventually said fuck it and dropped out no kissing or dancing on campus rule. They began to annoy Jack. So Jack eventually said, fuck it and dropped out. No kissing or dancing on campus for anyone. Not even married couples. Why have there always been so many fun hating

cuts in the world, right? At the side of two people kissing or one or more people dancing of sets you so much that you wanna ban it from where you work or study. Please do the rest of the world of favor and just walk your joy hating ass out in front of a bus or something. So stupid. Might as well have a no smiling on camera. No fun. Do not appear to be joyful for any fucking second. We're here to suffer. He and Doris were already working two jobs. Doris now wanted a place at their own when they leave school.

Jack invades one of his friends, take a loan, available to veterans to build him a house, which he did. And that is quite to friend. I have some good friends, but I'm not gonna sign off on a home loan. My name for any of them. When the sawdust cleared, Jack and Doris own a cute little two-bedroom,

one bathroom home. They had a little retriever named Rebel, a mutton named Pumpkin. The Doris found by the side of the road and that's adorable. Both jangles very pleased. Jack found work as a dead collector making a deal with the old man who owned the business that he would collect from the most difficult cases if he could have half the payout. Jack knew he was imposing. He was six foot four now, still six foot four, now former football player who was getting closer to 220 pounds of muscle. He'd been fighting ever since he was a little kid.

When his dad would take into fights, few would turn him down when he asked for money. To get his money, a simple thread of an ass whooping would usually work. If it didn't work, he would tell the person that he was the last chance they were gonna have to make things right before the boys from New York came to pay them a visit. And the threat of a mafia execution would usually do the trick of an ass whooping wouldn't.

Jack's new business, as you can imagine, didn't make him a lot of new friends. And a couple of times he endorsed when we turned home from a night out in the town, excuse me, to find their windows broken out and their house graffiti, hazard of the trade. Frightened doors convinced Jack to quit, which he did now become a fireman with a 24 hour on 24 hour off schedule, which he, you know, the both of them liked a lot more. His new job also gave him more time to hunt and fish, which he also loves. Two made a combined annual salary of about six grand. Good money in those days. Equivalent to about $80,000 a year now, but I think went probably quite a bit farther than

80,000 with now. Now sources don't mention what job Doris actually had at that time. But shortly after becoming a freshman, Jack heard rumors that a professional football franchise was coming to Texas. Once again, Jack decides to switch careers, convincing Doris to quit her job. Load the old Mercury up, moved to Dallas, where Doris would stay with her mom while Jack would chase his dreams. Doris was also pregnant now with her first child. Jack took off to curvill Texas where triads were being held to town about an hour from both San Antonio and Austin.

About 25,000 people lived there, about 8,000 lived there at the time. You get to provide for Doris and future baby, jacked it all he could to make the team. And he did. But then a knee injury, sideline, team after appearance, to few exhibition games. And then the team, the Dallas Texans went broke. They play only one full season in NFL before folding. No relation to Houston Texans franchise by the way. Jack now headed to Dallas looked for a yet another job and he would find it the job that

would change his life. Carl doc Siropolis and veteran wrestler Ed Strangler Lewis aka Robert H Friedrich. We're scouting for professional wrestling talent. Siropolis held the Southwestern championship in Texas during the 1930s was now a leading promoter in Amarillo as well as the former president of the National Wrestling Alliance. Lewis was a four time and that national wrestling alliance was around for a long time. And you know, like a kind of with these regional promotions, it would try to get them to play along with one another and you know, decide on, you know, who gets to be the champion.

One of the rules, you rules, have one belt as opposed to a whole bunch of belts and stuff. Lewis four time world wrestling champion and both knew that Jack, who is about 230 pounds and again, six foot four, very athletic, would make a great wrestler. He was also known parts of Texas for being a football player, which meant he might be able to help sell some tickets and promote our Ed Maclamore agreed to give him a shot. Well, Jack is just barely beginning his career in wrestling September 21st, 1952. Doris gives birth to their first child, a son they named Jack Barton,

Adkeson, Jr. They had hoped to have two children, a little boy named Jack and a little girl named Jill. Obviously, that would not happen. Also pretty adorable. Now with the wife and a baby, Jack gets more serious about wrestling, taking some training lessons and Dallas, but then during the workout, he gets thrown from the ring at the Dallas sportatorium, a venue that will later become legendary for hosting wrestling matches, and a break of shoulder. If we cover from the injury, proceed to run up a string of 13 straight losses in Texas. Gotta pay your dues. You're starting off with these fixed matches, and then he'll

beat George Penschiff for his first victory. While driving across Texas to one of his matches, Jack decides to adopt a ring name. He was inspired by rest of the day like hard boiled haggardy, strangler Lewis, Haystax Calhoun, Crusher, Lassowski, and more. It's like Haystax, could have spent a bit more time on his nickname.

It's not quite as intimidating, you know, as strangler or crusher. I don't think he got too much shit for it though, at least not to his face. He was six four. It's like Jack, but he was a, he waited a tick over at 600 pounds and strong as a fucking bull. He got his nickname during a televised promotion for a match he was in where he tossed full bales of hay way up into a barn's hay loft. A typical rectangular hay bales weighs anywhere from 100 to 140 pounds and homeboy was just

launching these about 20 feet up in the air. I worked for a neighbor stacking bales of hay for one day when I was either junior or senior in high school. Turns out that's not a great job for somebody who's, you know, not huge and also has a healthy case of hay fever. not a great job for somebody who's, you know, not huge and also has a healthy case to hate fever. My eyes almost swell shut from an allergic reaction to my arms covered in itchy welts.

And those things were fucking way heavier than they look. I was not going to be thrown even one of them around like haystacks, Calhoun. So I'm into his nickname now. Apologies, haystacks. Jack would eventually choose the name of Fritz von Erich, but not for a few more years. Fritz was the name of a close family friend. Von Erik was Jack's grandmothers maiden name. It fit the bill. German last name for a big blonde hair blue eyed guy. Since his main job as a newbie was to make more established wrestlers look good by convincingly losing the name would also, you know, provide promoters with a patriotic narrative of defeating the

Nazis. Because he wasn't getting paid much initially and he wasn't getting paid at all, whenever he was injured, he also became a bookkeeper for a promoter and learned the business of wrestling, you know, as a way to make some extra cash. And that new side job would pay off big time down the road. 1953, Doris and Jack Jr. moved to nearby Fort Worth. Fritz still wrestling, but he keeps getting injured. And Doris has to take occasional jobs to supplement their income. Fritz meanwhile decides he needs more training and he moves to Boston for

three months by himself to attend the Santos professional wrestling school. We were as porous church mice. Fritz would later recall, I was eating Boston beans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because I could buy them for 29 cents a plate. I tried to send Doris all the money I could, but there wasn't much. So tough times for the young couple, Kudos to Doris for being so supportive, when it had to have seemed at times, I like this was all for nothing. When we started resting again for it,

let's just call him for it's now, only getting paid $3 a match. You'd often spend more on gas getting to the match than he'd be paid for the match itself And that reminds me of pain dues in the early years of standup still to this day When you go to a comedy club if the feature or the the middle act is not a local comic There's a good chance they have spent more money traveling to get to the gig Then they'll actually make for doing the gig

When he was in Boston doors moved into a small duplex on Hall Street next to her mother. She would eat peanut butter every day and sometimes go without when there wasn't enough for her and little jack to eat. I mean things are fucking times are tough. These are tight. Making things worse, Doris also suffered a miscarriage around this time. After months in Boston, Fritz finally saves enough money to move to Des Moines, Iowa, where promoters are waiting to put him on a better pain circuit. His family will join him there. And the first night they get there, Fritz makes enough money to take the whole family

out to town for a nice dinner. But it wasn't all glamor. The apartment they rented was pretty shitty. And a prostitute, she lived next door when it entertained men by the hour, you know, long into the evenings. Another neighbor was a peep and tom guy who I imagined had to hide from Fritz rather than be caught and beat half to death by him. Fritz was home from his home base. Fritz would wrestle an Iowa Minnesota in Michigan, log in on the miles by car, currently resting as a hero or a baby face still,

the good guy. It was what his new promoter wanted out of him and he was building himself at this time as a guy coming from Hollywood, California, place he'd never even been to. In one match, he would lose to Hans Schmidt, real name guy, LaRose, who portrayed a villainous German Nazi. Fritz would be inspired by this later.

They would even join up and form a successful villain tag team. But the time Fritz still fighting, Diamond doesn't match his suffering injuries, trying to provide for the family. Then a back injury leads him to miss eight weeks of action and just as many paychecks. When he recovered, he was asked to rest on Canada. Some doors and Jack come with him. She finds she likes it better up there than motels are cleaner, snow, bright and pure. And Calgary Fritz will work with Stu Hart, president of Stampede Wrestling.

He will work out in Hart's basement known as the dungeon because it was there that Hart would train would be wrestled with methods that would be considered sadistic by other industry standards. Hart had acquired the former Army hospital man, she had a 1951 transferred his basement into his purse or transformed its basement into his personal training center, shortly thereafter, and would train everybody from strong men to football players. Still would train major wrestling names like superstar Billy Graham, the iron chic, other wrestlers of note who would train there in later years, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Mark Henry, Abdul of the

butcher, Rowdy Roddy Piper, junkyard dog, Jim, the Annville Nighthart, Chris Benoit once said, going to the heart family for training was kind of like, if you're a very religious person, going to the Vatican. Following his training with Stu, Fritz are going to wrestling, men of trouble, Winnipeg, other Canadian cities, and somewhere along the way, transforming to the villain Fritz von Eric, Nazi war criminal. Fritz were a pair of marching boots. He began practicing the Nazi goo step, scoured World War II movies and archive footage for Nazi behaviors he could imitate. Took that shit seriously. June 1st, 1954, Fritz was elevated to semi final event status against iron Mike D. B. O.C

Adopted father of future pro wrestling star Ted D. B. O.C. AKA the million dollar man. I fucking love to watch the million dollar man Russell as a kid Not clear who won the match but Fritz would return to the Minneapolis auditorium for the semi final event to beat Tom Bradley Here Fritz would be Fritz used what was becoming his key move at the time and atomic drop or a rope drop crashing down with his knee from the top rope, to pin his opponent. Fritz will keep resting throughout the summer of 1954, find a lot of success as a Nazi heel among American audiences, many of whom had lost, you know, members of their families fighting the Nazis. And late 1954 is hotel rates rose. Fritz now

arranged to have a mobile home delivered to his family in Canada and they parked on the Rocky Mountain foothills of some land owned by a promoter. So the family clearly just scraped him by. Fritz is resting in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, elsewhere up north. Sometimes resting by himself. Sometimes it's part of a tag team. His earliest nemesis would be Elio DiPolo, who immigrated from Italy to South America in 1949 before moving to North America and becoming a popular wrestler

based in Buffalo, New York. There's actually a stay-couse, just outside of Buffalo today, called Elio DiPolo, supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the country and still ran by his family. Fritz's tour in scheduled this time was brutal. Matches all over Canada and the Northern US. Sometimes matches just a day apart. His first championship match would come May 6, 1955 in Calgary. He and Lou Soberg would beat Sky Highly and Earl McCready to win the Alberta Tag Team Championship and his relentless touring continued. More he touredred better he got

to make a name for himself as a big guy who could successfully perform acrobatic maneuvers usually reserved for smaller men. You said to have some of the strongest legs and wrestling propelling him to the air. But he still needed better signature move something better than the atomic rope drop something that could be only performed by him and that's when he thought of the iron claw came to him when he found himself in a match matching Edmonton with his opponent on top of him fritz on his back. The opponent's legs wrapped around Fritz with his head tucked under Fritz's chin. Fritz then placed his right hand around the opponent's head, dug in with his fingernails, right, applying pressure to the temples.

The other man screamed his pain as a bit of blood started to flow from his temples and falling to the ground. The crowd goes fucking crazy. And since Fritz knew about the Nazis iron cross, he decided to call that move the iron claw. At least that's how he said he came up with it. Other accounts would say that the bleeding was planning along before the match. And that his new move was not spontaneous, but rather, you know, they've been working it out in practice. I'm going gonna believe that account. No fucking way. Then this kind of wrestling, you just go off script and dig your fingernails into another dude's face so hard,

they start to genuinely scream and pain and bleed from their temples onto the mat. Most of the bleeding you see in pro wrestling, by the way, comes from something called bleeding. I think he used to happen a lot more than it does now. Just based on what I've, remember as a kid and what I've seen in videos, it's when you, they would take these razor blades

or like a little part of a razor blade and then you know, use to cut into the skin during a match and that blade would be hidden before the match within some strapping. Some of the fabric used to hold the mat in the place or in place and then that blade would be secretly taken out,

you know, after the match has been going off for some time with a little cut to the head, concealed by hair and that, you know, the blood coming out been going off for some time, with a little cut to the head concealed by hair, and that, you know, the blood coming out of there would mix with all the sweat that's, you know, the guys are fucking sweating like crazy at that point in the match, and it would look like a copious amount of just bleeding. You can find videos online with wrestlers like,

especially like the Nature Boy Ric Flair, right? Woo! Just fucking so much bleeding. And talking about how he did it, talking about how they would blade each other. It's fucking crazy. How these guys would bleed so much bleeding and talking about how he did it talking about how they would blade each other It's fucking crazy how these guys would bleed so much so much sometimes They would need to get stitches or staples in their head after matches to stop the bleeding and least rick flair didn't seem to think anything of it I mean there's pictures of him. What looks like he's dying Whatever is true origin the iron claw made Fritz a superstar Fritz are going to use two kinds of the hold, sometimes applying it to his opponent's

heads. Other times he grabbed their bellies and it was the head hold that really took off, which makes sense. The belly grab probably just looked like an aggressive form of tickling. A tickling finishing move though, that would be very entertaining if done right. Ladies and gentlemen, now for the main event Hulk Hogan faces off against Michael the tickler Myers. And that is not like a dude, just like Michael Myers from Halloween movies come in and just tickle the shit out of him. Tell you can't breathe,

passes out, knocking a lot of brother. The Hulkster was scared in that ring tonight. I couldn't breathe It was fun at first, but I just wouldn't quit Right to the power of Hulkomania. I will avenge his defeat brother, but first I'm gonna have to get some therapy brother I think I share really fucked my head up brother might have some kind of tickled PTSD Feeling real twitchy brother, I'm afraid to be touched the hol holster, minding to sleep alone for a while, you feel me brother. Interestingly, this finishing move would be incredibly easy to count on real life, right? When the iron claw was applied to, in real life,

you could have just pushed his arm away. No one's grip is so strong that another man, strong enough to be a professional wrestler, couldn't overpower somebody trying to squeeze your head with the full strength you're on. But this is not about reality, It's about showbiz. That's how they do it in Calgary Iron claw made for some amazing optics now for it to be introduced as a wrestler from Berlin, Germany He'd enter the ring goose step several feet grab his right wrist twist it with his left hand and display the iron claw to the audience He reportedly even had the iron claw move and name patent it.

