Fritz von Erich: Profile, Career, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won, Gimmick Evolution and Stats

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Fritz von Erich, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Jack Barton Adkisson Sr. was born in Jewett, Texas on August 16, 1929.

He died on September 10, 1997 at the age of 68.

Fritz von Erich was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of The Von Erichs) and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012 as part of the Television Era wing.

Profile Info

Gender Male

Real Name Jack Barton Adkisson Sr.

Ring Names

Fritz von Erich ( December 15, 1953 - November 27, 1986)
Jack Adkisson ( November 9, 1953 - December 14, 1954)

Born August 16, 1929

Died September 10, 1997 (aged 68)

Nationality

United States

Birth Place Jewett, Texas

Billed From

Denton, Texas

Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)

Weight

260 lbs (118 kg)

Nicknames Tetsu no Tsume (The Iron Claw)

Career History

Roles

Wrestler ( November 9, 1953 - November 27, 1986)

Companies / Promotions

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NWA	February 10, 1954	June 4, 1982
Promotion AJPW	December 12, 1973	July 25, 1975
Promotion AWA	February 2, 1963	July 24, 1964
Promotion STAMPEDE	February 1, 1955	July 12, 1956

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	May 6, 1970	November 27, 1986
Heel	November 9, 1953	May 5, 1970

Images

Nov 1953

Finishers

Iron Claw - Clawhold ( November 9, 1953 - November 27, 1986)

Titles & Accomplishments

Hall of Fame

WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2009, Groups, The Von Erichs
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame - Year 2012, Television Era

Titles Won

All Japan Pro Wrestling

1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Karl Krupp)

Big Time Wrestling

3 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit Version)

Maple Leaf Wrestling

3 NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (2 with Karl Von Schober, 1 with Gene Kiniski)

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

1 NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (with Waldo von Erich)

NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club / American Wrestling Association

1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship
1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) (with Hans Hermann)
2 World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha)

NWA Western States Sports

1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (with Killer Karl Krupp)
4 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version)
1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (with Gene Kiniski)

Southwest Sports, Inc / NWA Big Time Wrestling / World Class Championship Wrestling

13 NWA American Heavyweight Championship
7 NWA American Tag Team Championship (2 with Waldo von Erich, 1 with Billy Red Lyons, 1 with Grizzly Smith, 1 with Fred Curry, 1 with Dan Miller, 1 with Dean Ho)
5 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)
4 NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
3 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Texas version)
1 NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (with Kevin & Mike von Erich)
2 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas Version) (1 with Killer Karl Kox, 1 with Duke Keomuka)

Stampede Wrestling

2 Alberta Tag Team Championship (with Lou Sjoberg)

Other Accomplishments

St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2007)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)

Relations

Tag Teams & Stables

The Von Erichs - David von Erich, Kerry von Erich, Kevin von Erich ( July 18, 1977 - February 15, 1982)
Fritz & Waldo von Erich - Waldo von Erich ( January 2, 1967 - May 5, 1970)
Fritz & Waldo von Erich - Waldo von Erich ( May 30, 1958 - March 22, 1960)
Fritz von Erich & Karl Von Schober - Karl Von Schober/Lou Sjoberg ( February 4, 1955 - January 18, 1957)