Family Affair VII: Larry and Curt Hennig

After a small break, I have returned to my beloved "Family Affair" series. Ahh! Feels good to be back. Now on the seventh installment, I've decided to write about the legendary Hennig family.

Larry Hennig

Born June 18, 1932, Larry "The Axe" Hennig was trained by the great Verne Gagne—the same man who trained Ric Flair and ran the AWA. Debuting in 1963, he would enter the AWA and win tag gold with Duke Hoffman.

Later, Larry had a stint in the Texas territories. While there he developed a more brutal style. Soon Larry "The Axe" Hennig would turn into "Pretty Boy" Larry Hennig and form a heel tag team with "Handsome" Harley Race. The duo broke the rules to win, and they would go on to defeat the legendary team of Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher to become the AWA Tag Team Champions. At that time they were the youngest tag team champions ever.

In 1967, Hennig suffered a terrible knee injury. During a match, he slammed his opponent, and Hennig's knee bent inward. He returned from his injury and had another run with the tag straps with Race.

In 1984, Hennig returned to the AWA to team with his son, before retiring in 1985.

Larry is frequently recognized for defeating a sixteen-year-old Roddy Piper in his debut match in 1970.

He and his wife currently operate a successful real estate business.

Curt Hennig

Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig, was born on March 28, 1958. Trained by his father, Verne Gagne, and Buddy Rose, Curt debuted in 1980 in the AWA as "Cool" Curt Hennig. Hennig won the AWA Tag Team Championship with Scott Hall on January 18, 1986.

Starting a solo career, he defeated the legendary Nick Bockwinkle for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Hennig left to go to the WWE weeks after his 53-week reign ended.

In 1988, the WWE was blessed with Mr. Perfect, a wrestler who lived up to his name. Hennig would go undefeated for a year before losing to Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake at WrestleMania VI.

In April 1990, he defeated two-time Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana for the IC Title. Four months later he lost the belt to Kerry Von Erich. He would regain the title that November.

In one of the greatest Intercontinental Championship matches since the Savage-Steamboat match at WrestleMania III, Bret Hart defeated Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Title.

After taking time off to heal a back injury, Hennig returned as Flair's executive consultant during his two reigns as WWE Champion. Eventually he turned face and defeated Flair in a "loser leaves town" match on Monday Night Raw. Curt left the company in 1994.

From 1995-1996, he returned as a commentator and then served as Hunter Hearst Helmsley's manager, helping him beat Marc Mero for the Intercontinental Title. Hennig left WWE again, this time in disgust.

Hennig joined WCW as Diamond Dallas Page's mystery partner at Bash at the Beach, he turned heel and turned on DDP. After feuding for about a month with DDP, he joined the Four Horsemen, replacing Arn Anderson.

At Fall Brawl, Hennig turned on the Horsemen and slammed a steel door on Flair's head during the event's cage match. Curt then joined the New World Order. After his stint with the NWO, in 1998, he was taken off television due to a knee injury.

When Hennig returned, he teamed with Barry Windham, and the duo won the WCW Tag Team Championship. He founded the stable, West Texas Rednecks, with the Windham brothers and Bobby Duncum, Jr., even though Hennig was from Minnesota.

Hennig returned to WWE in 2002. He had short feuds with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Rob Van Dam before he was released after a physical confrontation with Brock Lesnar over who had the best amateur skills.

The last promotion he worked for was NWA-TNA, feuding with then NWA Champion, Jeff Jarrett.

Curt Hennig died on Feb. 10, 2003. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.