With his new move and increased showmanship, he gets invited to Toronto, the mecca of Canadian wrestling. There, he needed to play the part of a wrestling superstar. He needed to Cadillac, new suits, even though he wasn't making superstar money. It was time for some fake it till you make it. Now the Von Erich's pack up, head to Niagara Falls for some matches before Toronto, Fritz drops or pop some Dexadrin, prescription stimulant, stimulant, my God. Stay awake on the long drive to Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, where he'll be wrestling. He'll first wrestle there, December 1st,

but December 29th, we'll bring him the most success when Fritz and Carl von Schoenberg beat National Wrestling Association Champion, Wipper Billy Watson, and Yukon Erich. Love these names. when fritzon carl van showber beat national wrestling association champion wipper billy watson and you con erick love these names for the canadian open tag team championship following the victory fritzon dors loaded up the catalact headed to texas the season family returning to two Niagara Falls for a January six rescue match he'll keep performing in canada the summer. After that, when he meets Walter Seiber and Minneapolis, who's impressed with the young man's look.

Seiber wrestled as Waldo von Seiber, or Baron von Seiber, Neville German. Fritz suggests that Waldo become, you know, Fritz's younger brother from Berlin, Waldo von Erich. And they'll become a successful duo before Fritz gets another offer from a promoter in Illinois, which sets him up work in the St. Louis territory owned by promoter Sam Mucknik, one of the most lucrative popular wrestling territories in the country at that time.

Once again, the family packs up and moves, just fucking bouncing around like they're in the circus. February 1st, 1957, Fritz makes his St. Louis debut defeating Bill Melby. Melby was the NWA Texas champion and co-holder, co-holder of the NWA Tag Team Championship belt. Fritz would continue his St. Louis campaign throughout the spring. Then May 15th, 1957, Doris would give birth to the family's second son, Kevin Ross Adcasson in Bellville, Illinois. Family now moves back to Niagara Falls, so much bouncing around, not real glamorous right now.

Their Fritz will mostly defeat opponent after opponent, sometimes drawing, sometimes lose by disqualification, but always winning the crowd's attention. Then they return to St. Louis again. By August, Fritz is ready for a vacation to have to lose in a decision in St. Louis to Edward Carpenterier. He takes his family once again to Niagara Falls,

but this time for a vacation, five day fishing trip, at least Fritz's idea of a vacation. Then they return to Toronto, September to fight future NWA World Champion Pat O'Connor, following that win, Fritz thought he'd struck gold. We're going to offer from Morris, Sigil to wrestle down in Texas. Immediately, he hires a truck to pull this mobile home to Houston for a thousand bucks, but then Sigil was hospitalized for a heart attack two days after making the offer. With no contacts, bills and lines of onerix now move their mobile home to a trailer park in Minneapolis. And for you'll continue to rest at up north, mostly in Toronto and Buffalo, beating Pat

O'Connor and whipper Billy Watson with Jean Kinnisky, Halloween 1957. Dallas April 4th 1958. Fritz wins the Texas brass Knucks championship from Billy Curry. Roughly and you played football for the Chicago Bears. He'll invite again in Dallas April 18th against Pepper Gomez. Let's back to Winnipeg in the snowy North. Before he makes the Canada the last sudden and unexpected death hits the family or the first, excuse me not last first. Spring in 1958 while Fritz was out wrestling Doris's 14 year old younger brother David reported to his mom that he had been experiencing bad headaches. There was now a tingling sensation on one side of his face and he couldn't talk very well all of a sudden.

This is all looking real bad. Goes to the doctor undergoes a battery of tests, they die, he knows him with a tumor that has covered the entire base of his brain. And then he passes away during surgery. I literally adored him. Doris will say he was just perfect. And Doris, of course, has no idea this is the very beginning of the terrible family tragedy she'll have to endure. Meanwhile, Fritz is still out rasslin. Gotta pay the bills. Over the summer of 1958, he'll team up with Hans Hermann to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Also that summer, July 22nd, 1958, Doris gives birth to another baby boy.

They named their third son David after Doris's brother. After the birth, Fritz will then head to North Carolina. And yeah, Fritz will then head to North Carolina. I think this is, I don't know why, just said third, it's second, well, I guess there was the miscarriage, but yeah, it's Jack and then David. So second son After the birth Fritz will then head to North Carolina for a four month wrestling stint there on September 8th He'll beat Gori Guerrero real name Salvador When a Mexico's greatest wrestlers at that time his son Shavo Eddie Hector and Mondo will also go on to become wrestlers

Just like the Mon-Eric boys. Actually, Eddie Guerrero, Latino Heat, will become one of the most famous wrestlers in the world in the early 2000s, wrestling for WWE SmackDown. The Latino Heat will beat Brock Lesnar to take the championship. Back to 1958, October 13th in Charlotte, Fritz and Waldorf on Eric will be George Becker and Mike Clancy to win the NWA Southern States Tag Team Championship, somebody fucking championships. Feels like everybody had a belt. When Fritz returns Dallas in November of 1958, he endorsed, now used their income tax return

just over $1,000 to return to Niagara Falls. And now they live in sunny acres, trailer park there. Crazy that he's doing really well now, right? Compared to other restaurants of the day. He's fighting in arena matches sometimes, he's winning multiple championships and they still need money for an income tax return to move a trailer into another trailer park. Fritz was now wondering if all of this was too much, right? He thought about buying a bait and tackle shop down in Texas, just go back home, spend more

time with the family, really making them rethink everything. His wife Doris also undergoing a serious health scare when she has an operation to remove it, possibly cancer is tumor from her neck. I might make some think of their brother of her brother David. It seems like her time on earth might not be long now every moment, moment feels precious. Fortunately, the tumor is benign and for the time being for it keeps wrestling, but with the idea that he should be looking for a way out. Then, tragedy strikes again. Before we go over the first tragedy that will be associated with the curse of the Von Erich's

time for our second of two mid-show sponsor breaks, if you'd like to avoid these interruptions, you can sign up on Patreon and get the entire TimeSug catalog ad-free. Thanks to those of you who listened to those sponsors I hope if you heard a deal you like to use our codes and landing pages now for the first curse associated tragedy On March 7th 1959 little six-year-old Jack Jr The oldest Von Eric boy returning home from a plane at a friend's house a man who'd been working out on the parks The electrical system had left his skinned hot wire leaning up against the Von Erick's mobile home like a fucking idiot.

And when little Jack brushed up against his wire, he is knocked unconscious, you know, from the shock, falls down, ends up face first in a puddle of melting snow and drowns. Truly a freak accident. And now Doris, lost your baby brother to a brain tumor and her firstborn has drowned right outside her trailer. While I'm guessing sources don't say, but I'm guessing she was probably inside when it happened. Even though she couldn't have known what had happened, let you know what had happened,

or what was going to happen. I mean, the guilt of the what ifs, I would think would just eat you alive in moments. When Fritz gets back home, he's traveling from Cleveland. It's not like anyone could call him right after it happened in the days before cell phones. He sees flashing lights in a crowd. Before he even gets out of the car, his friend tag team partner, Jean Kinnisky, jumps into the passenger's side and gently breaks the terrible news.

Fritz was, as you can imagine, fucking devastated. His firstborn son is dead. He was so overcome with emotion, he punched out his driver's side window. I wanted to die. Fritz would later say, I literally wanted to die. I felt that way for weeks. And this sadly would be just the very beginning of him grieving the loss of a child. Within days he would be back at it, out wrestling, the need of the money, still had contracted

fights on the books. A couple weeks later, he's driving back at it, out wrestling, they needed the money, still had contracted fights on the books. A couple of weeks later, he's driving back from near Buffalo, Fritz would claim to have a religious experience. As he crossed the peace bridge between Canada and the US at Niagara Falls, he started to pray that his remaining children would get back to Texas and get to have a normal home life. His heart was no longer in wrestling. He was sick of being on the road, away from his family.

But first, until he could figure out another way to pay the bills, there was more wrestling to be done. Fritz now became more vicious than ever against opponents, using the atomic drop, the iron claw at any point. Sometimes he maybe did go off script a bit, but the promoters didn't punish him because the fans loved it. Or maybe he didn't really go off script. I mean, so hard to differentiate fact from dramatic storyline with wrestling.

He'll be chosen villain of the year in ring magazines, pole for 1959. The report noted the designation of on Eric was made because of his record against the biggest and the greatest in the business. His victories over Yukon Eric Roy McCarty, mighty Atlas and riotous bouts with world champion, paddle Connor and Ed Miller have stamped him as one of the frontline contenders for the world heavyweight championship. The writer claimed that Fritz was the toughest wrestler in the East adding when Fritz is an action there is never a dull moment and he doesn't rest until victory is within reach.

But he was also pegged by some as being potentially too violent. Above a low publication featured the following as a master of every dangerous wrestling hold as well as the fastest and definitely the most fission's super weight heavyweight or super heavyweight and wrestling I don't know why they're how to understand their use of the word fission's there, but what it says Fritz is responsible or For more serious ring injuries to his opponents and any other grappler in modern wrestling history That article would also quote one of Fritz's opponents Lord Athel Laytonton saying, Von Eric is a crippler, should be barred from the ring for life. He will gladly go so far as to cause serious injury to his opponent, just to be

declared the winner. Now, was that true? Or just more wrestling showbiz? Probably some showbiz. In the early 60s, Fritz will keep wrestling. He must have loved, still loved it, you know, at least little. Also, the money's getting better, good enough to make him reconsider plans of raising the family more traditionally in Texas. In the early 60s, he'll join up with other professional wrestlers, Billy Red Lions, Elio DiPalo, and Dick Byer, aka the destroyer, aka Dr. X. Finally, a dick shows up again. It feels like we've had a bit of a dick drought here. Uh, anyway, the three of these guys joined forces to buy ownership of a Rochester, New York,

resting promotion from Pedro Martinez. And this will give Fritz his first taste of running a promotion, what was to become his main focus for the rest of his professional life soon. February 3rd, 1960. Doris gives birth to another boy, the fourth von Erichson, whom they named Carrie.

So sorry, when I said a second earlier, there's there has already been four. There's jack Kevin David and carry carry born premature, almost died. Fritz returned from the first support, but quickly had to leave again, couldn't afford to mismatches. Fritz, sorry, these little pauses here, this cold. Also, also fun side effect of this virus, crazy brain fog, which is great for doing this. Fritz will work away from home most of the rest of the year, returning to St. Louis to be on the televised wrestling at the chase on December 24th, 1960,

where he'll defeat Frank Townsend, and he'll lose on February 3rd to Duke, Kimaca in a judo jacket match. Duke is one of Fritz's regular nemesis, nemesis. He was advertised as a World War II villain in this case, a Japanese soldier. judo jacket match is the gimmick where both men were martial arts, Guy and Russell like normal. December 1st, 1961, Fritz defeats the so called missing link.

That's a good wrestling name to become Detroit's US champion. Around this time is Mithos expands and his personal history is rewritten to fit his character. Now it says in 1945, Germany, promotional materials, as they said, 14 year old Fritz was lifting weights with friends on an otherwise deserted playground. Just out on a fucking playground, you know,

lifting weights as kids do. When a battalion of Nazi troops walked by, Fritz, he catches the attention of the commander, the commander waves him over, the commander seen Fritz's size, he thinks he's a deserter. But then Fritz says, no, he tried to join the army, but he was too young. They turned him away because of his age, age. Now, the commander says, you know, you're a liar, you basically there's no fucking way that you somebody is strong as big as you can be so young and just swings a bat at the boys face as one does but then fritz grabs the bat right and fucking rips it out his hand tosses it and then body slams

and pins this Nazi commander to the ground the commander that orders his troops to arrest fritz but nobody moves are they're scared. This 14 year old kid has them shaking in their fucking Nazi boots. Even though, you know, they would have all had guns, but it doesn't even matter. After a few tense moments and a standoff, a sergeant moves to arrest the boy and then Fritz, yeah, yeah, fucking body slams out motherfucker. And then Fritz just runs off with blazing speed. Nobody shoots at him.

He runs into a nearby building, whereas luck would have it. You know who's inside a wrestling promoter? Hello, how far Fetchy's stories are. And that guy tells him, he's like, you know what, you're so strong and good at kicking knots yet. You should be a wrestler. And then young Fritz tells that dude,

already was planning on it, dude. When the war's over, I'm gonna head to America and kick the toughest Yankee ass I can find. Actually the promotional materials, quote him the same, I'm going to do my best to wreck America. One man at a time. I'm coming for you brother.

I'm coming for all of America. You'll be red, white, and blue from all the blood loss and bruises. The fritzenator will be putting on your ass, brother. This article reported that Fritz now flew his own Cessna, 170 airplane around the country from match to match. And that he'd never, ever been nice to a single girl. Of course, it's all nonsense, except for the part

about the plane. He had his pilot's license and he actually was finding himself to match us, which is pretty bad ass. I love that they added the girl stuff and another thing. This Nazi America hating piece of shit is consistently rude. Two girls. Boo. Boo. Boo.

Boo. Boo. Yeah. Boo. Yeah, I love the silly small crowd booing button. Uh, a little hiss in there. April 14th, 1962, Fritz now beats George, uh, Gorgeous George, aka George Wagner. Gorgeous George created the greatest heel attraction of the 1940s and 50s. Uh, one that continues to be copied in some form to this day He was the first wrestler to grow out his hair long and diet blonde a Visual that implied the time he was either gay or a sissy right according to the conventions of the day and to be either gay or a sissy

Unacceptable to wrestling crowds of that time. He was strut around with pride, had a valet spray the ring with perfume before he entered and would hand out Georgie pins to angry fans. I love it. Poor George was actually legitimately ill when he wrestled Fritz 1962. Sadly, he died about 18 months later. From next several months, Fritz will play in San Francisco, Kansas City Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Denver,, Emma Rillo and more. In Emma Rillo, he'll win the North American heavyweight championship belt. He'll go on to win the Southwest tag team championship with Jean Kodinsky, Kniski, as well as the Omaha World Championship. In August of 1962, boxing illustrated wrestling news, ran an article entitled The Violent World of Fritz Von Erich. And Fritz will be quoted, I am the only man in the

world who can execute the iron cloth properly. Sure, a lot of other guys tried, but they soon give it up as a bad job because they just haven't got enough strength in their fingers. Me, I can crush a baseball on my bare hand. He could definitely not do that. That's that's a lie. But that's a bad shit to say. By the summer of 1962, Fritz was back in Texas, hopefully to stay. He was still considering buying a bait and tackle shop supposedly. But when promoters learned that he was in town, invitations would roll in for him to wrestle in September in Lubbock. He won the North American heavyweight championship for the second time. A few weeks later, Texas State athletic commissioner vacated

it though, because Fritz and his opponent, Dory Funk, had an impromptu rematch in the parking lot led to a car window being broken. Right? Drama, drama that sells tickets. October 4th, 1962, Fritz will beat Mr. Clean. Seriously, the character was a ripoff of the TV commercial character, Mr. Clean, who were white clothing, sported a bald head, and hocked a Mr. Clean laundry detergent. The Mr. Clean of wrestling wanted to eliminate dirty wrestlers and clean up the sport. Nice. November, Fritz would lose to cowboy Bob Ellis when Fritz refused to break the iron claw after cowboy Bob already submitted. And he's like that would give the hero the win, but allow the villain to claim he'd actually won good for future bookings.

