Kerry Von Erich NWA World Heavyweight Champion and feud with The Fabulous Freebirds (1983-1984) What started the feud? Kerry and his elder brothers Kevin and David defeated the Fabulous Freebirds in a two out of three falls match When did he receive the heavyweight championship title? May 6, 1984, Who did he compete against? he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair Did anyone take the championship from him during that time? Flair
What happened with the Fabulous Freebirds?
What happened with the Fabulous Freebirds?
On June 17, 1983, he teamed with Bruiser Brody to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. On July 4, Kerry and his elder brothers Kevin and David defeated the Fabulous Freebirds in a two out of three falls match to win the NWA Texas Six-Man Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles back to the Freebirds on August 12. On September 5, the brothers took on the Fabulous Freebirds in a rematch for the titles; the Freebirds retained their titles by pinning Kerry. On November 24, Kerry defeated Michael Hayes in a loser leaves Texas steel cage match. On December 2, the Von Erichs defeated the Freebirds for their second NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship. On December 25, Kerry defeated Kamala by disqualification. On January 30, 1984, he teamed up with his brothers Mike and David against the Fabulous Freebirds in a six-man tag team match, which the Von Erichs lost by disqualification. Kerry's biggest career highlight was on May 6, 1984, when he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a historic match, in front of over 45,000 fans at Texas Stadium to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Kerry's victory was a tribute to his brother David, who had died three months earlier and for whom the event, the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, was named. He lost the belt 18 days later in Yokosuka, Japan, back to Flair in a bout that was marred by controversy: Von Erich's feet were on the bottom rope following a reversed rollup, but the referee ignored this and made the count. Kerry has the 12th shortest NWA World title reign in history. In reality, the NWA only allowed Kerry a short reign, and was told to drop the belt to Flair before the Night of Champions encounter on May 29 between Flair and Ricky Steamboat. On July 4, the Von Erichs lost the six man tag title to the Fabulous Freebirds. The title was held up due to the Freebirds winning after interference by Killer Khan. On September 3, they defeated the Freebirds in a handicap steel cage Loser Leaves Texas match for his fourth six man tag title reign. CANNOTANSWER
On December 2, the Von Erichs defeated the Freebirds for their second NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship.
Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 – February 18, 1993), better known by his ring name Kerry Von Erich, was an American professional wrestler. He was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers. He is best known for his time with his father's promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he spent eleven years of his career, and his time in World Wrestling Federation (WWF), under the ring name The Texas Tornado. Adkisson held forty championships in various promotions during his career. Among other accolades, he was a one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, four-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion, making him an overall five-time world champion and one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion.

Professional wrestling career

NWA Texas / World Class Championship Wrestling (1978–1989)

Debut (1978–1979) 
Kerry was the son of wrestler Fritz Von Erich. His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. Kerry was also a standout in high school track and field and possessed a record-breaking discus throw. He debuted in his father's promotion, NWA Texas/Big Time Wrestling on May 7, 1978 against Paul Perschmann. In Big Time Wrestling, he held many Texas Tag Team and American Tag Team titles.

American Heavyweight Champion and American Tag Team Champion (1980–1983) 
Most of Kerry's fame was made in Texas' World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he was nicknamed "The Modern Day Warrior", a reference to his entrance music ("Tom Sawyer" by Rush). On December 28, 1980, his first NWA American Heavyweight Championship reign came after he defeated Gino Hernandez for the vacant title. He lost the title to Ken Patera before winning his second NWA American Heavyweight Championship from The Masked Superstar. In May and June 1981, Kerry exchanged the NWA American Heavyweight Championship with Ernie Ladd. On October 25, he teamed with Terry Orndorff and they defeated The Great Kabuki and Chan Chung to win the NWA American Tag Team Championship. After having short angles as a singles wrestler, he began teaming with his brother Kevin. On March 15, 1982, the two brothers wrestled Gary Hart and King Kong Bundy to a double disqualification. On June 4, Von Erich defeated former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race, elevating him to main event status.

Kerry started feuding with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. On August 15, he got his very first shot at the NWA title against Flair at Christmas Star Wars in a two out of three falls match, which Flair won to retain the title. On December 25, Kerry got his next title shot against Flair in a no disqualification steel cage match, with Michael "P.S." Hayes, as the special guest referee. The Fabulous Freebirds helped Kerry to win the match, but he refused to take their help and said that he didn't want to win by cheating. Terry Gordy slammed the cage door on Kerry's head, which led to Flair winning the match and retaining the title. This culminated in a historic feud between the Von Erichs and the Freebirds that lasted for over five years.

