Adrian Adonis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adrian Adonis |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Keith Adonis Franke |
| Born | September 15, 1953 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 1988 (aged 34) Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Canada |
| Cause of death | Traffic collision |
| Spouse(s) |
Bea Franke Hall
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Adrian Adonis Keith Franks |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 298 lb (135 kg) |
| Billed from | New York City |
| Trained by | Fred Atkins |
| Debut | 1974 |
Keith Adonis Franke (born September 15, 1953 – died July 4, 1988) was an American professional wrestler. He was famous for his ring name Adrian Adonis. He wrestled for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1980s.
Adonis started wrestling in 1974 using his real name. Later, he became known as Adrian Adonis. He joined the AWA and formed a tag team called the "East-West Connection" with Jesse Ventura. They won the AWA World Tag Team Championship.
In 1981, Adonis and Ventura moved to the World Wrestling Federation. Ventura later stopped wrestling due to injuries. Adonis then teamed up with Dick Murdoch as the "North-South Connection". They won the WWF Tag Team Championship.
In 1986, Adonis changed his wrestling character. He became a flashy wrestler who wore pink clothes and lots of makeup. He was called "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. He had a big rivalry with Roddy Piper. This led to a special match at WrestleMania III where the loser would have their hair cut off.
Adonis was let go from the WWF in 1987. He briefly returned to the AWA and wrestled for smaller groups. Sadly, he died in a car accident in 1988. His life was featured in a TV show called Dark Side of the Ring in 2023.
Contents
- Early Life and Start in Wrestling
- Professional Wrestling Career
- Death
- Championships and Accomplishments
- See Also
Early Life and Start in Wrestling
Keith Franke was born in Buffalo, New York, on September 15, 1953. He was adopted by Kenneth and Hortense Franke. He had two sisters, Karen and Susan.
He went to Kenmore East High School. Keith was a talented amateur wrestler and won a local championship in 1970. He left school early because he found it boring. For a short time, he played football in Canada before focusing on wrestling.
Professional Wrestling Career
Early Days (1974–1979)
Keith Franke learned to wrestle from Fred Atkins. He started his career in 1974. In the late 1970s, he began using the name "Adrian Adonis." He played the part of a tough leather jacket-wearing biker.
In a wrestling group called Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Adonis teamed up with Roddy Piper. Later, he became a fan favorite. He teamed with Ron Starr to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship.
American Wrestling Association (1979–1982)
In the late 1970s, Adonis joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA). In 1979, he formed a tag team with Jesse Ventura. They were called The East-West Connection. Adonis was from New York (East), and Ventura was from California (West).
They won the AWA World Tag Team Championship on July 20, 1980. They held the titles until June 14, 1981. They lost to Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell.
World Wrestling Federation (1981–1987)
The East-West Connection (1981–1983)
Adonis and Ventura joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in October 1981. They wrestled as a team and in single matches. Adonis often challenged WWF Champion Bob Backlund. He also challenged Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales in 1982.
The North-South Connection (1983–1985)
When Jesse Ventura was injured, Adonis formed a new team. He teamed with Texan Dick Murdoch. Their team was called "The North-South Connection." They started wrestling together in late 1983. Around this time, Adonis gained a lot of weight.
On April 17, 1984, The North-South Connection won the WWF World Tag Team Championship. They beat Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson. They held the title until January 21, 1985. They lost to Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. The team broke up soon after.
"Adorable" Adrian Adonis (1985–1987)
In late 1985, Adonis changed his wrestling character, or gimmick. He started carrying a briefcase. Then, Jimmy Hart became his manager. Adonis defeated Corporal Kirchner in a tournament.
In January 1986, Adonis gave his leather jacket to Roddy Piper on Piper's talk show, Piper's Pit. Adonis then became "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. He dyed his hair blonde and wore pink wrestling gear. He also wore scarves, hats, and a lot of eye shadow and rouge. His weight increased even more.
He quickly defeated Uncle Elmer at WrestleMania 2. He had big rivalries with the Junkyard Dog and George "The Animal" Steele. He also tried to win the WWF Championship from Hulk Hogan many times, but he never succeeded.
In May 1986, Adonis started his own talk show called The Flower Shop. This show was part of a story where Paul Orndorff slowly turned against his friend Hulk Hogan. Adonis would tease Orndorff about being in Hogan's shadow.
Later, Adonis got "Cowboy" Bob Orton to be his bodyguard. Orton started wearing a pink cowboy hat. A rivalry with Roddy Piper grew when Adonis, Orton, and Don Muraco attacked Piper. A week later, Piper destroyed the Flower Shop set.
Adonis and Piper agreed to a hair vs. hair match at WrestleMania III. Piper won the match. After the match, Brutus Beefcake helped Piper cut off most of Adonis's hair. Adonis then started a rivalry with Beefcake. However, Adonis was let go from the WWF in May 1987.
Return to American Wrestling Association (1987–1988)
After leaving the WWF, Franke (now with a shaved head) returned to the AWA. He was managed by Paul E. Dangerously in 1987. He kept his "Adorable" Adrian Adonis character. He wrestled against Tommy Rich. He also lost a championship tournament final to Greg Gagne in December 1987. During this time, he lost a lot of weight, hoping to return to the WWF.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1988)
With his ankle healed, Franke wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling in May and June 1988. He did not use his "Adorable" character there. He teamed up with Owen Hart and D.J. Peterson. On June 23, he and Murdoch tried to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship but lost.
Death
Adrian Adonis hoped to rejoin the WWF and had lost weight. He was wrestling for Dave McKigney in Newfoundland. On July 4, 1988, in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Franke died in a road accident. Two other wrestlers, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko and Dave McKigney, also died in the same accident.
He was survived by his wife and two daughters. He is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Bakersfield, California.
Championships and Accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jesse Ventura
- NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Black Gordman (1 time) and Roddy Piper (1 time)
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ron Starr
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Editor's Award (1988) tied with Bruiser Brody
- PWI ranked him #128 of the 500 best single wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
- PWI ranked him #35 of the 100 best tag teams with Dick Murdoch of the PWI Years in 2003.
- Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter
- Wrestler of the Year (1979)
- Southwest Championship Wrestling
- SCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- SCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Wrestling Federation
- WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dick Murdoch
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Embarrassing Wrestler (1986)
- Most Improved Wrestler (1981)
- Most Underrated Wrestler (1982)
- Worst Gimmick (1986, 1987)
See Also
- List of premature professional wrestling deaths