April 5th, 1963, Fritz repeats that move when he returned to St. Louis to force a concession from Johnny Valentine. And then it's just qualified for refusing to break the hold after the bell. June of 1963, he beats Lord Atholaten to win the NWA Detroit and Chicago version of the US championship for another second time. And then he'll repeat that in October of 1963. He'll be placed at number 12 in the world wrestling ratings in July of 1963 and the issue of ring wrestling. He is rated number seven in the world by boxing illustrated wrestling news that same month. He'll give quotes to magazines

to bait his opponents, make rivalries. Sometimes with men he worked with on a tag team, make it seem more intense, you know, these rivalries and they actually were say stuff like let those bombs come to me if they want to crack in my title. I like this kind of carrying on. They take the lumps and I take the money. Well, shit, brother. They take the lumps and I take the dumps. Wait, no, that's not how I wanted to come out. It's better the way you said it, brother. Fritz pull off other gimmicks as well. According to the December 1963 issue of wrestling review, Fritz had insured his right hand for more than one million dollars with Lloyds of London, his right hand, of course, being the iron claw. He'll claim

to have studied judo in Tokyo now. Said he hadn't been pinned in two years both of those bald phase lies After one of his promotional employees occurs during st. Louis interviews Which he pokes his finger at the cameraman who was ostentially telling him to wrap up and growl You don't tell me when it's time to wrap up. I'll tell you when it's time to wrap up I'll pay the extra time out of my own pocket. You tell him brother Something true was it Fritz was expanding his business You tell him brother. Something true was at Fritz was expanding his business. He bought a 22 unit apartment building, two laundromats and one of the largest service stations in Dallas around this time. Things are going pretty damn well.

Thoughts to leave in the world the rest of you hindered gone. I can just stay home with the family making all that money. During the 1960s boom, he would buy up a great deal of land. He and Doris would make a whole bunch of investments that would make them rich. March 2nd, 1964, Doris gives birth to the Von Erich's fifth son, Mike. So before Mike's arrival, for it's about a 15 acre home near Corinth, Texas, then purchased more land around it, eventually turned it into a 150 acre cow wrench. I got this was where the Von Erich sons would grow up and become the same kind of outdoor to youth

that Fritz was as a kid. We grew up alone, Kevin Von Erich would later say, just ourselves. I guess one of the first lessons we learned was that the only people you had to count on was your family. Growing up, that's extra sad about all this. The tragedy that's coming for them,

they were a very tight-knit family. Growing up, that's extra sad about all this, you know, the tragedy that's coming for them, they were very tight-knit family. Growing up, the Von Eric boys, we have the kind of charm country existence that people often have in mind when they talk about the way life used to be. The kids would romp around to the woods, had eight Labrador retrievers, yes, eight dogs. They drank apparently 32 gallons of milk a week, one set fire to a field trying to kill one mouse. The covered local speed limit signs with mud. So you couldn't read them. Just hijinks. I love I love doing stupid.

You like that as a kid. Whenever the boys got to out of hand, Fritz would be the disciplinarian. He would deal out quick, painful justice with the leather strap. Aggressive. I know, but also a pretty common way to punish kids back then. Fritz loved the hell out of his sons. He taught him how to hunt, how to ride dirt bikes, and also pretty common way to punish kids back then.

Fritz loved the hell out of his sons. He taught him how to hunt, how to ride dirt bikes, and of course, how to wrestle so much rasslin. By the time Kevin was six and 1963, they had a wrestling ring set up behind the house. Fritz also told his sons to fight back if a bully was picking on him. He'd tell him, it'll hurt if you get your nose bloody, but your self respect will never go away. Kevin would later say that the fighting became a natural thing to do, such a natural thing to do for him and his brothers, that they would go up to other boys their own age

and politely ask them if they would like to fight. He said not because we were picking on him, but because we thought it was a natural thing to do. That's so funny to me. Asking other kids if they would like to throw hands, like just like the same way you would approach a kid and ask him if he wanted to play you know basketball Excuse me. I was wondering if you would like to fight

And if your friend would also like to fight my brother can join in and we can all brawl two on two I think we'd have a delightful time We can even agree to stop when someone yells mercy if that's what you'd prefer The Von Eric boys would take turns walking around the house and their dads huge size 14 size 14 wrestling shoes They watch his matches if they were close to home You go to their pee we football games. It's often is touring allowed. They're all big football players too Fritz will work out with his sons lifting weights in the Jimmy head set up around the house Told him that they should be in sports because sports was a good test for life

When Carrie became interested in the discus Fritz, you know, former discus star built a ring in the pasture, ring in a pasture behind the house. He collected films of famous discus throwers and coach Kerry for up to two hours a day. And now around this time, Fritz starts to play down his Nazi story. He's thinking about becoming a good guy, babyface, though he can't abandon his popular villain persona quite yet. He does change a story about him slamming that Nazi command at age 14 though. Says that while he was born in Berlin, he actually was taken very quickly to the US where he was raised. He also kind of walked back some of the viciousness saying that he never tried to seriously injure opponents with the iron claw. April 1964 issue of Reston world rates fritz amongst the best in the world. Ranks

him as number one contender, the number one contender for Vern Gagnez, AWA championship belt. And what happens next? Well, again, tell the line between fact and fiction. Allegedly, while Fritz was doing very well for himself and his family as a pro wrestler, he was also still considering buying that bait and tackle shop. He claimed that he'd all but bought the property

and loaded his family into a car to go start a new life when he got a call from Ed McLemore, owner of a failing wrestling promotion that ran shows in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. He reminded Fritz did a good deal with Channel 4 to use airtime for promotion. Fritz would sign a contract, crowds would increase, money would come rolling in, best talent would join him and then Fritz could not only be the star, he could run their promotion. And Fritz decided, well, I guess, I guess the bait and tackle shop could wait. And he signed the contract and became a big time promoter. That's a cool story, but probably not how it went down. Fritz was already familiar with

Macklemore. He wrestled in his territory for years. He probably knew the tides of wrestling were shifting financial success, depending more on whether one could do a good interview to entice a crowd to come out, rather than wrestle good enough for the few who might happen to show up. Fritz now continues to wrestle and also to work, you know, more and more on being a promoter. January 5, 1965, Fritz defeats Pepper Gomez. Comes the first NWA Texas champion. Then in March, he beats NWA World Champion, Lou Thess and a so called Texas death match, setting up a potential rematch in the

future. And June, Fritz and killer Carl Cox beat Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat to claim the NWA Texas tag team title. Fritz is suddenly at the height of his popularity, especially in Texas. He's making about 75 grand a year from one estimate. Great money in those days, equivalent to about 700 grand a year today. Fritz poised a strike while the iron is hot, you know, keep it going. He will name his promotion world class championship wrestling. It'll eventually put Ed Maclamore out of business. Though Maclamore was still in charge nominally.

The world couldn't think that Fritz arranged his own matches. He'll win the Texas championship for the third time, January 11th, 1966. And at that point, Texas now definitively Fritz Von Eric territory. He's the top dog in Texas. Now they start to draw major wrestlers to the Dallas sport atarium, new headquarters of world class championship wrestling. Channel 11 starts televising Fritz's weekly matches and Fort Worth. Channel 39 showing the matches in Dallas. They became the highest rated shows for each station. Bad guys always seem to win and for it worth then the good guys would get the revenge in Dallas. Initially like most wrestling shows at the time it was a two camera shoot with one camera on a

stationary wide shot, second camera on a dolly, but now Mickey Grant one of the stations producers switches to a multi camera shoot featuring six camera operators, some using shoulder mounted cams, which were great to get close-ups of the in-ring action. Inspired by how promoter Don King was producing boxing events, Grant also started to put microphones in the ring to pick up the sounds of the rest or striking one another, the reverberations from the ring. WCCW also begins incorporating the relatively new feature of instant replay and that of slow motion technology.

Their ability to replay portions of the match would especially highlight the brutality of Texas wrestling, particularly Fritz and his later and later his sons as well. Notorious for not caring how hard they were hitting their opponents. Slow motion replays will show every bit of that impact. Star of these new shows is always Fritz, still a great villain. On the TV show, he'll grab the microphone from the announcer, turn to the camera, threaten his opponents venomously with hypnotic to watch. His villain is way so believable. Sometimes some of the fans of his wrestling promotion company would attack him. I want a case in a fan, started climbing over the top rope with a knife in hand as Fritz, the hated villain wrestled. Fritz

had to knock him down and then fucking kick him out. On another occasion a fan stabbed him in a leg with a three inch hat pin as he walked back to his dressing room. On another occasion an old woman tried to beat him with her crutch. Fritz broke the woman's crutch and then she picked up the pieces and fucking threw those at him. I love it. Which I knew how old she was when she did that.

I hope she was over 70 just full of piss and vinegar. Too bad they couldn't sign her to Fritz's promotion. Maybe she could have been the tickler. Granny Grabhands or something. Fritz has the iron claw. Granny Grabhands has fingers of steel. November 28th, 1966. Fritz seeks to expand his business.

Again, by signing with Nipon promotion, a wrestling promotion in Japan, and makes his first appearance across the Pacific. Japan, a country where fans just as fanatical about pro-resting as Americans, Canadians and Mexicans worth of time. Thanks mostly to the late great Ricky Dozen, a Korean-born Japanese wrestling superstar. He come from created Japan to become a sumo wrestler, but quickly found success as an American style professional wrestler instead

After his retirement from Sumo wrestling in 1950, Ricky Dozen became a black marketer Worked with Americans to purchase belongings from US soldiers departing Korea and then would sell those to the Japanese But then in 1951 Sites to pivot to professional wrestling for a new promotion sponsored by a Honolulu businessman named Mo Lipton After one month of training Ricky Dozen made his professional wrestling debut at the Yogo Yogo wrestling for a new promotion sponsored by a Honolulu businessman named Mo Lipton. After one month of training, Ricky Dozen made his professional wrestling debut at the Yogoku Memorial Hall in Tokyo, October 28th, 1951. Wrestling is opponent to a 10-minute time limit draw, but as an international breakout would be in matches against the Canadian Sharp Brothers in 1954 with his Western opponents portraying themselves as villains to cheering Japanese crowds.

Then in an interesting twist, Ricky Dozen, one of the first Japanese wrestlers to be cheered as a babyface, a good guy in post World War II America. He's popular in the States, but more popular in Japan. acquiring nightclubs there, hotels, condos, one building of condominiums, he painted a distinctive r on the side of the building, you know, to represent his name. After his blessing matches, he would often immediately go to Ricky Sports Palace, started drinking without cleaning up any wounds. He was known to joke with the bar staff at the place he owned, say stuff like work was awful today while being covered in blood, maybe from a large cut

in his face from the match. Then December 8th, 1963, Ricky Dozen is stabbed once by Katsushi Morata, member of an important Yakuza organization. Yakuza, like the Japanese mafia, think very similar to the mafia in America. After an altercation and a nightclub, and we should suck the Yakuza one of these days. Anyway, Ricky Dozen alleged that his gang,

this gangster Morata stepped on his shoe. He demands an apology. Marata refuses the to begin to argue, which eventually leads to Ricky Does and punching Marata in the face, knocks him against the wall. Then Ricky Does and mounts Marata continues to punch him down on the ground until Marata pulls out a knife, stabbed Ricky Does and wants an stomach with it. Both now immediately flee the scene Ricky Does and is taken to San O hospital where a doctor decrees the one not to be too serious but advises the Ricky Dozen should have surgery and not eat and drink for a little while. Surgery successful returns home but goes against the doctor's orders starts eating and drinking that very same day. He's supposed to wait I don't know 24 48 hours

something. Senses assist into the store for sushi and sake. Due to drinking and eating way too much, he bursts his eternal, internal stitches, then has to have a second surgery, then develops a paratonitis and dies at approximately 9.50 PM December 15th, 1963 at the age of 39, one of so many young strong dudes to needlessly die in this episode. Katsushi Marado later found guilty manslaughter in October of 64, serves eight years in prison, gets released in 1972. Once back out, Morado will visit the grave of Ricky Dozen every year on December 15th for the rest of his life to pay respect to the man he stabbed, the man who beat the shit

out of him, and a man he greatly admired. He even called the sons of Ricky Dozen annually to apologize. In the years following his release, Marado will eventually become a very high ranking Yakuza member before he dies April 9, 2013 of natural causes. Just a little, interesting little side story there. Back to 1966, three years after Ricky Dozen's death, was Japan ready for a new wrestling superstar.

Fritz von Eric thought so. He performed his first match December 1, 1966, going to a 60 minute draw, 60 minutes against the Neapot International Tag Team Champions. Shohei, Giant Baba, and Mishiyaki Toshimura. Toshimura. He would go on to wrestle Giant for the World International Championship, but lose later on, however, Fritz will claim that he won. According to Fritz, I became an overnight success in Japan.

A song was written about my iron claw in me, and the Japanese people even gave me a nickname, Tetsu no sumi, which means nails of iron. None of that was true. But wrestling fans in America didn't know that. The story helped establish an narrative that Fritz was an international superstar, which will help them sell more tickets back in Texas and also help establish Texas as the center of international wrestling.

He'll return to Texas later that December, bolstering his villainous image further by attacking opponents before the bell, their bloody as soon as the cameras start rolling, he'll regain the Texas heavyweight championship in January of 67 with that decide to pivot his image further away from Nazi, his Nazi origins. As in Hill decide to disavow it completely. The February 1967 issue of wrestling review stated that Fritz's real name was Jack Adkisson and he was born in Jewel Texas, not Berlin. Nazi image is now done with, but fans don't care for the name Jake Adkisson. So he quickly returns to Fritz von Eric. He also tells a new story about how he developed the Iron claw.

He says, I started using a hold I called the Domino Club. This is all bullshit. They can put him in a down all rights, but it wasn't good enough to keep him there. To improve my hold, I continually exercise my hand, developing it through a series of weight workouts and even a trip to Tokyo, where I perfected it in judo school. Fritz went on to say that I just I perfected it in judo school. Fritz went on to say that, I just fixed your, what a weird judo school.

