David Alan Adkisson (July 22, 1958 – February 10, 1984) was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name David Von Erich. A member of the Von Erich family, he is best known for his appearances with World Class Championship Wrestling, the professional wrestling promotion in Dallas owned by his father, Fritz Von Erich, a professional wrestler.
Adkisson was named after his mother Doris' brother Eugene David Smith, who died of a brain tumor at 14, several months before David Adkisson was born in 1958. David and his brothers, Kevin and Kerry, loved to hunt and fish with their father. Hunting on the Von Erich ranch was quite an event. Many of their relatives and friends joined and sometimes the hunting group would be 20 or more; WCCW referee David Manning and WCCW announcer Bill Mercer often were among the group. Adkisson's first love in life was raising horses, which turned out to be very profitable for him. He raised and sold quarter horses and horses for show and made his own fortune that way, apart from the family business of wrestling.
Adkisson was a high school basketball star and a football player at Lake Dallas High School in Corinth, Texas. He won a scholarship to North Texas State University in Denton to play basketball and football. He dropped out to pursue a professional wrestling career.
Adkisson made his professional wrestling debut in June 1977, adopting the name "David Von Erich". He was considered a breakout star of his family, as his fiery temper produced memorable interviews. His first major match came just a few weeks later on August 15, 1977, when he wrestled NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race to a 30-minute draw in a two out of three falls match. Von Erich made his first appearance with the St. Louis Wrestling Club in Missouri in early-1979 and was an instant hit with the fans and the promoters. Due to his popularity at the time, on May 27, 1979, David again wrestled NWA World Heavyweight Champion Race in Missouri in a non-title match and defeated him with the Iron Claw.
In November 1979, Von Erich made his first and only appearance in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), competing on a card against Davey O'Hannon at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, New York. In the early years of his career, Von Erich had several reigns as NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion and NWA Texas Tag Team Champion, as well as holding the All Asia Tag Team Championship, NWA American Tag Team Championship, and Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1979, 1981)
In May and June 1979, Von Erich made his debut in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), taking part in that year's "Super Power Series". Teaming with Kevin Von Erich, he competed primarily in the tag team division. On June 5, 1979, the Von Erichs unsuccessfully challenged Great Kojika and Motoshi Okuma for the All Asia Tag Team Championship in a two out of three falls match.
Von Erich returned to AJPW in May and June 1981, again as part of its "Super Power Series". In his first match, he wrestled Kintarō Ōki to a double count out. On May 23, 1981, he and Kevin Von Erich defeated Kojika and Okuma for the All Asia Tag Team Championship in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. They held the titles until the final night of their tour on June 11, 1981, when they lost to Akio Sato and Takashi Ishikawa in Korakuen Hall.
Championship Wrestling from Florida (1981–1982)
In late-1981, David left Texas and struck out on his own, heading to Florida and competing as a heel for Championship Wrestling from Florida. In Florida, David was managed by J. J. Dillon and was in the same stable as Kendo Nagasaki and Jimmy Garvin. David's mentor in Florida was Dory Funk Jr. and during that time David teamed with Dory or his brother Terry Funk in addition to singles competition. Memorable opponents included Barry Windham, Mr. Wrestling II, Eric Embry, Sweet Brown Sugar, and Butch Reed. Kerry Von Erich later joined his brother on the heel side in Florida, playing a vain self-absorbed muscleman alongside David's loudmouthed "spoiled brat" persona. By July 1982, David was back in Texas.
World Class Championship Wrestling (1982–1984)
Feud with Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin (1983)
During his stay in Florida, David met and became great friends with Jimmy Garvin, convincing Garvin to come to World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in Texas in early 1983. The duo created an angle for a feud between them, which culminated with David winning the held-up NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship at The Tarrant County Convention Center on July 4, 1983. As a result of David's victory, Garvin and his valet Sunshine were forced to serve as David's valets for a day, with the results of the day being broadcast on the WCCW weekly show. The whole angle was conceived by David and Jimmy. They traded the Texas title back and forth several times, then that belt was held up several times and when the feud reached its climax on July 4, 1983; it was time for both men to move on to the next part in their career (David continuing the Von Erich feud with The Freebirds and Garvin starting a feud with Chris Adams).
Feud with The Freebirds (1982–1984)
In the fall of 1982, David was also working behind the scenes in WCCW and helped create several angles. He invited the Fabulous Freebirds to come to WCCW. Michael Hayes made his debut at the Sportatorium on Saturday, October 16, 1982, and Terry Gordy made his debut at the Sportatorium two weeks later, on October 30, 1982. Buddy Roberts did not show up. The Freebirds were initially booked as faces in the run-up to the Christmas spectacular "Wrestling Star Wars" card at Reunion Arena on December 25, 1982.
In the final match to crown the first-ever Six-Man Champions, David took Buddy Roberts' place in the Freebirds against Tom Sharpe, Mike Sharpe & Ben Steel. It was David who won that match and the title, but in a ringside interview right after the bout, David gave his third of the title to Buddy Roberts. Later that evening, David's brother Kerry battled NWA World Champion Ric Flair in a Steel Cage with Michael Hayes and David Manning as the referees. During the match, Hayes knocked out Flair and attempted to hand the pin (and World Title) to Von Erich, but turned on Kerry when he refused the tainted victory and as Kerry tried to leave the cage, Gordy slammed the cage door on Kerry's head. Thus the Von Erich/Freebird feud was born.
David took part in many matches against the Freebirds in 1983 and early 1984. Notable bouts include David vs Terry Gordy in a Handcuff Match on April 1, 1983, at "Wrestling Star Wars", David, Kevin & Kerry defeating the Freebirds on July 4, 1983, in Ft. Worth at "Star Wars" and what would be David's next-to-last match was against Terry Gordy on February 3, 1984. On the same day, David defeated Hayes to win the NWA United National Championship, his last title ever. This title is now part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
Feud with Ric Flair (1983–1984)