NWA World Heavyweight Champion and feud with The Fabulous Freebirds (1983–1984)
On June 17, 1983, he teamed with Bruiser Brody to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds for the NWA American Tag Team Championship. On July 4, Kerry and his elder brothers Kevin and David defeated the Fabulous Freebirds in a two out of three falls match to win the NWA Texas Six-Man Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles back to the Freebirds on August 12. On September 5, the brothers took on the Fabulous Freebirds in a rematch for the titles; the Freebirds retained their titles by pinning Kerry. On November 24, Kerry defeated Michael Hayes in a loser leaves Texas steel cage match.

On December 2, the Von Erichs defeated the Freebirds for their second NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship. On December 25, Kerry defeated Kamala by disqualification. On January 30, 1984, he teamed up with his brothers Mike and David against the Fabulous Freebirds in a six-man tag team match, which the Von Erichs lost by disqualification.

Kerry's biggest career highlight was on May 6, 1984, when he beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a historic match, in front of over 45,000 fans at Texas Stadium to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Kerry's victory was a tribute to his brother David, who had died three months earlier and for whom the event, the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, was named. He lost the belt 18 days later in Yokosuka, Japan, back to Flair in a bout that was marred by controversy: Von Erich's feet were on the bottom rope following a reversed rollup, but the referee ignored this and made the count. Kerry has the 12th shortest NWA World title reign in history. In reality, the NWA only allowed Kerry a short reign, and was told to drop the belt to Flair before the Night of Champions encounter on May 29 between Flair and Ricky Steamboat.

On July 4, the Von Erichs lost the six-man tag title to the Fabulous Freebirds. The title was held up due to the Freebirds winning after interference by Killer Khan. On September 3, they defeated the Freebirds in a handicap steel cage Loser Leaves Texas match for his fourth six-man tag title reign.

Later feuds (1984–1989)
After ending their rivalry with the Fabulous Freebirds, Von Erich brothers next feuded with Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams, and Jake Roberts. Kerry's angle with Adams was born out of Adams' angle with his brother Kevin, which began on September 28, 1984 (when Adams turned heel against Kevin following a tag team loss). In order to remain on kayfabe terms, Adams and Kerry wrestled as a tag team two days later in San Antonio, since the heel turn had not aired on television yet. On October 27, 1984, Hernandez, Adams, and Roberts defeated the Von Erichs to win the Six Man Tag Title in a match that saw Bobby Fulton substitute for an injured Kevin. On October 29, he defeated Gino Hernandez for his fifth NWA American Heavyweight Championship. On November 22, he teamed with Iceman Parsons to defeat Jake Roberts and Kelly Kiniski. He later refereed a Texas Deathmatch between longtime rival Terry Gordy and Killer Khan, which Gordy won, via Kerry's decision. On December 25, Kerry again got a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, a title he had lost many months ago. The champion Ric Flair intentionally got disqualified to retain the title. On December 31, the Von Erichs defeated Hernandez, Roberts, and Adams to regain their NWA Six-Man Tag Team Title.

During his last days in WCCW, Kerry Von Erich would be embroiled in a feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler (AWA World Heavyweight Champion) over who would be the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Kerry was then the WCWA (World Class Wrestling Association (World Class' final used name before the USWA days) Heavyweight Champion. They would meet at an interpromotional event called SuperClash III to settle the dispute. Prior to this match, Kerry accidentally cut his arm causing it to bleed. During the match, he also received a cut to the head. When he later had Lawler in a clawhold on the mat with Lawler's shoulders down, the referee saw the blood on Kerry's head, thought it was excessive, and stopped the match. The crowd thought Kerry won by submission but instead "due to excessive bleeding" the referee stopped the match and awarded the decision and the WCWA Championship to Jerry Lawler. This would mark the end of Kerry's WCWA run.

Various promotions (1979–1988)
Von Erich worked for various promotions working for All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, UWF Mid-South, Championship Wrestling From Florida, and Central States Wrestling. His most successful was St. Louis Wrestling Club from 1979 to 1985, where he once held the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship in 1983. He was  Von Erich made his Madison Square Garden debut for World Wrestling Federation on March 24, 1980 defeating Jose Estrada. On September 28, 1985, Kerry made an appearance for American Wrestling Association's SuperClash defeating Jimmy Garvin to retain the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. In 1988 he went to Continental Wrestling Association in Tennessee where he feuded with Jerry Lawler.

United States Wrestling Association (1989–1990)
Kerry did continue to wrestle at the Dallas Sportatorium under the USWA banner, which acquired World Class in early 1989. He formed a tag team with Jeff Jarrett, winning the Tag Team Title with him.  He also won the Texas heavyweight title twice. In 1990, Kerry feuded violently with Matt Borne, who turned heel during a ringside interview; during one match, the two battled outside the Sportatorium into the parking lot during a thunderstorm. Manager Percy Pringle also turned heel, and began feuding with Kerry. During the height of their angle, Kerry abruptly left the USWA/World Class and joined the WWF, leaving the Von Erich tradition to older brother Kevin (who was considered semi-active) and Chris. Honorary Von Erich "Gentleman" Chris Adams then became the Sportatorium's main headliner, feuding with Pringle, Steve Austin, and Jeanie Clarke. World Class withdrew from the USWA soon thereafter, but without Kerry, manager Gary Hart, and lack of television and revenues, World Class ceased operations three months later.

