hundred pounds and hoped to return to WWF. New Japan Pro Wrestling (1988) With his ankle fully recovered, Franke wrestled a tour for New Japan throughout May and June 1988. During that tour, he would not use his North American "Adorable" gimmick and teamed up with the likes of Dick Murdoch, Owen Hart, and D.J. Peterson. On June 23, he and Murdoch unsuccessfully challenged Riki Choshu and Masa Saito for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. On June 26, teaming up with Murdoch against Kengo Kimura and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, which ended in a draw. Death With hopes of rejoining WWF and having lost weight he worked for Dave McKigney in Newfoundland and wrestled against Hartford Love. On July 4, 1988, in Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Franke was in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike Kelly" Arko, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko, and Dave McKigney. Franke, McKigney, and Victor Arko were killed when William Arko, allegedly blinded by the setting sun, swerved to avoid hitting a moose causing the van to fall from a bridge into a creek below. Franke suffered severe head injuries and died a few hours later. William Arko was the sole survivor and sustained severe leg injuries. At the time of his death, he left behind a wife Bea and two daughters Angela (Perides) and Gena (Banta); his survivors resided in Bakersfield, California. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Bakersfield, California. Championships and accomplishments American Wrestling Association AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jesse Ventura NWA Hollywood Wrestling NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Black Gordman (1 time) and Roddy Piper (1 time) Pacific Northwest Wrestling NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ron Starr Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Editor's Award (1988) tied with Bruiser Brody PWI ranked him #128 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003. PWI ranked him #35 of the 100 best tag teams with Dick Murdoch of the PWI Years in 2003. Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter Wrestler of the Year (1979) Southwest Championship Wrestling SCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time) SCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) World Wrestling Federation WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dick Murdoch Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Embarrassing Wrestler (1986) Most Improved Wrestler (1981) Most Underrated Wrestler (1982) Worst Gimmick (1986, 1987) See also List of