The smallest and youngest of the Von Erich family at 5'5" and 175 pounds, Chris aspired to be a wrestler.[1][4] He was the youngest son of wrestler and wrestling promoter Fritz Von Erich.[5] His brothers, Mike, David, Kerry and Kevin all had success as wrestlers. Chris was raised with his brothers on 500 acres in Texas.[6] He grew up working cameras and doing other odd jobs backstage for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). He won his first amateur wrestling match at the age of six.
Professional wrestling career
Chris had minor involvement in angles in the 1980s.[5] He performed run-ins to aid his brothers against The Fabulous Freebirds.[5] Then Chris appeared at ringside when Kerry Von Erich won the NWA World Championship in May 1984. Chris also smashed Buddy Roberts across the back with a chair, and tackled Gino Hernandez at the Cotton Bowl in 1985 while he was trying to escape from having his hair shaved off following a tag-team loss at the hands of the Von Erichs.
Chris became a full-fledged wrestler in 1990.[5] He had a small feud with Percy Pringle in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) that was seen nationally on ESPN. Chris tagged with both his brother Kevin and longtime ally Chris Adams in several tag team matches against Pringle and Steve Austin; however, he would face only Pringle whenever he was in the ring, and allow his more-experienced partner (Kevin or Adams) to battle Austin. Despite his lack of athleticism, Chris was supported by fans, who would often yell "GO, CHRIS, GO!" during his matches. In one of his early matches, Matt Borne and Pringle faced off against Kerry and Kevin Von Erich. Chris, who was at ringside, was attacked by Borne and Pringle, ramming his head into the ring apron, causing him to have a headache that lasted for five days.[7] His last known match was a victory over Todd Overbow March 31, 1991 for World Class Wrestling Association in Davis, Oklahoma.
Personal life
Chris had several health problems that limited his success as a wrestler.[5] In addition to asthma,[6][8] his bones were so brittle from taking prednisone that he would often break them while performing simple wrestling maneuvers.[5][1] After the 1987 suicide of brother Mike,[9] Chris began to experience depression and drug issues.[5] He was also frustrated by his inability to make headway as a wrestler due to his physical build.[10][11][12]
Death and legacy
On September 12, 1991, at about 9 P.M., Chris was found by his brother Kevin and mother outside of their family farm in Edom, suffering from a self-inflicted 9mm gunshot wound to the head.[13] According to Kevin, Chris came to him in the middle of the night, wanting back a videocassette recorder (VCR) Kevin borrowed from him. After noticing Chris sitting alone on top of a hill, Kevin went out and talked with him, where he revealed his suicidal tendencies concerning his condition (he had broken his arm earlier that month). After Kevin pleaded with him not to harm himself, Chris reassured him he wouldn't, but after Kevin left, he shot himself in the head.[14] He was hospitalized at the East Texas Medical Center, shortly after 10 P.M., where he died 20 minutes after arriving, at age 21.[5][15][1] Toxicology reports also revealed cocaine and Valium were in his system at the time of his death.[16] Kevin had talked to Chris earlier that day about 100–150 yards north of their home where an apparent suicide note had been left.[17] His interment was located at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas.[18]
Chris's life story was combined with his brother Kerry's for the movie The Iron Claw.