World Wrestling Federation (1990–1992)

Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship and various feuds (1990–1991) 
In June 1990, Von Erich signed a contract with Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He debuted on the Saturday Night's Main Event XXVII as a fan favorite under the ring name Texas Tornado (while being openly acknowledged as Kerry Von Erich by announcers), defeating Buddy Rose, who coincidentally was his first opponent in his career. While WWF announcers didn't openly mention Kerry's past accomplishments, they did acknowledge that he was a veteran superstar who didn't have to prove anything to anyone.  At SummerSlam, Tornado substituted for the injured Brutus Beefcake and defeated Mr. Perfect to win the Intercontinental Championship. After he became champion, Tornado defended the title for three months including a match against Haku on the October 13 Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII before losing the title back to former champion Mr. Perfect in a rematch on the December 15 (taped November 19) edition of Superstars. Von Erich lost this match, and the title to Perfect due to interference from Ted DiBiase.  Von Erich would go on to get revenge against Dibiase in a series of matches.

At Survivor Series in 1990, while still Intercontinental Champion, he wrestled in a Survivor Series match where he teamed with the WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior (formerly The Dingo Warrior in World Class) and the Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal). He was eliminated by long-time rival Mr. Perfect, but his team won the match.

At the Royal Rumble in 1991, he participated in the Royal Rumble match where he entered fifth and was eliminated by The Undertaker after lasting nearly half an hour. He made his only WrestleMania appearance at WrestleMania VII, defeating Dino Bravo following a Tornado Punch. Von Erich continued to be heavily pushed for the first half of 1991 and did not suffer another pinfall defeat until August 17, 1991 when he was defeated by The Warlord in Landover, MD. At SummerSlam, he teamed with the British Bulldog and Ricky Steamboat in a six-man tag team match to defeat the team of The Warlord and Power and Glory (Paul Roma and Hercules).

Final storylines and departure (1991–1992) 
In October 1991, Von Erich renewed his old rivalry with Ric Flair, being among the first names to face him in the ring after the NWA World Champion joined the WWF that August. Flair defeated Von Erich multiple times during the WWF's October tour of the UK. The following month, "The Texas Tornado" suffered his first lopsided loss when he was squashed by The Undertaker in less than four minutes on the November 10, 1991 episode of Wrestling Challenge. At Survivor Series, he teamed with Sgt. Slaughter, Jim Duggan, and Tito Santana against Colonel Mustafa, The Berzerker, Skinner, and Hercules. He did not eliminate anyone, but his entire team survived. He made his last pay-per-view (PPV) appearance at the Royal Rumble in 1992; he participated in the Royal Rumble match for the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Championship. He was eliminated by the eventual winner Ric Flair, the man Von Erich beat eight years before for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Kerry's push continued to subside in early 1992. He was relegated to a house show feud with Skinner in which he came out victorious; in February he began a house show series with Rick Martel and was winless.

After an absence of two months following the real life breakdown of his marriage and subsequent divorce, Von Erich returned to action following WrestleMania VIII and defeated Marc Roberts on the April 18, 1992 episode of Superstars. However he now found himself as an opening card act programmed against low level competition like Barry Horowitz, Kato, and Skinner. While undefeated against them in multiple matches, Von Erich was unable to move back up into contention as he suffered several losses against Rick Martel, Nailz, and Kamala. Von Erich's final wrestling appearance on WWF TV was a loss to Shawn Michaels on the July 26, 1992 edition of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. Although Von Erich was announced to face Papa Shango at the SummerSlam PPV card in London, UK, he was replaced by El Matador and he officially left the WWF in August 1992.

Last years (1992–1993)
Kerry returned to Texas and claimed the USWF Texas Heavyweight Championship, which he lost to Dynamite Dixon in November 1992. This would be Kerry's last championship belt. He made an appearance for Eastern Championship Wrestling on January 23, 1993 for ECW's Battle of the Belts against Salvatore Bellomo in a double disqualification. Kerry returned to Dallas to compete in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), where he began teaming with former arch-rival Chris Adams. Kerry's final match took place on February 12, 1993. It was a tag team match in the GWF at the Sportatorium on which Kerry and Chris Adams lost via disqualification to Johnny Mantell and Black Bart.

