Dory Funk Jr. really knew how to honor his late brother Terry Funk by following in his footsteps at the age of 83.
The legendary Terry Funk passed away one year ago on August 23 and his older brother Dory decided to step into the deathmatch realm against a longtime Terry rival in Atsushi Onita. Terry Funk and Onita had a very memorable match back in 1993 as the two battled in an exploding ring match, a battle that was historically violent and memorable.
Dory Funk decided to tip his cowboy hat in honor of his brother by doing just that this weekend as he teamed up with an old rival of his own in Osamu Nishimura to face Onita and Raijin Yaguchi in a Double Hell Current Explosion Death Match.
Thankfully, the “death” aspect didn’t live up to its name but the “explosion” most definitely did on Dory’s end. Ontia managed to whack the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion with an exploding baseball bat during the battle, but it wasn’t enough to keep Funk down as his team ended up getting the victory at the Terry Funk Memorial & Atsushi Onita 50th Anniversary show.
Dory Funk, Jr. ended up taking a exploding bat shot from Onita during the match but was able to get the win with a spinning toe hold over Yaguchi. Both Dory and Nishimura seemed to be fine after the match. pic.twitter.com/HqmHzWGygi
Before this fight, Dory’s last in-ring match took place five years ago against the aforementioned Nishimura in a ten-minute draw.
However, Dory Funk Jr. made history in the world of pro wrestling as he became the oldest wrestler to ever have a match while paying tribute to his baby brother Terry.
On August 23, 2023, the wrestling world was rocked by the passing of one of the industry’s most notable legends: Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed away at the age of 79 after years of several health issues, including being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
The Legacy of Terry Funk
Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, Terry Funk was destined for the wrestling world. The son of Dory Funk Sr., a revered wrestler and promoter, Terry and his brother, Dory Funk Jr. were quite literally raised in the sport.
Terry debuted in 1965, quickly making a name for himself in his father’s promotion, Western States Sports, based in Amarillo, Texas. His early style was a reflection of his father’s influence—technical and hard-hitting. It would be a decade later that Funk’s crowning achievement came as on December 10, 1975, he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating the legendary Jack Brisco. Funk held the gold for 14 months and his technically sound bouts proved why he was the right man to hold the 10 pounds of gold.
The Reinvention
In the 1980, Funk did what few wrestlers can, or rather, want, to do; he reinvented himself. Moving away from the pure technical style of his early career, Funk embraced a more violent, unhinged persona. His work in promotions including All Japan and later ECW showcased a different, more violent side, complimented nicely by his technical savvy in the ring. Funk’s feud with Ric Flair in 1989, particularly their brutal “I Quit” match at WCW Clash of the Champions IX continues to be considered one of the pivotal matches of the career in both men.
As a pivotal figure in hardcore wrestling, it is fitting that Funk became ECW World Heavyweight Champion at the extreme promotion’s first pay-per-view, Barely Legal 1997. Having Funk be a part of the promotion proved to be pivotal for the rag-tag promotion that was looking to make its mark in wrestling, as the legacy and prestige of Funk proved impossible to deny.
An Influencer
Terry Funk’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond his in-ring accomplishments. He was a mentor to countless wrestlers, including Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Tommy Dreamer, all of whom credit Funk with helping them shape their careers. In the foreword of Funk’s book More Than Just Hardcore, Foley recalls being under a ring for over an hour as part of a planned spot involving Funk, stating that despite the cramped and uncomfortable area, he’d do anything for his mentor.
Funk’s influence also reached Hollywood, where he appeared in several films, including Road House and Over the Top, often playing the tough guy that mirrored his wrestling persona. This allowed Funk the chance to share the screen with top Hollywood names like Patrick Swayze, further etching his legacy in the media in and out of the ring.
Terry Funk Honored
In 2009, Terry, alongside his brother Dory Jr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a fitting induction given that it took place in the pair’s native Texas. Their induction also came the same night that ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, one of many names inspired by Funk, took his place in the annals of wrestling greats. Following his passing, WWE paid tribute to Funk and Kevin Owens, whose in-ring style bears a striking similarity to the Funker, wore a shirt of the legend for a Payback 2023 Street Fight.
The Funker may be gone, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of wrestling fans forever. The wrestling world will always remember him as a man of many roles: A champion, a pioneer, a symbol, and of course “middle-aged and crazy!”
This day is a special one for WWE’s resident CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, as it was 25 years ago today that he captured his first of 14 WWE World Championships. On the post-SummerSlam 1999 edition of RAW, The Game defeated new champion Mankind to etch his name in the history books.
Lillian Garcia On Her WWE Debut
This week also marks 25 years since the debut of Lilian Garcia in WWE, who served as the promotion’s chief ring announcer for years. Speaking with SE Scoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Lilian recalled her first day with the promotion.