Now just keep fuxxing on squeeze in your hand. Like all the other people are doing like throws, using somebody's momentum to fucking flip him over on their back and he's just in a corner, just like squeezing fruit and shit. More, squeeze it harder, Fritz. Fritz would say that once the hold is applied for 10 seconds,

it's literally impossible to break out of. There's nothing you can do to fucking get out of his 10 second hold. Able to pivot his image, Fritz builds a recreation center for teenagers and Dallas now, raises money for some charitable projects, show he's a good guy. Fritz will leave for a second to her Japan, May of 1967.

There he'll lose again to Shohei, a giant Baba, and Mishiyaki Yashimura He'll lose in a Hakido to Antonio Inoki and Mishiyaki Yoshimura and then he'll lose again to the giant and a failed bid to win the international heavyweight championship Antonio Inoki by the way fucking huge wrestling star in Asia He would headline two shows in North Korea with Ric Flair in 1995, yes, North Korea. And in the shows drew 165,000 fans to the first match,

190,000 fans to the next one. Not that they probably had a lot of entertainment options in North Korea, but still, biggest live attendance ever. Excuse me, for a professional wrestling. He also fought an exhibition match in 1976 against Muhammad Ali. Some consider that match to be the first modern MMA match, you know, the match that would lead to the MMA. Ali was the heavyweight champion of the time. Inoki would fight a variety of top athletes from different disciplines, trying to prove that pro wrestlers were real fighters. And he kicked Ali in the leg so many fucking times in that match that Ali would get two blood plots

and have mobility problems for the rest of his boxing career. There's so many legends in this timeline. It's crazy. I can do an entire episode just on Antonio Inaki, whose birth name was Kange, excuse me, Antonio Inoki, birth name Kange Inoki, by the way, if Antonio didn't seem to fit Inoki Back to Fritz cool that he uh wrestled those legends speaks to how big he was

Perhaps figuring he would do better in the US Fritz leaves Japan again. It's back to Dallas They're orchestrates the match that will turn him truly from heel to hero July 7th 1967 Fritz beats brute Bernard Published pre-match hypehead Fritz stating, this man is a disgrace to wrestling. I'm ashamed to say that he once held a title. I now hold so proudly and one I took from him. I'm wrestling him not so much to give him a crack at the belt, but to prove that he never should have had it in the first place. Breuth Bernard was a classic heel, which meant that Fritz, kind of teetering somewhere in the middle now, fell over into hero territory fighting him.

He also now started to run into the ring to save other heroes for being beat up illegally by other heels. In the October 1967 issue of the wrestler, Fritz and Waldo Von Erich, they're back together for some matches, are rated the number one tag team in the world. This will be a high point in Fritz's career as a tag team wrestler. Just a few weeks later, he'll also win the Texas Brass Knucks Championship, beating Brute Bernard. Throughout the 1970s, Fritz will still wrestle beating enemy after enemy, but he's getting older. He turns 41 in 1970 and realizes somebody soon is going to have to fill in for him on some of his big televised matches. Who? His

sons. Let's take a look at the next generation of onerix now. 1972, Kevin is 15, David is 14, Carrie is 12, Mike is 8, Chris is 3, older boys already aiming to follow in their dad's footsteps. As Kevin will later say, I thought my dad was just great. And when I went to the matches and heard people booing him, it may be mad. And I wanted to go down there with my dad and help him fight all those people who didn't like him. Being a kid, it's hard to listen to people boo your dad. Soon, Fritz will have a proper weightlifting gym built on the property and

professional wrestlers and weight trainers will swing by to coach the boys. Early on, I guess none of the boys actually liked it that much. They were more into football, but they worshiped their dad, wanted to make him happy and proud of him. Carrie will describe one day in which he was millimeters away from weightlifting accident and his dad saved the day. He said, one. I was squatting and lifting 300 pounds on the bar I lost it the weight was going back as I was falling my dad caught the weights in a curl position Just curled the 300 pounds and put the weight back on the bar

Not only did he save the weights from coming down on top of me, but I couldn't believe he was that strong That's fucking absurd. Fritz was a big dude. Six four, he's around 260 pounds now. Apparently he had arms as strong as a lot of guys' legs. The strict barbell curl record is currently 250 pounds. So there's no way Fritz was just like, you know, strict form using only biceps to lift that 300 pounds.

Still super impressive, no matter how it happened. That guy was an ox. Mama Doris, she's doing her best to encourage the kids to get good grades. She's taking them to church on a regular basis. Church interestingly, a place Fritz is not going to at the time. In fact, he'll tell his boys that the devil didn't exist.

And he'd tell them, even if the devil did, Fritz would beat his ass. I love it. Fritz will later claim that he was just trying to make sure his boys didn't grow up continually afraid of eternal damnation like he was. But that get, my dad, not even joking about him now. He's about to turn 70.

He's still pretty pissed that he was brought up by his Pentecostal pastor father to think the rapture was gonna happen any second. And because, you know, like the rest of us, he wasn't perfect and free from sin, he was brought up by his Pentecostal pastor father to think the rapture was going to happen any second. And because you know, like the rest of us, he wasn't perfect and free from sin. He lived in constant fear of doing something sinful, like maybe having a bad thought about his parents or a lustful thought about some girl he liked and then dying before he could ask God for forgiveness for that thought.

And then he burned in hell forever. He was so worried about burning in hell forever. Forever literally had recurring nightmares about burning in health forever, forever literally had recurring nightmares about burning in health throughout his childhood. Only God around the Vaughn era council was Fritz himself, at least in his boys' eyes. These kids loved their dad, practically worshiped him, and that's why they wanted to wrestle to make him happy, to be like him. Kevin would later say, Dad never ever said we had a wrestle or that we even ought to.

To be honest, we didn't even know if we'd like wrestling that much. I mean, wrestling was filled with these old out of shape men going from one small town to another looking miserable, but we all knew what was going to happen in the end. It was inevitable. We were going to go into wrestling because we wanted to be just like our dad. Around the mid-70s, a national economic downturn does some damage to Fritz's business. And he starts thinking that he's moving too fast and is wrestling and business dealings. He realizes he's still spending too much time away from home. His body's hurting more from years of taking hits.

What happens next depends, again, on who you believe, what you believe. Court of Defense, he'll say that he finally decided to attend a Baptist church service. Realize he had to give his life over to Lord who suddenly took away his health problems when he did. And for that, Fritz decided to dedicate his wrestling career and his family, which he become one of the same to God.

Others would see it differently. They would see it as in the mid 1970s, Fritz, who was in his 40s, knew that his time in the ring was limited, knew that to introduce his sons to the rest of the world, he would need a good narrative, a good angle, something way better than the Nazi mumbo jumbo. He came up with in the 40s, you know, with the 50s more. What could play better in Texas than a Christian family that fought in the ring for justice and lived according to the teachings of Christ outside of the ring? Did Fritz truly give his life to God or did he know that the optics of sane that he did

were great for business? I personally think it was a business move. He was not afraid to change the supposedly true narrative of who he was personally to sell more wrestling tickets. Making a big move for his family's future, Fritz's elected president of the National Wrestling Alliance, the most powerful pro wrestling organization in the world for decades, at on September 1st, 1975. And then he arranged for Gary Hart, the jackal, to out him to fans by telling them that Fritz was really Jack Atkison from Texas, not Fritz von Eric from Berlin. Fritz was now seen as a hometown hero.

An article in July of 1976, that issue of the wrestler proclaimed that man they booed long ago is not the same man who wrestles today. Fritz himself is quoted as saying, I want to do as much good in the future as I did harm in the past. The only part of my career which I ever consider goes back only four or five years. The rest is ancient history, I only want forgotten. I have a lot to do, a lot of sins to erase. A lot of blood has been spilled because of me and I must avenge it.

I've abused the sports dignity for too long. It's time for me to be a leader in my quest of restoring that dignity. To be in genuine there, or that is some wrestling soap opera, gibberish. Americans do love a redemption story. Now, Fritz, he does still keep the name, Fritz von Erich, uh, simply markets himself, you know, Lisa's a ring name, simply markets himself as a good guy with a bad face. Good guy tough enough to take on the worst elements in wrestling. Interestingly, Fritz will be voted out of the NWA presidency the following August, less than a year after taking that position. By other promoters who believed that Fritz doesn't give a shit about the sport, just his own constant self-promotion. Fritz didn't care. He'd already done what he needed to do. He

changed the narrative, opened a way to bring his sons into the ring. After successful high school football, basketball and track and field careers, Fritzes sons, Kevin, David, and Kerry become the first three all-state athletes from Lake Dallas, uh, high school, uh, Kerry even sets a junior world discus record and now the three brothers go on to college and one by one, they'll leave college to become professional wrestlers. As they'll tell it, the sons assumed that the best way to test their own character to discover who they really were was to wrestle just like Dad. Or were they heavily pressured to wrestle by Dad? Let's start with Kevin. Kevin Atkison makes his professional debut as Kevin Von Eric in Fairfield, Texas, June 11, 1977. He had just turned 20. He dreamt

briefly of playing in the NFL, just like his dad had. He was actually a full back in North State, Texas University, but an injury killed his NFL dream. David, who would just turn 19, made his debut shortly afterwards. And soon, father and sons will be wrestling together. On July 18, 1977, Fritz and David become, or they beach, excuse me, Captain USA and Gary Hart. Then November 14, 1977, Fritz, David, Kevin Von Eric, beat Gary Hart, Captain USA and

Ox Baker Carriol make his debut on Thanksgiving weekend in 1977 Only 17 when he started but a big 17-year-old the most muscular of the brothers And soon all three brothers are becoming Dallas wrestling sensations Follow me here June 26 1978 20-year-old David Von Eric Mary's 18-year-old girl named Candy 20-year-old David Von Erich, Mary's 18-year-old girl named Candy. Their daughter will be born just a few months later, October 19th. Her name is Natasha, Zawena, Adkeson, but tragically she will pass away at just two months old. Dies of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome, so much early death in this family.

You know, never really recovering from that loss, just over a year later, the couple will separate July 12th, 1979, not get back together. Before that, the three oldest remaining Von Erich brothers and Fritz will make their debut as a quartet. December 26, 1978. Results unknown, but since Fritz was the booker, you know, they probably won. Fritz's last match in Japan will take place January 5, 1979. He'll lose to jumbo, Suruuta.

He will not return again for 14 years. And even then he won't wrestle. Fritz's last match in Japan will take place January 5th, 1979. He'll lose to jumbo, Suruuta. He will not return again for 14 years. And even then he won't wrestle. For the meantime, Dallas is where it's at. He and his sons don't have to travel too far. They're making great money. The regional superstars, right? Why go anywhere else? By the spring of 1979, David and Kevin Van Erick are the Texas tag team champions,

a championship whose winners Fritz controlled, of course. Still in magazine interviews, Fritz controlled, of course. Still in magazine interviews, Fritz will claim the boys did it all themselves. We'll say, I'm in a bad position. Anything good I say about David and Kevin is viewed as some family hype, not the case. These two kids have carefully developed into wrestling's greatest young tag team. I have to admit that they've succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. Notice how he puts David's name first, even though Kevin is the oldest,

already is becoming obvious to many that David is Fritz's natural successor. All three boys had the moves, but David had the star power. He was good behind the mic, good interviews, knew how to rile up a crowd. He wasn't just a good wrestler, he was a great showman. Fritz didn't realize that the best show was him fighting alongside David, and now the two of them fight matches together throughout the spring. Around this time, Mattel Toy Company contacts Kevin and David about allowing the company to manufacture doll-like action figures of the boys. They'll be called world-class championship wrestling action figures. How cool is that? Who wouldn't want their action figure in stores?

I love it. Unfortunately, Mattel Representative Missy the appointment with David at the ranch and arrived late. Nobody told Fritz, somebody was coming, and the family was sitting down for dinner when somebody knocked to the door. Fritz went to answer it, bellowing in his deep, gravely voice. What do you want? Finally, he comes back to the table alone.

David must've done the courage to ask who it was. And he just grumbles, some guy trying to sell dolls. That, David said, that guy represented one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world And they want to make action figures that look like us not sell as anything. What did you tell him? And Fritz said plainly I told him we were eating supper. You come back some other time I also told the dumbass that we were wrestlers that we didn't need to damn dolls Okay, so I guess Fritz was not maybe big on having action figure in stores listen brother

I'm not a doll, okay. I don't play with dolls brother. You call them action figures all you want You know I know that an action figure is just a doll with a different name watch next brother My own line of tea cups Would you like to have a tea party with me brother? Would you like me to put my hair in pig tails where I'm fully a little dress? Ask how many loves of sugar you would like in your cup, brother?

Should we bake cupcakes together and jump rope and ride in our diaries about the cutest boys in class? Wonder if they might ask us to the dance someday, brother? Do you want to hug? Talk about our feelings? Cry and become a touch with our emotions brother not today I'd rather punch my sons in their fucking faces to open up a door that leads away from toxic masculinity to play with some fucking dolls and shit brother or you know something like that I

know exactly but some probably not the best idea to keep you in that voice is cool David tried to arrange another meeting, but the representative was allegedly too scared to come back to the ranch. Still within a year, the company did produce Von Erich action figures. Nevermind, brother. I guess action figures are pretty cool in shit, brother. Forget what I said about the tea parties. Later, WWE, Carrie von Erich, calls will sell an eBay for around $300, $400.

Can't imagine what the original ones would cost now. I couldn't find any of those online that are up for sale August 1st, 1980 23 year old Kevin Vaughn Eric Mary's young woman named Pam While her life before marrying Kevin remains largely private We do know that their connection blossomed during a brief encounter leading to a short but intense courtship. Hail Luciferina 1981 they'll welcome their first daughter, Kristen and they'll go on to have three more kids. Now let's pivot over to Kerry. Back in 1980, Kerry was named to represent the US in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow,

throwing the discus. He had set world records as an undergraduate at the University of Houston. He'd already wrestled with his dad and brothers and several matches, but still seem more devoted to discus. Dude was a phenomenal athlete. Unfortunately for Kerry, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan at the end of 1979, prompting President Jimmy Carter to suspend technology and grain sales to the Soviet Union, then Carter joined 63 other countries to boycott the 1990 Olympics. In one of his very few political statements

Fritz would condemn the move saying, I've always thought that was the dumbest thing a US president could do. It was not fair to our boys. They'd worked their butts off to get ready for those games only to be let down. Yeah, that does suck. Athletes train their entire childhoods

in early adult lives for the Olympics and if your country doesn't let you participate, real good chance, you won't ever get to go again. Kerry now is disillusioned with throwing the discus and he pursues wrestling alongside his brothers full time. By September of 1980, the three brothers and Fritz are fighting together at least once a month. Kevin Von Eric will soar to number 16 in wrestling world's rankings.

