Terry Funk
Terrance Dee Funk was an American professional wrestler and actor. Funk is known for the length of his career, which spanned more than 50 years and included multiple short-lived retirements. He is also known for his influential hardcore wrestling style he pioneered in the latter part of his career.
Over the course of his career, Funk wrestled for professional wrestling promotions including All Japan Pro Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the International Wrestling Association of Japan, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, 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, Texas-based Western States Sports promotion.
Championships held by Funk included the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, and WWF World Tag Team 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 the WWE Hall of Fame, WCW Hall of Fame, and NWA Hall of Fame.
Outside of wrestling, Funk had a second career as an actor, including numerous film collaborations with Sylvester Stallone.
Early life
Funk was born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana. He was the son of Dorothy Funk and Dory Funk, a professional wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. Following the end of World War II, the family relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where Terry and his brother, known professionally as Dory Funk Jr., grew up in the professional wrestling business. After graduating from Canyon High School, Funk attended West Texas State University, where he competed in amateur wrestling and American football.Professional wrestling career
Western States Sports (1965–1979)
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.By 1980, Western States Sports's ticket sales were beginning to decline. The Funk brothers sold the territory to wrestlers Blackjack Mulligan and Dick Murdoch for $20,000.
Championship Wrestling from Florida (1970–1982)
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.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.
Japan Wrestling Association (1970–1971)
In July 1970, Funk debuted in the Japan Wrestling Association as part of its NWA World Champion Series. He primarily wrestled in the tag team division, teaming with his brother Dory. In August 1970, the Funks unsuccessfully challenged Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba for the NWA International Tag Team Championship. In November 1971, the Funks made a second tour with JWA as part of its World Champion Series. In December 1971, they defeated Inoki and Baba to win the NWA International Tag Team Championship. Later that month, Funk unsuccessfully challenged Baba for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.All Japan Pro Wrestling (1972–1987)
Funk debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling in October 1972, the same month it was founded by Giant Baba. In his first match, he teamed with Bruno Sammartino to defeat Baba and Thunder Sugiyama in a two out of three falls match. Later that month, he unsuccessfully challenged Baba for the PWF World Heavyweight Championship. In October 1973, Funk returned to AJPW alongside his brother Dory, wrestling NWA International Tag Team Champions Baba and Tomomi Tsuruta to a time limit draw.Funk made his next appearance with AJPW in January 1974, primarily teaming with fellow gaijins such as Jerry Brisco and Luke Graham to face Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, and The Destroyer. In August 1974, he wrestled at AJPW's Summer Action Series II, again unsuccessfully challenging Baba for the PWF Heavyweight Championship. In March 1975, the Funks took part in AJPW's NWA Membership 2nd Anniversary Excite Series, against unsuccessfully challenging NWA International Tag Team Champions Baba and Tsuruta.
In March 1976, Funk - now the NWA World Heavyweight Champion - returned to AJPW as part of its "NWA Champion Series". On June 11, 1976, Funk successfully defended his title against Jumbo Tsuruta in the Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo.
In December 1977, the Funks took part in the inaugural Open Tag League, a round-robin tournament amongst nine teams. They won the League with 14 points, winning six of their eight matches and wrestling to a draw in the two remaining matches. The tournament final saw them defeat Abdullah the Butcher and The Sheik by disqualification in the Kuramae Kokugikan. The Funks' performance in the tournament and the violent bout with Abdullah and the Sheik saw them turn face in AJPW.
In July 1978, Funk took part in the AJPW Summer Action Series, where he teamed with Dick Slater. Funk and Slater defeated Abdullah the Butcher and Rufus Jones to become number one contenders to the NWA International Tag Team Championship, but failed to defeat Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta. In December 1978, the Funks competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, placing second with six points.
In July 1979, the Funks wrestled in AJPW's Summer Action Series. In December 1979, they competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, winning with 11 points. During the tournament, they once again defeated Abdullah the Butcher and The Sheik in the Kuramae Kokugikan.
In March 1980, Funk competed in the Champion Carnival, a 13-man round-robin tournament. He placed joint third with 18 points. In October and November 1980, he wrestled for AJPW as part of its Giant Series. In December 1980, the Funks competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, placing second with eight points.