“It was such a blur… 20 minutes before I was live on the air they told me no cue cards. I remember terror if I could put it in one word. To know, that 14 million people were watching around the world and 20,000 in the arena. It was intense.”
Sheamus Pulling Pints
Sheamus will be a special guest picker for Pat McAfee on tomorrow’s episode of Pat’s show that’ll take place in Dublin, Ireland. After landing in the Emerald Isles, Sheamus and McAfee wasted no time in getting a drink at the JR Mahons pub.
The Wyatt Sicks have proven to be must-see since arriving in WWE and have been at odds with Chad Gable and American Made. In the group’s latest cryptic post, the faction makes clear their issues with Gable’s group aren’t over year.
Today, August 23, marks one year since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed at the age of 79. His brother Dory Funk has returned to the ring for a match as part of a tribute show to Terry, an act that will make Dory the oldest professional wrestler to compete.
WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. will pay tribute to his late brother Terry in an upcoming match, and will also make history in the process. Funk will team with Osamu Nishimura in a tag-team match on August 24, to take on Atsushi Onita & Raijin Yaguchi. The match has been sanctioned by PWF President Yoshio Osumi and will be part of the official memorial show for Terry Funk who died one year ago tomorrow.
By competing at the event, Funk will become the oldest wrestler to compete in a match at 83 years of age. Funk made his in-ring debut in 1963, the same year that Buddy Rogers became the very first WWE World Champion. He is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and boasts the second-longest individual reign (behind Lou Thesz’s first reign that lasted 2,300 days.) For his efforts in wrestling, Dory, alongside his brother Terry and their late father Dory Sr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
H/T to @PuroresuFlow for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.
This match will be Funk’s first bout in close to six years. He last stepped in the ring for the Tokyo Gurentai Tokyo Dream event in November 2018. That match saw him face Nishimura to a time-limit draw. His most recent victory came in an eight-man tag for All-Japan the previous year.
Funk, like his brother and father, mastered the art of mat wrestling during his heyday and is ready to lace up his boots one more time for his brother who died last August. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the legendary Funk wrestling family.
We have a first look at the DLC character of hardcore legend Terry Funk in WWE 2K24. The all-time great is part of the the first DLC pack for the game, the ECW Punk Pack that will be available Wednesday, May 15.
WWE and 2K have been giving first looks at the ECW Punk Pack characters, including The Sandman and The Dudley Boyz. Today, it’s a screenshot of the great Terry Funk. CM Punk is the final remaining member of the pack.
Terry Funk’s contributions to the pro wrestling business are vast, and he picked up championships all over the globe in over 50 years in the pro wrestling business. Sadly, he passed away on August 23, 2023. While the specific cause of his death has not been disclosed, it is known that he was dealing with health problems and was living in a nursing home at the time. He will forever be remembered as a legend and a trailblazer, one who influenced generations after him.
Future WWE 2K24 DLC Packs:
After the ECW Punk Pack release on 5/15, here’s the release schedule for the remaining WWE 2K24 DLC packs:
June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack”)
Includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Hart Manager, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack”)
Features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards
September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”)
Features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
WWE 2K24 Release & Reception
WWE 2K24 dropped on March 8, 2024, with Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley leading the promotional charge as the game’s cover Superstars. Cody was featured on the standard edition of the game. Ripley and Belair were on the special edition, making history as the first females to share the cover in the process. The special 40 Years of WrestleMania cover of the game saw an alteration after Brock Lesnar was scrubbed from the game.
The game is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have responded positively to the game. They highlight its improvements and refinements from previous versions.
IGN and GameSpot each gave the game a score of 8 out of 10. Metacritic has given it a score of 81%. Users have also shared their opinions, rating it 3.7 based on 316 reviews. In our exclusive review, we gave WWE 2K24 a score of 8.5 out of 10:
Get ready for a whole new learning experience courtesy of Chris Jericho.
The pro wrestling legend defeated HOOK for the FTW Championship at AEW Dynasty on Sunday and had some words of wisdom for the live crowd in Jacksonville, FL on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.
All with a somewhat patronizing tongue, Jericho took to the ring to thank the fans for the love and support following his victory and spoke about the controversial meaning behind the letters “FTW.” Instead of the title standing for “F*** The World” he wants FTW to mean “For The World” because the championship now for all the fans.
Jericho then brought up the name of the late legendary Terry Funk and recounted when Funk told him it was time for him to start teaching the next generation of how to carry on the legacy of the pro wrestling business. He then thanked Terry Funk and thanked everyone in attendance.
