Article: The Forgotten Minority
Title History
- NWA Americas Tag Team titles w/Black Gordman defeating Victor Rivera & Chavo Guerrero (April 25, 1977);
- NWA Americas title defeating Hangman (May 13, 1977);
- NWA Americas Tag Team titles w/Roddy Piper defeating Tom Jones & Mando Guerrero (July 22, 1977);
- PNW Tag Team titles w/Ron Starr defeating Roddy Piper & Killer Brooks (April 3, 1979);
- AWA World Tag Team titles w/Jesse Ventura via forfeit (June 14, 1981);
- SCW Southwest Heavyweight title defeating Bob Sweetan (April 15, 1983);
- SCW Undisbuted World title defeating Bob Orton Jr in a tournament final (May 26, 1983);
- WWF World Tag Team titles w/Dick Murdoch defeating Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas (April 17, 1984);
Career Highlights
American Wrestling Association:
- January 25, 1978 – Florida Superbowl of Wrestling: Keith Franks defeated John Ruffan..
Portland Wrestling:
- 1979: Adrian Adonis formed a tag team with Ron Starrand feuded with Buddy Rose & Ed Wiskowski and Roddy Piper & Killer Brooks..
American Wrestling Association:
- July 14, 1980 – Comiskey Park: Maddog Vachon & The Crusher beat Adrian Adonis & Jerry Valiant and then competed in a battle royal..
- Adrian Adonis formed a tag team with Jesse Ventura in the AWA known as the East/West Connection..
- June 14, 1981: Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne defeated Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura for the AWA Tag Team titles..
New Japan Pro Wrestling:
- Nov/Dec 1982 – 3rd Annual MSG Tag League: Adrian Adonis & Dino Bravo competed in the league, which was won by Hogan/Inoki..
- Nov/Dec 1983 – 4th Annual MSG Tag League: Adrian & Dick Murdoch competed in the league, lost in the finals to Hogan/Inoki..
- May/Jun 1984 – IWGP League: Adrian Adonis competed in the league, which was eventually won by Antonio Inoki..
- June 14, 1984 – Sumo Hall: Yoshiaki Yatsu, Masa Saito & Riki Chosyu beat Adrian Adonis, Dick Murdoch & Ken Patera..
World Wrestling Federation:
- Adrian Adonis formed a tag team with Dick Murdoch in the WWF known as the North/South Connection..
- April 17, 1984: The North/South Connection defeated Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas to win the WWF Tag Team titles!
- July 23, 1984 – The Brawl to End It All: The North/South Connection beat Sgt Slaughter & Terry Daniels to retain the Tag Team titles..
- ~~~Later in the night, Adrian Adonis competed in a Battle Royal, which was won by Antonio Inoki..
Southwest Championship Wrestling:
- 1984: Adrian Adonis defeated “Cowboy” Bob Orton to win Southwest’s World Heavyweight title (Tournament Final)..
- ~~~Legend Lou Thesz was at ringside and presented Adonis with the Southwest belt AND an NWA World title replica belt..
New Japan Pro Wrestling:
- Nov/Dec 1984 – 5th Annual MSG Tag League: Adonis & Murdock competed in the league, losing in the finals to Inoki/Fujinami..
- May 24, 1985: Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura beat Adonis & Murdock for the vacant WWF/New Japan International Tag titles..
- April 18, 1985 – Sumo Hall: The North/South Connection beat Kengo Kimura & Kantaro Hoshino..
- May/Jun 1985 – IWGP League: Adrian Adonis beat King Kong Bundy, then lost to Tatsumi Fujinami..
World Wrestling Federation:
- August 28, 1985 – Michigan State Fair: Adrian Adonis defeated George Wells..
- November 7, 1985 – Wrestling Classic: Adrian Adonis defeated Corporal Kirschner in 1st round, lost to Dynamite Kid in 2nd round..
- Adrian Adonis picked up Jimmy Hart as a manager in the WWF..
- March 1, 1986 – SNME: Junk Yard Dog defeated Adrian Adonis..
- Wrestlemania II: Adrian Adonis defeated Uncle Elmer..
- May 3, 1986 – SNME: Adrian Adonis defeated Paul Orndorff by DQ..
- August 28, 1986 – The Big Event: Adrian Adonis defeated by Junk Yard Dog via Count Out..
- January 3, 1987 – SNME: Adrian Adonis defeated Roddy Piper by COUNT OUT..
- Wrestlemania III: Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis in a Hair vs Hair match..
- Adrian Adonis hosted an interview segment call ‘the Flower Shop’ on WWF Television, to replace the old Piper’s Pit segment..
The Death of Frank Keith:
- July 4, 1988: Adrian Adonis (age 34), Pat Kelly, and Dave McKigney were killed in a car accident in Lewisporte, Newfoundland..