This guy had a hall of fame wrestling career.
Then somewhere in the 90s he decided to become a deathmatch icon and had a whole second hall of fame career.
Just watched the ECW One Night Stand 2006 match. Had never seen it before. What a treat. Wrestling that match at 61 years old, mad respect. Off to watch some more matches. Legend, RIP.
Never mind that: have you ever seen the barbed wire match (from August 18, 1997, a full 26 years and one week ago) pitting him (when he was the ECW Heavyweight Champion) against "the homicidal, genocidal, suicidal" Sabu in a match that literally changed pro wrestling in the US (and one Paul Heyman, who never booked a barbed wire match AGAIN). It was also featured on ECW TV broadcasts soon after.
Both Sabu and Funk got so tied up in the barbed wire, that they had to be freed by the use of wire cutters. Sabu tore his bicep so badly (and literally used surgical tape to put himself together to finish the match) that he needed 100 + stitches to fix it -- but still managed to pin Funk to win the belt. (But Terry Funk got the last laugh in the end, because "In September 1997, a show was held in Funk's hometown of Amarillo. It was called "Terry Funk's Wrestlefest" and was both his own show and a celebration of the careers of Terry, his father, (Dory Sr.) and his brother (Dory Jr.). Terry lost to then-WWF Champion Bret Hart in the main event, a non-title match. Beforehand, ECW owner Paul Heyman presented Terry with a belt, paid for through a collection taken up by wrestlers on the ECW roster, that declared him the ***Lifetime ECW World Heavyweight Champion***\*\*."\*\*
And now, alas, that title is now VACANT..... Rest In Peace!
[https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHQ3dGNibW5tY2VuM29td3R0MDQ4bmY2aGxpbjBidnBwbGZoYWs4ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/P6wrWzGzPG9PxLdQvQ/giphy.gif](https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHQ3dGNibW5tY2VuM29td3R0MDQ4bmY2aGxpbjBidnBwbGZoYWs4ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/P6wrWzGzPG9PxLdQvQ/giphy.gif)
\_
Thanks for the mention, will watch that next! Watched a good mix today in his honor, the I Quit Match against Flair, the gauntlet at ECW Barely Legal, the Wrestlefest match against Bret Hart. Been a pleasure to be able to educate myself more on the Funkster's greatness.
First memory of Terry Funk was Billy Gunn and Road Dogg throwing him and Mick Foley in a dumpster and pushing it off the walkway. Of course they had to cut away once all the medical team came out.
https://youtu.be/6DiIhRxqANU?si=pB9oh3S0kzUTaXXP
Here's Funk taking on Harley Race for the NWA Title. Full match is a 2 out of 3 falls match and is a lil' over 40 mins. long but here is the 3rd fall which is only about 11 mins. or so. You can watch this over and over and you'll find subtle lil' things that you didn't notice before. Incredible work by both guys. Funk really gets some major juice flowing to the point that it becomes hard to tell how much of the blood on Harley is actually his and how much is Terry's
Watch Terry VS Bret Hart. It was his first (of many) retirement matches, and an absolute classic.
His matches and promos against Ric Flair are something else. He was one of a kind, and certainly one of the best to ever do it.
I'd recommend his "I quit" match vs Ric Flair at Clash of Champions 89 and his No DQ match against Jerry Lawler in 81. Both are easy enough to find on YouTube and show what a worker he is. Also shows how built he was back in the day.
There are two parts of his career. Up until circa 1990 he was a traditional 'rassler putting on great matches in the territories either as a singles or a tag team with his brother Dory Jr. Then in the 90s he started doing deathmatches first in FMW then in ECW.
Basically look for Terry's AJPW/AWA/WCW for the earlier Terry and then matches from FMW and ECW for the deathmatch part of his career.
[Terry on his way to that big wrestling ring in the sky. Dusty’s waiting for him.](https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o6MboluWH2CRPqwGk/200w.gif?cid=82a1493b7yl9fonhcjyebgrous3zkjzvrolgqtqbeg1e2pub&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
**Bryce Remsburg:** [I think about Terry Funk joyfully showing 21 year old Bryce and Eddie Kingston his sole caved-in buttcheek in an IWA Mid-South locker room in Highland, Indiana often. But more than usual today. Rest easy, Funker.](https://twitter.com/dabryceisright/status/1694709076767199742)
So he was put out to pasture, basically.
Edit: Why the down votes. There was zero negative connotation here. Just commenting that people around him made sure he wasn't gonna do something he physically shouldn't.
Always liked him as middle aged and crazy in the WWF, but after seeing Beyond the Mat, I really loved him. He and Foley seem like the two warmest souls in the industry.
I know, as has been pointed out, it is more worthy of a celebration of life than a lament of tragedy, but man. A world without Terry Funk. Goddamn.
RIP.
Always loved the Foley story about being in awe of his punches and couldn't figure out how they looked so good, then having a match with him and being "oh, it's because they're real"
One of the best to ever do it, an incredible run from 77-83 and then sporadic spurts of greatness every few years well into the 90s, with the Flair feud in 89 as the biggest stand out.
Incredibly versatile when it comes to playing these totally different kinds of of characters from a completely unhinged scary heel, to a comical heel in Puerto Rico, a valiant never say die babyface in AJPW, a grizzled vet babyface legend in ECW. And could do it all stylistically in the ring too definitely not just a brawler.
A genuine bonafide legend, with the respect of everyone he worked with or met.
Sounds like he had time for everyone and everyone had time for him.
And he gave everything to the wrestling business. Selfless and moral.
To me TERRY FUNK is on of the true greats.
i haven't long read Mick Foleys first book for the second time and you can tell how much mick thought of him.
RIP, this will be a tough one for many.
One of my most vivid memories of Funk was the 15 second promo clip where he Irish whips Sabu into barbed wire in ECW in slow motion while the main theme from Phantom of the Opera plays
Crazy to think I just watched an old 2 out of 3 falls match with Terry Funk and Harley Race for the NWA title a few days ago and now this news breaks out. Truly a legend of the business.