Motorcycle accident and suicide
On June 4, 1986, Kerry was in a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life. He suffered a dislocated hip and a badly injured right leg. Doctors were unable to save his right foot, eventually amputating it. According to his brother Kevin, Kerry injured the foot following surgery by attempting to walk on it prematurely, thus forcing the doctors to amputate it. He continued wrestling after the accident with a prosthesis and kept the amputation secret to the majority of fans and fellow wrestlers, even going to the extreme of showering with his boots on. His amputation was kept secret from the public until after his death. However, Roddy Piper stated in his autobiography: "We were the best of friends. In fact, he felt comfortable enough to sit with me in a hotel and shoot the breeze with his prosthetic off".

After the amputation of his foot, Kerry became addicted to pain killers, followed by several drug problems. Among the many of them were two arrests, the first of which resulted in probation. One day after being indicted for the second charge, which likely would have resulted in extensive jail time (being a violation of his probation), Kerry died by suicide with a single gunshot to the heart with a .44 caliber pistol on February 18, 1993 on his father's ranch in Denton County, Texas, just 15 days after his 33rd birthday.

Bret Hart states in his autobiography, My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, that while he and Kerry were on the road to Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 29, 1990, Kerry had told him that he had decided to join his late brothers in heaven, and was waiting for God to tell him when. Bret told Kerry that his living daughters would need him more than his late brothers. Kerry mostly convinced Bret that he had changed his mind, but Bret feared that it was only words. Kerry told Bret again in the summer of 1992 that he wanted to follow his three late brothers David, Mike and Chris (the latter two of whom had died by suicide), and that they were calling him. Kerry's marriage had fallen apart earlier in 1992 and according to Hart, Kerry believed that his death was inevitable.

Posthumous induction in WWE Hall of Fame (2009)
On March 16, 2009, WWE.com announced that the Von Erich family would be inducted into the 2009 class of the WWE Hall of Fame by longtime rival, Michael Hayes. The family members inducted were Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris Von Erich. Kevin received rings for his father, Fritz, as well as each of his brothers. WWE made two Hall of Fame rings with Kerry Von Erich's name inscribed on the interior which were presented by Kevin Von Erich to Kerry's daughters, Hollie and Lacey, attending with their mother Cathy (Kerry's ex-wife). The event was held close to the Von Erichs' home at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on April 4, 2009.

In other media
Kerry Von Erich posthumously appears in Dark Side of the Ring (season 1 episode 4) and the video games Legends of Wrestling, Legends of Wrestling II, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18. He appeared briefly as a prisoner in Problem Child.

Personal life
Kerry was married on June 18, 1983, to Catherine M. Murray. They had two daughters, Hollie Brooke (born September 19, 1984) and Lacey (born July 17, 1986). The couple divorced on April 22, 1992.

Championships and accomplishments
NWA Big Time Wrestling / World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling Association
NWA American Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
NWA American Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Bruiser Brody (3), Kevin Von Erich (2), and Al Madril (1)
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Bruiser Brody (1), Skip Young (1), and Tiger Conway, Jr. (1)
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (6 times) – with David and Kevin Von Erich (2), Kevin and Mike Von Erich (3), Kevin Von Erich and Brian Adias (1), Lance and Kevin Von Erich (1), Kevin Von Erich and Michael Hayes (1)
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (3 times) – with Al Madril (1) and Terry Orndorff (2)
WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kevin Von Erich and Lance Von Erich (1), Kevin Von Erich and Michael Hayes (1)
WCWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Kevin Von Erich (3) and Jeff Jarrett (1)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Match of the Year (1984) vs. Ric Flair at Parade of Champions 1 on May 6
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1984)
PWI ranked him #40 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991
PWI ranked him #24 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
PWI ranked him #23 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with David, Mike, and Kevin Von Erich in 2003
St. Louis Wrestling Club
NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
 St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
 Class of 2016
Texas Wrestling Federation
TWF Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
United States Wrestling Federation
USWF Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Wide Wrestling Alliance
WWWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Match of the Year (1984) with Kevin and Mike Von Erich vs. the Fabulous Freebirds (Buddy Roberts, Michael Hayes, and Terry Gordy) in an Anything Goes match on July 4

See also
 List of premature professional wrestling deaths

References

External links

World Class Memories
"Wrestling Museum": The Von Erich Family
 

1960 births
1993 deaths
20th-century American male actors
20th century professional wrestlers
American amputees
American Christians
American male professional wrestlers
NWA World Heavyweight Champions
People from Denton, Texas
Professional wrestlers from New York (state)
Professional wrestlers from Texas
Sportspeople from Niagara Falls, New York
Suicides by firearm in Texas
Von Erich family
WWE Hall of Fame inductees
WWF/WWE Intercontinental Champions
1993 suicides
Dale Hey (June 16, 1947 – November 26, 2012) was a Canadian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Buddy Roberts. Primarily a tag team wrestler, Roberts is known for his appearances as one of The Hollywood Blonds in the 1970s and as one of The Fabulous Freebirds in the 1980s. He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015 and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 as part of The Fabulous Freebirds  .

