Eric Embry

{{Infobox professional wrestler

| name = Eric Embry

| image = Eric Embry 1983.png

| birth_name = Douglas Eric Embry

| names = Don Fulton
Don Starr
Eric Embry
Eric Emery

| height = 5 ft 10 in

| weight = 224 lb

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|7|10}}

| birth_place = Kentucky, United States

| billed = Dallas, Texas

| trainer = Lou Thesz

| debut = 1977

| retired = March 28, 1993

|caption = Embry, {{Circa|1983}}}}

Douglas Eric Embry (born July 10, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida, World Class Championship Wrestling, and the United States Wrestling Association.

Professional wrestling career

= Early career (1977–1987) =

File:Mr. Onita, David Von Erich, and Eric Embry, 1981.png. Mr. Onita is ringside in the background.]]

Embry wrestled in Southwest Championship Wrestling (later Texas, then USA All Star Wrestling) as one of the Fabulous Blondes, along with Ken Timbs and later Dan Greer. Later, he wrestled for 5 Star Wrestling in Baton Rouge. He would also wrestle in Canada, for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta, All Star Wrestling in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1980 Embry wrestled in Pacific Northwest Wrestling (Portland), as Eric Emery.

In 1985, Embry first joined World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. On August 17, 1985, he defeated Super Medico II to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship. On November 25, 1985, he became a double champion, by defeating Invader III to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship. On January 18, 1986, Embry lost the Junior Heavyweight title back to Invader III, after nearly two months as champion. On May 17, 1986, after exactly nine months as champion, he lost the Puerto Rico Heavyweight title back to Super Medico III. Embry left WWC in 1987. During Embry's times as a heel, fans (particularly in Puerto Rico) would often chant Erica! Erica! to draw heat, because Eric Embry called the Puerto Rican fans "greasy, slimy Puerto Ricans". He also insulted commentator and former referee from the heel's side, Hugo Savinovich, by calling him "son of a bitch", instead of the correct last name, that led to a heated feud.

= World Class Championship Wrestling / United States Wrestling Association (1987–1990) =

Embry joined World Class Championship Wrestling in 1987. Embry was a booker for the Dallas Sportatorium promotion from 1988 until 1991. During his time as booker, Embry lived at the Sportatorium because he had no other place to live. In early 1988, he had a feud with Jason Sterling, where Sterling was offered $100 for every minute he spent in the ring with Embry.{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/02/09/341596.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115111802/http://www.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/02/09/341596.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|title=Sterling jumps into Link with past|author=Renwick, Meredith|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-12-26|date=February 11, 2004}} Jeff Jarrett won the WCWA World Light Heavyweight Championship from Embry on October 15 of that year, but Embry regained the title in November.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/pf-jarrett.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115101248/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/pf-jarrett.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|title=Jeff Jarrett|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-12-16|date=February 5, 2005}} After trading the title with Jarrett once more, Embry regained it at SuperClash III on December 13. Two weeks later, he lost the title to Cactus Jack.{{Cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/pf-foley.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713211653/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/pf-foley.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 13, 2012|title=Mick Foley|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-12-16|date=November 18, 2004}} In 1989, he became a face during his feud with Skandor Akbar and his army before the promotion went out of business.

= All Japan Pro Wrestling (1990) =

In the summer of 1990, Embry wrestled a tour for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

= World Wrestling Council (1990–1991) =

In late-1990, Embry made his return to WWC and won the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship with Rick Valentine twice.

= United States Wrestling Association (1991–1992) =

In February 1991, Embry went to Memphis in the United States Wrestling Association, teaming up with Tom Prichard and Miss Texas, sparking a Texas vs. Tennessee feud. On May 3, 1991, Embry defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. His reign didn't last, as he lost the title to Bill Dundee ten days later on May 13. A week later on May 20, Embry regained the title from Dundee. On July 15, Embry defeated booker Eddie Marlin and referee Paul Neighbors in a hair vs. hair handicap match, shaving both men bald. On August 12, Embry and Miss Texas lost a hair vs. hair tag team match to Jeff Jarrett (subbing for an injured Dirty White Boy) and the Dirty White Girl, losing Miss Texas' hair as she was the loser of the fall. On November 4, Embry finally lost the Southern title to Tom Prichard, after reigning as champion for nearly six months. Embry and Prichard would switch the title back and forth multiple times until February 1992.

In July 1992, Embry wrestled a tour for Wrestling International New Generations, due to the talent exchange between USWA and W*ING.

= Retirement =

On October 30, 1992, Embry's career came to an end due to a road accident in Hawesville, Kentucky, when a big rig truck jack-knifed{{what|date=May 2024}} while coming down a hill hit his vehicle. "I saw it coming, pulled over as close to guardrail as possible, and prayed, please God don't let it be that bad", stated Eric. He was thrown to the back seat. He suffered a badly bruised liver and severe ligament and cartilage damage to his left knee. He said that he took it as a sign from God that it was time to get out of the wrestling business.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=23868610&union_id=392 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123232529/http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=23868610&union_id=392 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |title=Paul Bearer Interview |publisher=PWInsider (Archived by Gamespot) |access-date=2009-12-21 |date=October 10, 2005 }} Fully recovered from his injuries, he attempted a comeback in March 1993, but after one match on March 28, Embry decided to retire after fifteen years.

Championships and accomplishments

Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time)
NWA Tri-State
NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chief Frank Hill
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him #37 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50092.htm |access-date=2008-07-14 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1992 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607044856/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50092.htm |archive-date=2008-06-07 }}
PWI ranked him #32 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50091.htm |access-date=2008-07-14 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1991 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607044856/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50092.htm |archive-date=2008-06-07 }}
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1989){{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm |access-date=2008-07-27 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616062715/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm |archive-date=2008-06-16 }}
Southwest Championship Wrestling
SCW Southwest Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
SCW Southwest Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Ken Timbs (3) and Dan Greer (2)
Texas Wrestling Federation
TWF Light-Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}
United States Wrestling Association
USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times){{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=268–269}}{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | title= NWA Texas Heavyweight Title | access-date=March 30, 2017 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}
Universal Wrestling Association
UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Class Wrestling Association
WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
WCWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
WCWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Frank Lancaster{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich] | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-9698161-5-7}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/wcwa/wcwa-t.html |title=World Class Wrestling Association Tag Team Title |access-date=December 26, 2019 |work=Wrestling-Titles.com}}
World Wrestling Council
WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rick Valentine
WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)