10 Wrestlers Who Had Their Careers Stolen From Them
4. Kerry Von Erich
Whilst bad booking is one thing, there are unfortunately all too many instances where outright disaster has impacted the careers of great performers. The story of Kerry Von Erich is far more serious than most on this list, and infinitely more heart-rending.
After losing three of his four brothers across the space of seven years, two to suicide and one to disputed medical circumstances, Kerry Von Erich continued his wrestling career as a solo performer as The Texas Tornado. Whilst he did get his hands on the Intercontinental Championship, he failed to climb the WWF ladder.
It was miraculous that Kerry had been able to perform at the level he did for quite some however, as it would later be revealed that, following a motorcycle incident in 1984, Von Erich had had his right foot amputated. He kept his prothesis a secret from fans and colleagues, even reportedly going so far as to shower with his boots on.
The pain and discomfort of working in the ring with his disability took its toll and Kerry found himself abusing painkillers in order to continue working. Following his second drug-related arrest, Von Erich sadly took his own life at just 33.
A strong-willed and mould-breaking star, Kerry Von Erich should be remembered for the influence he and his family had on the world of tag team wrestling and the perceptions of disabled performers.