Suddenly, out came former AEW World Tag Team Champion in Big Bill. What first felt like it was going to be a tense confrontation, Bill actually said that he’d love to learn under the learning tree of Chris Jericho. Chris noted that he respected the talent of Big Bill and told him that he’d very much consider that, but would like to see Bill prove it. Bill assured Jericho that he would do just that.
It’s serendipitous that Jericho did conjure up the name of Terry Funk. Back in 2019, Jericho was asked about being the modern-day version of Funk, who was notorious for always re-inventing himself later on in his career which helped to put ECW on the map.
“My mission has always been to reinvent and evolve. It’s David Bowie. It’s been one of my inspirations since I was 25 years old, when you realize that you have this guy that’s a genius and who constantly changes what he’s doing, what he looks like to keep the fans guessing.”
Chris Jericho Will Have A Challenger Next Week
Jericho will have a tough contender to go up against next week in his hometown of Winnipeg. Later during Dynamite, Katsuyori Shibata ending up revealing that he’ll face Jericho next week for that “For The World” Championship gold.
Katsuyori Shibata has issued a challenge to the FTW Champion Chris Jericho.
Wrestling legend Mick Foley has provided a positive update on another legend, Terry Funk.
Back in July 2021, Don Muraco revealed that Funk was suffering from dementia and was in an assisted-living facility. Mike Johnson of PWInsider later confirmed that claim.
“I heard that Terry Funk is in a home for dementia. I spoke with Scott Casey over the weekend and I guess he’s driving all the way down to Amarillo,” Muraco said on the show.
“Yes, Mr. Funk is currently receiving residential care for his multiple health issues, which do affect his mind as well as the rest of his body. As you can imagine, some days are better than others. He & his family appreciate all of your kind words! FOREVER!”
Mick Foley Provides Update On Terry Funk
Mick Foley took to a High Spots signing session to give a positive update on the 77-year-old Terry Funk.
“Terry is doing better than it was reported. So, I will tell you he is in assisted living but I talked to him about a month ago, Tony Hunter talked to him a few days ago. He’s doing pretty good.”
Foley went on to explain what Funk might need assistance for these days.
“So, he does need some assistance but that can be as simple as not remembering to turn a burner off. So, he’s doing good.”
Please H/T SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article.
Mick Foley presented the GCW Championship belt when Jon Moxley faced Nick Gage earlier this month. Foley recently spoke to Metro about the promotion and praised Moxley and Gage in particular. Foley says that they are carrying the torch that he lit with Terry Funk back in their day.
“Who am I to tell someone their style of wrestling is wrong? I had the type of stuff that I enjoyed watching. I can appreciate lucha [libre], for example, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do,” Foley said. “I like the wild matches and these guys have taken that torch that Funk and I lit, and ran a couple of laps on their own with it.”
Foley also noted that he would love to return as Cactus Jack and face Matt Cardona for GCW. He also noted he is not able to do so, however.
“Oh, can you imagine the heat that Cardona would have if Cactus Jack came back for one last match? I can’t do it – I’m just saying, imagine! That’d be great.”
Foley continued to praise GCW.
“There’s all different types of wrestling out there for all different types of fans, and then you find a product that caters to fans who really take their wrestling seriously – I tell you, GCW’s a great show!”
Terry Funk is one of the most beloved, respected, and revered pro-wrestling legends of all time. The 77-year-old is said to be suffering from dementia and living in an assisted-living facility.
The news was first mentioned by Don Muraco on his podcast and later confirmed by Mike Johnson of PWInsider. Funk’s health is said to have declined over the last year following the passing of his wife Vicki.
“I heard that Terry Funk is in a home for dementia. I spoke with Scott Casey over the weekend and I guess he’s driving all the way down to Amarillo,” Muraco said on the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMTwqHMRGl0&t=2s
UPDATE: Terry Funk’s official Twitter account has issued the following statement regarding his health:
Yes, Mr. Funk is currently receiving residential care for his multiple health issues, which do affect his mind as well as the rest of his body. As you can imagine, some days are better than others. He & his family appreciate all of your kind words!
Tommy Dreamer spoke to Terry Funk on Tuesday and relayed this information:
Everyone needs to relax I just got off phone w/ Terry Funk He is NOT in bad health He loves everyone talking about him Direct quote from Funker I'm currently sitting in an assisted living place w/my thumb up my ass Whistling Dixie but I don't remember the words#Forever#ECWpic.twitter.com/5xlAYu5REh
Earlier this year, Mick Foley commented on Funk’s health in a Facebook post.
“I need to give Terry Funk a phone call. From what I understand, he’s in some serious pain after a lifetime of giving his all to the wrestling business. His hip, in particular is giving him a lot of trouble. Terry is not only a great friend, but my mentor, and one of the biggest influences on my career.”
