00:00Hi, welcome back to my channel, in this video, I will explain the the true story of of the
00:04Iron Claw, so, let's begin.
00:06The Iron Claw chronicles the saga of the Von Erich dynasty, a family that soars to prominence
00:11within the world of professional wrestling.
00:14Throughout the 1980s, the family navigates their paths in the wrestling arena either
00:18by treading in the footsteps of predecessors or establishing themselves as formidable wrestlers.
00:23As disturbances and tragedies befall the Von Erichs, claiming one member after another,
00:27the story unveils a story both inside and outside the wrestling arena.
00:32Directed by Sean Durkin and featuring stellar performances by Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White,
00:37and Harris Dickinson, the film transcends the confines of the ring.
00:41It masterfully explores the family dynamics beyond the glitz and glamour, unraveling a
00:45tale marked by triumphs and tribulations.
00:48Given the rich storyline and the genuineness that sparks from the first glimpse, one might
00:52wonder whether the movie is based on events that actually transpired in real life.
00:56The Iron Claw is based on the true story of the Von Erich wrestling family.
01:01Director Sean Durkin, who also wrote the script, had always been an avid fan of wrestling,
01:05and this was a story that he felt he had to tell the world.
01:08All of it begins with Fritz Von Erich, born Jack Barton Adkisson Sr. on August 16, 1929,
01:14in Jewett, Texas, who exhibited athletic prowess from a young age.
01:18Initially excelling as a discus thrower and a football prodigy, he earned a scholarship
01:22to Southern Methodist University.
01:25Despite his promising football career, his marriage to Doris Juanita Smith in June 1950
01:29led to the forfeiture of his scholarship.
01:31Undeterred, Jack continued playing football at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, then
01:36Corpus Christi University, but faced challenges in achieving success in professional leagues.
01:42After an unsuccessful attempt in the Canadian Football League, Jack transitioned to wrestling,
01:46undergoing training under the guidance of Stu Hart.
01:49Returning to Texas, Jack Adkisson adopted the ring persona of Fritz Von Erich, portraying
01:54a villainous Nazi character that gained popularity.
01:57During the pinnacle of his wrestling career, he introduced his signature move, famously
02:01known as the Iron Claw, a gripping maneuver targeting his opponent's temple with one
02:05hand until they submitted.
02:07Simultaneously, Jack's family was expanding during their time in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
02:12He and Doris welcomed a son, Jack Jr., in September 1952, followed by Kevin in May 1957
02:18and David in 1958.
02:20Unfortunately, in 1959, Jack Jr. tragically drowned in a puddle outside their house after
02:26being electrocuted.
02:28The loss of their eldest son left Jack and Doris in a profound state of grief and anguish
02:32they struggled to comprehend.
02:34Seeking solace and closeness to their children, Jack purchased 115 acres of rural land in
02:39Texas.
02:40In February 1960, the couple welcomed their fourth son, Carrie, followed by two more sons,
02:45Mike in March 1964 and Chris in September 1969.
02:50Jack, envisioning his sons as outdoorsy, tough, and athletic, constructed a gym and training
02:55ring at home.
02:57He maintained a disciplined approach, including corporal punishment, to instill toughness
03:00and respect.
03:02By the late 1970s and early 1980s, all of his sons had entered the world of wrestling,
03:07with Jack serving as a master promoter.
03:10Jack's eldest sons, Kevin, David, and Carrie, emerged as stars in the wrestling arena, gaining
03:15prominence in the world-class championship.
03:18Their shows garnered viewership not only across the U.S. but also internationally,
03:21reaching countries like Japan and the Middle East.
03:24David, recognized for his exceptional physique and charisma, was often hailed as the family's
03:29best fighter.
03:30Carrie achieved a significant victory against Ric Flair in the N.W.A. World Championship
03:35in 1984 and also earned the moniker a Texas Tornado.
03:39Inspired by their older siblings and seeking to emulate their father, Mike also ventured
03:43into wrestling.