Early life
Hey was raised in Newton, Surrey and went to Princess Margaret High School, in BC Canada graduating in 1965. After school, he worked in local lumber mills as well as being a bouncer at nightclubs including the Grooveyard in New Westminster. He became an American citizen in 1974.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1965–1970)
Hey was trained as a professional wrestler by Ivan Koloff. He debuted in 1965 under the ring name "Dale Valentine", billed as being the younger brother of Johnny Valentine. At the tail end of the 1960s, he was working as a preliminary wrestler in the American Wrestling Association (AWA).

The Hollywood Blonds (1970–1977)

In 1970, Hey was brought into the Oklahoma-based NWA Tri-State promotion by booker Bill Watts. Watts had intended to create a new tag team comprising Jack Donovan and veteran journeyman Jerry Brown. After Donovan left the promotion following a dispute with Watts, Watts hired Hey in his place. Hey was renamed "Buddy Roberts" and began teaming with Brown as The Hollywood Blonds. In 1972, Oliver Humperdink began managing The Hollywood Blonds. The team of Brown and Roberts won numerous regional tag team titles across the United States throughout the 1970s.

The Fabulous Freebirds (1979–1988)

After splitting from Brown, Roberts joined with Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy to form The Fabulous Freebirds. Again, Bill Watts played a major role in this decision. Hayes and Gordy had been teaming together in various promotions in the Mid-South and Southeastern regions of the United States for several years, but Watts was not as impressed with Hayes's in-ring work as he was with his skills on the microphone. His original plan was to have Gordy and Roberts as the actual tag team, with Hayes as their manager. Except for a high-profile stint in 1980 in Mid-South Wrestling (formed by Watts the previous year after breaking away from NWA Tri-State) with Hayes and Gordy as the Freebirds, Roberts did not work full-time with the team until they joined Georgia Championship Wrestling in late 1980. He later became known as Buddy "Jack" Roberts, due to his penchant for drinking Jack Daniel's whiskey.

World Class Championship Wrestling/World Wrestling Federation/American Wrestling Association (1982-1985)
The Fabulous Freebirds won several titles and moved on to World Class Championship Wrestling in late 1982 and began a high-profile feud with the Von Erich family. They wrestled David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich and Kevin Von Erich numerous times in 1986. Roberts also had a long-standing feud with Von Erich ally Chris Adams, which lasted on and off for more than five years. Roberts' most famous singles angle came in WCCW in 1983, and involved the invention of what the Freebirds referred to as "Freebird Hair Removal Cream". The angle culminated in a hair match between Roberts and Iceman Parsons on June 17. Roberts seemingly won the match via tight-pulling, but the decision was reversed and the match restarted. In the fracas, Roberts' head was lathered in the hair removal cream. At subsequent events, Roberts wore a wig, kept in place by boxing headgear. In 1984, Roberts and the Freebirds had a short stint in the World Wrestling Federation, mainly competing in six-man tag matches. Here, they were managed by Cyndi Lauper's manager, David Wolff. They left the promotion when WWF officials stated their intention to split the team up. At the AWA's SuperClash in 1985, Roberts helped Hayes and Gordy defeat The Road Warriors for the AWA World Tag Team Championship, but the decision was later reversed.

Universal Wrestling Federation (1986)
In early 1986, The Freebirds went to the Universal Wrestling Federation, where Roberts won the UWF Television Championship on September 28. He lost it to Savannah Jack on November 9.

Return to World Class Championship Wrestling (1987-1989)
In 1987, The Freebirds split up and reformed. Roberts and Gordy turned on Hayes and teamed with Iceman Parsons to feud with Hayes and the Von Erichs. Gordy eventually left Roberts to rejoin Hayes. The feud ended in late 1988 when Hayes and Gordy left for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, and Roberts acted as a manager to the Samoan Swat Team before he retired from wrestling. Roberts also had a short feud with World Class referee David Manning, which included several gimmick matches, such as Roberts wrestling with one arm tied behind his back.  Manning, who was touted as an accomplished amateur wrestler by the promotion to compensate for the obvious size difference between the two, won most of the matches on a fluke.

Later career (1990-1993)
Roberts managed Hayes and Jimmy Garvin in one match against Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) on September 5, 1990. He came out of retirement on April 2, 1993 for the Global Wrestling Federation's Kerry Von Erich Memorial Show, and teamed with Michael Hayes (with Skandor Akbar in their corner), losing to Kevin Von Erich and Chris Adams (with Fritz Von Erich in their corner). Roberts later developed throat cancer, and had surgery to treat it. He was quoted as saying "Don't smoke. I think the reason this happened to me is because I was smoking too much. I recommend to anyone who smokes to quit now. It is hard, but it is worth it."

