Adrian Adonis
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| Keith Franke | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Keith Franks, Adrian Adonis |
Keith Franke, born September 12, 1954 in Buffalo, NY, was an American professional wrestler best known as Adrian Adonis.
As Adonis, he would go through two distinct ring personae in the 1980s: First, as a trash-talking biker clad in black leather and chains; and later as the effeminate "Adorable Adrian", with bleached hair, pink tights, and perfume (occasionally sprayed in the face of his opponents to blind them). During his earlier personae, he challenged Bob Backlund for the WWF heavyweight title, culminating in a series of matches in 1982, the first of which left Backlund so bloody the referee stopped it.
Adonis made the transformation in 1986 on Piper's Pit and gave his "retired" leather jacket to Roddy Piper. He would go on to feud with Piper upon the creation of his own segment, the "Flower Shop". That segment came to an end a few months later when Roddy Piper returned from injury, and destroyed the set. Their feud would culiminate in a "hair match" at WrestleMania III. Piper would defeat Adonis and have his hair cut by Brutus Beefcake.
Adonis wrestled briefly with the WWF after WrestleMania III and was released. Adonis then wrestled with the AWA again during 1987. During this stint, Adonis feuded with Tommy Rich and lost the final match of the AWA International Television Championship tournament to Greg Gagne in December 1987.
Adrian Adonis was killed in a unfortunate car crash, along with Dave "Wildman" McKigney and Pat Kelly on July 4, 1988 in Newfoundland in a van crash when a wild moose stood in the middle of the highway and Adonis, the driver, swearved to avoid hitting the animal. Adonis was thrown from the van was pronounced dead en route to the hospital. Pat's brother Mike Kelly was also in the van. Mike would survive, but with leg injuries.
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[edit] Tag team career
Ironically, Piper and Adonis were once Americas Tag Team Champions in the National Wrestling Alliance.
However, Adonis is far better known for his successful tag team stints with Jesse Ventura (known as the East-West Connection since Adonis was from New York and Ventura from California) and later, with Texan Dick Murdoch as the "North-South Connection". He also occasionally teamed with "Macho Man" Randy Savage during the summer of 1986 in a series of tag team matches vs. Bruno Sammartino and Tito Santana (on a few occasions, Bruno's partner was George "The Animal" Steele). During the same period, the two teamed at least once against Steele and WWF Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan.
During an early 1980s stint in the American Wrestling Association, Adonis and Ventura – known as the "East-West Connection" won the AWA World Tag Team Championship. In 1984, when teaming with Murdoch, he won the WWF World Tag Team Championship.
Never a small man, during the mid 1980's, Adonis' weight increased significantly. Despite his girth, he continued to showcase his athleticism through his ability to take incredible bumps in the ring.
[edit] In Wrestling
- Finishing/Signature Move(s)
- Good Night Irene (Sleeper Hold)
- DDT
- Knee Drop
- Diving shoulder block
[edit] Trivia
- In his early career, his leather jacket and boots usually sported the N-Y monogram logo of the New York Yankees baseball team.
- Adonis sparked controversy when he first introduced the "Adorable" Adrian character. When asked if he was gay on Tuesday Night Titans, he said that he was (in real-life, he was married). This was very unusual in wrestling circles because most effeminate characters cloak homosexuality and flamboyance but the character never really comes out and says it. Plus, this was 1986, when racy storylines in wrestling weren't as commonplace.
- Professional wrestler Tazz used the phrase "Good Night Irene" while commentating a match on Friday Night Smackdown.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- 1-time WWF World Tag-Team Champion (with Dick Murdoch)
- 2-time NWA Americas Tag-Team Champion (1-time with Black Gordman, 1 with Roddy Piper)
- 1-time NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Ron Starr)
- 1-time AWA World Tag-Team Champion (with Jesse Ventura)
- 1-time SCW Southwest Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time SCW Heavyweight Champion
[edit] Pro Wrestling Illustrated
He won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Editor's Award in 1988 that is given to the most inspirational wrestling personality of that year.
PWI also ranked him # 128 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" and the # 35 of the best tag teams (with Dick Murdoch) and # 67 of the best tag teams (with Jesse Ventura) of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
[edit] Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 1981 Most Improved Wrestler
- 1982 Most Underrated Wrestler