03:44Additionally, Chris, despite facing health concerns like asthma and being shorter than
03:48his brothers at just 5 feet 4 inches, took on the challenge.
03:52In 1983, at the age of 25, David began experiencing frequent stomach cramps.
03:58While on tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1984, he was discovered dead in his hotel
04:03room in Tokyo.
04:05Official reports from Tokyo officials attributed David's death to acute enteritis, an inflammation
04:09of the intestines.
04:11Nevertheless, persistent rumors within the wrestling community suggested a potential
04:15connection between David's death and drug use.
04:18These speculations were later acknowledged by Ric Flair in his writings.
04:22In August 1985, Mike, then 23, who initially lacked much interest in wrestling but joined
04:28the sport to help cope with the loss of his brother David, suffered a shoulder dislocation
04:31injury during a match.
04:33He underwent surgery for the injury but faced complications, including toxic shock syndrome
04:38and kidney-related problems.
04:40Reports indicated that Mike had also suffered brain damage and encountered personal struggles.
04:45In 1987, following a reported DUI arrest, Mike was found dead just four days later.
04:51Speculations surrounding his death centered on a possible overdose of tranquilizers and
04:55sleeping pills.
04:56In 1986, Carey, the brother with the most achievements in the wrestling world, experienced
05:01a dislocated hip but managed to recover and return to the ring.
05:05However, reports suggest that he developed a heavy dependence on drugs.
05:09Although Carey won his comeback match, he faced another setback when he broke his foot
05:13in a motorcycle crash later that year.
05:16Despite efforts from doctors, his leg had to be amputated.
05:20Witnessing the tragic deaths of his brothers and the unraveling of his family, Chris reportedly
05:24battled depression and struggled to find success in the wrestling world, further impacting
05:27his mental health.
05:29In 1991, at just 21 years old, he took his own life.
05:34Carey and his family believed that it was in their best interest to keep the use of
05:37his prosthetics, which he acquired after his leg amputation, a secret from the wrestling
05:41community and his fans.
05:43However, by 1993, Carey had distanced himself from wrestling, and an arrest warrant was
05:48issued against him for the possession of cocaine.
05:51On February 18, 1993, at the age of 33, he took his own life by shooting himself in the
05:57head.
05:58Given the devastating toll of losing one child after another, Jack and Doris divorced in
06:021992.
06:04Kevin revealed that he battled depressive and suicidal thoughts but fortunately found
06:08a way to balance himself.
06:10In 1997, Jack, who was already suffering from brain and lung cancer, succumbed to the grief
06:15of losing his sons and passed away on September 10, 1997.
06:19Kevin continued his career, fighting barefoot as he had done since a young age.
06:24He and his wife Pam have four children, and today they are proud grandparents to 11 grandchildren.
06:30Kevin's two sons, Ross and Marshall Von Erich, have admirably kept the family name alive
06:34by competing in wrestling matches as a Von Erich Tag Team.
06:38They have also contributed to promotions like Major League Wrestling.
06:42In 2009, WWE posthumously inducted the Von Erich family into its Hall of Fame, and this
06:47is the true story that The Iron Claw brings to the screen.
06:50Kevin, having consulted with the director, expressed full confidence in the actors and
06:55the rest of the creative team to authentically bring his family's story to light.
06:59Talking about the authenticity in the narrative of The Iron Claw, Zac Efron described the
07:03visual representation of the Erich family best when he told Entertainment Weekly,
07:07There's a huge element of the movie that's, of course, about wrestling and the showmanship aspect.
07:12But really, at its core, this movie's an incredible story about family, love, loss,
07:17and ultimately the triumph of a man who tries to break the cycle of this crazy curse.
07:21That's all for now folks, I would appreciate it if you could give the video a super thanks
07:25with a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel so you can see more content like this every
07:28day.
07:29Take care.
07:30Bye.
07:58you
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