PWI - August 1985 - Article with Chris Von Erich
The Von Erich Dynasty: The kid who will lead them into the 21st century
Pro Wrestling Illustrated August 1985
***Thanks to Jade for this article!!!***
Imagine being able to transport yourself back in time to Abruzzi, Italy. It is 1951, and you’re standing in a small gym, watching half a dozen men work out with barbells and dumbbells. A man known only as “Batisti” moves from man to man, offering advice and encouragement.
Through the door walks a skinny, underdeveloped young teen-ager. He looks lost. Batisti walks over to him, and the young man says he wants to develop his physique. Batisti takes the youngster and develops a course of exercises that soon has the young man working out several hours each day.
A dozen years later, that young man – Bruno Sammartino – would ignite the wrestling world by capturing the WWF heavyweight title from Buddy Rogers.
Knowing how Bruno embodied the spirit of professional wrestling for so many years, how he did for wrestling what Muhammad Ali did for boxing, it truly would be fascinating to go back in time and see what “The Living Legend” looked like as a young teenager.
Unfortunately, that can’t be done. But 30 years from now, when it is the year 2015, many of those wrestling fans in the 21st century may be looking at the year 1985 saying “If only we could have been able to see mighty Chris Von Erich when was 15. If only we could have known what it was like for him when he was just starting his professional training. And with those incredibly successful brothers of his, imagine if we could have spoken with Chris back then and found out what he thought about his brothers, and how he anticipated what would happen in his own career.”
We’re lucky. We may not be able to go back to Abruzzi, Italy, and the year 1951. But a quick visit to Denton, Texas, provides us with some unique insights into the thoughts of the youngest Von Erich brother, Chris Von Erich.
Long before his brother Mike Von Erich made his professional wrestling debut on Christmas night, 1983… long before Kerry Von Erich won the NWA World title from Ric Flair on May 6, 1984 in Texas Stadium… long before Kevin Von Erich spent much of 1984 involved in a brutal feud with Chris Adams... that’s when Chris Von Erich began his training in amateur wrestling.
“When I was real young, when I was six years old, I first started my amateur wrestling,” said 15-year-old Chris Von Erich. “It was at a YMCA in, I think, Lewisville, Texas. It’s torn down now, I amateur wrestled for about nine years and my coach was (noted World Class area referee) David Manning,”
“My brother Mike also started when he was six,” Chris continued, “and David Manning was his coach too. Mike was, I think, about 12 when I started. I kind of followed in his footsteps. I learned a half-nelson, a full-nelson, the chicken-wing, things like that. I learned how to make a bridge so the guy won’t pin you.
“Late last year,” Chris said, “I started my professional training,”
Who decided that it was time for Christ to end amateur wrestling and become involved in professional training?
“Well, Dad told me, and then Kevin,” Chris said. “Actually we weren’t sure I was ready yet until I got into the ring with Kev. Then I went into the ring with Kev and brothers and they started teaching me moves like the monkey flip and the arm drag.”
Chris can also throw a dropkick, but he learned quickly that the professional wrestling world – even just training – can be dangerous: Chris dislocated his back the first time he started training.
“I was body slammed!” Chris said with a laugh. “Kev body slammed me, and I hit the mat and sure enough my back went out! I wasn’t able to train again for about three weeks.
Standing 5 foot 3, and weighing 140 pounds, Chris is hardly ready to step into the ring against Rip “The Crippler” Oliver. But he is well aware of what it’s going to take to work his body into a wrestling physique.
“I’m working on having the kind of build that Kerry has,” Chris said. “I started working out about three years ago, working out on my chest. I do my chest exercise, my back, my biceps, and then every other week I do my legs.”
Chris doesn’t need the company of his brothers to fuel his enthusiasm for working out, but when he gets the chance, he will go to Kerry’s gym, “Kerry Von Erich’s National Health Studio” in Lewisville, Texas to work out. Indeed, it’s Kerry who designed Chris’ workout plan.
“We all go on the same routine pretty much,” Chris said. “One day it’s chest and triceps and one day it’s back and biceps and the next day we’ll do another routine. And then every other week we’ll do our leg exercises.”
Looking to the future, Chris estimates that it will be about 2 ½ years before he can make his professional wrestling debut. By the turn of the century he’ll be 30 years old and into his wrestling prime. What are his professional aspirations?
“I wanna be world champion,” he says confidently. “I’m pretty sure I will be, cause I’m gonna work hard. I’m just gonna keep training and training until I get big enough, and then I’m gonna be world champion if I can.
With the kind of brotherly guidance Chris is receiving now, and the enthusiasm for training that he’s already exhibiting at the age of 15, we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Chris Von Erich realize his dream.
A look at style – brother to brother.
In his interview with Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Chris Von Erich discussed the respective styles of his three professionally active brothers. Here’s what he had to say
On Kevin: Kevin is very quick and agile in the ring. He’s not big and bulky like Kerry, but he’s quick and he moves well. You can see him in the ring, the way he’ll use the ropes, or how he’ll use the strength in his arms during a match. He’s real strong in the arms and the legs, real quick, and that’s the reason he’s so good.
On Mike: Mikes’ good. I’m real proud of Mike. Mike’s got a little bit of everybody in him. He’s quick like Kev, he’s getting big like Kerry and he’s got a lot of Dave in him. He knows that sleeper and he knows that claw, and they’re Mike’s two favorite moves. If I were to give Mike advice, I’d say just keep on the weights, really, cause he’s got al the moves.
On Kerry: Kerry, he’s the one. Kerry is really the model I’m trying to follow, because I want to be the world champion. Kerry is always in the gym, he’s always working out, he’s just got the strength. He’s like a giant, he’s like King Kong in the ring. A monster.