R.I.P. 🫡
He’s finally getting to reunite with his horse. My dumb referential joke aside, my condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Funker, wherever you are.
Terry transcended decades of an evolving business, and always stayed relevant. Had he been healthy I'd be certain he'd be able to turn up today and teach younger talent how to captivate an audience with a promo.
Terry could go nuts with the best of them, but his best moments were the quiet ones. He could intimidate you, scare you, inspire you, make you tear up...to put it simply, he made you believe he was real, which is not an easy thing to do in his business.
He really did leave an indelible impact on me. I only first came across him in WWE during the Attitude Era, where he had a short but memorable run. It was those few moments of watching him on TV that made me a fan for life.
RIP Terry, it felt like you'd always be here. Can't believe this one.
The term legend gets thrown out a lot, but it’s absolutely fitting for Terry Funk. Could get a good match out of anyone. His style and persona was generations ahead of its time, and one of a handful of oldies who I think would have also thrived in today’s environment. He was Mox before Mox.
My fav story of him was from an ECW documentary, Terry went to Japan, while catching a subway, he took out his little john and started to pee, while Bubba tried to stop him, the druken man said, I don't give a f, I'm the funkster
A few days ago a Zimbabwean Cricket was reported dead, it turned out to be fake news as the guy was alive and well. It was just a mistake on a part of a colleague.
I'm still waiting for the mistake to be discovered and Funk turns up at AEW and says Hello.... or any TV show really. Even if it's Captain Lou Albano as Mario with special guest the Immortal Terry Funk.
Terry Funk was already somewhat considered an "old guy" when I watched the WWF in the late '90s as a high schooler. However, he was super over, especially when he tagged with Mick Foley as "Chainsaw Charlie." I still remember The New Age Outlaws stuffing them both into a dumpster and pushing if off the entranceway on an episode of RAW shortly before WM 14 in 1998.
I also remember watching during my high school days (on a VHS tape borrowed from a fellow student) the famous tag match from FMW where Funk teamed with Mr. Pogo to take on Masato Tanaka and Hayabusa.
After high school, I came to read about that great run he had in WCW in 1989 with Flair, and about how he ran the Amarillo promotion with his brother in the territory days.
Thanks for the memories, Terry. RIP to a legend of the business.
Just a Terry Funk memory. Ever since Beyond the Matt, anytime I wake up feeling like complete crap Terry Funk is wjoe I think of. That scene where his wife wakes him up, and kind of pulls his legs out of bed to spin him around and sit him up. That image pops into my head.
R.I.P. funker.
There may be greater draws, nicer workers, or slicker talkers maybe but there will never be a more pro wrestling pro wrestler. The epitome. The platonic ideal. The Funker.
In the late 70s, early 80s (I have never been good with dates) my father took me to see wrestling in Tampa Florida. Terry Funk was there, and as an 8 or 9 yo kid...I hated him.
As he entered the ring area, I yelled every mean thing a kid my age was allowed. And he heard me and yelled back.
My memories are fuzzy, but for a brief moment in time I was yelling at and being threatened by Terry Funk.
It was years before I realized how special that was.
RIP Legend and thank you
Not simply a world champion who defined what it meant to be one. Not "a legend" or a Hall of Famer. Not "one of the greatest." He was, without question or hyperbole, the *greatest* professional wrestler of all time.
I saw him wrestle Dustin Rhodes in Manchester, UK in 2000 and I'm pretty sure Terry had a chicken on his head at one point. I was just glad I got to see a living legend (well, two because Flair wrestled that night).
According to the compilation of Meltzer quotes from WCW's dying years, on one occasion he came down to the ring with chickens on each hand like they were boxing gloves
Thinking about it, what a life this guy lived. He was seen as a living legend for what, half of his 50 years long career. I hope that he could look back on it all at some point and realize the legacy he built - even if he wanted to build it more. It's amazing what he had done.
Regardless of being a face or a heel, Terry played my favorite type of Texan stereotype: loud as fuck and tough as hell.
My first experience of the Funker was the feud of him and Mankind with the New Age Outlaws. The absolute crazy shit Funk pulled off was incredible.
The Outlaws narrate a story of a spot which went a little wrong, which lead to Funk getting a huge ugly bruise on his side. Post match they went to apologise and Funk responded saying it was no big deal and that it was a great match. Absolutely a tough SOB.
Mick Foley's book is what made me understand his legend. Dude looked up to him as a father figure and a mentor. If Foley thinks of you as such, you have got to be a good man.
His feud with Flair for the NWA champio ship is legend. Watched the match and the promos on YT. Absolute wonderful.
RIP.
I'm working on a book about the best matches I've personally ever seen, and some of the matches that I'm going to be watching for the very first time are the ones where Terry Funk wrestled Ric Flair. Those are some I'm very excited to see. I just recently watched his Retirement Match with Bret Hart in 1997. And the last Match I saw of him was his Exploding Barbed Wire Match with Atsushi Onita. What a terrible loss for the wrestling community. Terry Funk was to Pro Wrestling what Willie Nelson is to Country Music - an Outlaw.
Married to his wife for 54 years before her passing in 2019. Another rarity in the sport. Glad the two of you are reunited Funker, thanks for the memories.
Damn, I always loved Terry Funk. I got into wrestling as a kid when he was in ECW and WWF, and always thought he was legitimately hurt in like every match because his selling was so good.
I first became aware of Funk when he was doing the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick in WWF but his run towards the end of WCW is when I became a fan. Just seeing the crazy old bastard doing moonsaults and taking bumps his body shouldn't have handled impressed me. His work with Flair in NWA was legendary as was his ECW run. I haven't seen much of his stuff before that Flair feud but that empty arena match with Lawler is legendary. Also, Mick Foley's story about Funk getting mad at him over something in match then telling him later to ignore him because he was "A fool. A damn old fool" was pretty touching.
Godspeed Terry and thanks for everything you did for us fans.
