Adrian Adonis
From Freepedia
Keith Franke was an American professional wrestler, best known as Adrian Adonis.
As Adonis, he would go through two distinct ring personnae 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). He made the transformation in 1986 on Piper's Pit and gave his "retired" leather jacket to Roddy Piper.
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Feud with Roddy Piper
When Piper took a hiatus from the WWF in 1986, Adonis began hosting his own Piper's Pit-styled segment, "The Flower Shop." Adrian's manager (Jimmy Hart) announced the beginning of the show each week as follows: "Here's the host of The Flower Shop....Adorable Adrian!", which was greeted by a chorus of boos from the fans. As with Piper's Pit, Adonis regularly insulted the good guys while openly supporting fellow heel wrestlers; frequently, he would hug and kiss his friends as he welcomed them onto his set.
Piper returned in 1986 and was appalled at the transformation of his segment. This led to a brutal feud between Piper and Adonis, with Piper now wrestling as a face. During one memorable segment, Piper began hosting his Piper's Pit segment as usual, at the same time Adonis tried to host his "Flower Shop." Another time, Piper – thinking Adonis had been injured during a previous match – began his Piper's Pit segment, only for Adonis and his allies (including Don Muraco, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Paul Orndorff and several others) to barge onto the set, destroy everything in sight and brutally beat Piper unconscious. The next week, an injured Piper came onto the "Flower Shop" set to confront Adonis, but he was nowhere in sight; instead, Piper took his crutch and promptly smashed everything he could find.
Things came to a boil in December 1986, when Piper and Adonis met in the ring. The two immediately tore into each other without regard to the rules. The brawl became so violent everyone from the locker room spilled into the ring to break the two up, but it was no use.
The feud came to an end in a "haircut match" at Wrestlemania III, whereby the loser would have his hair shaved bald. Piper – wrestling in his "retirement match" – promptly defeated Adonis, and the equally effeminate Brutus Beefcake (who just turned face) – proudly did the honors. The incident earned Beefcake the nickname "The Barber".
Adonis wrestled very briefly with the WWF after Wrestlemania III and was released. Adonis wrestled with the AWA during 1987, although his frame was considerably bigger than his previous AWA stint. During his stint, Adonis feuded with Tommy Rich and lost the final match of the AWA International Television Championship tournament to Greg Gagne in December 1987.
Tag team career
Ironically, Piper and Adonis were once Americas Tag Team Champions in the National Wrestling Alliance.
However, Adonis is far better known for his successful tag team stints with Jesse Ventura and later, with Dick Murdoch.
During an early 1980s stint in the American Wrestling Association, Adonis and Ventura – known as the "East-West Connection" won the AWA World Tag Team Championship. In 1984, when teaming with Murdoch, he won the World Tag Team Championship.
Adonis' career came to an end on July 4, 1988, when he was killed in a car accident at the age of 33.
Profile
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
- Weight: - Varied throughout his career, listed as a trim 230 lb (104 kg) in the early 1980s, he balooned to over 300 lb (136 kg) by the end of the decade
- Birthday: September 15, 1954
- Hometown: New York City
- Date of Death: July 4, 1988 (Car accident)
- Trained By: Fred Atkins
- Professional Debut: 1974
- Previous Identities: Keith Franks, "Adorable" (WWF)
- Finishing/Signature Move(s): Goodnight Irene Sleeper, DDT
- Managers: Jimmy Hart, Paul Heyman, Freddie Blassie
- Trivia - In his early career, his leather jacket and boots usually sported the N-Y monogram logo of the New York Yankees baseball team.
Championships and accomplishments
- 1-time WWF World Tag-Team Champion (with Dick Murdoch)
- 1-time WWF International Tag-Team Champion (with Dick Murdoch)
- 2-time NWA Americas Tag-Team Champion (1 with Black Gordman, 1 with Roddy Piper)
- 1-time NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Ron Starr)
- 1-time AWA World Tag-Team Champion (with Jesse Ventura)
- 1-time SCW Southwest Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time SCW Heavyweight Champion
He won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Editor's Award in 1988 that is given to the most inspirational wrestling personality of that year.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated 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.
