8 Wrestling deaths that shocked the world

#4. The Von Erichs

The Von Erichs have one of the saddest stories in pro wrestling history.

Even though the Von Erichs ruled WCCW wrestling in Texas in the early 1980s, the way their lives would play out almost made it seem like a deal with the devil was the reason for the family's success.

Family patriarch Fritz Von Erich had six sons. Five of them have already passed away. His first son died at age six in 1959 after drowning after being shocked unconscious.

After that, the Von Erichs would have a few decades of peace. The peace was shattered when David Von Erich, the third oldest son, allegedly died of enteritis on February 10, 1984, while in Tokyo, Japan. He was 25 years old.

The second youngest of Von Erich's sons, Mike, didn't originally want to get in the ring but was forced to do so by his father after David's death.

Mike would be diagnosed with Toxic Shock Syndrome, forcing him to retire from in-ring competition. He committed suicide on April 12, 1987, after an overdose of tranquilizers, dying at the age of 23.

Depressed due to the death of his brother Mike, Chris Von Erich continued the family curse when he shot himself in 1991. He was only 21. He was not as physically gifted as his brothers Mike, Kerry or Kevin, so he was frustrated that he was unable to make a mark in the business.

Kerry Von Erich, perhaps the most famous of the brothers, was also the most popular. He had a run in the WWF in the early 1990s but followed the fate of his brothers.

Kerry committed suicide by gunshot on February 18, 1993, on his family's ranch in Texas. He was 33 years old.

Since five of the six sons met their fates before father Fritz did, an urban legend exists that says that the family was cursed. It's hard to argue against that since so many of the members passed away before living long, fruitful lives.