Terry Funk

Terrance Dee Funk (June 30, 1944 – August 23, 2023) was an American professional wrestler.

Widely considered one of the most influential

and greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Funk was known for the longevity of his career – which spanned more than 50 years and included multiple short-lived retirements – and the influential hardcore wrestling style he pioneered in the latter part of his career.

Over the course of his career, Funk wrestled for numerous major promotions, among them All Japan Pro Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the International Wrestling Association of Japan, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, the United States Wrestling Association, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and multiple National Wrestling Alliance territories including Big Time Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling.

He was the promoter of the Amarillo-based Western States Sports promotion.

Championships held by Funk included the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, WWF World Tag Team Championship, and ECW World Television Championship.

He headlined ECW's premier annual pay-per-view event, November to Remember, three times.

Funk was inducted into multiple halls of fame, among them WWE, WCW, NWA, and Hardcore.

Funk was born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana.

He was the son of Dorothy (Culver) and Dory Funk, a professional wrestler and promoter.

Following the end of World War II, the family relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where Terry and his brother, known professionally as Dory Jr., grew up in the professional wrestling business.

After graduating from Canyon High School, Funk attended West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University), where he competed in amateur wrestling and football.

Funk started his career in 1965, working in his father Dory Funk's Western States Sports promotion in Amarillo, Texas.

His debut match was against Sputnik Monroe on December 9.

He and his brother, Dory Funk Jr.., quickly rose up the ranks as a team and in single matches against top names like Ernie Ladd and Hank James.

They became big money wrestlers by the end of the decade.

In 1975, Terry defeated Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Miami, when Dory failed to appear for a title shot.

He began a 14 month title reign defending the title against Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, Carlos Rocha, Giant Baba, and Pat O'Connor.

In addition to North America, he defended the belt in Australia, Japan and Singapore.

The historic reign ended in Toronto when he was defeated by "Handsome" Harley Race, who had earlier beaten Dory, Jr., for NWA World Heavyweight Championship before losing it to Jack Brisco.

Race lifted Funk for a shinbreaker and then trapped him in an Indian death leglock.

When Funk failed to respond to referee Fred Atkins the match was stopped.

In the mid-1980s, Funk teamed with Dory (calling himself "Hoss" Funk) and Jimmy Jack Funk, a storyline "brother."

They were managed by Jimmy Hart.

During 1981, Terry spent some time in the Continental Wrestling Association feuding with Jerry Lawler.

The most memorable match in this feud happened in April 1981 at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The match took place in the empty arena, with only Lance Russell, a cameraman, and a photographer present.

Funk had challenged Lawler to this match at this time because he felt he was getting unfairly treated in Memphis.

The confrontation only lasted a few minutes, and ended with Funk trying to put Lawler's eye out with a broken 2x4.

But Lawler kicked Funk's elbow, causing him to hit himself in the eye.

The tape aired on April 25, 1981.

Terry and Dory, Jr. also made a name for themselves in Japan.

Terry became a star in the eyes of the Japanese fans with his over the top mannerisms, sometimes colorful get-ups, and his brawling ability.

In Japan, the Funks were heels until they faced The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher in Tokyo.

The two later faced Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody, and Giant Baba in memorable feuds as well.

Terry Funk made his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) debut in June 1985 after a brief run in the AWA.

In his televised debut on Championship Wrestling, he not only beat Aldo Marino, but he also beat on ring announcer Mel Phillips.

Funk attacked Phillips, after Phillips made the mistake of putting on Funk's cowboy hat.

Funk also had a gimmick of carrying a branding iron with him to ringside and using it to "brand" his fallen opponents.

The attack on Phillips led to a feud with Junkyard Dog.