1961, Flying Mare Ranch 30 miles southwest of
Amarillo, Texas.
My father, Dory Funk Sr. and I were walking along
the terrace that brought the flow of water from the grassy plain on
the Flying Mare Ranch and directed it into our old swimming hole. We
were returning from an early morning duck hunting trek to the rim of
the canyon along Terra Blanca Creek.
I stopped halfway home and said, "Dad, I have
decided that I would like to become a professional wrestler.
Among other words of wisdom, he said that
professional wrestling would give me the opportunity to have a young
body and stay in shape for a long time. Physically, professional
wrestling is good for you. He also told me I was about to enter the
most competitive business in the world. That was a tough one to
figure out however it proved to be true.
From that day, Dad brought in his friends to
train with me, people like Verne Gagne, Bob Geigel, Ricky Romero,
Eddie Graham, Joe Scarpello and Cowboy Carlson.
Like the Hart Family we had a ring at the house.
Theirs was in the basement ours was in the garage. We trained for
wrestling and lifted weights. Our bench was two wooden coke cases
stacked on top of each other and Cowboy Carlson impressed us all
with a bench press of 300 pounds. Hardly a mark in today's world of
weight lifting, but he was impressive.
From my younger days of being the youngest in the
dressing room to the present, I have trained and wrestled with so
many wrestlers who came into the business after me and have now
passed on.
The wrestling business takes it's toll. It can be
hard, a pressure cooker and can be hard on family life. The
pressures of achieving can also take a toll.
In professional wrestling, there are things we
have no control over and the nature of the business is tough at
times to live with, especially tough on family life.
In these hard times with the outpouring of
sadness over the death of Eddie Guerrero, we in the business must
look for the good in the wrestling business.
There are thrilling moments in professional
wrestling, some notable and some quite rewarding.
Some of those thrilling moments for me:
My father tells me after winning the world title
from Gene Kiniski, "Son, If you never do anything else in the
wrestling business, you have accomplished a Hell of a lot.
Facing so many great workers, Brisco, Valentine,
Flair, Wahoo, Baba, Inoki, Fujinami, Muta, Jumbo Tsuruta, Lonnie
Mayne, Chauvo Guerrero, Kiniski, Jonathan, Dick the Bruiser, Carlos
Colon, Black Jack Lanza, Billy Robinson and more.
Training with so many great workers, Kurt Angle,
Lita, Christian, Test, Rhino, Matt and Jeff Hardy, Gene Sniski,
Micki James, Sylvian Granier, Steve Corino, Chris Daniels, Edge, Val
Venis, Jun Akiyama, Jumbo Tsuruta, Tenryu, and more.
Friends who were so much fun to be with, David
Von Erich, Ricky Romero, Dick Murdoch, Ric Flair, Carlos Colon, The
Guerrero Family, All of the Hart Kids and Stu and Hellen, Bob Geigel,
Don Owen, Fritz Von Erich, Bill Apter, Mark Nulty our champion,
Johnny Magnum, our referee, The Claw and more.
My kids who have had much success outside of the
wrestling business but who still "love the business." Dink, Penny
and Dirk.
Working in the Florida Office for Eddie Graham.
(Championship Wrestling From Florida with Gordon Sole) and from the
ring, catching the eye of a girl named Marti, head of product
marketing for Florida Championship Wrestling. We are approaching 20
years of marriage and enjoy working the business together.
The feeling when wrestling fans still remember
and are supportive.
Thanks to all of our friends.
Thanks Dad.
Dory Funk Jr