Customer Reviews

Fritz Von Erich: Master Of The Iron Claw

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this book, because I grew up watching WCCW on television as a kid. I knew bits and pieces about the life and times of the Von Erichs. However, I was extremely surprised that this was a first hand account of Fritz Von Erich's (Jack Adkisson) life.

This is the true story of a World Famous Wrestler (Fritz), and his friendship with a Viet Nam Veteran (author Ron Mullinax), who just so happens to have grown up idolizing him. After Fritz is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Ron moves in with Fritz and becomes his caregiver. Fritz makes his friend promise to write his life story for all his fans. This is that book.

Through their time together, Fritz Von Erich delves into the dissolution of his 40 year marriage with his true love. The joy and heartbreak of having and losing all but one of his 6 boys to tragic endings. The rise and fall of his Wrestling Dynasty, and his struggle with a belief in God.

Very surprising, because despite the colorful and International reputation of Fritz and his patented "Iron Claw", he had never disclosed his personal life. The author, gives us a true life retelling, simply, and with warmth. However, this book is not a rehash of tragic headlines, although they do help augment the book. It is so much more, it really gets into the heart and brain of this man.


There were times my jaw dropped, because I could not believe what I was reading. Fritz voice comes through very clear. Ron Mullinax is a first time author, and he makes clear this point. You won't get flowery language with this one. You get a straight forward tale. I highly recommend this book.

Growing up a fan of Kerry and Kevin Von Erich...this book brought to life the stories that I never knew but had always wondered about. Now I know the emotional struggle the entire family went through. Which has only made me that much more of a fan. I loved the way the book was written because it was straight to the point...No added drama. Their real lives had enough of it anyway!

This book is a must have for any library. It takes a different approch to tell the story of a great family. The most intimate stories of there lives are brought to life for the reader. I couldn't put it down. You will experiance every human emotion as you read their story, but most of all you will walk away inspired.

As told from the perspective of Fritz, this book is a must have for any Von Erich fan. Although there are a few inconsistencies (with regard to some dates), getting to read of the Von Erich story from it's patriarch is so worth it.

Overall this is a great book for any fan of the Von Erich family! Fritz's details of his early life and how he met his wife Doris and struggled through various jobs trying to support his family are interesting. He details the events surrounding the deaths of 5 of his 6 children.
However there are some inaccuracies in this book. Verne Gagne's name is consistently misspelled as well as Freddie Blassie's.
To me there is really no prevalence of keeping kayfabe in this book with some minor exceptions, notably a seeming reluctance to admit to the matches being predetermined.
All in all, a really good buy for the money!

Want to read an incredibly biased account of the rise and fall of the Von Erich family? This is your book.
Fritz Von Erich's account of his famous children's lives is through rose colored glasses. You'll walk away from this book with the feeling that he's telling you what he wants you to believe, not the real truth.
His account of son David's death is the one that was given to the press, not the real story of David's very un-glamourous overdose in Japan. (And yes, that has been pretty much proven at this point)
His stories of former wrestling friends and foes are told in character (He still pretends that he hates the Von Erich In-Ring enemies)and are ultimatly, a dissapointment.
If you still believe that Wrestling is real and people like Fritz Von Erich and his sons are Baby-faced heroes who's goal in life is to rid the world of Evil wrestling heels like Michael Hayes and The Fabulous Freebirds, then by all means, order this book without hesitation.
But If You're looking for a factual, behind the scenes account of Pro Wrestling and all that it entails, leave this mess behind and buy Bobby Heanans book.

As a long time 50 y/o fan of the old Southern NWA territories, I was very familiar with the Von Eric story and it's tragedy. But I so enjoyed the depth, warmth, and heartache this book brought to light in a much more detailed accounting than I had ever read of the Von Eric's beforehand. Fritz's (and Doris') pain jumps off the pages as each Von Eric son's death is chronicled. Parts of the book are truly heartbreaking. And it's mind-numbing how one family could bear it all.

My ONLY compliant with the book, is the fact that when Fritz is telling about wrestling (whether his or his son's), it's ALL Kayfabe. (much like Arn Anderson's book) With parts of it bordering on the ridiculous -- ie: denying that match endings are scripted.

If you can overlook the Kayfabe...it's a fantastic book with rare insight into this extraordinary family!

I grew up watching and idolizing the Von Erich Family and WCCW and when it came on television I would stop what I was doing and watch it. The book is awesome and glad Fritz wrote his life history I read it all the time. Looking forward to Kevin coming to St.Louis to be inducted to the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and finally get to meet the Goldan Warrior and get his autograph.

FVE was my favourite wrestler in the 1960s - a time when it was less of a soap opera than it is now. So I was interested to find out what happened to him. Didn't know at the time that he was part of a dynasty and had several sons who followed him into the ring - a number of whom died under tragic circumstances. So that is why I purchased the book.

The book is FVE's version of his life as told to a close friend. So it portrays him in a favourable light, particularly in any responsibility he may or may not have played in the death of his sons.

Therefore, for anyone else who have had children die under tragic circumstances, they may find some something in common with FVE's feelings, other than the wrestling connection.

Certainly worth the price, but there were a few typos in the book which indicated that it could have done with some closer editing at the end.

Jack Adkisson was a legend in the pro wrestling industry for his character, Fritz Von Erich, which became larger-than-life as the owner of the Dallas territory - World Class Championship Wrestling - and the father of four sons who helped make WCCW internationally-known for its roster and cutting-edge approach to delivering the product to fans.

But he may be best known to the general public for what has been called the "Von Erich Curse," with five of his six sons dying at young ages, four who were in the business at the time of their deaths, along with a divorce in the early 1990s, with the family tragedies becoming fodder for the emerging tabloid journalism TV programs.

In the months prior to his September 1997 death from brain and lung cancer, Adkisson told his life story to a family friend, Ron G. Mullinax, who promised to write his biography.

This is straight from the heart from two people, with Adkisson talking to the fans concerning his life and times as a husband, father and wrestler, with Mullinax crafting the text to show the real Adkisson, minus the trappings from an industry which brought his family incredible highs and - ultimately - so much sadness.