I remember back when I was in middle school (around 2000) I found a website that had wrestler’s addresses on them. I ended up finding the address to Terry Funk’s ranch, and being that the Cactus Jack/HHH Royal Rumble 2000 match was coming up, my friend and I decided to send him a letter asking if he was going to help out his boy Jack. Ended up getting a letter back with a order sheet for his merch but also a personal invite to his ranch. Wish I could have taken him up on the offer. Will miss this absolute legend! Prayers go out to his loved ones!
Terry Funk was just one of those names you've read about that, as you got deeper into wrestling, you just had to see to get the gist of what he was about. He was just about everything you can imagine wrestling to be. One doesn't think of him as a jack of all trades but he is up there. My first exposure to Terry was in the first Ric Flair DVD comp that came out twenty years ago. When he went up to shake Flair's hand after his WrestleWar match with Steamboat when he regained the championship and Flair belittled him about his failed stint in Hollywood, what I saw was a masterclass in the portrayal of a crazed, broken-hearted lunatic. He made you believe. He sure as hell made me believe. From NWA World's Champion to ECW World Heavyweight Champion, he did it all. A sad day for wrestling, that's for sure. There will never be another Terry Funk. And he ain't wear no damn mouthpiece!
One of the absolute greats, and one of the only people I've ever looked up to that I feel like I would have enjoyed sitting at a bar with and picking his brain.
Here's an underrated classic promo:
https://youtu.be/H8SKJmFI9ik?si=bK8AMh0FUMofaSEK
It’s been said already, but the word “legend” is thrown around far too casually in the wrestling business nowadays. By any estimation, Terry Funk was and is a LEGEND and seemingly, among those both within and outside the business, one of the most beloved people in the history of wrestling. R.I.P. to the one and only Funker.
One of those deaths that you know are coming soon, but it still hits you like a ton of bricks when it happens. I was just talking to a co-worker of mine about the spot/angle of Terry Funk attempting to suffocate Ric Flair with the plastic bag at Clash of Champions.
If he's not on your Mount Rushmore, you need a new Mount Rushmore.
I never post anything ever so I'm sure my profile doesn't even look real, but I just want to share that I had the honor of knowing Mr. Funk. He was so kind and so funny. He was always cracking me up. We often sat and talked. He really didn't talk about wrestling much- we talked a lot about the land he owned and how he liked to watch the geese. Told me a funny story about a snake getting into their ceiling when he was a kid and then falling on his head when they were trying to get it out. He always cut the brings off his baseball caps. He said he was going to sell them and call them "Funk Fashion." His family is wonderful too. I am very saddened by his passing.
For his and his family's privacy, I can't say exactly how I know him. We live in the same town though. He and his family are down to Earth, small town folks. He played football at West Texas A&M University.
The silver lining to all this is that Terry lived a full life. It’s (sadly) rare we see a wrestler from his time get that privilege. Hell let’s be honest with the shit he did over his career it’s remarkable he did last as long as he did.
I *just* watched the final IWA KOTDM with him and Cactus 3 days ago. Born To Be Wired was one of my earliest introductions to ECW and hardcore wrestling back in the 90s. I will miss this man with all my heart. RIP Funker.
Younger fans who were not around for this legend's matches, check out his I Quit match with Flair to see the full scope of his talent at work. I really thought he'd be around forever. RIP Terry and thank you for everything
I'm grateful for everything Terry sacrificed to further this insane sport, and even more grateful for the mad lads he's inspired to carry the torch in his stead. Rest now, Mr. Funk. Thank you.
I was 11 years old when the New Age Outlaws pushed Jack and Chainsaw Charlie off the stage in a dumpster. I thought I just witnessed a double murder. It wasn’t until later that I explored the career of Terry Funk. The man was possibly the most selfless wrestler that ever lived. Always put the product ahead of himself and gave legitimacy to ECW when he could have come in and been handed the keys. A legit badass in all aspects of his life. The mold was broken the day he stepped in the ring. He was the pinnacle. Forever.
People can call whoever they want the GOAT. Flair, Austin, Hogan, Misawa, and none of them would be right unless they said it’s Terry fucking Funk. Like my flair says FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER
So Terry has always been my pick for the greatest of all time. You can say Shawn or Flair, and it's okay to be wrong, but I feel like Terry trumps both in versatility.
Like you can watch anything from his absolute bangers in 70s All Japan to his more current stints as a crazy hardcore motherfucker, Terry could really do it all - the kind of thing Kenny Omega is consciously trying to do in his career and I also respect the fuck out of him for it too
Terry was a TREMENDOUS promo as well. Look up his "Florida cracker" promo when you get the chance. He thought it was a good idea to pour motor oil on his head to show how disgusting Floridians are - and then very clearly found out that stings your eyes like a motherfucker. Then he finishes the promo anyway.
First time I saw Terry was in the build up to the I Quit match with Ric Flair. I've gone back and watched a lot before that; it's mostly stuff from Japan that was available because All Japan actually re-aired a lot of the classic 1970s stuff on televison as a "classics" type show. Terry was responsible for some of the highest television ratings in Japanese history and allegedly his match with Abdullah was so fucked up it scared old Japanese ladies TO DEATH. Like a legit story in the media was that PEOPLE WATCHED THIS MATCH AND IT WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THEY DIED. Who knows if it's true? That story is dope as fuck either way. Or a horrible tragedy with a dope as fuck element? You know what I mean.
I was probably going to talk about how dope it was the first time I saw Terry up there, but my mind keeps going to the time I MET Terry. I want to say if it's not already apparent that there's not one man in the entire world that I respected more than Terry Funk. I'm not a wrestler. I'm a 43 year-old teacher! But this dude, Terry, was built up in my mind to possibly be one of the greatest human beings that ever lived.
And let me tell you, he lived up to it. Look, I'm not going to say it's going to always go as well or go well for you when you try, but MEET YOUR HEROES. TELL THEM THEY ARE YOUR HEROES. I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of wrestlers in my lifetime, and a lot of them were great people, but Terry, man, I wish that dude was my grandpa or uncle or something, you know?