“In my opinion, he is the greatest of all time, based not only on his amazing array of incredible matches with all different types of opponents over the course of several decades – but for his ability to make it SO easy to believe! No one made the suspension of disbelief easier than Terry Funk.”
“If you want to make this match work, you need to give the people their money’s worth. That’s the bottom line, that’s the most important thing. You need to do whatever you can to accomplish that. Physically, that can sometimes be a rugged game to play.”
People posting pics of the Texas Legend Terry Funk-idolized him and then got to tag with him and rode the roads with him-love me some Terry Funk! Wish him the best health and happiness! pic.twitter.com/wWUSyquA47
Working with @TerryFunker has always been a joy to me as a fan that lived their dream.even when he used to steal my channelle lipstick to use on his Brandon iron without my permission in https://t.co/ODPsznkzhS him as a person.Just as much as a fan. #keepfightingforever tx bronco
Terry Funk is one of a small selection of wrestlers ever to compete in an exploding barbed-wire death match. Funk wrestled the match type’s pioneer, Atsushi Onita, in May of 1993 in such a match for FMW. He also faced Cactus Jack in a very similar No Rope, Barbed Wire, Explosive Barbed Wire Board, Time Bomb Death Match in 1995.
The 76-year-old recently spoke to SI.com and offered some advice for Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley who will take part in the match tonight. “It’s the roughest style match I’ve ever been in,” said Funk. “I put a lot into those matches. I put in 100%, and I came out with a lot of damage to my body.”
“If you want to make this match work, you need to give the people their money’s worth. That’s the bottom line, that’s the most important thing. You need to do whatever you can to accomplish that. Physically, that can sometimes be a rugged game to play.”
Just talked to Mr. Funk & he’s doing okay. He just wanted to wish @JonMoxley & @KennyOmegamanX the best of luck in their exploding barbed wire match. He says the match is a good way for @aew to wake up Vince with a good kick in his ass. He wants you to know he’s pulling for you!
Funk concluded by saying that if Moxley and Omega give the fans their money’s worth, the match will live on in history just like his match against Onita has.
“This is a tough match. It was for me at least, as tough as it could possibly be. It’s up to them how they treat it. This match, their job is to go ahead and give the people their money’s worth. If they do that, their match will live on for a long time. These two guys, I think they’ll do it to the best of their ability.”
Pro wrestling legend Terry Funk recently reacted to the AEW Revolution main event news. Although it is unfair to just label Funk as a ‘hardcore’ wrestling legend, he was part of some of the most brutal matches over his illustrious career.
One of the bouts that Terry Funk took part in was the Exploding Barbed Wire DeathMatch; much like the one that will main event AEW Revolution between AEW Champion Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley.
Terry Funk on DeathMatch
Terry Funk was made aware of the Revolution main event and the person running his Twitter account notified followers of his reply. “Just talked to Mr. Funk & he’s doing okay. He just wanted to wish Jon Moxley & Kenny Omega the best of luck in their exploding barbed wire match” Funk reportedly began.
It was also noted that Funk made a playful jab at WWE. “He says the match is a good way for AEW to wake up Vince with a good kick in his ass. He wants you to know he’s pulling for you!”
The legendary Terry Funk recently commented on the WWE vs AEW Wednesday night wars on an episode of the 2-Man Power Trip podcast. According to Funk, wrestling fans are clamoring for change but Vince McMahon just won’t give it to them.
“What it is is the inability to change. It is an inability to do it and impossibility,” Funk said on the podcast. “That is the truth because you become attached to people, you become inept and that not only includes your wrestlers but it includes your creators. They become attached to them and they become stagnant, they become old and they become repetitious. The water is getting dirty and they better filter it.”
“I think that you can’t turn sh*t into a great meal. You can’t put whatever you want into there but that is what Vince is doing. He has become repetitious, he has become stagnant, and some of his stuff is totally overbearing and that is just a matter of truth. Now you’ve got a fresh flower coming up right behind you.”
Funk continued to say that Vince McMahon sees his performers as actors rather than pro-wrestlers.
“He can change but he can’t change his characters. That is the thing that wrestling is, we are who we are. Even when we are established we are not actors. We are wrestlers. That is his fault because he feels we are actors. I am not an actor and never was an actor in my entire life.”
The full interview can be heard in the player below:
Terry Funk on AEW
Funk also commented on AEW’s success so far.
“They (AEW) beat them (WWE) right out of the gate on how many people watching. That is not good, that is wonderful. It’s curiosity and they have to understand that and they have to be prepared to produce a better show than what they did that first week and second week and continue on getting better and better and better. That is what they have to have, they have to have that attitude and that belief that they can do it.”
