Adrian Adonis

Adrian Adonis, born Keith Franke, started as a tough brawler and biker-type heel, later morphing into the flamboyant, cross-dressing “Adorable” Adrian Adonis in the WWF. Renowned for his agility and bump-taking, Adonis was a tag specialist and accomplished singles wrestler. He also held major championships and was part of memorable tag teams, such as with Jesse Ventura (“East-West Connection”) and Dick Murdoch (“North-South Connection”).

His turn to the “Adorable” persona was controversial and ahead of its time in the mid-1980s, drawing significant heat and memorable feuds, especially with Roddy Piper. He died tragically in a car accident at age 34 while wrestling in Canada, cutting short a storied but tumultuous career marked by both athletic prowess and colorful showmanship.