Death
Roberts died on November 26, 2012, at the age of 65, of pneumonia. On April 2, 2016, Roberts was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame by his son, Buddy "Jack" Roberts Jr. as part of The Fabulous Freebirds.

Championships and accomplishments 
 Georgia Championship Wrestling (NWA) National Tag Team Champions (With the Freebirds) 1980-81. Cauliflower Alley Club
Other honoree (2003)
Continental Wrestling Association
AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jerry Brown
Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jerry Brown
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jerry Brown
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) - with Jerry Brown
NWA Big Time Wrestling / World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling Association
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (6 times) - with Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy (5) and Iceman Parsons & Terry Gordy (1) 
WCCW Television Championship (1 time)
WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy 1
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Jerry Brown
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him #167 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association / Universal Wrestling Federation
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (3 times) - with Jerry Brown
Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Terry Gordy
UWF World Television Championship (1 time)
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Class of 2015 as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds
Southern Pro Wrestling
SPW Arkansas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Southwest Championship Wrestling
SCW Southwest Television Championship (2 times)
SCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
 WWE
 WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Match of the Year (1984) with Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes vs. the Von Erichs (Kerry, Kevin, and Mike) in an Anything Goes match on July 4
Best Three-Man Team (1983) with Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes
Tag Team of the Year (1980) with Terry Gordy as The Fabulous Freebirds
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005) – as part of The Fabulous Freebirds
1During the Freebirds' 5th reign, the reign carried over after the title's name was changed to the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship since they were the champions during the time the name change occurred.

See also
 The Fabulous Freebirds
 The Hollywood Blonds

References

External links
 
 
 

1947 births
2012 deaths
American male professional wrestlers
Canadian emigrants to the United States
Canadian male professional wrestlers
Deaths from pneumonia in Illinois
Professional wrestlers from Oklahoma
Professional wrestlers from British Columbia
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
WWE Hall of Fame inductees
20th century professional wrestlers Terry Ray Gordy Sr. (April 23, 1961 – July 16, 2001) was an American professional wrestler. Gordy appeared in the United States with promotions such as Mid-South Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling and the Universal Wrestling Federation as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds. He also appeared in Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling as one-half of The Miracle Violence Connection.

Championships held by Gordy over the course of his career include the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, AJPW World Tag Team Championship, WCW World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship, UWF Heavyweight Championship and SMW Heavyweight Championship.

He has been posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Observer, Professional Wrestling, and WWE Hall of Fame.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1975–1982) 
A standout high school football and baseball player at Rossville High School, Gordy dropped out of high school following his freshman year and started wrestling in 1975 at the age of 14 as Terry Mecca for the International Wrestling Association. In early 1979, he began wrestling under his real name and formed The Fabulous Freebirds with Michael Hayes, with Buddy Roberts later added to the group. In 1980, the Freebirds moved to Georgia Championship Wrestling, where they won the territory’s tag team championship. The Fabulous Freebirds had feuds while there, including those against Tommy Rich, Junkyard Dog, Kevin Sullivan, Austin Idol, and Ted DiBiase. One match on the Saturday night WTBS Georgia Championship Wrestling show saw the Freebirds take on the Junkyard Dog and Ted DiBiase. Towards the end of the match, Terry Gordy gave DiBiase 4 consecutive piledrivers, which led to DiBiase being taken away in an ambulance. In 1981, the Freebirds split up when Buddy Roberts left the area. Michael and Terry then had a falling out, which led to a feud against each other. Terry and Michael eventually put their differences aside, and reformed the Freebirds as a duo in 1982 where they feuded with Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen.

Memphis CWA Wrestling and Mid South Wrestling (1979–1985) 
The Freebirds came to Memphis the first time in 1979 and feuded mainly with Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee. When in mid South Wrestling, he formed The Fabulous Freebirds as the suggestion by Bill Watts with Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts. They returned in 1984 to feud with Lawler & Austin Idol and later with Lawler & Phil Hickerson.

World Class Championship Wrestling (1982–1989) 
In 1982, the Freebirds went to World Class Championship Wrestling and had a feud with the Von Erichs (David, Kevin, Kerry and Mike) that was kicked off when Gordy slammed the Cage door on Kerry during his Cage Match at WCCW Star Wars (1982) against Ric Flair where Michael Hayes was the special guest Referee, inciting a riot among fans attending. They traded the six man title back and forth a few times over the years. Gordy was also at one time one half of the WCCW American Tag Team champions. While in WCCW, Killer Khan taught Gordy how to perform the Oriental Spike.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1983–1994) 
Gordy teamed with Stan Hansen beginning in 1983 in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Gordy later teamed with Steve Williams as The Miracle Violence Connection. During his time there, he also held the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship on two occasions.