Terry Funk knows a thing or two about retiring and then making a comeback.
The legendary wrestler had more than a few exits and subsequent returns to the ring over the course of his career.
Funk, 74, was a big part of Paul Heyman’s initial push with ECW and even appeared on the company’s first pay-per-view. Since that time, Funk has retired on several occasions only to get drawn back into the ring again and again.
“Paul Heyman is a wonderful manipulator, and I mean that in a good way,” Funk told The Ringer about his comeback from retirement. “He’s probably the greatest one around at this point in time. He was a pain in Vince [McMahon]’s side and Vince finally hired him, and I truly believe Paul Heyman is doing a great deal up there [in WWE] that no one knows about.
“They knew they were gonna have to keep increasing the salary, and I loved what I was doing. Whenever I was up there [in ECW], we were pounding out new ground.”
In November, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will make his first in ring appearance in eight years after he called it a career back in 2010.
Michaels has made sporadic appearances in WWE over the years but he hasn’t wrestled in a full match since announcing his retirement.
That hiatus will come to an end in November when Michaels teams up with his old friend Triple H for a tag team match against the Undertaker and Kane at the WWE’s upcoming ‘Crown Jewel’ event in Saudi Arabia.
Funk points to two key elements that likely brought Michaels back to the ring and that likely plays a huge part in any professional wrestler choosing to return after retirement.
“I’m sure he has plenty of money, but money changes constantly. You love the business, but you love it a whole bunch more if you’re getting more money,” Funk said. “I’m the same way. I think we all are.
“I don’t think I’m talking about some guy that’s just money-hungry. It’s his love for the business and the money.”
As far as Michaels somehow tarnishing his legacy by making a return for this match, Funk downplays that possibility because it’s a different animal coming back for pro wrestling versus any sport where athletes just can’t seem to stay away after retirement.
Ultimately, Funk says Michaels is making his own choices and no one can begrudge him for that decision.
“Truthfully, it’s really not a risk at all,” Funk said about Michaels coming back. “Of course, that depends on what level you come back at. Are you going to come back at a high position of a main-eventer? If Shawn Michaels came to the ring and was in the opening match and lost, I don’t think he’d have much longevity. It’s [dependent on] the manipulation of his character after he is there.
“Shawn will definitely do business. Shawn is controlling his destiny and can control it at any time.”
One of the most legendary wrestlers of all-time will not be at Starccast this weekend. Terry Funk has been forced to withdraw from his planned “Empty Arena Match Retrospective” along with Jerry Lawler.
Starrcast announced the change recently on Twitter:
Unfortunately, Terry Funk has informed us he will be unable to make the trip to Chicago next week citing health reasons. As a result the Emtpy Arena Match Retrospective is now cancelled. Refunds for his Meet & Greets and Eat & Greets will be issued within the next 48 hours. (1/3)
The 74-year-old has been dealing with diverticulitis and an abdominal hernia this summer. It is not clear, however, if this is what has caused him to withdraw from Starrcast.
Jerry Lawler vs Terry Funk Empty Arena Match
The famous empty arena match between Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk is now 37 years old. The match took place April 25th, 1981 as part of the long-standing rivalry between the two.
Leading up to the match, Funk expressed it was impossible for him to get a fair fight against Lawler in Memphis. Funk said the entire city of Memphis was biased in Lawler’s favor.
This included the referees, promotion management, fans and even the Memphis police according to Funk. The only way Funk felt he could get a fair fight against Lawler would be within an empty arena.
Starrcast Replacement
Starrcast announced that they have found a replacement session for the Empty Arena Retrospective. A “Total Non-Stop Jarrett” session will now replace the Empty Arena Retrospective.
Jerry Lawler will still be on-hand at Starrcast for photos and autographs despite the change in plans.
Wrestling Legend Terry Funk recently had an interview with WrestlingInc where he talked about a number of Wrestling Related topics. Below are some highlights from his interview:
How the original ECW’s goal was to compete with WWE:
“We had to compete, compete with the greatest there was in the business at that time, and that was in the New York office and we did more than compete, we didn’t surpass them, but we damn sure were out there, and they knew we were there.”
The competition in wrestling industry:
“There is tremendous competition in it as to who is the best and who is on top and who is considered the superstar at any time, That’s what the great drive in the business is, when you go out in that ring and say, ‘That last guy had a g**damn match, but let’s see the son of a b***h follow this one.’ That is really the truth, that’s what makes wrestling wonderful.”
His multiple health issues and how it’s time for him to make the transition out of the business:
“I have an abdominal hernia which I tore and had operated on, and it’s not the easiest thing in the world to get over. I’m gonna go on down the road, but hopefully I can get over the damn thing. There comes a time whenever your family’s out there and they need you too, and my family needs me. I’m not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you need to look to go in another direction in life, and I have entered that time. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful career. It’s been just a great run that the Lord gave me and I damn sure appreciate it and thank him for it and for him giving me the body and the ability to do what I have done for years.”
