The Funks

This week's column deals with two men that I used to face in a lot of feuds throughout the Midwest. They were no strangers to professional wrestling as their father, Dory Funk, had been involved in the business following a successful amateur career at Indiana State University in the 1940's. He later went on to be the promoter in Amarillo, Texas and a huge supporter of Cal Farley's boys’ ranch nearby.

Dory Jr. and Sr., early in Dory's career.

Dorrance (Dory) Jr. was born on February 3, 1941 in Indiana and later grew up in Amarillo and attended West Texas State College, where he was degreed. He began his wrestling career under the watchful eye of Dory Sr. and defeated Don Fargo in his first match in Amarillo. On February 11, 1969, he defeated Gene Kiniski in Tampa, Florida to become the NWA World Heavyweight champion. He held that title until being defeated by Harley Race on May 24, 1973 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Kansas. He is credited with being the second longest reigning champion of record to hold the NWA title. Lou Thesz held the title from 1949 to 1956.

Black Angus faced Dory before he lost to Harley in Wichita, Kansas before a sellout crowd and nearly beat the champ. The time limit ran out on the two, and I still say that Dory paid the timekeeper to cut the match short. Dory never gave Angus a return match, and, if Angus would have had just five minutes more time … I would have been World's Heavyweight Champion.

Following a very long career from 1963 to 2008, he had his retirement match in Japan. Dory is currently involved in his wrestling school in Ocala, Florida called "The Funking Conservatory." He has helped the careers of many young athletes like Kurt Angle, Mickie James, Edge, Christian Cage and the Hardy Boyz, along with many young men from Japan.

Terrance (Terry) was born June 30, 1944 and has been more known because of his film efforts and the fact that he and Dory are the only two brothers that have held the NWA title in the 100-year existence of the alliance. Terry also was born in Indiana and grew up in Amarillo. He, like his brother, also attended West Texas State and is also a degreed graduate. Terry's first match was in Amarillo against Sputnik Monroe, a wily adversary that had wrestled all comers in the old carnival circuits before turning pro.

During the next 10 years, Terry made quite a name for himself being involved in many Texas Death Matches. His hardcore style carried him to a victory over Jack Brisco in 1975, and he carried the belt for the NWA for 14 months before being beaten by Harley Race in Toronto. A huge headliner in many cities in the U.S., Terry went on to become even a bigger star in Japan, where he battled the likes of Giant Baba, Tenryu and Keiji Muto.

Terry became a huge star in ECW and took the group to national recognition as its champion. Their hardcore style was just an extension of the same type of wrestling as he had done for the decade before. In the WWF, he was known as "middle aged and crazy" and carried a branding iron with the symbolic XX on it for the Double Cross Ranch he owned in Umbarger, Texas.

Terry also had a big feud with Ric Flair that drew record gates in the Southeastern United States.. Other feuds included Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, Junkyard Dog and Wahoo McDaniel.

In a "Retirement" match held in Amarillo, entitled "50 years of Funk," he faced the then-current WWF champion, Bret Hart, before a sellout and turnaway crowd.

I have had the privilege of knowing both of these great athletes for over 40 years and have the greatest respect for them as wrestlers. I didn't always agree with their tactics of doing stuff the way they did in the old Amarillo territory, but I wasn't alone in my feelings.

You can't put emotions into a lifetime of feelings. We have, since retirements from active involvement, buried the hatchet. I was in Newton, Iowa the night Terry and Dory's father was inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame. Terry accepted with a lot of pride and dignity. We spoke that night, and I called Sputnik Monroe at his home and Florida and gave the phone to Terry. They spoke for about 10 minutes, and he handed me the phone back with tears in his eyes. Dory had a previous commitment and could not attend in the inductions.

Next week at Wrestlemania 25, Dory and Terry will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2009 in Houston, Texas. Both brothers are long overdue to be honored as both have given their lives to be a part of the greatest and oldest profession in the world. I will see Terry at the CAC a couple of weeks later in Las Vegas.

My Tam is off to you both.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers