More of the Monk than Anybody
Wanted to See

By Frank Dusek

One side that most fans neversaw of David Von Erich
(left) and brother Kerry, was their love of a prank.

I was wrestling in a small West Texas town one night. World Class Wrestling was new back then and we were hot everywhere we went. So it was no surprise that this old building had people hanging from the rafters. In addition to myself and Wild Bill Irwin, the card featured David and Kerry Von Erich and a young fellow who wrestled as The Monk. The Monk was a stocky, bald fellow with this gigantic red beard. When dressed in his robe, looked just like the pictures of an Old World monk. He was even featured in a Dennis Quaid movie called "Tough Enough" playing a fighter in Tough Man contests. His real name is Steve Miller.

We dressed in the wings of the stage. The curtains were drawn, so we had run of the stage. The only thing on the stage was a very tall A-frame ladder that the technicians used to change or adjust the overhead stage lights.

I was in the ring, wrestling my usual exciting, 19-plus minute, action-packed match, when an unexpected roar spread through the crowd. I looked up to see everyone turning to look at the stage at the rear of the building. Usually this means that a fight had broken out in the crowd ... but not this night.

When I looked up, the stage curtains were open. There, halfway up that very tall A-frame ladder, in the center of the stage, was The Monk ... totally naked!

It seems that while The Monk was taking his shower, David Von Erich had taken the poor soul’s towel and put it at the top of that very tall A-frame ladder. The Monk came out of the shower, dripping wet and furious because he couldn't find his towel and threatening violence if he didn't get it back. Kerry Von Erich took mercy on him and confessed that his brother had put the towel on the ladder. The Mock cursed and started climbing the ladder to retrieve his towel. Once The Monk was halfway up the ladder, David and Kerry opened the stage curtains!

Rather than just going on up quietly and retrieving his towel, The Monk starting shouting to the people to turn around and stop laughing.

Needless to say, it was some time before any sort of order was restored ... both in the arena and in the ring!

Frank Dusek is a second-generation wrestler from one of the most famous wrestling families ever. He had a solid career as a wrestler and later managed several wrestlers to major titles. He also spent time as a broadcaster, promoter and matchmaker. His first memories of the wrestling business are selling programs for his father when he was 4 years old.