On Friday evening, WWE Hall Of Famer Terry Funk made his return to the ring at age 73.
Funk worked the Big Time Wrestling event in Raleigh, North Carolina, teaming up with the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express to take on Jerry “The King” Lawler, Brian Christopher and Doug Gilbert.
The match was said to be a bit ‘all over the place’ and ‘chaotic.’ In the end, Funk and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express picked up the win via disqualification after Lawler attacked the referee.
Featured are photos of Terry Funk’s return to action from Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night.
Former NWA World Champion Terry Funk recently did an interview on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Funk discussed how he is feeling physically as he gets ready to come out of retirement for Big Time Wrestling, being able to get back in the squared circle and wrestle Jerry “The King” Lawler again, his past matches with “The King,” the Rhodes/Funk rivalry, Ric Flair, and much more. You can check out the highlights here:
How he feels coming out of retirement:
“How do I feel about it? I feel really great about it and I feel great that I am able to get back into the ring event though I’ve had a little bit of a physical problem. But I feel like I am prepared for it, I’ve worked hard at it and I am back in shape one more time. It is a great card that they’ve got there. I am looking forward to getting into the ring with the Rock N’ Roll Express and also going against Lawler one more time. What an idiot.”
Wrestling Jerry Lawler again:
“I certainly don’t feel blessed to be in there against “The King” because “The King” is nuts. We all know that. Jerry Lawler is as nuts as I am. He is going to try and be going in the ring as long as I’ve gone in the ring. I don’t know if he is going to try and catch up with me or what but Jerry Lawler is truly a legend in his area and his family is a legend and it is a pretty amazing thing.”
His past matches with Lawler being chaotic:
“I’ve never been in anything but a chaotic match with Dusty Rhodes and him. Dusty and Lawler both were over bearing. Dusty and Lawler both, I don’t think I’ve ever called anybody else but those two this, “egg sucking dogs.” That is what both of them are. Jerry Lawler is also a pig. He wants all of the money, he wants everything. That is Jerry Lawler’s way and it is not my way because I am wonderful person and I’m a great guy but Jerry Lawler is not.
“Dusty Rhodes was okay but he couldn’t quite make being a football player and he played behind me the entire time at West Texas (State) and that is why he couldn’t stand me. I was just a little bit better than he was. I’d like to find that idiot kid of his Cody and I’d like to beat the hell out of Cody sometime. That would be a real pleasure. If Cody is around at the arena whenever I get there, I’ll take on Lawler first and I’ll take on Cody after and anybody else too. ”
The reason the Rhodes/Funk rivalry won’t die:
“It was pretty intense and especially in Florida. It was probably the greatest feud in wrestling at that time. All you had to do was put us in the ring and sometimes not even put us in a ring just in the same arena. Same with Lawler, just put us in the same arena and we don’t have to be in a ring together because we will find each other. The people knew we were going to find each other before the night was over. If Dusty was close enough to hear it I’d say: Is that so? But he was too dumb to pick up on it (FATSO).”
“It was just a continuous feud. It went back further than myself with wrestling and it went back to West Texas University and Dusty was playing behind me. He was playing like a second team guard and he could never start at West Texas because I was always ahead of him. I was always so much better than Dusty.”
His 1989 feud with Ric Flair and their matches together:
“That was quite the feud there. It was quite the bitter feud and was a very rough feud to go through with Ric and he certainly didn’t like me at that time and I didn’t like him and we were both trying to be at the top of (World) Championship Wrestling in Georgia and at that time I was much better of a competitor than Ric was but that is my own opinion.”
Flair’s recent health scare:
“I sent my regards to him and I wish him the best. It is very important to me that he comes along and to be very honest with you when you take a look at the old timers there are not many of us that are left and that are headed to the ring. I’d like to see Ric come back and come into the ring and I’d like to go into the ring with him. I really mean that. I’d like to have one more chance and basically I think Ric would like to be in the ring with me too.
“It is just like with Lawler, I am looking forward to this. It is very important to me and I have no intention of anything but coming out on top at the end of the night. It means a great deal to me because if I don’t than I’ll be totally upset with myself because this will probably be the very last time I get in the ring with him.”
How he wants fans to remember him:
“I would like to be remembered, be respected and to be loved by the wrestling fans and to be thought of as giving 100% each time you stepped through the ropes. That means a great deal to me.”
