WWE constantly reminds the fans about the late great Eddie Guerrero who passed away at a time when he was main eventing SmackDown. It is left to the imagination to think about what Guerrero might have accomplished in the company had he not passed away so young.
This edition of ‘This day..’ focusses on two other great in-ring technicians who passed away too soon. Neither won a World title in the WWE or WCW, but are still in the hearts of wrestling fans.
Here is a tribute to the memory of Curt ‘Mr Perfect’ Hennig and David Von Erich
#1 Mr Perfect passes away – 10 Feb 2003
Mr Perfect will remain – alongside Owen Hart and Razor Ramon – as the greatest WWE Superstar never to have won the WWE Championship belt. But Curt Hennig was much more than championships.
Debuting in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where his father Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig became popular, Curt would have a short-lived run with the WWE from 1982, before returning to the AWA in 1984.
He would become a major star there, winning the AWA tag team titles and more importantly, the AWA World Heavyweight Championship from Nick Bockwinkel.
Hennig would return to the WWE in 1988 under the ‘Mr Perfect’ moniker aided by outrageous segments showing him perform unbelievable sporting acts. He would remain unbeaten for a year and win the Intercontinental title in 1990. Considered the prime example of 'Man makes the title', Hennig raised the prestige of the IC title belt.
Injuries would affect his time in the ring, but he famously beat Ric Flair in a 'Loser leaves WWE' match to herald Flair's departure from the company.
Hennig would soon join Flair in WCW, becoming a part of the nWo faction and feuding with the likes of Goldberg and DDP in addition to Flair. Hennig returned to the WWE in 2002 and was initially booked for a one-off appearance at the Royal Rumble. But in a testament to his talent, he would finish in the top three at the Rumble and drew loud cheers.
Impressed, WWE signed him to a permanent deal.
Hennig would leave the WWE the same year after an altercation with Brock Lesnar on the infamous ‘Plane ride from hell’. He would challenge for the TNA World title on multiple occasions as well.
A 44-year-old Mr Perfect would be found dead in his Tampa hotel room in 2003 due to cocaine intoxication as per official records. He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
#2 David Von Erich passes away – 10 Feb 1984
The Von Erich family were the biggest draw in Texas in the 70’s and 80’s and a major reason for that was the presence of the ‘Yellow flower of Texas’ David Von Erich.
David and his brothers learned wrestling under the patriarch of the Von Erich family, Fritz Von Erich. David would make his in-ring debut at the age of 18 in 1977 and would have an acclaimed match with the legendary Harley Race the same year.
He would beat the then NWA Champion Race in a non-title match later and would be a part of a famous feud between the Von Erichs and the Fabulous Freebirds. He would beat Jimmy Garvin and Ric Flair to win Championships and was poised to beat Ric Flair for the NWA world title in 1984.
However, on a tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling, 25-year old David was found dead in his Tokyo hotel room. The cause of death remains unclear with some sources claiming drug overuse, whereas the Von Erich family has always maintained that it was a heart attack.
David’s brother Kerry would beat Flair for the NWA World title the same year.
#3 Ric Flair’s final WWE match for a decade – 10th Feb 1993
WWE had re-hired Ric Flair in the early 1990s in order to deliver the Hogan vs. Flair dream match, but the match never came to fruition and Flair became dissatisfied with his role in the company. The Nature Boy was always more comfortable in WCW and he decided to go back there.
He would be written off television after losing to Mr Perfect in a ‘Loser leaves the WWE’ match in January 1993 but would wrestle his final match with the company on February 10th. Flair would battle the then WWF Champion Bret Hart in a losing effort at a special show in Dortmund, Germany before leaving for WCW. He wouldn't return to the company till 2002.
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