David von Erich

[8.0] "The Yellow Rose of Texas, David Von Erich was an unfortunate victim of the "Von Erich Curse" though his was an unexpected health ailment, brought on spontaneously. He could've been the NWA World Heavyweight Champion and should've been definitely."

[7.0] "Kevin always said David was the better wrestler and talker and I assume he's paying tribute him which is understandable. He's not bad at all but he was so lanky and gangly that a lot of what he did looked awkward in its execution. His promos were ok. I would agree they were better than Kevin and Kerry which, as much as I like them, is a low bar to clear."

[8.0] "David Von Erich, I think, should be regarded as one of the biggest "what-ifs" in the wrestling business as he was unfortunately cut down before he had a chance to truly make an impact. Despite his relatively brief time in the wrestling world, David Von Erich left a lasting impact that should be remembered by fans. For starters, David possessed a magnetic charisma and a great sense of in-ring psychology. He wasn't the athlete that Kevin was but he was easily the best worker of his siblings. David set himself apart because he was able escape Fritz's shadow and show a sense of versatility that wasn't there with his brothers. His connection with the fans was evident, and he had the ability to evoke strong emotions from the audience, whether as a heroic figure or as a compelling antagonist. David was one of the central figures in the wrestling scene in Texas and had a profound impact on the regional and national wrestling landscape during the 1980s. Unfortunately, David Von Erich's promising career was cut short when he was found dead in his Tokyo hotel room on February 10, 1984, while on a wrestling tour in Japan. He was only 25 years old and the exact cause of his death remains somewhat of a mystery as some say it was drugs and others say it was of acute enteritis. Still, his untimely demise had a lasting impact on the wrestling community and really set in motion the demise of WCCW and for the fall of the House of Von Erich."

[6.0] "I've been reading the comments about David below with a grain of salt. Personally, I find him a bit overrated for my tastes. I think Kerry and Kevin were better than him in look and skill. David could make a match believable, but something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. Whether it was his doofy look or his character portraying himself as a babyface while treating Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine as lowlifes during his angle, this was not a guy I could get behind. He always overacted very angrily and just wasn't entertaining in the very least."

[8.0] "David von Erich's potential seemed virtually unlimited. Tall, charismatic with a good look and a good and ever-improving in-ring skill set, not to mention a prestigious last name, David was heavily considered a lock to win the NWA World Title sooner than later and become a superstar, but sadly he would be lost to us at the age of 25. Alongside the likes of Magnum TA, Jay Youngblood and Gino Hernandez, David von Erich is one of the biggest "what-ifs" of the 1980s."

[8.0] "Tragically short career, his potential was absurd in it's wealth of positives. While he wasn't as muscular as Kerry or Kevin, he was noticeably taller and if he started packing on weight and muscle, he would have been a giant. Tremendous ring psychology when he wasn't eating his foe alive, and definitely the best of the brothers in that regard. Promo skills ranged from earnest and believable to wild and brow arching (cocaine). David also seemed to be very creative beyond the ring, see the Jimmy Garvin feud for a prime example. Make no mistake, David Von Erich was being groomed to become NWA World's Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. HOWEVER, his biggest detriment was cocaine abuse outside of the ring, and that is why he died. Did you know cocaine abuse can lead to acute enteritis, which is definitely potentially fatal? Yah, neither did David."

[10.0] "Charming charismatic local guy who was adored by the public and who had already earned fame as a great tag team wrestler with his brothers. An incredibly gifted athlete, he had everything to become a world champion."

[9.0] "David had a very short career. Who knows what could have happened if he never died so young. He could have been NWA champion. He was very exciting to watch and had the size at 6"7. Built like an ox. He was in an era when Hulk Hogan was popular and wrestling was starting to bloom in pop cultural. He matches with the his brothers feuding with the Freebirds were amazing."

[10.0] "From what I've seen, David was one of the most talented workers I've ever watched. He was loaded with charisma and he had size and look and talent. It's beyond a tragedy that he died at 25. The wrestling world was deprived of somebody who could've been a real draw."

[10.0] "Connection to the crowd... a10. If david had lived and stayed off drugs im certain he'd have been a top 5 headliner in either wcw or wwf for his career. Even in his short time he was already travling and headlining multiple territories."