Diamond Dallas Page recently spoke to CBS Sports about DDP Yoga and a few wrestling topics. Below are some of the highlights:
Terry Funk wrestling again at 73 years old:
[Laughs] “I’m going to call Terry. You know, one of my biggest supporters is Gerry Briscoe. He’s 70-ish now. He’s a former world champion and wrestled since he was six years old and had a really beat-up body. The last time I saw him at WrestleMania, he looked like Tommy Lee Jones. He looked like a million bucks. He’s the biggest advocate, along with Mick Foley. And Chris Jericho, he’s 46 and bumping around like he’s 23. Now, as much I love Terry, no one bumped around anymore than he did, but he ain’t going to be bumping around like he’s 23. It’s just because he misses it so much. He could get away with it his whole life because he’s so believable. He’s one of the nicest guys on the planet and another Hall of Famer. If there’s a way to see it on the internet, and he’s going to get in there, I’m going to watch. I’m going to call him and tell him I’m going to send him my DVDs, because I know they can really help him.”
Scott Hall & Jake Roberts:
“Scott still has bumps along the road. Even though he did really well with his transformation, but he never really wanted to stop drinking. He did, and he still will, but he doesn’t want to. Jake does. Probably since the movie (The Resurrection of Jake the Snake), he’s fallen once or twice. Technically he’s been sober for five years and without a bump for two or three years. Jake realizes that he doesn’t want to be that guy and Scott occasionally forgets that.
I feel that it’s part of finding yourself. I’ve seen Scott at that point, and a lot of people have seen friends and family there. They’ve seen the person so close, and they’ve been sober for so long, and then they fall. Well, sometimes there are some little twitches or something that sets them off. Or, like I said, they don’t want to quit drinking. I could never have helped either one of them at the time if they didn’t want to. All I know is that it enabled them to both wind up where they belong which is in the Hall of Fame.”
Ric Flair’s generosity and an epic story:
“I made sure Ric knew how thankful I was to him [at the WWE Hall of Fame]. Even though Ric and I have had adversity with each other over the years and said some things we probably both wish we could take back. We’re in a really good spot today, and I think the world of him. I wanted him to know that him putting me over for that world title, I know it put me one step closer to that Hall of Fame podium, and I will never forget it.
Ric and I, we had such a good time when we were up there. I ran into him a couple times at the Hall of Fame. On the last night before we were going, he asks what time my wife and I are leaving. He asks what time our flight was and I said 7:30.
Now, we’re both at the bar, and it’s 12:30 and I’m getting ready to go crash. He said, “Woo! Who made that reservation?” I said it wasn’t me. He goes, “Forget that. I’ve got a Learjet. You’re coming with me. You and [your wife] Brenda.” I said, “Ric, I’ve got so many bags” and he said, “FedEx them home. You’re not taking that flight!”
So, Mr. Limousine Riding, Jet Flying us home in his Learjet. Then when he found out it was the day before my birthday, he took us both out to his favorite restaurant. We both live in the Atlanta area. He fed us and then sent us home in a limousine. It was the perfect punctuation to an unbelievable career and Hall of Fame weekend. It was amazing.”
You can check out the entire interview by clicking here.
– The legendary Terry Funk has not wrestled his last match.
Funk, now 73, is advertised to wrestle on Sept. 23 for Big Time Wrestling in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
For the first time ever, Funk will team with The Rock N’ Roll Express, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson. Their opponents in a six-man tag team match are Jerry “The King” Lawler, Doug Gilbert and Brian Christopher. Click here for details on the event.
According to PWInsider.com, Funk has not made any wrestling-related appearances since last September when health issues forced him to leave a wrestling show early.
– WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk recently did an interview with SI.com‘s Extra Mustard blog where he discussed several topics including former WWE Champion AJ Styles. During his interview Funk praised Styles for being a “wonderful part of wrestling,” and gave him credit for paying his dues before making it big.
“I don’t know if everybody would agree with me, but I like the way that he’s risen to stardom,” Funk told SI.com. “AJ Styles is of a different genre, and he’s a wonderful part of wrestling, doing things that a lot of guys can’t do. No one can do what he does unless they’re in the ring with him. AJ Styles is an excellent in-ring performer, and he’s as good of a guy that they’ve got up there right now. He’s busted his a–. He busted his a– and made it.”
– WWE Champion Kevin Owens and Goldberg have continued to take shots at each other on Twitter over the past few weeks to promote their upcoming match at Fastlane on March 5th. In their most recent exchange, Owens called out Goldberg for being a part-timer while Owens is on the road with WWE.
There was a lot of concern over the weekend throughout the wrestling world regarding the health of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk. Funk appeared at Saturday night’s House of Hardcore event from Philadelphia at the former ECW Arena and did not appear well. The concern grew when he made a comment about it possibly being the last time we saw him in that ring. Jim Ross reached out to his longtime friend to find what was going on from the man himself.