Image:Tsuruta camel clutch Funk 1983.png|Funk wrestling Jumbo Tsuruta in 1983|thumb
In April 1981, Funk wrestled on AJPW's International Champion Series, taking part in a tournament for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship. He defeated Killer Brooks in the first round, but lost to Giant Baba in the second round by count-out. His brother Dory went on to win the title. On April 30, Terry unsuccessfully challenged Dory in his first title defence. In October 1981, the Funks wrestled on that year's Giant Series. In November and December 1981, the Funks competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, placing joint second with 11 points.
In April 1982, the Funks wrestled in the Grand Champion Series. In August and September, Funk wrestled in the Super Power Series. In November and December 1982, the Funks competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, winning with nine points; the final match saw them defeat Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen in the Kuramae Kokugikan.
In March and April 1983, the Funks took part in the Grand Champion Carnival I. On August 31, 1983, the Funks defeated Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy in the Kuramae Kokugikan. Following the match, Funk announced his retirement from professional wrestling, giving an impassioned speech in which he declared "Japan number one! Forever and ever!", then repeated the word "Forever!" until being drowned out by the cheers of the audience.
After Funk broke his retirement in October 1984 by wrestling for NWA St. Louis, he returned to AJPW the following month, competing in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League alongside Dory. They placed joint second with 10 points, losing to Genichiro Tenryu and Jumbo Tsuruta.
In August 1985, Funk took part in AJPW's Decisive Battle! Dynamite Wars tour alongside Dory. In October 1985, the Funks took part in the World Champion Carnival, facing teams such as the Road Warriors.
In October 1986, the Funks wrestled for AJPW as part of its Giant Series; during the tour, Funk unsuccessfully challenged PWF World Heavyweight Champion Riki Choshu in the Ryogoku Kokugikan. In November and December 1986, they competed in that year's World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing joint second with nine points.
In November and December 1987, the Funks once again competed in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing second with 14 points.
World Wrestling Federation (1985–1986)
Having wrestled a handful of matches for the New York-based Worldwide Wrestling Federation in the early-1970s, Funk made his return to the since-renamed World Wrestling Federation - by now in the midst of a nationwide expansion - in June 1985. Dubbed "Terrible" Terry Funk and managed by Jimmy Hart, he adopted the gimmick of a rugged cowboy, chewing tobacco and carrying a branding iron to ringside with which he "branded" his fallen opponents. In his televised debut on WWF Championship Wrestling, Funk defeated Aldo Marino, then attacked ring announcer Mel Phillips after Phillips made the mistake of putting on Funk's cowboy hat. The attack on Phillips led to a feud with Junkyard Dog.In July 1985, Funk competed in the first King of the Ring tournament, losing to Tito Santana by disqualifaction in the first round. In October 1985, he defeated Junkyard Dog at Saturday Night's Main Event III in the Hersheypark Arena by using Hart's megaphone as a weapon. In November 1985, Funk took part in a 16-man tournament at The Wrestling Classic in the Rosemont Horizon, losing to Moondog Spot in the first round by count out after his attempt to trick Spot into walking out on the match backfired. Throughout late-1985 and early-1986, Funk repeatedly unsuccessfully challenged WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, including a bout in the Tampa Sun Dome that aired on Saturday Night's Main Event IV, which saw Hogan defeat Funk after Junkyard Dog foiled attempted interference by Jimmy Hart. Funk also unsuccessfully challenged Tito Santana for the WWF Intercontinental Championship on several occasions. In a 1999 interview, Funk referred to 1985 as his most lucrative year in wrestling, with him having earned over $500,000.
In February 1986, Funk was joined by his brother Dory, and the duo began teaming together as the Funk Brothers. Funk reignited his feud with Junkyard Dog, which led to a match pitting the Funk Brothers against Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena segment of WrestleMania 2, which the Funk Brothers won by using Hart's megaphone as a weapon. Later that month, Terry and Hoss were joined by the masked Jimmy Jack Funk, billed as their younger, more unstable brother. At Saturday Night's Main Event VI in the Providence Civic Center in May 1986, Terry and Hoss lost to Hulk Hogan and Junkyard Dog. Funk left the WWF later that month due to finding the WWF's gruelling schedule challenging, with Hoss and Jimmy Jack forming a tag team.