World Wrestling Federation (1984) 
The Freebirds spent a brief time in the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, but were fired after missing a show and showing up late and drunk.

Universal Wrestling Federation (1986)
In 1986, when the Freebirds were in the Universal Wrestling Federation, the former Mid South Wrestling, Gordy won the UWF Heavyweight Championship 
title and held it for six months, before losing it via forfeit to The One Man Gang, after an angle the same night in which Gordy was injured by "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. During this time, Gordy and the Freebirds had an ongoing feud with the Hacksaw Jim Duggan, in which Duggan and Gordy squared off, usually ending in a disqualification because of outside interference.

Jim Crockett Promotions/NWA World Championship Wrestling (1987, 1989, 1992) 
The Freebirds spent some time in the National Wrestling Alliance's Jim Crockett Promotions where they split to feud briefly, but later reunited. In 1989, Gordy helped Hayes to reform the Freebirds, with Jimmy Garvin, in the NWA, which became World Championship Wrestling in 1991. Later he alongside of Dr. Death Steve Williams defeated the Steiners to become World Tag Team Champions.

Gordy and Williams returned to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1992 and won the WCW World Tag Team titles. They also won the NWA World Tag Team titles in a tournament at the Great American Bash card in Albany, Georgia, one week later, and unified the titles. Their feud with Rick and Scott Steiner; in Japan, this was hyped as a feud between the best foreign teams of the two top Japanese promotions (the Steiners were competing for rival New Japan Pro-Wrestling at the time). Despite advances by New Japan, Gordy and Williams, out of loyalty to the AJPW founder and promoter, Giant Baba, refused to compete for the promotion (which had business ties with WCW at the time), leading to Gordy's departure from WCW before Halloween Havoc and Williams' departure after Starrcade. In 1993 Gordy, while traveling from the United States to Japan for a tour, took an overdose of pain medication and slipped into a coma, ultimately suffering permanent brain damage. He returned to action later that year, but never received a shot at the Triple Crown again.  In 1994, Gordy had a small reunion with Hayes and Garvin as the Freebirds in the Global Wrestling Federation where he and Garvin won the GWF Tag Team titles.

Various promotions (1989-1995)
After World Class folded in 1989, Gordy wrestled in various promotions. He started working for United States Wrestling Association (USWA). In 1991, he worked for Universal Wrestling Federation where he feuded with Don Muraco. In 1994, he reunited with The Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) for Global Wrestling Federation in Texas where they feuded with Bill Irwin, Black Bart and Moadib. Gordy returned to USWA in 1995 where he teamed with Tracy Smothers.

Smokey Mountain Wrestling (1995) 
In 1995 Gordy worked for Smokey Mountain Wrestling teaming with Tommy Rich as the Militia. He would feud with Brad Armstrong. Gordy won the SMW Heavyweight Championship defeating Armstrong when he teamed with Thrasher to defeat Armstrong and the Wolfman on October 27. A month later he dropped the title back to Armstrong in a Country whipping match. Gordy left SMW before its closed its doors at the end of the year.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996) 
In 1996, Gordy appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling to challenge Raven for the ECW World Heavyweight title, as the "internationally recognized #1 contender". He had been working for the International Wrestling Association of Japan promotion in Japan, wrestling deathmatches. He lost, but went on to team up with Tommy Dreamer and later to reunite with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to wrestle The Eliminators. He also wrestled Bam Bam Bigelow at Ultimate Jeopardy in what was billed as the second ever "Battle Of The Bam Bams" (The first happened on a Windy City Wrestling show). Gordy lost the match due to outside interference from The Eliminators.

Return to World Wrestling Federation (1995, 1996–1997, 1998) 
On February 11 and 12 1995 Gordy worked as the Executioner teaming with Mike Bell losing to The Smoking Gunns.

Gordy had a brief run in the WWF as The Executioner in 1996 and 1997. He teamed up with Mankind, both managed by Paul Bearer, and feuded with The Undertaker. The Executioner came to the ring under a mask and carrying an axe and Paul Bearer 's "hired assassin". He made his TV debut at the In Your House pay-per-view, Buried Alive, where he interfered in The Undertaker's Buried Alive match with Mankind, hitting Undertaker with a shovel and burying him with the help of Mankind and several other wrestlers. However, at In Your House 12: It's Time, The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in an Armageddon Rules match, and Gordy left the promotion shortly afterwards. His final televised appearance was on the January 12, 1997 episode of WWF Superstars, where he lost to Goldust, after which Paul Bearer turned on him by hitting him with his urn. He was advertised to be one of the 30 participants in the 1997 Royal Rumble match, but did not make an appearance. He returned to WWF one last time at a house show as the Executioner on April 28, 1998 losing to Wellington Wilkins.