David is in the coveted number nine spot. Kevin, smaller of the first three wrestling Von Eric boys at six to little over 220 pounds was the barefoot flyer, the risk taker. David was the big cowboy six foot eight, 230 pounds. He wrestled like Fritz gave great interviews. Kerry, meanwhile, had a sort of dumb jock persona, which fit with his huge muscles, gorgeous shoulder length hair, dude, with six to between 250, 260 pounds of chiseled muscle, massive arms and packs. Von Eric family had something to offer every wrestling fan no matter what their personal taste was. Indeed the early eighties would be the heyday of Von Eric popularity as their brothers would bring in a younger audience,

especially teen girls, young women and revitalize the sport. These guys especially carry were hard throps. They reviewed both as gods champions and theize the sport. These guys, especially Carrie, were hardthrobs. They reviewed both his gods champions and the people's champions, down home Texas family who love God, each other and wrestling in that order. November 15th, 19th, 1, Fritz begins broadcasting a pilot program from the Dallas,

sportatorium. I let the name sportatorium, by the way. His design of the show would go a long way and make into sons even bigger stars, national stars. Hosted by resting announcer Jean Goodson not mean Jean of later resting announcing fame With Fritz doing the color commentary the show was quickly picked up by the Christian Bible network CBN and it would distribute it nationwide

Mark Lawrence served as the ring announcer David Manning and served as the referee all men came together to form narratives It was skyrocket the boys popularity In line with their personas as good guys, the show focused primarily on various friends, turning their backs on the Von Erich brothers and mercenaries brought in by long time, familial rivals like Gary Hart, Skand or Akbar to take them down.

Show also a pioneer of the use of vignettes, little video packages to introduce wrestlers, push soap opera-like narratives along, right? This is all before WWE, before WWE. Seeing more of their outside of the ring lives on this network helps solidify the relationship between the Von Erickson fans, meaning the Von Erick boys became more like rock stars and showmen mild by adoring fans whenever they left the house. It's going great for the Von Erickson right now, right?

They keep soaring to greater and greater heights. Forget cursed right now. They seem blessed just moving on up Late 1981 David leaves his father's resting promotion briefly wrestling Florida does this against Fritz's wishes and he'll wrestle There is a villain Pisses off Fritz big time. He'd spent a better part of a decade trying to rehabilitate his resting persona shady past Kevin soon calls David tells him that their dad wants to apologize

Kevin also calls Fritz says David wants to apologize The lie works David reunites with his family returns to Dallas and now they'll just stay together But also Fritz feels like he can't focus on his promotion and resting career at the same time and decides it is time to retire June 14th 1982 Fritz has his retirement match beating King Kong Bundy to win the American championship for the 13th and final time. Got to watch Bundy wrestle a few years later in the WWF. He co-headlined Russell Manie in 1986, went up against Hulk Hogan, big boy, six four, over 450 pounds of private muscle, but maybe more padding. Bundy took

an early advantage of the match by attacking Fritz as he was removing his sweater, Fritz recovered and then applied the iron claw. As the battle moved outside the ring, Bundy attacked Fritz with a chair, but then Fritz turned it back on him, clubbed him with a chair, followed up with a pin. Come out of retirement just once after this. May 6, 1984 is part of a tag team championship with his sons. But for the most part, now he's just focused on his kids. How to, you know, build them into superstars and keep them superstars. Between 19, 19, 19, 82, his nationally televised wrestling promotion, world class championship wrestling would earn an average of $11 million a year. His show second only to sole train as a syndicated program appearing on 80 stations across the US and in 23 foreign countries

He was out earning the WF which had formed in 1979 But I've been around in various regional forms since 1953 starting off as capital wrestling Federation soon becoming a regional promotion under the National banner of the NWA National Wrestling Association a Business currently around actually owned now by Billy Corgan, front man for the smashing pumpkins. Anyway, Fritz would describe his approach to promoting in the 80s like this. We would set up our shows as if they were soap operas on TV. So the fans could see the feuds begin, continue and grow each week in a more or less natural way. What I mean by this is, if both wrestlers get into their good or bad routine the crowds will usually take over from there

And will label one as the hero and one as the villain However, the winner would and should always be the better man. I always felt like the outcome would take care of itself That's not entirely true and truth the outcomes Rarely took care of themselves Fritz decided who the better man was based on a variety of considerations before the matches began including a wrestler's loyalty to Fritz and his ability to win over fans. Fritz also went beyond merely choreographing fights. He provided his boys with anabolic steroids and turned them into muscled supermen. Steroids were legal in wrestling this time and their use was widespread. So Fritz probably just wanted to, you know, his sons

to be able to keep up with the competition who are undoubtedly using them as well. But did the pressure to keep up come at a terrible price with what steroids may have been doing to the brains. Doctors now know that antibiotics steroids taken in massive doses for long periods of time can often lead to wild mood swings, extreme roid rage, a roid rage anger, trouble with impulse control and decision making and other long term problems with the brain structure and function. One study used scans to compare the brains of people who had used anabolic steroids for at least two years with those who had never taken them and the results showed obvious differences

in the size and shape of specific brain regions between the groups. The steroid users performed worse on tests, measuring memory, attention, and decision-making skills. Another study found that people who would use antibiotics steroids for more than two years more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders than people who would never use steroids. Paranoia, extreme irritability, gastrointestinal problems, fluid retention, increased risk of heart attacks, a variety of other ailments can often do result from long-term steroid abuse. Hitting the juice too hard can wreak fucking havoc on your body and your mind.

Some people who have used anabolic steroids over a long time report symptoms that mimic those seen with Parkinson's disease. Quitting steroids can cause problems too. Some people who stop using anabolic steroids after long-term use may experience withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, extreme depression, and trouble sleeping. Hormones are directly linked to our mood, right, in our mental health, and unnaturally elevating levels of hormones or extremely low levels of hormones, if you stop taking steroids, for example, can leave you in a real bad mental state. A variety of studies have associated heavy animal X-Teroid use with greatly increased odds of suffering a major depressive episode.

And thus greatly increased chance of committing suicide. Considering what will happen to them on Eric Boyes here soon, pretty likely that's terroid use. You know, you took his toll on the boy's minds and helped lead them towards making tragic and irreversible decisions. In 1982, in addition to supplying them with steroids, Fritz also starts looking for a suitable rivalry for his newly famous sons. David has an idea. In Florida, he met three wild badass Southern wrestlers called the Free Birds. The Von Erich boys needed rivals

and the Free Birds seemed perfect. They were cast as cheating, beer, drinking outlaws. And they would get on TV and rant about the Von Erich squeaky, clean appearance. They'd call him daddy's boys and wrestling fans loved it. There had never been a rivalry like that before in professional wrestling said David Melzner or David Meltzer. A man obsessed with wrestling history who published the wrestling observer a newsletter for the wrestling industry. It was beautifully set up and it made the Von Erick's national celebrities long before

other wrestlers like Hulk Hogan became celebrities. The Free Birds were some of the earliest pioneers in using popular songs as Ring Entrance music, sometimes alternating between Free Bird by Leonard Skinnert and Georgia on my mind by Willie Nelson. That's weird. Free Birds are fucking great entrance song, but Georgia on my mind, I love William Nelson. Listen to him a bunch growing up on a pop awards favorites. One of the few guys he called a hippie that he actually liked.

And it's a great song, but check this out. It's a super slow ballad. That's what you're coming to the ring till? Yeah, this is getting the crowd hyped. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think Freib, much better choice. Glow, I can't change. Right? Fucking, coming down the aisle?

High five, everybody. I'll fucking roy it out. Oh, fuck you. Right, shaking the ropes. You fucking solo is so hard. This shit makes me wanna wrestle right now. I forgot how much I love what it's here. The Ronnie Van Zantier, if anyway.

But I came across this in the notes. I immediately switched up. I immediately only listened to the scary. I played the rest of that solo, but it's like four minutes. I've listened to an 80s hard rock playlist before. Motley Crew, Cinderellaorella guns and roses Defleper John Bon Jovi shot through the heart and your two blame dollar you give love a bad name It's a good playlist forget into the mood of some 80s wrestling

Uh, the success of that part of the rack led WCCW to incorporate more popular rock songs as entrance music for other resters. You know, the Von Erichs will walk down the aisle to Tom Sawyer by rush. George Thurough Good's Bad to the Bone used for the dynamic duo of Chris Adams and Gina Hernandez. More great choices. Fucking way better than Georgia on my mind. I still am so confused by this. The promotion at numerous popular acts now, but the Von Eric Brothers, most popular. Nearly 15,000 people came out in 1924 to see the Von Eric Boys make a token appearance

at town east mall in Mesquite Nevada. It's fucking crazy. Most of them young women squealing like they were the Beatles shown up on an Ed Sullivan. These guys truly were rock stars. The first time Carrie wrestling in Chicago, 37,000 people filled Kamiski Park. Chant in his name before the matches began. That's amazing. That had to have felt incredible. 37,000 people. At least 200,000 households in Dallas, Fort Worth alone were watching the Von Erick's weekly show in 1984 and

The program also went out to 60 markets in the US and in to Japan into the Middle East Black market copies of the show would be shown as far away as Nigeria Von Erick's now became international stars traveling as far as Japan and Israel to wrestle There was even the Von Erick fan club of Israel. Members would make visits to the Whaling Wall and the old city of Jerusalem to pray for the family success. They're fucking huge in Israel. I love it. These guys on top of the world again, the Von Erich

seemed blessed right now, not cursed. And with the three oldest remaining brothers rapidly rising in the world of professional wrestling, it seemed natural for Mike and Chris to follow. Mike showed promising athletic skills in high school, but I think he always felt a lot more pressure on him, Carrie would later say, being in a family of overachievers. Here he was with three older brothers

who were never happy unless they did their best. Mike was thrown into that life in an awful hurry. June 18th, 1983, Von, main Von Eric, Hartthrob, Carrie Von Eric, will marry Catherine and Murray, and they'll go on to have two children together. Von, it main Von Eric Hartzrobb, Carrie Von Eric, will marry Catherine and Murray, and they'll go on to have two children together. In 1984, the Von Erics will draw 41,000 paid audience members to Texas stadium and Irving,

just at a Dallas, for what was then the largest audience ever to see a wrestling match in North America. It's one of the Dallas Cowboys played at that time, America's team, Von Erics America's wrestlers. At the time, Carrie had been named the most popular wrestler in the US by national wrestling magazines, more popular than Hulk Hogan, even. He looked like Samson with his long curly hair and magnificent muscle body. Does every move and match followed by thousands and thousands of teen girls?

He was the first true pinup star of wrestling. It looked kind of like the ultimate warrior would look later. National tour, but not as crazy. National tour was now planned. The Von Erichs poised to become even more famous. Even Mike was on the come up right, the young Von Erich, although possessing a smaller frame, there's older brothers. He'd roied up, put on a 238 pounds of muscle in a six foot two frame. 194 Mike still raw on an experience at the age of 20 voted rookie of the year by one national wrestling magazine. Another wrestling magazine voted Kevin man of the year and named Carrie the most

popular wrestler. Von Erick's dominating professional wrestling also starting to realize the harsh glare of the public spotlight not always fun. Though all four of them had married at early ages, they were pressured to pretend to be single, so they would not lose the adoration of thousands of teenage girl fans. its demanded they never drink in public and never turn away an autograph-seeker All of them became born to grand Christians. They would deliver testimonies with such mesmerizing conviction hundreds would answer the Ultra call at the end of the services But was that conversion even real or just part of the show? Imagine the pressure to continually pretend to be somebody you're not in order to keep the money flowing in for your family

But with that due to your mental state, might would you feel like a huge phony most of the time? And right now, when things are looking like they're going so great is when tragedy strikes again. David Von Eric was the most temperamental of the Von Eric's sons, dominating and the ring is his father had been an almost impervious to injuries. But in late 1973, a few months before a big trip to Japan, where the Von Erichs were revered, almost as much as they were in the US this time, he starts to throw up like frequently for a while. He had had some kind of stomach sickness, he told his family, but you know,

ah, nothing to be worried about, it'll go away, but it doesn't go away. And as they go into the doctor, he just keeps wrestling. Avoiding the doctor like that Yeah, that is a fucking dead giveaway that something bad is about to happen So much Charles not ready to leave the suck first not quite yet. He's gonna be around for a while some four And in his Tokyo hotel room, February 10th, 1994, at the age of only 25, David drops dead.

And now the tablets have a field day with how he died. Was he sick? Was it a drug overdose? Were the Von Erichs as wholesome as they claimed? A penthouse reporter asked the Von Erich business associate if drugs had killed David. That was the rumor. Well, Fritz had a copy of the death report from the u.s. embassy in japan and it

clearly said david died from acute uh... enteritis a severe intestinal infection but the rumors of a drug overdose would still persist because uh... i don't know better to gossip about i guess david's funeral meanwhile is simply astonishing more than a thousand people will pack the first-p in Denton, Texas around

2000 more gathered outside. The balcony is like something out of a Beatles concert, teenage girls sobbing hysterical and insolable. On each side of the closed casket, portraits of David, one minister's eulogy describes how David was in the end victorious because he won his match with the devil. Channel 39 later ran an hour long television special on David's life showing the large happy face kid copying his dad's great whole de iron claw for the first time. David's eyes growing wide as blood seeps out of the head of

an opponent. The family's inherent sense of drama, excuse me, they're equally powerful since loss, leads them to create a few months after David's death, a memorial match of Texas stadium in David's honor. May 6, 1984 in front of 41,000 fans. This is the big match I talked about earlier. Fritz came out of retirement to help Kevin and Mike beat the freebirds in David's honor. I'm guessing they didn't come to the ring with Georgia, my mind for this big match, intensely emotional match. Then Kerry defeats the reigning world champion, the nature boy Rick Flair to gain the world championship belt for the first time. David was right there next to me, Kerry told reporters, and it truly did seem for a while

that David's death would only add to the Von Eric mystique, becoming a compelling, rallying point for the famous family. Kerry would lose the belt on the 18 days later, and Yoko Soru, Japan, excuse me, Yoko So, oh my gosh, Yoko Suru, Japan. Excuse me. Yoka So... Oh my gosh. Yoka. Suca. Japan. Back to Flair.

You would lose a back to Flair and a bout that was marred by controversy. Von Erick's feet were on the bottom rope, falling in reverse roll up. But the referee ignored this and made the count. Woo! There's no controversy, baby. It was fate. You find the nature boy. You gotta know that God is gonna be on the side of his most perfect creation. Woo! Go back and watch some old Ric Flair interviews by the way.

The guy is fucking gifted at show promo. He's an entertainer still is. In truth, the NWA only allowed Kerry a short reign as world champion and was told to drop the belt to Flair before the United Champions encounter on May 29th between Flair and Ricky the Dragon Steamboat. I just love watching the dragon. Still, for the Von Eric die hard, the emotional truth was more important. The Von Erics were still on top. But a year later, Mike now suddenly is rushed to the hospital with toxic shock syndrome. August of 1985.

