Summary
- The Iron Claw showcases the rise and fall of the Von Erich family in professional wrestling, highlighting their personal struggles and tragic fates.
- The film captures the emotional turmoil of the Von Erich brothers as they seek approval and success in the wrestling world, facing intense matches and family dynamics.
- With a focus on emotions rather than just wrestling, The Iron Claw delves into the psychological impact of the Von Erich curse, showing the lasting effects on the family.
The Iron Claw told the tragic story of the Von Erich wrestling family, and, in the process, viewers witnessed several incredible wrestling matches. While these fights showed off the wrestlers' impressive technical abilities and the sport's showmanship, they also gave powerful insight into the overall narrative of The Iron Claw as the ripple effects of these matches sent shockwaves through the Von Erich family. The most brutal matches tracked the Von Erich family as the four brothers sought their father’s approval and did everything possible to gain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship title.
The Iron Claw was also about the difficult behind-the-scenes circumstances of the Von Erich family’s wrestling careers and the turmoil this caused. Zac Efron gave one of his very best performances as Kevin Von Erich and was surrounded by an astounding cast entirely dedicated to presenting an accurate portrayal of the world of wrestling. As one of the best wrestling movies ever made, the matches in The Iron Claw were effective and intense in presenting an accurate portrayal of the world of wrestling.
9 Kerry Von Erich Versus Ric Flair
Kerry's NWA World Heavyweight Championship title match in The Iron Claw
After losing out on his shot at becoming an Olympian due to President Jimmy Carter’s 1980 boycott, Kerry Von Erich joined the family business and became a professional wrestler alongside his brothers. Although Kevin appeared to be on the road to becoming the Heavyweight World Champion, he was soon superseded by Kerry, who gained a shot at the title in his match against Ric Flair. This match was only seen briefly as the Von Erich mother, Doris, watched it on TV, but its consequences would be huge in The Iron Claw.
With Kerry’s win, he achieved what no other Von Erich could and became the wrestling Heavyweight Champion of the World. This success earned Kerry the love and respect of his father, which he so desperately craved. However, this incredible accomplishment was short-lived when his pride was soon dampened when he got into a motorcycle accident that led to the amputation of Kerry’s right leg.
8 Kevin Von Erich At The Spotatorium, Dallas, Texas, 1979
Kevin's first match in The Iron Claw
Kevin Von Erich believed that nothing could ever hurt his family if he were “the toughest, the strongest, the most successful,” and he carried this philosophy into the ring. This was seen in Kevin's first wrestling match in The Iron Claw at the Sportatorium as he fought for his father’s acceptance through jump kicks, throwdowns, and a never-back-down attitude. This first wrestling match was not as intense as the ones that came later, but it laid the groundwork for the audience’s understanding of Kevin’s need to win as his voiceover explained his sense of purpose came from winning at wrestling.
As Kevin’s father, Fritz, even joined him in the ring to take out a bystander, it showed that the wrestling matches were a family affair that were even more important to the Von Erich dad than to his children. Kevin took a corner high-flying dive against his opponent, pinned him for the win, and was granted the Texas Heavyweight Champion title. However, as Fritz congratulated Kevin, he told him, “Tomorrow you’re back working harder than ever,” and the sad reality was clear that nothing would ever be good enough unless he were a world champion.