The Final Years of Gentleman Chris Adams

An oft-overlooked pivotal figure in professional wrestling, the England-born ‘Gentleman’ Chris Adams played a huge role in the uprising of World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s, bringing a new dynamic to the sport with more of a karate influence. The man frequently credited with inventing the Superkick as we know it, his run in World Class was legendary; between his partnership with Gino Hernandez, his alliance with Gary Hart and his teaming and feuds with the Von Erichs, it seemed like Adams was destined to become a legend. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as we hope, and Chris Adams would tragically die in 2001 under dubious circumstances. But what led this man to premature death at age 46? 

1997

In 1997, it appeared that Adams was getting an opportunity to have another shot at mainstream wrestling legitimacy when he signed with World Championship Wrestling. This would be his first run in one of the three main promotions and his first in an American-based promotion with television since the ill-advised American Wrestling Federation in the early-to-mid 1990s. Adams was initially set to join the Blue Bloods stable, which consisted of Lord Steven Regal, Earl Robert Eaton and Squire Dave Taylor, but there would be some real-life heat between Regal and Adams which put the kibosh on these plans rather quickly. Due to this, 1997 would be a relatively uneventful year in terms of competition for the Gentleman, as he would only compete in a handful of matches. After a win over Kendall Windham on Nitro in September, he would be relegated to the B-shows. Still, he would appear as one of the 60 competitors in that year’s World War 3 match, which Scott Hall would win, ironically, a man he had a hand in training.

1998

1998 would kick off with an exciting twist for Adams. Competing in the first match on WCW’s new television show Thunder, he would face off against a bonafide main event star and legend in Macho Man, Randy Savage. Moreover, Adams would defeat Savage following interference from Lex Luger, winning the match by pinfall. Unfortunately for Adams, this was not to be the beginning of a push of any kind but more an angle to continue the feud between Savage and Luger leading into Souled Out. To add insult to injury, later in the night, J.J. Dillon would reverse the decision and give the win back to Savage. Adams would appear sporadically on house shows and the occasional B-show television taping the rest of the year. Eric Bischoff would speak in 2020 on his 83 Weeks podcast on his brief interactions with Chris Adams.

“100% Pro. A gentleman’s gentleman. Easy to work with. Those are the things that stand out the most when I think about Chris Adams.”

It was clear that despite his demons, Adams knew this could be his big break, and while it wouldn’t work out, he had the proper conduct and behavior worthy of his nickname.

1999

1999 would be another uneventful year for The Gentleman. Growing increasingly frustrated with his position in the WCW pecking order and realizing no change was in sight, he would be released from WCW. His final match took place in a loss to Curt Hennig at a TV taping in Champaign, Illinois, on November 9th. Following his release, he would return to his US home in Southern Texas, working as a promoter and continuing to wrestle part-time.

2000

While Adams had always had his demons and a noted Jekyll and Hyde personality, 2000 was when things truly began to unravel. For the last few years of his life, Adams had become addicted to the new drug du jour of the time, GHB. Frequently used by bodybuilders and athletes, when mixed with other toxins, most notably alcohol, GHB could have an effect similar to putting its users into a brief coma-like state. At the time, Adams was seeing a young stripper by the name of Linda Khaphengst, and in April 2000 their use of GHB would turn tragically fatal. Having consumed copious amounts of alcohol and GHB, Adams and Khaphengst would fall into a brief coma while a friend watched on, eventually calling an ambulance out of concern. Adams would emerge from the situation relatively unscathed, but Khapengst would soon be pronounced braindead from the effects at the hospital. Adams would attempt to explain himself and the situation to the poor girl’s family before being told to leave as they decided to pull the plug on life support, ending her life at 30. 

2001

In July 2001, Chris Adams turned himself in to be officially arraigned on manslaughter charges in the death of Linda Khapengst. He would be released on a $25000 bond, hoping to avoid the official charge, which could have seen him jailed for up to 20 years. He was scheduled to work an upcoming show, but the show’s sponsors refused to have him on any show they helped promote, stating they would pull out if Adams was to be featured given his legal predicament. After decades in the wrestling business as both a promoter, trainer and wrestler, Chris Adams was nearly blackballed from the industry he devoted his life to. It wasn’t all bad news though, as Adams found himself in a whirlwind romance with Karen Burge, and the couple would be married on August 25th, 2001.

Despite his legal troubles, Adams was also rumored to be potentially involved in a new promotion based out of Florida. From all accounts, this was what would eventually become the Xcitement Wrestling Federation, or XWF (which you can read more about here) but it was not meant to be, as Adams would find himself in a predicament on October 7th, 2001 that would result in the end of his life.

With his new bride out with friends, Adams would visit the home of his close friend and confidante, Brent Parnell, in Waxahachie, Texas. Better known to those around him as ‘Booray,’ he and Adams spent most of the night drinking and watching old movies in Parnell’s room, which was in the same household as Parnell’s mother and aunt. At some point in the evening, the two were roughhousing, and Hyde would emerge, with Adams breaking off a piece of the bedframe and beginning to relentlessly attack his friend. In the ensuing chaos, Parnell would draw his gun and shoot Adams in self-defense. This gunshot would end the life of a man who was once one of wrestling’s most promising competitors, who, in the end, much like his former Dynamic Duo partner Gino Hernandez, allowed his demons to consume him, resulting in his death.

It was a tragic end for Gentleman Chris Adams but also for so many around him. Due to his premature death, he would never be officially tried for the manslaughter charge of Khapengst, essentially leaving her family with no justice or closure. His young daughter Julia was also left without her father, which would become doubly tragic when her mother died of a drug overdose in 2003. 

In the aftermath, Parnell would be acquitted of any charges related to the death of Adams due to it being in self-defense. Gary Hart and Kevin Von Erich were subpoenaed to testify in the case as they knew both men well. It was their testimony that helped Parnell be acquitted.

Looking back, Gary Hart reflected on Chris in his book Playboy Gary Hart: My Life In Wrestling, writing.

“Even though Chris Adams never had a gigantic career outside of Texas, he did some great things during his run there. He was always looking to get back into the big time, and even sent some pictures to the WWF in hopes of doing a Beatles gimmick - because everyone always told him he looked like Paul McCartney - but it was to no avail. Then, I was watching WCW Nitro one night, and I saw none other than “Gentleman” Chris Adams making his way to the ring. I was so happy for him. He had made it back to the top, and was making $150,000 a year working minimal dates. Chris then fell in love with a sweet, wonderful girl named Linda, and things were looking really good. Just as things were going his way, Chris and Linda overdosed on a drug called GHB one night, and while Chris pulled through - Linda died. At that point, Chris went from someone with a bright future to someone with no hope at all. It was like turning out a light. It was clearly an accident, but Chris took responsibility and felt horrible. I talked to him and tried to explain that it wasn’t his fault, but he blamed himself - because he really and truly loved Linda. Chris then wrestled what would be his last match in Mejia, Texas against my son Chad. Before their match, Chad had to help him take out his earrings because he was trembling so hard. Linda’s death just completely and totally destroyed him.”

Like other stars of his ilk, Gentleman Chris Adams may never receive the recognition he deserves for what he brought to the wrestling world. Instead, he is one of the numerous cautionary tales of what can happen when drugs and alcohol mix with one’s demons. 

Perhaps one of the truest cases of Jekyll and Hyde the world of professional wrestling has ever known.

The gravesite of Chris Adams at the Oak Grove Memorial Gardens in Irving, TX. Credit: Wrestler Deaths