On an episode of Something to Wrestle With, Bruce Prichard claimed that the Executioner gimmick was given to Gordy because McMahon had doubts that Gordy could still compete effectively and the use of a mask was intended to protect Gordy so that if that were the case, Gordy's legacy would not be tainted. Had Gordy been able to compete at a high level then there would have been the opportunity later for Gordy to unmask. It was mentioned that the hiring was mostly done as a favor for Michael Hayes.

International Wrestling Association of Japan and WAR (1995–1997, 1998) 
Gordy returned to Japan working for International Wrestling Association of Japan where he wrestled in deathmatches. Mainly worked in tag teams. He left IWA Japan in 1997. In 1998, Gordy returned to Japan for the final time working for Wrestle Association R where he feuded with Genichiro Tenryu.

Later career (1998–2001) 
After leaving the WWF and Japan, Gordy worked in the independent circuit. On February 21, 1998 Gordy teamed with Dan Severn in a losing effort to Doug Gilbert and Dutch Mantel at the Eddie Gilbert Memorial Show for IWA Mid-South. Gordy would reunite with Hayes as they fought Glen Kulka and JR Smooth to a no contest for Power Pro Wrestling on May 28, 1999. He wrestled his last match returning to IWA Japan on February 4, 2001 with Shoichi Ichimiya, Tomohiro Ishii, Yukihide Ueno,  and Yuji Kito defeating Doug Gilbert, TJ Shinjuku, Ultra Sebun, Takashi Uwano and Keizo Mastuda.

Personal life 
Gordy had two daughters and a son, Ray Gordy, who wrestled for WWE as "Jesse" and "Slam Master J" before being released in 2010. His nephew is Richard Aslinger, who competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Richard Slinger. His daughter Miranda currently wrestles on the independent circuit and has also competed in Japan.

Death 
Gordy died of a heart attack caused by a blood clot on July 16, 2001. In 2014, he was posthumously inducted into the Southern Wrestling Hall of Fame. A year later, he was also posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. On April 2, 2016, Gordy was posthumously inducted by his son into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of The Fabulous Freebirds.

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling
Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
World Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Stan Hansen (2) and Steve Williams (5)
World's Strongest Tag Determination League (1988, 1990, 1991) – with Stan Hansen (1988) and Steve Williams (1990 and 1991)
World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award (1989) – with Bill Irwin
Georgia Championship Wrestling
NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes
NWA National Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Michael Hayes (3) and Jimmy Snuka (1)
Global Wrestling Federation
GWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jimmy Garvin
Mid-South Wrestling Association | Universal Wrestling Federation
Mid-South Louisiana Championship (1 time)
Mid-South Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Michael Hayes (1) and Buddy Roberts
UWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
UWF Heavyweight Championship Tournament (1986)
NWA Mid-America
NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Michael Hayes
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame 
Class of 2015 as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1986)
Tag Team of the Year (1981) – with Michael Hayes
Tag Team of the Year (1992) – with Steve Williams
Ranked No. 31 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
Ranked No. 36 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
Ranked No. 3, 16, and 34 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Michael Hayes, Steve Williams, and Stan Hansen, respectively, in 2003
Southeastern Championship Wrestling
NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
SMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame
Class of 2014
World Championship Wrestling
WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Williams
NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Williams
 NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament (1992) – Steve Williams
World Class Championship Wrestling | World Class Wrestling Association
NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes
NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (6 times) – with Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts (5) and Iceman Parsons & Buddy Roberts (1)
WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts 2
 WWE
 WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2016) – as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Best Brawler (1986)
Match of the Year (1984) with Buddy Roberts and Michael Hayes vs. the Von Erichs (Kerry, Kevin, and Mike) in an Anything Goes match on July 4
Best Three-Man Team (1983) with Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts
Tag Team of the Year (1980) with Buddy Roberts as The Fabulous Freebirds
Tag Team of the Year (1981) with Jimmy Snuka
Tag Team of the Year (1992) with Steve Williams as The Miracle Violence Connection
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005) – as part of The Fabulous Freebirds
1Won while WCW was still affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance and prior to the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships being briefly unified.
2The Freebirds' 5th reign carried over after the title's name was changed to the WCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship since they were the champions at the time the title was renamed.

See also 
 List of premature professional wrestling deaths

References

External links 
 
 
 

1961 births
2001 deaths
American male professional wrestlers
Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan
Professional wrestlers from Tennessee
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Sportspeople from Chattanooga, Tennessee
WWE Hall of Fame inductees