This is a tribute to a legend who doesn't get enough respect - my favorite wrestler growing up - Keith Franke aka Adrian Adonis. A man who is without a doubt the most underrated wrestler ever. As I looked over many "legends" pages on here, Adonis is looked over it seems. Maybe because most wrestling fans are homophobic rednecks or thugs. Be that as it may, this is a tribute for those of us who werent ashamed to be an Adonis fan in the 80s.
Keith Franke (September 12, 1954 – July 4, 1988), born 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 persona, 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 returned to the AWA (where he wrestled earlier in his career) under the management of Paul E. Dangerously 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 when a wild moose stood in the middle of the highway and Adonis, the driver, swerved to avoid hitting the animal. Adonis was thrown from the van and was pronounced dead en route to the hospital. Pat's brother Mike Kelly was also in the van. Mike would survive, but with career-ending leg injuries.
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.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
1981 Most Improved Wrestler
1982 Most Underrated Wrestler
Feel free to add your own memories or comments in the comment section or leave comments in the photo section.
P.S. Piper is overrated
