The True Story Of The Von Erich Family Portrayed In The Iron Claw

While Fritz Von Erich didn't force his sons to enter the wrestling industry, they nonetheless did so despite their initial reservations. "To be honest, we didn't even know if we'd like wrestling that much," Kevin Von Erich told D Magazine. "I mean, wrestling was filled with these old, out-of-shape men, going from one small town to another, looking miserable." Eventually, injuries and other factors drove the boys to follow in their father's footsteps, though as Kevin put it, they were also driven by a desire to "be just like our dad."

With Fritz running World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) out of Dallas, his three oldest surviving sons became instant crowd favorites. They were presented as all-American good guys, the complete antithesis of their father's old kayfabe persona. And while Kevin, David, and Kerry were all popular, good-looking, and charismatic, they each brought something unique to the table; Kevin was known for his high-flying moves and barefoot wrestling gimmick, David for his technical wrestling ability and promo skills, and Kerry for his imposing Greek god physique. In the ring, the three brothers regularly feuded with future WWE Hall of Famers the Fabulous Freebirds, a three-man faction that pioneered the "Freebird Rule," which allows any two members of a larger group to defend a tag team championship regardless of who won the belts.

As Kevin, David, and Kerry were practically teen idols in Dallas, that also meant no mention of being married, no drinking in public, and a strong focus on their Christian faith. However, things weren't as wholesome in real life, and it wouldn't be long before tragedy would strike this ostensibly perfect wrestling family once again.

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