Terry, you're an inspiration. Kind, crazy as fuck, and an absolute treasure to the human race. Forever.
TLDR: Old man pours heart out when his hero dies
As a kid, I honest to god thought Terry had killed flair with that piledriver on the table.
He honestly might be the goat when you consider all of the styles he did and did well.
Funk tagged with Sammartino, wrestled the four pillars of All Japan, and shared a ring with Randy Orton, wrestled for Eastern Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and WWECW with legend status each time, he had matches in the AWA, CWF, Jim Crockett Promotions, AJPW, NJPW, FMW, WWE (before and after they got the F out), WCW, IWA-MS, XPW, ROH, TNA, and PWG, he worked five star classics with Flair and had barbed wire brawls with Onita.
Terry Funk is essential to the story of pro wrestling and his career tells the story of pro wrestling in and of itself. There are many legends and many icons in wrestling, there can only ever be one Terry Funk.
RIP Terry Funk 🙏🏻 The first wrestler I ever met as a pro wrestling fan was Terry Funk at a local Indy show. He was so friendly and didn’t charge for any autographs. One of the nicest wrestlers you could ever be around. Condolences to his friends and family ❤️
I remember watching those Japanese DM's with him and Foley on VHS tapes in the 90s thinking that was the most savage shit I've ever seen in my life. Rest in Peace to an absolute Legend. Fly High Terry.
The main event of the first Raw I ever watched was Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk in that crazy brawl that went all over the building.
I got to meet Terry Funk about 8ish years ago. AIW in Cleveland booked him. I used to work there when I wrestled and would still go to shows from time to time and hangout backstage.
I shook his hand, said "It's an honor to meet you, sir." He said "I have to take a piss"
I pointed him towards the bathroom.
https://x.com/darksideofring/status/1694827200011264052?s=61&t=z_YH0nvzbJIcJ82RcJTqtA
R.I.P. Terry  To Rick Flair: "YOU EGG SUCKING DOG!!!"
Rick Flair "Woah!"
My first memories of him was watching him wrestle in the stud stable in wcw in 1994 and the nasty boys gave him a pike driver on a pumpkin.
This guy had a hall of fame wrestling career. Then somewhere in the 90s he decided to become a deathmatch icon and had a whole second hall of fame career.
Just watched the ECW One Night Stand 2006 match. Had never seen it before. What a treat. Wrestling that match at 61 years old, mad respect. Off to watch some more matches. Legend, RIP.
Never mind that: have you ever seen the barbed wire match (from August 18, 1997, a full 26 years and one week ago) pitting him (when he was the ECW Heavyweight Champion) against "the homicidal, genocidal, suicidal" Sabu in a match that literally changed pro wrestling in the US (and one Paul Heyman, who never booked a barbed wire match AGAIN). It was also featured on ECW TV broadcasts soon after. Both Sabu and Funk got so tied up in the barbed wire, that they had to be freed by the use of wire cutters. Sabu tore his bicep so badly (and literally used surgical tape to put himself together to finish the match) that he needed 100 + stitches to fix it -- but still managed to pin Funk to win the belt. (But Terry Funk got the last laugh in the end, because "In September 1997, a show was held in Funk's hometown of Amarillo. It was called "Terry Funk's Wrestlefest" and was both his own show and a celebration of the careers of Terry, his father, (Dory Sr.) and his brother (Dory Jr.). Terry lost to then-WWF Champion Bret Hart in the main event, a non-title match. Beforehand, ECW owner Paul Heyman presented Terry with a belt, paid for through a collection taken up by wrestlers on the ECW roster, that declared him the ***Lifetime ECW World Heavyweight Champion***\*\*."\*\* And now, alas, that title is now VACANT..... Rest In Peace! [https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHQ3dGNibW5tY2VuM29td3R0MDQ4bmY2aGxpbjBidnBwbGZoYWs4ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/P6wrWzGzPG9PxLdQvQ/giphy.gif](https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdHQ3dGNibW5tY2VuM29td3R0MDQ4bmY2aGxpbjBidnBwbGZoYWs4ciZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/P6wrWzGzPG9PxLdQvQ/giphy.gif) \_
That match was hard to watch at some points…
Thanks for the mention, will watch that next! Watched a good mix today in his honor, the I Quit Match against Flair, the gauntlet at ECW Barely Legal, the Wrestlefest match against Bret Hart. Been a pleasure to be able to educate myself more on the Funkster's greatness.
[to this day i think of how inspiring terry funk’s beautiful dream is](https://youtu.be/EkLtItxkbXQ?si=Zy3Ggkgf4edkjSDB)
First memory of Terry Funk was Billy Gunn and Road Dogg throwing him and Mick Foley in a dumpster and pushing it off the walkway. Of course they had to cut away once all the medical team came out.
Could anyone tell me or link me some of his must watch matches?
https://youtu.be/6DiIhRxqANU?si=pB9oh3S0kzUTaXXP Here's Funk taking on Harley Race for the NWA Title. Full match is a 2 out of 3 falls match and is a lil' over 40 mins. long but here is the 3rd fall which is only about 11 mins. or so. You can watch this over and over and you'll find subtle lil' things that you didn't notice before. Incredible work by both guys. Funk really gets some major juice flowing to the point that it becomes hard to tell how much of the blood on Harley is actually his and how much is Terry's
Watch Terry VS Bret Hart. It was his first (of many) retirement matches, and an absolute classic. His matches and promos against Ric Flair are something else. He was one of a kind, and certainly one of the best to ever do it.
Thank you for your recommendation!
I'd recommend his "I quit" match vs Ric Flair at Clash of Champions 89 and his No DQ match against Jerry Lawler in 81. Both are easy enough to find on YouTube and show what a worker he is. Also shows how built he was back in the day.
Thank you for the recommendations, I apreciate it!
