Adrian Adonis

Deceased

Real Name:

Keith Adonis Franke

Billed From:

Buffalo, New York

Billed Height:

6′ 1″

Billed Weight:

290 lbs

Debut:

1974

Retired:

1988 (14 year career)

Birthday:

09/15/1953

Died: 7/4/1988 (Age 34)

Promotions Wrestled in:AWA | WWF | NWA | Stampede | NJPW | CWF

Eras Wrestled in:The Territorial Era | The Golden Era

Championships Won (1)

1x WWF Tag Team Champion

Career Summary

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.

Titles Held

Belt	Won	Opponent(s)	Partner(s)	Event	Days Held
WWF Tag Team Championship	Apr 17, 1984	Soul Patrol	Dick Murdoch	Championship Wrestling	279

Tag Teams

1 Team

The North-South Connection

with Dick Murdoch

1982 – 1985 | 1988

1 Title

Matches

2 Matches

#	Date	Promotion	Match Details	Match
1	Mar 29, 1987	WWF	Hair vs. Hair Match Adrian Adonis lost to Roddy Piper WWF WrestleMania III @ Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan	View Match: Adrian Adonis lost to Roddy Piper, Mar 29, 1987
2	Apr 7, 1986	WWF	Adrian Adonis defeated Uncle Elmer WWF WrestleMania II @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York	View Match: Adrian Adonis defeated Uncle Elmer, Apr 7, 1986