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Chris Von Erich

Chris Von Erich was the ring name of Christopher Barton Adkisson (September 30, 1969 – September 12, 1991), an American professional wrestler and member of the Von Erich wrestling family.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Chris Von Erich was the ring name of Christopher Barton Adkisson (September 30, 1969 – September 12, 1991), an American professional wrestler and member of the Von Erich wrestling family. He had a brief career in World Class Championship Wrestling and died at age 21.

Early life

Chris Von Erich was born Christopher Barton Adkisson in 1969 in Texas and was the youngest of the six Von Erich brothers. He grew up in the family associated with professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

He entered professional wrestling in 1990 and worked under the Chris Von Erich name in World Class Championship Wrestling. Available sources describe his in-ring career as very brief.

Death and legacy

Chris Von Erich died on September 12, 1991, at age 21. He is remembered as part of the Von Erich family tragedy and was later included in the WWE Hall of Fame induction for the family in 2009.

Key facts

  • Youngest son of wrestling promoter Fritz Von Erich and part of the Von Erich family.
  • Began his professional wrestling career in 1990.
  • Wrestled in World Class Championship Wrestling and appeared in USWA-related programming.
  • His career was brief, with fewer than 10 matches reported in some accounts.
  • He died by suicide on September 12, 1991, at age 21.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Chris Von Erich?
Chris Von Erich was the ring name of Christopher Barton Adkisson, an American professional wrestler and member of the Von Erich family.
When was Chris Von Erich born?
He was born on September 30, 1969.
When did Chris Von Erich die?
He died on September 12, 1991, at age 21.
What promotion did Chris Von Erich wrestle for?
He wrestled in World Class Championship Wrestling and appeared in related wrestling programming.
Was Chris Von Erich related to other wrestlers?
Yes. He was part of the Von Erich family, one of professional wrestling’s best-known families.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Von_Erich
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, ring name, and wrestling identity.
  2. Wrestling Inc. — https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1862605/chris-von-erich-tragic/
    Supports: Brief career, death age, and WWE Hall of Fame family induction.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13492363/
    Supports: Birthplace, death place, and wrestling-related appearances.
  4. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a70350075/the-iron-claw-chris-von-erich
    Supports: Family role, brief wrestling career, and relation to World Class Championship Wrestling.
  5. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2124153
    Supports: Canonical identity and lifespan.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Erich_family
    Supports: Family context and death information.