He seemingly had been fine. Haven't just gotten married to Shawnee Garza, the previous February. He had a shoulder injury. Got't just gotten married to Seani Garza, the previous February. He had a shoulder injury, got surgery for it, was released, everything seemed to be okay, but it wasn't. A rare bacteria had entered his body during surgery. His temperature soared to 107 degrees.

His weight would drop a full 50 pounds, and most of his organs would suffer significant damage. For days, he would only be able to respond to questions by blinking his eyes. At one point, Baylor Hospital, where doctors gave Mike very little chance of living, we're receiving 400 calls in hour from well-wishers. They had to hire next to people to handle these phone calls. Nevertheless, he will live for its boom that the doctor is down the hallway and let his family into a room to pray Miraculously Mike did survive and their testimonies later the churches they would go to Fritz and his sons would say that God had given them a miracle

Still those who knew Mike will also said he was never gonna be the same again But I mentioned the chronic use of high level of steroids increases your susceptibility to a variety of infections It does it weakens your immune system Did David's intestinal infection become fatal in part due to his steroid use? increases your susceptibility to a variety of infections. It does, it weakens your immune system. Did David's intestinal infection become fatal in part due to his steroid use, right? Is it possible that Mike became infected by a rare bacteria because of his steroid use?

It is possible. Then just a year later, June of 1986, Kerry slams into a police car with his motorcycle, requires 15 hours of surgery on one of his feet. Doctors had trouble restoring blood flow through the lake. They inserted pins and needles into the foot, had diffused part of the bone. According to his brother, Kevin, carry then re-indered the foot following surgery by attempting to walk on it too soon. And then doctors had to amputate it. He'll

continue wrestling after the accident following 16 months of rehabilitation with a prosthesis and will keep the amputation a secret to the majority of his fans and fellow wrestlers, even going to the extreme length of showering with his boots on in the locker room's backstage. When you look up old matches from after he lost his foot, it is insane how the loss of one of his feet did not slow him down, at least to my eye as a high flying professional wrestler still fucking jacked still flying around the ring body slammer Dude's left and right didn't even walk with the limp

How many Royates did he have to take to speed up and maintain his recovery? Fritz now worried about the family business Mike is recovering from toxic shock syndrome carry can't yet wrestle again No one knows if he's going to wrestle again yet David is gone The balls to the family image and because he's running out wrestle again yet, David is gone, debolster the family image, and because he's run out of suns who can wrestle, he makes a desperate move and brings in a handsome young wrestler from Oregon named Kevin Vaughn. He'll rename Kevin Lance Vaughn Eric and tell the audience that he's a distant cousin. This will be a huge mistake.

This move will knock a big hole into the integrity of the Vaughn Eric family, and it'll cause a lot of infighting. None of the brothers were in favor of this move. It was all Fritz's idea. into the integrity of the Von Erich family. And it'll cause a lot of infighting. None of the brothers were in favor of this move. It was all Fritz's idea. Many loyal Von Erich believers doubted the story from the very beginning. Even when the sons would talk about how they grew up

playing with their cousin Lance and now they look like liars. I mean, they were liars. Making matters worse, the new Von Erich, not even a good wrestler. And he was an asshole, despite not being loved by fans, despite not being a very good wrestler,

he goes to Fritz and demands a lot more money. Fritz outraged says no, but then Lance leaves his promotion company to join a rival promoter, leaving the Von Eric family back where they started, but now embarrassed. Fritz tells Lance the Von Eric name is copyright protected when it comes to wrestling, outs him to fans, telling the fans that you know what, he wasn't to real Von Erich. And yes, that will hurt Kevin, who will now have to wrestle as the fabulous Lance, but it hurts the Von Erich's more because Fritz and his sons look like fucking idiots. They told their fans.

The guy was family. Now Fritz exposes it all as a big lie, very bad move for the brand. Meanwhile, Mike Von Erich, still trying to return to wrestling. About the toxic shock has done too much damage and a car wreck adds to that damage. In 1986, Mike suffered head injuries from a car accident when his vehicle overturned after he lost control of it. Ever since that, his coordination was off, and one match he tried to execute a dropkick just landed on his face. Sadly the high fever also left him with permanent brain damage.

In fact, it is speech a bit and effected his memory. Mike was now doing shit like he'd started to do a wrestling move and then just stop and freeze. Just, you know, completely forgot what he was trying to do. At a match in Austin, with Kevin, he grabbed the microphone to, you know, start yelling some hyped shit about the fucking great Von Erichs, you know, and about the evil enemy, and then you forgot what he's supposed to say. And then just stood there mouth open, saying nothing like a Mitch McConnell. As the cameras roll, it's fucking painful to watch Mike not doing well at all. Once he attacked the street light and frustration over his condition, screams,

cries over the pressure to be David after his brother's death. Kevin will later say it was just a nightmare, a damn nightmare. I thought it's all going. We're all finished. I'd look out and watch Mike try and wrestle knowing how badly he felt and I knew how much he wanted to keep up the family name. And I just couldn't believe how sad it all was. Kerry also felt pressure created by David's absence to become the families, you know, true champion adding to family turmoil, the wrestling business is rapidly changing and evolving away from Fritz and his sons. Due to a stream of glowing publicity from the mainstream press, sports illustrated, ran a cover store in WrestleMania, professional wrestling competition nationwide goes to a major upheaval in the mid 1980s. Television

networks and syndicates clamor for more and more wrestling shows in 1986. A Dallas viewer could watch 44 hours of televised wrestling a week from various promotions. Two years before that, the only shows they got were the one starring the Von Erichs and others on their promotion by competition is increasing tremendously. More and more stars are being made. More and more wrestler salaries are going through the roof, which will attract more and more top tier talent to try and make some of that top money top level resters are making They who were making excuse me two hundred thousand dollars a year in the late 70s now fetching over two million a year And a new breed of resting promoters emerges who who care nothing about the old rules several organizations came into Dallas to run shows including promoters from other

Territories the old rules. Several organizations came into Dallas to run shows, including promoters from other territories. Fritz thought these newcomers would adhere to the way things used to be kind of pay their dues. Nope. The WWF, the World Wrestling Federation now eclipses Fritz's World Class Championship Wrestling, aka the World Class Wrestling Association as the top dog. WWF now gets the sports biggest stars, Hulk Hogan, Roudy Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, the ultimate warrior, others. They created true nationwide resting circuit and direct defines of old, the old regional system. Some of Fritz's business associates also went off to start their own competing

promotions. One of Fritz's closest allies can man tell begins the wild West resting organization and Fort Worth, right, the right in the middle of his territory. Fritz now, uh, find some of his top talent being lured away to make more money elsewhere. The free birds, other popular tag teams like the Fantastic Sleeve to make matters even worse, you know, some of the best wrestlers who stay with the Von Eric camp, like Gina Hernandez pass away. He dies of a cocaine overdose. Again, again, a bad look for the wholesome brand. Attendant starts deployment at the weekly Von Eric matches at the sportatorium goes from 2000, you know,

people in the Von Eric's heyday in the early 80s to crowds of about 300 now. Wrestling fans just had too many other options and the Von Eric's with all that they're dealing with not able to keep up with the competition in a move of frustration for its organization, which ran most of the professional wrestling in the Dallas Fort Worth area, they decided to break away from associations with any and all other wrestling organizations. They formed their own Federation and declared a separate world champion under the new Federation to no one's surprise. Kevin becomes the world champion. And in late 1986, plans are announced to start a major Von Eric over America tour. The sons are slated to hit every major city in the country, try to reclaim some of the popular they'd had just a year or two before.

But then tragedy strikes again. April 16, 1907, police find a body curled up in an old sleeping bag in a dense grove woods, few hundred yards away from the Von Erich boyhood home. After being arrested for a DUI, Mike had driven out to the old family stomping grounds and taken a lethal overdose of tranquilizers on April 12th. He's just 23. Police found wrestling boots in the back of his seat of his car, along with a short note addressed to his mom. It said, mom, you have always been wonderful. I am in a better place. No note to his dad. From what I can tell from sources, Mike was a son who had quietly

gone to visit handicap kids, a son who without telling anybody, have been given money to a poor old lady who lived near him. But for him being kind, being charitable, not enough. He wanted to wrestle on the national stage, wanted to be a champion, wanted to live up to his dad's hopes for him, but he just couldn't. A few days before his death, Mike had come to his mom and told her that he was scared. He was afraid that in a year or two, something else in his body was going to stop working. Still hadn't recovered from effects of toxic shock syndrome and that car accident. He was never going to fully recover, but he hadn't accepted that. The infection, the accident that followed left him with irreversible brain damage, other health problems. He asked

his mom, what was he supposed to do? Right? If he couldn't make a living as a wrestler, Doris tried to comfort him by telling him, you know, his family would support him. You know, however, whatever he wanted to do, he'd be fine. He didn't need to be a wrestler, but Mike didn't see it that way. For him, it was be a big, badass professional wrestler, or, no, it just wasn't worth being at all. He found himself in a deep hole of a major depressive episode, and he just couldn't see his way out. This time there will be no great public declaration of grief. There will be no memorial match in Texas stadium, you know, just the arena bell ringing ten times in tribute, while the crowd stands silently by the Von Eric wrestling empire is crumbling. Thanksgiving, 1987, the Von Eric's hold a reunion for the triumphant return of Kerry

now, finally ready to return from the ring after 16 months of rehabilitation, about 2000 people show up far from the 41,000 that is showed up for the Memorial match for David backstage. Before the match, Fritz can be found leaning against the wall. It looks tired. Arms held loosely to sides. His stare is distant. Doris sits nearby, solemn, sitting properly in a chair, down the hall, carry stretches. Because of his injuries, he's no longer,

you know, has the mobility to make his famous story and drop kicks the same way, lost some speed. However, he had spent much of a 16 month convalescence in the weight room and he has fucking jacked. Amazingly, he has even more muscles packed onto his bulky frame, wearing an Elvis style sequined white robe with carry on the back. Starresser has a look on his face.

One reporter described his murderous. For the match, Fritz says he has an announcement to make. He is retiring, like out of the promotion business now. He'll sell out his financial interest in the company, the promoted he and his son's careers, and will only make rare public appearances. Can Mantell is old business partner, who'd once left him in an angry split is returning to run the resting promotion. This night he'll still be part of the show though and he pulls out some old showbiz moves out by the ring Fritz acting mostly his Kevin's manager at this point entertains the

crowd when the matches are set to start in a way only he could the ring announcer referring to some vague fucking made up rule says you know Fritz has to be locked in the cage while Kevin wrestles warming up the crowd for carry. The bald headed Gary Hart Fritz is arch nemesis manager for another wrestler begins taunting Fritz thrown in monkey food, calling him names inside the ring the barefoot Kevin slams against the ropes fires himself across the mat like a stone from a catapult climbs on the top of a turnbuckle swan dives on his opponent. Meanwhile Fritz beckons heart to come close to crowds in an uproar suddenly his Kevin pins his opponent to the mat. Fritz reaches out grabs heart,

starts slamming his head into the bars of the cage. Then when Kerry comes out for his 20 minutes of fury, the place fucking explodes for the diehard fans present their hero has returned. He takes on his rival Brian adias uses the iron claw, chokes him around the neck, spins him around, swings him off his feet. Then he lifts the deus over his head claw chokes him around the next spins him around swings him off his feet then he lifts the deus over his head slams him on the mat a deus helpless seems lost his mouth half open and agony and carries you in all of us on one fucking foot a true champion brother he had a power inside the didn't conform to laws of nature brother in energy

a cheat a level five point to light worker looking like someone visited the ruins of the Library of Alexandria, found some fireball wizard scrolls, has that raw strength to spirit brother. Who needs to feed if you have the heart of 10 men in the bosships of 20 brother? Then when some of Adesis Villanous comrades sneaking to the ring to try and gang up on Kerry,

Outcomes Kevin, the loyal Von Eric brother, ensuring another Von Eric victory. Were the remaining Von Eric's poised to ascend to higher wrestling heights again now? Well, Kerry will wrestle throughout 1988 with nobody knowing that he'd had his foot amputated, not until November of that year. November 12th, the professional wrestling match was held between Kerry and Colonel DeBears at the showboat Hotel in Las Vegas. In an AWA American wrestling association show, at some point in the match, Colonel DeBeer's pulls on Vaughn Eric's leg, rips his boot off and

exposes his missing foot. And this little stunt really seemed to fuck Carrie's head up. Well, he still had his chiseled body, big smile, there was something different, something missing, not talking about his foot. His overall presence now is lacking. He'd lost his mojo. He was also now unbeknownst to almost everyone after 10 years of dealing with pain in his leg or not 10 years after years, excuse me, of dealing with pain his leg addicted to painkillers. Still he pushed past all this pain for a while, goes on to win several more titles, forms a tag team with Jeff Jarrett went into tag team title with him, wins a Texas heavyweight title twice, 1990 carry feuds violently with Matt born who would turn healed

during a ringside interview, during one match to two battle outside the sportatorium and the parking lot during a thunderstorm. Exciting shit. Manager Percy Pringle also turns healed, begins feuding, begins, began feuding with carry, then carry makes the move to join the WWF. The World Wrestling Federation, the biggest promotion in the world by far now, the promotion that would become the WWE in 2002 following their legal dispute with the World Wildlife Fund over the initials WF. He leaves them on Eric tradition to Kevin and the youngest brother Chris in the WWF President, promoter and sometimes rest of Vince McMahon will change his name from Carrie von Eric to the Texas tornado. And now world class withdraws from the USWA without Carrie, they lost their TV deal, most

of the revenue and they fold three months later. As the Texas tornado carry keeps competing, winning against buddy Rose defeating longtime rival, Mr. Perfect and wins against Tongan professional wrestler, Haku. Now let's pivot to Chris for a bit. Poor Chris just never had what it took to be a wrestling star. He was a lot smaller than his brother. He was 5'5", 175 pounds. He was scrappy, but he also had asthma. And the medication he took for asthma left his bones brittle, not a good combo

for a job that involves being slammed into a mat by 300 pound, roared it up acrobats over and over again. He was never destined to gain the same kind of start of his brother's head. But he wanted it. He loved wrestling. Maybe more than any of the brothers. He wanted to succeed so bad. He made his professional debut in 1990 at the age of 20. He became a full-fledged professional wrestler after a few years of appearing in various matches as a kind of add-on. And he began tagging his brother Kevin and longtime Ali Chris Adams in matches. He begins people like Mr. Pringle and Steve Austin.

Yep, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Despite his comparative lack of athleticism and size, Chris was loved by fans. Right? Who doesn't love an underdog? A underdog that often yell like go Chris go during his matches, but he kept getting hurt. The predisone he took, you know, for his asthma made his bones brittle enough to keep breaking during matches. His mind was willing, but his body was not. That frustrated

Chris to no end. This all amounted to a dead giveaway. The more tragedy was coming. September 12, 1991, a few weeks before he's to to turn 22 at about 9 p.m. Chris's body is found by Kevin on the family farm. He'd shot himself in the head. According to Kevin, Chris came to him in the middle of the night, wanting a VCR Kevin borrowed. He was acting off, Kevin asked him if he was okay, said he was, but then worried about him, Kevin went looking for his little brother, found him sitting alone at the top of a little hill. Kevin went on, talked with him, or he that he'd started thinking about suicide after he broke his arm earlier that month. After Kevin pleaded with him not to harm himself and Chris re-assured himself. I wouldn't he's just, you know, feeling down.

