The Self-Destruction of Chris Adams

One of the most innovative stars of his generation is mostly forgotten today due to his personal life.

The true stars in WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) were the Von Erich brothers. They were the constant mainstays throughout the company’s run. If you were to choose a star to put after them in a list of the top stars in WCCW, Chris Adams would be a prime candidate. A sometimes friend, sometimes foe of the Von Erichs, Chris Adams was a much-loved face on Texan television screens.

Sadly, many younger wrestling fans may not be familiar with the name Chris Adams. While some of that could be due to Adams having much of his success during the territory days, his wild and tragic personal life has tarnished his legacy. Adams was one of the stars possibly on the cusp of superstardom and never quite reached it. His struggles with drugs and alcohol would cause him multiple setbacks in his later career. Ultimately, his demons would catch up to him in a bar in Texas.

“Gentleman Chris Adams’’ was born February 10, 1955, in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. He rose to become a major star in his homeland and his adopted home of Texas. As the innovator of the superkick, his influence can be seen in stars such as Shawn Micheals and Dolph Ziggler. Many modern stars consider Adams a significant influence, especially in today’s wrestling world, where you do not have to be a six-foot-five bodybuilder to make a name for yourself.