The Ringside Voice

Wrestler: "Adorable" Adrian Adonis
Real Name: Keith Franke (1954-1988)
Birthday: 1954
Hometown: New York City, New York
Marital Status: Wife: Bea
Height & Weight: 5'11" - 245-to-310 lbs
Peaked at over 400 lbs
   
Debut: 1974
Previous Gimmicks: Keith Franks
"Georgeous" Keith Franke
A Biker Gimmick
A "Flamboyant" Florist Gimmick

Finishing Move: DDT
Goodnight Irene sleeper

Favorite Moves: Knee Drop
Shoulderdrop from TopRope

Notable Feuds: Victor Rivera
Buddy Rose (PNW)
Ed Wiskowski (PNW)
Roddy Piper (PNW)
Killer Brooks (PNW)
Antonio Inoki
Rocky Johnson (WWF)
Tony Atlas (WWF)
Bob Orton Jr. (Southwest)
Junk Yard Dog (WWF)
Roddy Piper (WWF)
Brutus Beefcake (WWF)

 

Keith Franke was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.

Franke trained under Fred Atkins and debuted in 1974, wrestling under his own name. In the late 1970s, Franke adopted the ring name Adrian Adonis and the character of a brawling, leather jacket-clad biker.

In the late 1970s, Adonis joined the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association. In 1979, he formed a tag team with Jesse Ventura. The team was known as the East-West Connection on the basis that Adonis was from New York (in the East), whilst Ventura was billed as being from California (in the West). Adonis and Ventura were awarded the AWA World Tag Team Championship on July 28, 1980. They held the titles until June 1981, when they were defeated by Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell.

Adonis later formed a tag team with the Texan Dick Murdoch known as the North-South Connection. Along with Murdoch, Adonis returned to the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-1980s. On April 17, 1984, Adonis and Murdoch defeated Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship. They held the titles until January 21, 1985, when they were defeated by Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo. The team split shortly after the loss.

In 1985, Adonis began altering his gimmick, firstly adopting Jimmy Hart as his manager. In 1986, during an edition of Piper's Pit, Adonis gave his signature leather jacket to host Roddy Piper. Adonis's new character was the effeminate "Adorable" Adrian Adonis. The gimmick change saw him bleach his hair blond and begin wearing pink ring attire. In the same time period, Adonis's weight ballooned, peaking at over 300 lb (136 kg).

In 1987, Adonis began a rivalry with Piper, first sidelining him with an injury, then debuting a rival talk segment, The Flower Shop. Upon Piper's return, the enemies agreed to face one another in a Hair vs Hair match at WrestleMania III. The bout was won by Piper and following the match, Brutus Beefcake shaved Adonis bald.

Adonis left the WWF shortly after WrestleMania III, returning to the AWA, where he was managed by Paul E. Dangerously during 1987. During this stint, Adonis feuded with Tommy Rich and lost the final match of the AWA International Television Championship tournament to Greg Gagne in December 1987.

Adonis was killed on July 4, 1988 in Lewisporte, Newfoundland and Labrador while riding in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike Kelly" Arko, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko, and Dave "Wildman" McKigney. Adonis, McKigney and Pat Kelly were killed when the driver, Mike Kelly, swerved in order to avoid hitting a moose and, blinded by the setting sun, inadvertedly drove into a lake. Mike Kelly survived, albeit with severe leg injuries.

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