Kevin leaves, returns to the house. Even gets back inside his dad is up. He asks his dad if Chris had ever talked about suicide before. First was like, no. Now for it's tells him go on your brother again and be fast. He returns to Chris but his moments too late. Chris had already shot himself. It was a bullet wound and the exit wound in the back of his head his heart was still beating but would not be for long. Toxicology reports were revealed cocaine and valleymen in his system at the time of his death. His internment located at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas. Now there are only two Von Eric brothers left. Kevin and Carrie and poor Fritz and Doris, especially Doris.

She had now lost her little brother and four of six sons, all dead by the age of 25. Can't imagine the kind of grief that would leave you with. Carrie was still resting for the WWF, but due to his pain killer addiction, concerns, you know, about more fans finding out bit missing foot, it really embarrassed him, uh, due to grief over the loss of another brother. He found himself winning fewer and fewer matches. His heart was just not in it. The Von Eric magic was gone. If he had made it to the WF like five years early, he probably would have been in the fucking biggest superstar of in the resting world at that time, bigger than Hogan, maybe, but he wasn't as a result, he's moving further and further down the rankings. He's getting fewer and fewer well-publicized

matches. Eventually, he leaves the WWF to work for a regional promoter at the global resting federation in Texas, huge drop in pay, big ego hit, big drop in prestige, then he gets divorced, then his parents get divorced. February 18, 1993 back in Dallas, Kerry now gets arrested on another drug charge. His second, for his first charge, the date is not mentioned in sources. He had gotten probation. After his second drug arrest, he's looking at bigger consequences, possibly a significant prison sentence. Kerry doesn't want to face the music on this too much of a epic fall from grace. He'd fallen too far in his mind to ever be able to recover and he just wants to die. In his later autobiography, former WWE champion, Hall of Famer, Brett, the

hitman heart, wrote that Gary had told him months earlier before his second arrest that he had wanted to follow his three late brothers. They were calling him from heaven. So that February day, he takes his life, fires a single bullet into his heart while at his father's ranch in Denton County, Texas. Dead at the age of 33, five of six brothers now gone. His parents will now bury the fifth other six sons. Two years after Kerry's death, his older brother Kevin now 37 exits the family business. He had seen too much. His career had installed.

His heart wasn't into the Von Eric name no longer thrilled fans. It's saddened him. It was associated with too much pain, too much loss. Kevin's a living reminder, you know, that his other wrestling brothers are gone. Kevin's last round of glory occurred January 7th, 1995, while competing for Jim Crockett, juniors, NWA promotion based at the sportatorium, where he won the North American heavyweight title, defeating Greg Valentine. Man, so many wrestling stars in the set. So week later, he dropped the title to John Hawk. He then formed a very brief alliance with manager Skandor Ockbar, cut back on ring appearances, and then formally retired at the end of 1995.

Two years later, Fritz Von Erich aka Jack Adkisson, the patriarch, the brainchild of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, dies a brain and lung cancer, September 10, 1997, after two month long illness. After years of watching his wrestling dynasty crumble he was 68. His funeral service was held at the first Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. His body was cremated with his ashes and turd in the same plot as his fourth son, Kerry, at Grove Hill Memorial Park, cemetery, Dallas, Texas. He be survived by his son Kevin, daughter in law, Pam, their four children and two other grandchildren, a fire in December of 2001, causes major damage to the Dallas, Portatorium, home with the Von Eric resting at empire.

Sportatorium eventually demolished in February of 2003, thus ending the run of that legendary venue. Almost 15 years later, October 23rd, 2015, Doris will pass away in Hawaii at the age 82, in her home for the previous 8 years. She spent those 8 years living with her son Kevin, daughter-in-law Pam, her grandkids, and some great-grandkids, living on a big, beautiful ranch on the island of Kauai. Hope she found some peace there, it sure looks peaceful as hell. Although no cause of death was mentioned, she's thought to have died of infosima, which she had battled for years. When she died, she was surrounded by the entire

family, who serenaded her with how great that art," said Kevin's daughter, Kristen Nicholas. I kissed her hand and didn't let go, Kristen said. Those hands raised six babies. Topped me how to crochet, made about a million cups of coffee and held each one of us, one time or another, as we cried over the deaths of our brothers or uncles, her sons. I couldn't stop thinking about how much comfort her hands had offered considering what grief she'd experienced and I'd never seen them out and I'd never see them outstretched again for a hug or hear the words, come here baby, cry with Mimi.

She was a rock as cliches it sounds always willing to talk you through the sad times even though her own losses were so much greater. Yeah, rest in peace, Doris. Man, it sounds like an amazing person. She'd keep her name, Doris Atkinson. She never wanted to be Doris Von Erich. Back in 1988, she told journalist Skip Hollinsworth that she wanted to be known, not as Doris Von Erich, but Doris Atkinson. But to be honest, she said to him, we hardly know who the Atkinsons are anymore. We've been arresting family for so long. I suppose I want the family to know that when they are tired of being Von Erichs, there is a place they can come where they can be Adkinsons Adkinsons. But I don't know if you

can ever stop being a Von Erich, she was buried next to her ex-husband, so she'd be close to her boys. And now today, there's only one OG Vonughn Eric left Kevin. He's 66, he lived for years and Kauai until very recently, apparently according to one source, he helps run a family investment business. He roots on the next generation of on Eric resters, Lacey Vaughn Eric, daughter of Kerry, we actually go on to have her wrestling career in the WWE last from 2007 to 2010. 2021, you became a part owner of SWE Fury along with business partner Tom Lance, SWE Fury of Texas based wrestling promotion, build is delivering in your face Texas style wrestling.

Carries two sons currently wrestle for various promotions under the names or not carries, excuse me, Kevin's two sons currently wrestle for various promotions under the names Ross and Marshall Von Eric. In July 2017, they talked to their dad, Kevin had a retirement for one last match, wrestling at the Rage mega show in Israel for the first time in 22 years. He recently moved back to Texas, purchased a ranch near San Antonio in September of 2023. Kevin spoke at the majestic theater in Dallas to share words of wisdom and some hilarious stories from his days as a restaurant in the 80s and lessons learned from loss.

He said during the event, I've seen death. I've seen that it is serious. When you lose someone, they're gone. You learn a lot from things like that. And with that brother, let's get out of this timeline. Good job, soldier. You've made it back. Barely. So is the Von Eric family cursed? Von Eric's story is almost too tragic to believe. Five sons dead, four as young adults, various freak accidents, surgeries, divorces, drug abuse,

suicides, and more. How could all that happen to a family who for several years reigns supreme atop the resting world? A family market is being clean living, God fearing all American good old boys. How could any family, if they weren't cursed, suffer that many separate misfortunes? Well, child mortality globally is about 4%. Let's just call the older Von Erich's children, because they were Fritz's children, and because it would be hard to calculate otherwise. And multiplying that by itself, five times gives you 0.000001024, about 110 million chance. I've had five children die before the age of 35. It's fucking crazy.

But when you consider certain mitigating factors, the odds of all these Von Erich boys dying gets a little less crazy. But when you consider certain mitigating factors, the odds of all these Von Erich boys dying gets a little less crazy. First, we looked at the premature deaths of wrestlers and there are a lot. While people like Stolen Cold Steve Austin, Dwayne the Rock Johnson, John Cena, have pretty much made it out of the game on skates, at least as far as we know, to enjoy the rest of their lives and relative comfort, far more wrestlers pass away young. Excuse me, a 2014 study found that in people age 50 to 55, the actual aerial death rate was just over 5%. Amongst former world resting federation athletes, the death rate four times is high, around 20%. Why is that? We can look at the obvious first things like

injury, sustained in the ring that sometimes lead to bigger injuries with life threatening complications. That's what eventually claimed the life of David Von Eric, third Von Eric brother, and directly also Mike Von Eric, the fourth, uh, excuse me, uh, David Von Eric, yeah, was third and no, Mike Von Eric, sorry, so many brothers. Uh, was the fifth, uh, David passed away from mysterious, mysterious stomach ailment in Japan while Mike suffered from complications of toxic shock syndrome would eventually commit suicide when he couldn't go back to wrestling as he had done before due to his injuries, including brain damage. And while recent studies have actually not shown the rate of suicide for pro-wrestlers to be higher than it is for the general public, sure seems like suicide.

You know, the rate's going to be higher for certain wrestlers due to a combination of injuries, drug dependence resulted from those injuries, and the use of steroids, which compromises brain functions related to processing of motions and decision making, and increases the odds of suffering a serious depressive episode. That'll be the case for Carrie von Erick. Carrie would find massive success as a wrestler. Even after a motorcycle accident that claimed his foot, he would wrestle successfully for years

as the Texas tornado. Behind the scenes, however, he was suffering from drug dependency, depression, the loss of his foot, feeling that his life was out of control. The carrier would eventually die by shooting himself in the heart and no less on his family's farm in February of 93, then also contributing to the string of deaths of the Von Erichs. I think you have to look at family pressure. Not every wrestler really wants his kids to follow in his footsteps, but despite Kevin Sain that they weren't pressured, sure seems like maybe the Von Erick boys were.

Literally all the sons who made it to adulthood would try their hand at professional wrestling. Now some kind of pressure had to lead to that. How much came from dad? How much came from just brothers' pressure in each other and spoken or unspoken ways, whenever no. When the oldest three boys found a lot of wrestling success,

when the youngest saw how happy that made their dad, how happy that made their brothers, how much pressure did that put on Mike and Chris? Combine that with the two youngest brothers also being the smallest and both suffering numerous health problems, that's going to be real tough on both of them mentally. How much did that pressure lead to both the youngest brothers committing suicide? No, brother, I don't think a curse had anything to do with the Von Erich deaths. I think some real bad luck, a series of unfortunate events and probably too much male ego led to all the deaths. And here's what I mean by what I mentioned, male ego.

This family when Fritz with the peak of his promotional powers, right, they were making insane money. Fritz could have easily pushed his younger boys toward the promotional side of things. Try to keep them out of the limelight. You know, preach more to the being a wrestler is not for everybody. And maybe he did. But if so, I guess nobody wanted to hear it. They all wanted to be big man on the big wrestling stage. I think his dad did at least just embody this man's man, kind of masculinity. And I'm sure the sun's felt pressure to live up to that.

Carrie, when he lost his foot, he could have owned that, showed some vulnerability, could have pushed his pride aside, became an inspirational, look at how much this guy overcame every time he enters the ring, you know, kind of story let his ego got in the way he and the other brothers they all wanted to be, you know, tough guys show no weakness. They wanted to appear just as bulletproof, just as bad ass as their dad Fritz, the guy who's own father forced him to fight other little kids when he was a little kid to be tough. And Fritz was a man who raised his own boys to be so comfortable with fighting. They would ask other kids around town if they wanted to throw hands.

For Fritz being a real man meant being tough, physically tough, dominating others. But what happens when you can't do that? When you're not built for that or when you're no longer built for that. What does that do to your mental state? That alpha mentality can serve you well when everything's going well. When the steroids are patting your body with more and more muscle when the girls are screaming your name at your matches, when your dad's one of the biggest resting promotion in the nation, what about when injuries start to mount up?

When you're not getting the same exposure you used to, thanks to increased competition, when you're no longer seen as the man. I think that alpha mentality can really start to work against you. It doesn't always mesh well with life handling you or handing you some humble pie. Right, you can start to, I imagine, feel like you're just never gonna make it back on top. And you can think, if you can't be the best, well, what's the point of being it all?

If you can't be in a mortal skull dick and wrist-mogging gigachadu as Jim Maxx himself to the highest heights of wrestling, why even get up in the morning? I don't know if any real curses exist. Fun to speculate about, over on Scare to Death, but who knows what the truth is. In this case, I don't think an actual curse was at play,

just a series again of unfortunate events and short-sighted, needless, terrible, irreversible choices. Just because you can't be the best at something means that that doesn't mean you shouldn't be. If you feel like you simply cannot achieve your dreams, well, maybe it's time to change your dreams up. That's always an option. If you're feeling unsuccessful, maybe it's time to redefine what it means for you to be successful. So much of life really is what we make of it. Or who knows, you know, maybe I'm just being

a total pussy brother, Hulk, a mania, there's not about settling brother. It's about dominating. It's about sweat, blood and tears brother. It's about hitting one more set when you feel like you got nothing left in the tank brother. It's about dominating. It's about sweat blood and tears brother It's about hitting one more set when you feel like you got nothing left in the tank brother It's about shooting up more needles of anabot steroids than anyone else is willing to shoot brother It's about small balls and big gains. It's giga chat or die brother coming off the top rope or don't show up But the fucking door brother. Wow I think I had that last will in me. I don't think that's what it's about though.

I think there's a lot more to life than being the biggest in the baddest, you know, as cool as those real life action figure pro wrestlers do make that look. Now let's get to today's Top Takeaways. Time to suck. Top five take away. Number one, Fritz von Eric career,

first really took off when he poured trade and not to heal. Not to heal with a great finish and move the iron claw. And someone think this character will be the origin of a true curse that will lead to him bearing five of six sons. Number two, a remarkable number of wrestlers do die young. There's even a Wikipedia page for it, premature wrestling deaths. While many of the deaths arise from different causes, we can point to some commonalities, things like poor health care, steroid use, addiction,

and dependency, stress, depression, and anxiety about a career where the highs are so high, and the lows can be so low. Number three, resting has been around a long time. From our earliest days of civilization, we've always enjoyed watching two men, or sometimes two ladies, go at it. Whether that be in the dirt and Greek resting academies at carnival side shows or the Dallas sport at Torium. Number four, Kevin Von Eric, the only original Von Eric family member still alive today. Number five new info, a new movie and theaters. As I record this title, the iron claw dramatizes the Von Eric story and brings it to the big screen for the first time. It was made by Badass Studio, a 24 released December, 2023.

Zach Efron plays Kevin Von Erich. Jeremy Allen White plays Carrie Von Erich. Harris Dickinson plays David Stanley Simmons plays Mike. Holt McKanley plays Fritz. Interestingly, the movie does not feature Chris. The director Sean Durkin stated that he was afraid that Chris's death would overload the movie with too much tragedy and make it veer into unbelievable territory. That's fucking crazy. You know your family's history is full of an insane amount of tragedy when Hollywood has to downplay real events to make your story seem believable. Time, Chuck, top five takeaways. The Iron Clock curse of the Von Erichs has been sucked.