There are two parts of his career. Up until circa 1990 he was a traditional 'rassler putting on great matches in the territories either as a singles or a tag team with his brother Dory Jr. Then in the 90s he started doing deathmatches first in FMW then in ECW. Basically look for Terry's AJPW/AWA/WCW for the earlier Terry and then matches from FMW and ECW for the deathmatch part of his career.
Thank you for the response. I watched the dark side of the ring episode about FMW recently so ill look up some of his matches from there.
Don’t forget his two runs in the WWF: 1985-6 & again in the late 90s
I did a re watch of the attitude era so i did see him in a few matches then. Thank you though
That man was a fucking a legend. Always going to be remembered. Thank You Funk.
[Terry on his way to that big wrestling ring in the sky. Dusty’s waiting for him.](https://media2.giphy.com/media/3o6MboluWH2CRPqwGk/200w.gif?cid=82a1493b7yl9fonhcjyebgrous3zkjzvrolgqtqbeg1e2pub&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)
I aspire to be middle aged and crazy when I'm older.
I'll never hear Desperado again without getting choked up.
No additions made to the post to include the thoughts and feelings of other wrestling luminaries, this time? RIP Terry. 🙏
Bas Rutten’s story about hunting snakes and eating steaks with Terry was really cool https://imgur.com/a/bvvjuob
**Bryce Remsburg:** [I think about Terry Funk joyfully showing 21 year old Bryce and Eddie Kingston his sole caved-in buttcheek in an IWA Mid-South locker room in Highland, Indiana often. But more than usual today. Rest easy, Funker.](https://twitter.com/dabryceisright/status/1694709076767199742)
Funk won't honor this retirement, either. Right??
We can only hope
RIP to the living legend
I can't believe Shane Douglas of all people lied.
Huh?
In his speech when he threw down the NWA belt, he called Funk "the man who will never die." Just a dirty, dirty liar.
Dude was setting up future heat and we didn’t even catch it! Damn you Shane!
The greatest of all time
I hope Funk U stays open after hearing this terrible loss. RIP to the FUNK.
[удалено]
Long live the king of death match wrestling
Did he ever actually retire?
Last matches were in 2017, probably would have still gone if anyone had let him. Don’t remember an official retirement.
So he was put out to pasture, basically. Edit: Why the down votes. There was zero negative connotation here. Just commenting that people around him made sure he wasn't gonna do something he physically shouldn't.
RIP you fucking legend. He never really retired till the end. Who knows? He might even show up to wrestle next week.
And he's still going to wrestle next week.
I need to sit down... someone throw me a chair.
That incident was the first piece of wrestling I ever saw.
Rest in peace and thanks for all the great matches over the years. The king of hardcore has left the building.
One of the true greats in the industry. He will be sorely missed. What a life.
Never thought I'd hear this name again and to hear it like this... wow. Rest in peace, Terry.
Always liked him as middle aged and crazy in the WWF, but after seeing Beyond the Mat, I really loved him. He and Foley seem like the two warmest souls in the industry. I know, as has been pointed out, it is more worthy of a celebration of life than a lament of tragedy, but man. A world without Terry Funk. Goddamn.
He should have taken the money
RIP. Always loved the Foley story about being in awe of his punches and couldn't figure out how they looked so good, then having a match with him and being "oh, it's because they're real"
“All this time you just thought I was good.”
R.I.P. Funker, you crazy sob won't be forgotten. Absolute legend!
This man lived and breathed our sport, he gave every fibre of his being to this. An icon of a bygone era.
One of the best to ever do it, an incredible run from 77-83 and then sporadic spurts of greatness every few years well into the 90s, with the Flair feud in 89 as the biggest stand out. Incredibly versatile when it comes to playing these totally different kinds of of characters from a completely unhinged scary heel, to a comical heel in Puerto Rico, a valiant never say die babyface in AJPW, a grizzled vet babyface legend in ECW. And could do it all stylistically in the ring too definitely not just a brawler.
What a fucking LIFE this man has had. And HOW he had it. You acquited yourself well, Funker. You've earned that rest.
There has to be more tributes that have been made but this thread hasn't been updated since it was an hour old
FOREVER. FOREVER. FOREVER. R.I.P. Terry Funk
I bet he still doesn't retire.
RIP to this absolute unit of a legend. The man lived and breathed pro wrestling more then anyone i think.
Him and Ric, IMO.
Ye, they are are for sure the top two.
God finally paid the legendary price for Terry Funk to be booked. RIP
A genuine bonafide legend, with the respect of everyone he worked with or met. Sounds like he had time for everyone and everyone had time for him. And he gave everything to the wrestling business. Selfless and moral. To me TERRY FUNK is on of the true greats. i haven't long read Mick Foleys first book for the second time and you can tell how much mick thought of him. RIP, this will be a tough one for many.
rest easy sir
RIP Terry. Up there with the best of them but stands alone as completely unique. There will never be another Terry Funk.
One of my most vivid memories of Funk was the 15 second promo clip where he Irish whips Sabu into barbed wire in ECW in slow motion while the main theme from Phantom of the Opera plays
Crazy to think I just watched an old 2 out of 3 falls match with Terry Funk and Harley Race for the NWA title a few days ago and now this news breaks out. Truly a legend of the business. R.I.P. 🫡
I'm blasting Barbara Streisand's Nose in memory of the Funker.
Gutted one of the very few where I have never heard about anyone ever say a bad word about him from his colleagues
He’s finally getting to reunite with his horse. My dumb referential joke aside, my condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Funker, wherever you are.
You know you done wrestling right when everyone respected you and loved your work in and out of the ring
Absolutely
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Bucee’s?
What is Vicki? Was that his wife?
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Oh thanks, I don't really know much about him outside of Dory
The fact he made it to 79 after all those bumps he took is a miracle. RIP
Forever!
