Adrian Adonis

[Adrian Adonis GALLERY]

[North South Connection] [East West Connection]

Article: The Forgotten Minority

Title History

• NWA Americas tag team titles w/ Black Gordman defeating Victor Rivera and Chavo Guerrero (April 25, 1977);
• NWA Americas title defeating Hangman (May 13, 1977);
• NWA Americas tag team titles w/ Roddy Piper defeating Tom Jones and Mando Guerrero (July 22, 1977);
• PNW tag team titles w/ Ron Starr defeating Roddy Piper and 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 and 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 Starr and feuded with Buddy Rose and Ed Wiskowski and Roddy Piper and Killer Brooks.

American Wrestling Association:

• July 14, 1980 – Comiskey Park: Maddog Vachon and The Crusher beat Adrian Adonis and 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 and Greg Gagne defeated Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura for the AWA Tag Team titles.

New Japan Pro Wrestling:

• Nov/Dec 1982 – 3rd Annual MSG Tag League: Adrian Adonis and Dino Bravo competed in the league, which was won by Hogan/Inoki.
• Nov/Dec 1983 – 4th Annual MSG Tag League: Adrian and 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 and Riki Chosyu beat Adrian Adonis, Dick Murdoch and 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 and 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 and 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 and Murdock competed in the league, losing in the finals to Inoki/Fujinami.
• May 24, 1985: Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura beat Adonis and Murdock for the vacant WWF/New Japan International Tag titles.
• April 18, 1985 – Sumo Hall: The North/South Connection beat Kengo Kimura and 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.
• April 7, 1986 – WrestleMania II: Adrian Adonis defeated Uncle Elmer.
• May 3, 1986 – SNME: Adrian Adonis defeated Paul Orndorff by DQ.
• July 12, 1986 – MSG Network: Bruno Sammartino & Tito Santana defeated Adrian Adonis & Randy Savage in a steel cage match.
• August 13, 1986 – House Show: Adrian Adonis defeated Cousin Luke.
• August 25, 1986 – MSG Network: Adrian Adonis defeated Tony Atlas.
• August 28, 1986 – The Big Event: Adrian Adonis defeated by Junk Yard Dog by count out.
• September 7, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis defeated Tommy Sharpe.
• December 6, 1986 – Superstars: Adrian Adonis defeated Paul Roma.
• December 13, 1986 – Superstars: Adrian Adonis defeated Mario Mancini.
• December 14, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis defeated SD Jones by disqualification.
• December 27, 1986 – Superstars: Adrian Adonis defeated David Gold.
• December 28, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis & The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) defeated SD Jones & The American Express (Danny Spivey & Mike Rotundo).
• January 3, 1987 – SNME: Adrian Adonis defeated Roddy Piper by count out.
• January 31, 1987 – Superstars: Adrian Adonis defeated Jack Kruger.
• February 1, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis & The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) defeated Jim Parks, Paul Roma & Tony Garea.
• February 8, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis defeated Mario Mancini.
• February 23, 1987 – MSG Network: Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper & The Junkyard Dog defeated Adrian Adonis, King Harley Race & Randy Savage in a tag team elimination match.
• February 28, 1987 – Superstars: Lanny Poffo & The Can-Am Connection (Rick Martel & Tom Zenk) defeated Adrian Adonis & The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine).
• March 8, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis defeated Don Driggers.
• March 14, 1987 – Superstars: Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis in a dark match.
• March 21, 1987 – Superstars: Adrian Adonis defeated Jim Young.
• March 29, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: Adrian Adonis defeats Corporal Kirchner.
• March 29, 1987 – 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.