Hopefully my voice was not too distracting for this episode today. This curse of the Von Erichs passed on to me in my voice. Not not gonna say that, because I have a scratchy voice, not even close to what they went through I take it back Thank you to Queen of Bad Magic and the rest of the team including Tyler see the suck Ranger recording this episode So fiewans providing the initial research Thank you to the spaces on patreon for continuing to support this show and get early release ad free episodes Thanks to the all-seeing eyes moderating the cult of the curious private Facebook page Mod Squad making sure the time suck discord channel stays fun.

And thanks to everyone over on the time sucks subreddit and bad magic subreddit. Also check out badmagicmerce.com for any merch needs you may have. And now let's head on over to this week time, sucker updates. Okay, first up, I just want to share some comments from an in-sale-related post. The low-hint Tyler Brott's My Attention. From a private Facebook group, coldly curious to get a five-stars. I'm not gonna share their last names,

since it was not said in, but I just, I thought this was fantastic. On Christmas Day, Stephen posted, well, dude, I went to high school with, went full in-s cell in his rant. Then he showed a screen grab of what this guy posted. Said, women are incapable of love and breeding with the proper mate there. I said it. Stephen then commented, what happened, dude? And that guy commented back with, I'm fed up. I've done

and did everything. And most of all, I don't get what I want and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of every step taking the effort of overthrowing a dictator, I don't get what I want and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of every step taking the effort of overthrowing a dictator. I want to mate, I want kids, but these, this is fucking, this is the craziest quote. But these fucking dumb fuck sleeps. Don't have what it takes to be a mate. Oh, and did I mention that I'm tired of the effort

of working so much for what might as well be nothing? Someone better stand up or stand in to help me get what I want. That's insane. But common in in cell forums. Steven replies with, well, that isn't the attitude to have, man. Just because you put work in doesn't mean anyone owes you anything. Relationships aren't transactional in the real world. You have to go expecting nothing and be fine if that's what happens. This attitude you are having isn't going to endure people to you It's going to push them away and not want to be around you. I'm sorry you were having a rough time

But things will get better especially if you go into life with a positive outlook Those are some nice thoughts Steven good on you Then under you know The screen grabbing a lot of this some of our cult members posted the following So many funny people My accommodate oh, for the sake of fucksleves everywhere, I sure as hell hope he never gets to mate my gott. Ian commented, wait, women don't want to marry and get pregnant from a man who calls him fucksleves?

Color me shocked. Brock commented, about to go inside and call my wife a fucksleve. Ha ha ha, wish me luck. I'll send an update from the hospital. Brock commented, about to go inside and call my wife a fuck sleep. Wish me luck. I'll send an update from the hospital. Ah, Josh comments, where can I get one of these fuck sleeps? He speaks of, I need it for science or something.

Carrie posts, then one more. Carrie first posts his angry insults, comment, and quotes, somebody better stand up or stand in to help me get what i want and then they write or fucking what pencil wrist just uh... just gonna have to jack it solo for the rest of your life i guess not about your laughing emojis

i love the line or fucking what pencil wrist uh... got so good this one of the share some to share some of the stuff that goes on our Facebook groups. Anybody thinking of joining? God, there's so many cool, thoughtful and just funny as hell of me, Zach's in there. Makes me so happy.

Yeah, fuck sleeps. Yeah, I don't, if you think of women as fuck sleeps, Dave's probably gonna be hard for you. I hope it's hard for you. Anyone okay with that is pretty damaged. And now you're just adding to their damage. Yeah, maybe try to see women as people first. You know, someone that, just like you,

who has hopes and dreams, interests and desires, somebody not primarily defined by, you know, what they have to offer sexually. People first, women second. And now for an insol-related message about Jordan Peterson, I've gotten several of these types of messages, so I thought it would be important to share one. SmartSack Tyler Dennis wrote in with the subject line of Jordan Peterson and the in-cellosphere. All hail Smash Mouth Supreme Master of the Italian language.

Oh, thank you. And for pride of high quality, sex toy keychains. I just finished the in-cellosphere episode and wanted to write in some thoughts on a passing mention you made of Jordan Peterson, being associated with that toxic group of winers. You are correct and that he is often quoted by in cells to justify their irrational beliefs. He's also quoted by neo nazis far right conservatives and all other manner of extremists. The problem with this association is that they really only use one lineers from him and if they actually listen to the full message he promotes, they would realize that his philosophy is in direct contradiction with their own worldviews. In fact, Jordan Peterson

may be the most misquoted person in the modern zeitgeist. I read all of his books, and the ultimate thesis of his work is take responsibility for your own life. If you want to get a quick idea of what he actually stands for, just read the titles of the chapters of his book, 12 rules for life, and antidote to chaos. The first rule in this book is clean your room. The rest of the book goes on in the same vein, encouraging members or readers to be responsible citizens who treat people fairly and work constantly to improve themselves, and in so doing improve the environment in which they live thereby improving the lives of those around them.

He's taken a lot of heat from the far left for some of his public stances on major world issues, starting with a strong opposition to Canada's Bill C-17, which compels citizens under penalty of law to refer to transgender individuals by their preferred pronoun. He saw this, rightly so, in my opinion, as a violation of free speech and argued that social pressure, not legal compulsion, is what should compel people to act decently in their speech. This of course caused the far left label him transphobic, and he's been under attack by them ever since. I challenge you to look into him a bit more before drawn to hasty of a conclusion on his character. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I think you have all people,

with your emphasis on critical thinking of being a decent meat sack, would really appreciate his message. I know countless people whose lives have been radically transformed for the better by reading his books and or listening to his lectures on YouTube. And I'm always quick to defend him whenever I hear someone use a single quote, take out of context to demonize it, especially when the quote is used to justify an ideology, which he finds abhorrent. In fact, he's addressed the insult, insult ideology multiple times in his opinion mirrors your thoughts on the topic almost exactly. Anyways, I've been able to give you a different,

anyways, I hope I've been able to give you a different perspective on him and you can choose what to do with it from there. Sorry not sorry if I'd length the email and hail Nimrod Tyler. Yeah, yeah, Tyler, man, thank you very much. Yes, I've been hearing a lot about how it's quoted. He has been and how the message, you know,

he preaches, messages. If you take the time, you really get in and understand them are actually very humanist and very practical, pragmatic, very much based in reason, critical thinking, promotion of individual freedom, less government control, censorship, legally mandated behavior, which is very much my ethos. One of these days when I get more time, I will have to check him out. So thank you for sending in a thoughtful message about somebody I certainly may have misrepresented with their quote. God knows you could take my quotes at a context and very easily make me look like someone who promotes the opposite kind of views that I actually have here. Now for a message related to our online community about our discord server this time a sweet sack wrote in and did not want me to mention,

excuse me their name. Instead, they wanted me to focus on discord. They wrote, hey, Dan, a bad magic crew. I just want to start by saying thank you and sorry, not sorry for the long message. Since around the time of revenge is near and crazy with the capital F, I've been a fan of your comedy. I've had the chance of seeing you perform live before two. However, this is not about how funny you are, rather concerns and community that you have established. You've gathered together some of the most amazing people. These intellectually curious meat sacks are willing to have a conversation in the occasional argument, but keep things civil. Now I'm really talking about the Discord server. Facebook is a dumpster fire on his best days. The Discord server, one of my favorite

places to be. I found your podcast around the Maryland Roe episode. I listened to it off and on, bit while I'd work. I love the mix of information and comedy. Shortly after that, I lost my house on a wildfire and the little things. Like looking forward to your podcast episodes, kept some joy around while dealing with all of that. After some more life nonsense,

I finally got around to joining the Discord. I looked around for a few months, but after talking, getting to know these people, it quickly felt like home. These people are some of the best I've ever met, and I enjoy having the opportunity to be part of this community. I found many good friends, some I'd even consider family. Also, I found someone eternally special to me there. So again, thank you for everything you do, even though even through all the ups and downs that have made come along with what you've created, never forget that you've changed people's lives for the better, that's not including the amazing

charity work you guys do. I'm sure I can speak for everyone, and this, how I began it by saying thank you very much. It's certainly a simple meat sack. Well, thank you, a simple meat sack, and again, I'm so annoyed by my voice. I keep, if I've, seem like I'm having like, almost like Belches too, I'm drinking

the craziest amount of water, this episode. To keep my voice going, but then my body is weird with it. Anyway, the link to our Discord server that the Simple Meats Act is speaking of is in the episode description. So just to click away, if any of you listening want to check it out, I pop in there for the occasional fucking Friday, they're a great group. Fantastic moderators in there. So glad you've gotten so much out of this simple meat sack. I hope, uh, you share in this brings more cool sacks into the server. And one more from OG sucker, who sends in a really cool message, uh, with the subject line of following your dreams, the Colonel Sandor story.

They wrote, Hey, Dan Lindsay and team, very long time sucker here. Dan Lindsay may remember me from previous contact. Yes, I do. But no worries, if not. Anyway, following one's dreams, when I was six, I knew I wanted to be an actor, a name that was derided by everyone I knew. Although I was always chosen as leads in school plays, which was okay as long as I didn't think I was, I don't know, pretty, who fuck knows, enough to do it for real. So already a very anxious child.

I learned to be quiet about it. Went to university, saw the kids who did theater, did not join in. Found a very hard to settle to any job because I had known for almost my whole life. I was an actor, but even thinking about it seems stupid and pretentious. As a result, this I would myself never discourage a child

from a particular path, unless they wanted to be a career criminal. As even though they may survive financially another job, it might be fine or they might feel that they are not living any kind of real life and as you are not them, you will never know one way or the other. Well I did other things including journalism, hated offices, but accepted it. Who was I to think differently after all? Did manage drama school in my 30s and did some theater work but I had a poor mental health by then and in a tough profession, so it amounted to little.

Then after the office years, we adopted my son, who special education needs and the educational system made our lives pretty horrible for years. Then in my 50s, I finally got an agent, started getting a few jobs. There is little call for female middle-age actors of no profile, but I'm also an agent so at least I know the industry little. I will never be a theater or film star, and I have no desire to be. But I have a few lines here and there in short films and adverts. I'm doing a small-scale pro-theater tour next year, and not theater and education either. It's quite enough. I have concluded that at least some of my mental health issues were, with, had to do with me, working in environments that divorced me from

who I thought I was under the surface. And I refused to take that seriously because I accepted I was living a sort of parallel life. And while there are homeless people out there and people in war zones, I was lucky. So now a small way, for however long it lasts, I get to be myself. And when that time ends, if I have to give it up to look after my family, quite likely at some point due to our age and sons issues, that's okay too, because I did get to be the person I'd always been underneath in an enormous piece of luck.

It doesn't have to be a huge success when one makes a dream come true, just enough to feel the satisfaction that for even a little while, the impossible actually happened. I don't suppose this would be update material, but if it were, please change my name. Okay. Happy new year to you all the time. So three to five stars would recommend, oh, and great to hear from chicken Joe. My favorite side character ever. Blank.

Tyler, I'll just say this. I don't forget we have to change the name I said earlier, just like a little beep it out. Noted. Well, thank you, Blank. This is a great message. Fitting for today's episode, if you're, you know, dream is to become a pro wrestler,

that shouldn't mean, you know, you have to be the best ever to be happy, right? We hear stories about people like Michael Jordan, people who refuse to give up in their quest to be the very best. And a large part due to their dog and determination, they do become the best. And then millions point to them during their own quest, right?

See, you have to believe, you have to not take no for an answer to become the the best. And then millions point to them during their own quests. Right? See, you have to believe. You have to not take no for an answer to become the very best. And while there is truth in that, what you don't hear are the many, many, many other stories of people who also gave it their all to be the best and came up short. For every one Michael Jordan, there are, I imagine,

hundreds of thousands, if not millions of other people who sacrifice so much work so so hard, never got, where they were after. There aren't very many top slots in any given field, which means that a bunch of people thinking that to be happy, they have to take one of those slots, statistically, then, is going to leave a whole bunch of people very unhappy and unfulfilled.

So maybe we need to change that mindset, right? Go for the goal, sure. But if it doesn't work out, you can change your perspectives and feel good about trying. You know, like with this, uh, this meat sack, we just wrote in, all right, maybe you wanted to be a superstar actor and, and you didn't get that. But you starred, uh, on some level in a, in a local community play. That's still pretty cool. Right? You did something like you wanted to achieve. This reminds me of when I was a year at a college, I wanted to figure out how to audition for Standard Out Live. I thought that's what I wanted to be,

a sketch comedy performer. I wanted to be big in the world of sketch comedy. I called up the groundlings in LA, asked about how to take classes. And the person I answered the phone, I thought this was so weird at the time, but they asked me, well, why do you want to take classes? And I said, well, I want to be in a Standard Out Live.

And they were like, well, why do you want to be in a Standard Out Live And I said, well, I want to be a saturday night life. And I was like, well, why do you want to be a saturday night life? I said, well, I want to be a sketch comedy star. And they asked me why I had that dream. You know, why I needed to do that. And I told them, well, I realized that's what I wanted to do when I was a star of a sketch comedy production at Gonzaga University. And people talked about some of my characters like the rest of the school year.

And then this person on the phone, they told me they're like, well, then you did it. You got your dream. You were a star of sketch comedy. Right? You're already there. What do you need? What else do you need?

And that made like no sense to me at the time. I just fucking annoyed. I'm like, what are you doing? Why is this fucking riddle or talking to me? But it makes so much sense now. Right? I did taste my dream. Why couldn't that be enough?

Now, if you get more great, big don't ignore what you did get. And don't ignore, you Now, if you get more great, big don't ignore what you did get and don't ignore it, you know, if you're, what is it shooting for the moon, you know, you don't get there, but you, but you do get farther than you would have, if you wouldn't have shot for the moon, we'll enjoy wherever you got. So good on you, blank. You've already been an actor many times over and no one can ever take that away from you. You did achieve your dream, just in a very different way than you initially imagined. Hail Nimrod, everybody, and thank you for the updates.

Thanks, time suckers. I need a net. We all did. Thanks for listening to another Bad Magic Productions podcast. Scared of death, time suck each week. Please, please, please, if you're lucky enough to build a multi-million dollar family wrestling dynasty and business this week, don't panic if your new empire starts to crumble.

Nobody stays on top forever. All these castles we build really are built out of sand. Just enjoy the good times while they last and when they're gone, you can revisit the good times and your mind and your heart. And you can still come back here and be entertained by the trials and tribulations of others, and you can keep on sucking. And magic productions. And magic productions.

This Friday night, after Dallas Portatorium, the Von Erich's take on the fucking Grim Reaper! Back from the dead Fritz, David Carey, Mike and Chris joined forces with Kevin, as Little Jack cheers them on to reverse the curse and ribble hope to the fabric of the space-time continuum and change the family's fate forever. Will five iron clouds be enough to slam freight itself into submission? Get your tickets now. We'll sell you the whole seat. But you'll only need the edge, brother.