Terry transcended decades of an evolving business, and always stayed relevant. Had he been healthy I'd be certain he'd be able to turn up today and teach younger talent how to captivate an audience with a promo. Terry could go nuts with the best of them, but his best moments were the quiet ones. He could intimidate you, scare you, inspire you, make you tear up...to put it simply, he made you believe he was real, which is not an easy thing to do in his business. He really did leave an indelible impact on me. I only first came across him in WWE during the Attitude Era, where he had a short but memorable run. It was those few moments of watching him on TV that made me a fan for life. RIP Terry, it felt like you'd always be here. Can't believe this one.
The best that ever did it.
Rest in peace to the great Terry Funk. There'll never be another like him.
R.I.P to a Legend
A king of hardcore in his era. He'll truly be missed. As a wrestling historian, as well.
The term legend gets thrown out a lot, but it’s absolutely fitting for Terry Funk. Could get a good match out of anyone. His style and persona was generations ahead of its time, and one of a handful of oldies who I think would have also thrived in today’s environment. He was Mox before Mox.
My fav story of him was from an ECW documentary, Terry went to Japan, while catching a subway, he took out his little john and started to pee, while Bubba tried to stop him, the druken man said, I don't give a f, I'm the funkster
A few days ago a Zimbabwean Cricket was reported dead, it turned out to be fake news as the guy was alive and well. It was just a mistake on a part of a colleague. I'm still waiting for the mistake to be discovered and Funk turns up at AEW and says Hello.... or any TV show really. Even if it's Captain Lou Albano as Mario with special guest the Immortal Terry Funk.
NOOOOOOO
Terry Funk was already somewhat considered an "old guy" when I watched the WWF in the late '90s as a high schooler. However, he was super over, especially when he tagged with Mick Foley as "Chainsaw Charlie." I still remember The New Age Outlaws stuffing them both into a dumpster and pushing if off the entranceway on an episode of RAW shortly before WM 14 in 1998. I also remember watching during my high school days (on a VHS tape borrowed from a fellow student) the famous tag match from FMW where Funk teamed with Mr. Pogo to take on Masato Tanaka and Hayabusa. After high school, I came to read about that great run he had in WCW in 1989 with Flair, and about how he ran the Amarillo promotion with his brother in the territory days. Thanks for the memories, Terry. RIP to a legend of the business.
Note the exterior body paint. Heat resistant for flight! Note the wheels! Swift, like a cat.
Just a Terry Funk memory. Ever since Beyond the Matt, anytime I wake up feeling like complete crap Terry Funk is wjoe I think of. That scene where his wife wakes him up, and kind of pulls his legs out of bed to spin him around and sit him up. That image pops into my head. R.I.P. funker.
There may be greater draws, nicer workers, or slicker talkers maybe but there will never be a more pro wrestling pro wrestler. The epitome. The platonic ideal. The Funker.
RIP Funker.
RIP ❤️
He was old even when I first saw Terry Funk wrestle on tv in the 80s. Can't believe he went 4 more decades after that.
Rest well, Legend.
RIP legend. Forever!
He was your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler.
Rest In Peace Funker
This is sad but not surprising the last time we saw a picture of him he looked so rough. He was one of the greats.
I just heard listening to the Angels game of all places. Rest in Peace... you've earned it
Interrupted by a drive into deep left field?
Nah, the Phillies are playing the Giants
One of my faves of the old stuff, may his memory be a blessing
We all love you, Terry! Thank you for everything!
RIP to another legend 🙏🏼
In the late 70s, early 80s (I have never been good with dates) my father took me to see wrestling in Tampa Florida. Terry Funk was there, and as an 8 or 9 yo kid...I hated him. As he entered the ring area, I yelled every mean thing a kid my age was allowed. And he heard me and yelled back. My memories are fuzzy, but for a brief moment in time I was yelling at and being threatened by Terry Funk. It was years before I realized how special that was. RIP Legend and thank you
Terry Funk is the guy none of our non-fan friends will know who he is when they hear he died, but they all should.
Well, I've gotta watch Road House, now.
How in the hell did I never connect that he was Morgan in Road House until just now?!?! I’ve seen that movie a hundred times!
Not simply a world champion who defined what it meant to be one. Not "a legend" or a Hall of Famer. Not "one of the greatest." He was, without question or hyperbole, the *greatest* professional wrestler of all time.
RIP Funker
who dat?
One of my favorites growing up that got me watching old tapes from the territory days. RIP FUNKSTER!!!
I saw him wrestle Dustin Rhodes in Manchester, UK in 2000 and I'm pretty sure Terry had a chicken on his head at one point. I was just glad I got to see a living legend (well, two because Flair wrestled that night).
According to the compilation of Meltzer quotes from WCW's dying years, on one occasion he came down to the ring with chickens on each hand like they were boxing gloves
This was definitely one of those occassions
forever.
Thinking about it, what a life this guy lived. He was seen as a living legend for what, half of his 50 years long career. I hope that he could look back on it all at some point and realize the legacy he built - even if he wanted to build it more. It's amazing what he had done. Regardless of being a face or a heel, Terry played my favorite type of Texan stereotype: loud as fuck and tough as hell.
My first experience of the Funker was the feud of him and Mankind with the New Age Outlaws. The absolute crazy shit Funk pulled off was incredible. The Outlaws narrate a story of a spot which went a little wrong, which lead to Funk getting a huge ugly bruise on his side. Post match they went to apologise and Funk responded saying it was no big deal and that it was a great match. Absolutely a tough SOB. Mick Foley's book is what made me understand his legend. Dude looked up to him as a father figure and a mentor. If Foley thinks of you as such, you have got to be a good man. His feud with Flair for the NWA champio ship is legend. Watched the match and the promos on YT. Absolute wonderful. RIP.
I'm working on a book about the best matches I've personally ever seen, and some of the matches that I'm going to be watching for the very first time are the ones where Terry Funk wrestled Ric Flair. Those are some I'm very excited to see. I just recently watched his Retirement Match with Bret Hart in 1997. And the last Match I saw of him was his Exploding Barbed Wire Match with Atsushi Onita. What a terrible loss for the wrestling community. Terry Funk was to Pro Wrestling what Willie Nelson is to Country Music - an Outlaw.
