Dory Funk Jr.
A member of the great Funk Family, His contributions to the sport extended well beyond his in-ring performances as he became a great teacher and goodwill ambassador.
Dory
Funk,
Jr.
Stats:6'3"
240 lbs.
Born: February
19, 1942
One-third
of the legendary Funk Family (along with father Dory Funk and brother
Terry)
Dory Funk, Jr. is one of the greatest competitors, teachers, and "good
will" ambassadors the "sport" of professional wrestling has ever
known.
His skill and dedication to professional wrestling is almost as well
known
as the world-famous Funk Family name. That skill and dedication,
combined with a genuine love of the sport, helped Dory go on to have
one
of the most successful wrestling careers in the history of the business.
After
establishing himself as a football and wrestling standout at West Texas
State University, Dory Jr. followed his dad into the sport of pro
wrestling.
Having been born and raised in the business, he learned quickly from
his
famous father...though never relying on his family name to gain favor
from
promoters. For Dory's young, talented son, no nepotism was
needed.
The young Funk was making waves everywhere he wrestled due to his
supreme
skills and hard working attitude. Soon after entering the profession,
his
hard work, reliability and dedication began to pay off for him...
On
January 7, 1966 Dory Funk, Jr. forever placed himself into the history
books by defeating then-N.W.A. World Champion "Big Thunder" Gene
Kiniski.
That such a young wrestler could defeat the grizzled veteran was
shocking
enough...but the fact that Funk forced Kiniski to submit to his
patented
Spinning ToeHold was even more impressive! Funk would go on to hold the
N.W.A. World title for 4 consecutive years, defeating every worthy
challenger.
His clean-cut, polite mannerisms were very popular with the fans
(although
he later became one of the sports most hated men, along with brother
Terry)
and Funk, Jr. became one of the biggest drawing cards in wrestling. He
was known and respected everywhere he went, and was quite a celebrity
in
American pop culture...even appearing in an issue of The Fantastic
Four.
Funk's fame spread around the world, and he also became a genuine
legend
in Japan.
On March 24, 1973 Funk lost his World Title to another Hall of Famer, Harley Race. However, it would not be the end of Dory's championship run...
He
won the Florida Heavyweight Championship 3 times, the Florida TV Title
twice, the Mid Atlantic Heavyweight championship twice, the NWA
National
Tag Team title (w/Terry and also w/David Von Erich), and many other
championships.
When you are as talented as Dory Funk, Jr., titles and success come
naturally.
He
(and often, his family) had dozens of epic feuds over the years
involving
the best of the best...Dusty Rhodes, The Brisco's, Giant Baba, Harley
Race,
Hulk Hogan, Gene Kiniski, Mil Mascaras, the Grahams, the Windhams, and
far too many others to list here. Success and respect have
followed
Funk everywhere he's gone whether it be in Texas, the N.W.A., the
A.W.A.,
the W.W.F., All Japan, New Japan, E.C.W. or W.C.W. Wherever Funk
has wrestled across the globe, he's (deservedly) been on the top of the
ladder.
Funk is now living in Florida, as well as teaching Japanese, he is still very much involved in the sport, primarily as a trainer of wrestlers that have made their way into the WWF, ECW, and WCW. Always the competitor, every once in awhile, Funk dons the trunks and still wrestles occasionally.
Dory is currently running the Funking Conservatory Pro-Wrestling School in Ocala Florida, for information about the school please return to the front of this web site and click on the icon.
Credit: Steve Slagle
Dory And Marti Funk 2000