In his latest blog update at JRsBarBQ.com, Ross says he called Funk this morning and was greeted with a “shockingly meek, weak and sickly” voice. When Funk heard JR’s reaction to his condition, he began laughing and started using his regular speaking voice again.
“I’ve gotten probably 15 phone calls this morning from friends, many of who I haven’t heard from in forever, and I just thought I’d start having some fun with this latest rumor,” Funk said. “I’ve been able to lead many of the callers down a funny as hell road until I laughed so hard that I had to ‘break character.”
Funk then revealed that he underwent abdominal hernia surgery just four days before I flew to Philadelphia. He was supposed to lay low after the surgery, but he ignored doctors orders and flew from Amarillo, TX to Philly and then signed what seemed like a thousand autographs that day. By the time showtime came around, he was exhausted and that’s what people saw on Saturday night. “Dammit Ross, I was tired! I had been up 48 hours straight.”
He made a brief appearance, but left the show earlier than expected and went back to his hotel to rest.
The 72 year old legend said, “I’m still alive and I’m just fine … At least, I THINK that I’m fine.”
While he probably should have listened to his doctors’ orders and taken it easy after last week’s surgery, thank god Funk is generally healthy and not gravely ill as some had feared.
Head over to JRsBarBQ.com to read the full blog and to purchase JR’s line of amazing BBQ products.
Posted September 19th, 2016 in News. Tagged: Terry Funk.
WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk is reportedly dealing with serious health issues. Funk was scheduled to be in Tommy Dreamer’s corner for the House of Hardcore Philly main event last night but because of dizziness, he had to leave the venue.
As seen above, Dreamer and Funk cut promos informing the crowd of Funk’s status. According to PWInsider, Funk was told by doctors that he should stay out of the ring altogether but he ignored them and told fans he didn’t want to leave because if he left, he knew he wouldn’t be back.
Whatever he’s dealing with, please keep all-time great Terry Funk in your thoughts.
– “This is War” by The Phantoms is the official theme song for the 7/24 WWE Battleground PPV.
– Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger and The Ascension vs. Golden Truth were taped last night in Tampa for this week’s WWE Superstars episode.
– WWE Legend Terry Funk returns to action for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion on 9/16 and 9/17 in Long Island and Philadelphia. Others announced include Ricochet, Damien Sandow, Hornswoggle, Sami Callihan and Dreamer.
– Japan’s Wrestle-1 promotion has announced the release of several talents including Tajiri, Akira, Hama, Nakanou and Tanaka. Tajiri is participating in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic and is rumored to be returning to the main roster after the brand split.
Breaking News
W-1 has announced that Akira,Hama,Nakanoue,TAJIRI and Tanaka left the company. pic.twitter.com/285yNYF6Jx
Former WWE Superstar Yoshitatsu will be making his return to the ring at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Invasion Attack show on April 10th. Tatsu broke his neck back in December 2014 during a match against AJ Styles after a botched Styles Clash.
Yoshitatsu, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Michael Elgin will challenge NEVER Openweight Champions The Elite. Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks tweeted:
Last night saw one of the more hyped southern independent shows f the year, as Bert Prentice’s USA Champioship Wrestling (formerly Music City and NWA Worldwide when he had syndicated TV) ran a show dubbed an All-Star Tribute to Lance Russell. To salute the 89 year old legendary announcer, he put together a show at he Oman Arena (formerly the Jackson Coliseum), which used to be a regular stop in the Jerry Lawler/Jerry Jarrett territory based out of Memphis.
Besides the tribute to Russell in the city where he started announcing wrestling, the big attraction was the main event: Terry Funk, at 71 years old and wrestling for the first time in over 10 months, returned to face his greatest rival in the area, Jerry lawler. It was the first match between the two in just over four years.
Here are the results for the card (thanks to ProWrestling.net), which also included Russell and long-time broadcast partner Dave Brown interviewing the legends in attendance between matches:
1. Alex Taylor defeated Kevin Zion.
2. Daniel Eads defeated Nathan Starr
3. L T Falk and his father Tony Falk defeated Johnny Dotson and Derrick King (w/ Lucky Pierre in their corner)
4. Danny Dollar defeated “The New Nature Boy” Kevin White
5. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express defeated Rude and Poker Face with the double dropkick
6. The Natural Chase Stevens & Thorn defeated The Young Lions
7. Matt Starr defeated USA Heavyweight Champion Matt Boyce to win the ttle.
8. Jerry Lawler defeated Terry Funk by disqualification when Funk attacked the referee. Lawler threw a fireball at Funk after the match, which you can see in the video embedded at the top of the article.