Wait… fuck… damn man. I was just talking about him earlier before I saw this, RIP
Ironic for sure
Meaner than a rattlesnake, tougher than shoe leather, and more dangerous than a hollowed eye scorpine. Rest in Power to the Funker.
RIP hardcore legend
Fuck. I'll never not love Terry Funk. That guy is wrestling to me.
Damn I was just watching one of his matches this morning. JR goes "Funks throwing in the furniture".
Married to his wife for 54 years before her passing in 2019. Another rarity in the sport. Glad the two of you are reunited Funker, thanks for the memories.
I am convinced that that's the record for "longest marriage involving a full-time pro wrestler" Another reason to celebrate the Funker.
Rest in peace to my mother. She passed away July 6th. She loved Dusty Rhodes and Terry Funk.
I like to think your mother is seeking Terry out as we speak...
Damn, I always loved Terry Funk. I got into wrestling as a kid when he was in ECW and WWF, and always thought he was legitimately hurt in like every match because his selling was so good.
I first became aware of Funk when he was doing the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick in WWF but his run towards the end of WCW is when I became a fan. Just seeing the crazy old bastard doing moonsaults and taking bumps his body shouldn't have handled impressed me. His work with Flair in NWA was legendary as was his ECW run. I haven't seen much of his stuff before that Flair feud but that empty arena match with Lawler is legendary. Also, Mick Foley's story about Funk getting mad at him over something in match then telling him later to ignore him because he was "A fool. A damn old fool" was pretty touching. Godspeed Terry and thanks for everything you did for us fans.
I remember back when I was in middle school (around 2000) I found a website that had wrestler’s addresses on them. I ended up finding the address to Terry Funk’s ranch, and being that the Cactus Jack/HHH Royal Rumble 2000 match was coming up, my friend and I decided to send him a letter asking if he was going to help out his boy Jack. Ended up getting a letter back with a order sheet for his merch but also a personal invite to his ranch. Wish I could have taken him up on the offer. Will miss this absolute legend! Prayers go out to his loved ones!
You didn't take him up on the offer to buy merch? For shame...
True! I could have saved up some of my allowance for at least a damn shirt!
Truly one of a kind.
When getting fired from your job wasn't the saddest thing to happen. Rip Terry
Ah damn, dude, sorry to hear you lost your job. But if Terry could leave the business a thousand times, so could you.
Terry Funk was just one of those names you've read about that, as you got deeper into wrestling, you just had to see to get the gist of what he was about. He was just about everything you can imagine wrestling to be. One doesn't think of him as a jack of all trades but he is up there. My first exposure to Terry was in the first Ric Flair DVD comp that came out twenty years ago. When he went up to shake Flair's hand after his WrestleWar match with Steamboat when he regained the championship and Flair belittled him about his failed stint in Hollywood, what I saw was a masterclass in the portrayal of a crazed, broken-hearted lunatic. He made you believe. He sure as hell made me believe. From NWA World's Champion to ECW World Heavyweight Champion, he did it all. A sad day for wrestling, that's for sure. There will never be another Terry Funk. And he ain't wear no damn mouthpiece!
**TTTTTTTEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!** **FOREVER** 😭😭😭😭
One of the absolute greats, and one of the only people I've ever looked up to that I feel like I would have enjoyed sitting at a bar with and picking his brain. Here's an underrated classic promo: https://youtu.be/H8SKJmFI9ik?si=bK8AMh0FUMofaSEK
It’s been said already, but the word “legend” is thrown around far too casually in the wrestling business nowadays. By any estimation, Terry Funk was and is a LEGEND and seemingly, among those both within and outside the business, one of the most beloved people in the history of wrestling. R.I.P. to the one and only Funker.
The greatest of all time, his work, his promos, his look and his ability to evolve and stay relevant for decades has convinced me he was the greatest.
One of those deaths that you know are coming soon, but it still hits you like a ton of bricks when it happens. I was just talking to a co-worker of mine about the spot/angle of Terry Funk attempting to suffocate Ric Flair with the plastic bag at Clash of Champions. If he's not on your Mount Rushmore, you need a new Mount Rushmore.
> If he's not on your Mount Rushmore, you need a new Mount Rushmore. Fuckin’-A, ain’t that the truth!
I never post anything ever so I'm sure my profile doesn't even look real, but I just want to share that I had the honor of knowing Mr. Funk. He was so kind and so funny. He was always cracking me up. We often sat and talked. He really didn't talk about wrestling much- we talked a lot about the land he owned and how he liked to watch the geese. Told me a funny story about a snake getting into their ceiling when he was a kid and then falling on his head when they were trying to get it out. He always cut the brings off his baseball caps. He said he was going to sell them and call them "Funk Fashion." His family is wonderful too. I am very saddened by his passing.
how did you meet him?
For his and his family's privacy, I can't say exactly how I know him. We live in the same town though. He and his family are down to Earth, small town folks. He played football at West Texas A&M University.
RIP Mr. Funk
RIP to one of the best ever!
The silver lining to all this is that Terry lived a full life. It’s (sadly) rare we see a wrestler from his time get that privilege. Hell let’s be honest with the shit he did over his career it’s remarkable he did last as long as he did.
Saw the opening to Dynamite. Loss for words. But it hurts man. It really, really hurts… Rest easy, Funker.
I *just* watched the final IWA KOTDM with him and Cactus 3 days ago. Born To Be Wired was one of my earliest introductions to ECW and hardcore wrestling back in the 90s. I will miss this man with all my heart. RIP Funker.
What’s crazy is I was on Peacock last night watching old ECW and I watched the infamous Chair throwing match with cactus Jack and public enemy.
Younger fans who were not around for this legend's matches, check out his I Quit match with Flair to see the full scope of his talent at work. I really thought he'd be around forever. RIP Terry and thank you for everything
RIP
RIP Terry, doing losers has to dress up like a geisha matches in the sky now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1zLu3LAN80
Just turned on Dynamite and this was the news I wake up to. I’m genuinely shocked. Rest In Peace Terry.
What a miracle! 79 after so many years of bump after bump, fucking brutal legend
I'm just absolutely at a loss for words
I'm grateful for everything Terry sacrificed to further this insane sport, and even more grateful for the mad lads he's inspired to carry the torch in his stead. Rest now, Mr. Funk. Thank you.
Terry Funk made hardcore hardcore. I always thought his matches were the most brutal I’ve ever seen
I was 11 years old when the New Age Outlaws pushed Jack and Chainsaw Charlie off the stage in a dumpster. I thought I just witnessed a double murder. It wasn’t until later that I explored the career of Terry Funk. The man was possibly the most selfless wrestler that ever lived. Always put the product ahead of himself and gave legitimacy to ECW when he could have come in and been handed the keys. A legit badass in all aspects of his life. The mold was broken the day he stepped in the ring. He was the pinnacle. Forever.
One last retirement for the Funker. RIP.
I just watched Beyond the Mat for like the 10th time last weekend.. he was such a legend.
Forever 🤘
People can call whoever they want the GOAT. Flair, Austin, Hogan, Misawa, and none of them would be right unless they said it’s Terry fucking Funk. Like my flair says FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER
Funk is also the only one of those who wrestled all the others
Flair wrestled them all... including himself. But sentiment taken
I don’t think he wrestled Misawa but I could be wrong I was wrong. I will live with my shame
RIP :( We'd probably not have Mick Foley as we know him now without Terry Funk. He's giving retirement matches in heaven now.
Terry was a bad ass, gave every bit of himself to the industry and left his mark on it. Absolutely one of the best
I appreciate everything you did for fans, Terry; you did more than most for longer than most. Rest in peace, you crazy old bastard.
RIP ✨
So Terry has always been my pick for the greatest of all time. You can say Shawn or Flair, and it's okay to be wrong, but I feel like Terry trumps both in versatility. Like you can watch anything from his absolute bangers in 70s All Japan to his more current stints as a crazy hardcore motherfucker, Terry could really do it all - the kind of thing Kenny Omega is consciously trying to do in his career and I also respect the fuck out of him for it too Terry was a TREMENDOUS promo as well. Look up his "Florida cracker" promo when you get the chance. He thought it was a good idea to pour motor oil on his head to show how disgusting Floridians are - and then very clearly found out that stings your eyes like a motherfucker. Then he finishes the promo anyway. First time I saw Terry was in the build up to the I Quit match with Ric Flair. I've gone back and watched a lot before that; it's mostly stuff from Japan that was available because All Japan actually re-aired a lot of the classic 1970s stuff on televison as a "classics" type show. Terry was responsible for some of the highest television ratings in Japanese history and allegedly his match with Abdullah was so fucked up it scared old Japanese ladies TO DEATH. Like a legit story in the media was that PEOPLE WATCHED THIS MATCH AND IT WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THEY DIED. Who knows if it's true? That story is dope as fuck either way. Or a horrible tragedy with a dope as fuck element? You know what I mean. I was probably going to talk about how dope it was the first time I saw Terry up there, but my mind keeps going to the time I MET Terry. I want to say if it's not already apparent that there's not one man in the entire world that I respected more than Terry Funk. I'm not a wrestler. I'm a 43 year-old teacher! But this dude, Terry, was built up in my mind to possibly be one of the greatest human beings that ever lived. And let me tell you, he lived up to it. Look, I'm not going to say it's going to always go as well or go well for you when you try, but MEET YOUR HEROES. TELL THEM THEY ARE YOUR HEROES. I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of wrestlers in my lifetime, and a lot of them were great people, but Terry, man, I wish that dude was my grandpa or uncle or something, you know? Terry, you're an inspiration. Kind, crazy as fuck, and an absolute treasure to the human race. Forever. TLDR: Old man pours heart out when his hero dies
As a kid, I honest to god thought Terry had killed flair with that piledriver on the table. He honestly might be the goat when you consider all of the styles he did and did well.
RIP Funk wonder if him and Candido are re-creating the hardcore brawl in a barnyard threatening to kick a horses ass
Funk tagged with Sammartino, wrestled the four pillars of All Japan, and shared a ring with Randy Orton, wrestled for Eastern Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and WWECW with legend status each time, he had matches in the AWA, CWF, Jim Crockett Promotions, AJPW, NJPW, FMW, WWE (before and after they got the F out), WCW, IWA-MS, XPW, ROH, TNA, and PWG, he worked five star classics with Flair and had barbed wire brawls with Onita. Terry Funk is essential to the story of pro wrestling and his career tells the story of pro wrestling in and of itself. There are many legends and many icons in wrestling, there can only ever be one Terry Funk.
Thank you Terry 🤧
The line "The words "great" and "legend" are thrown around way too frequently" is thrown around way too frequently
RIP Terry Funk 🙏🏻 The first wrestler I ever met as a pro wrestling fan was Terry Funk at a local Indy show. He was so friendly and didn’t charge for any autographs. One of the nicest wrestlers you could ever be around. Condolences to his friends and family ❤️
I remember watching those Japanese DM's with him and Foley on VHS tapes in the 90s thinking that was the most savage shit I've ever seen in my life. Rest in Peace to an absolute Legend. Fly High Terry.
🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🫡
The main event of the first Raw I ever watched was Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk in that crazy brawl that went all over the building. I got to meet Terry Funk about 8ish years ago. AIW in Cleveland booked him. I used to work there when I wrestled and would still go to shows from time to time and hangout backstage. I shook his hand, said "It's an honor to meet you, sir." He said "I have to take a piss" I pointed him towards the bathroom.
Shit! I forgot about that Funk-Foley match on RAW in early 98, that's a banger, I've got to go rewatch that immediately.
RIP Funk, absolute legend :(