Dory
Funk Jr., one of the greatest World Champions of all time, sits down for
an upclose shoot interview with Highspots. Dory Funk Jr. comes from a wrestling
family that included his father, Dory Sr., and his brother, Terry. Dory
Funk Jr. has 40 years of wrestling experience, and
has plenty of stories to share. His memory of specific matches is amazing,
and it makes this interview even that more interesting for him to recall
specific battles, dates and locations. Dory Funk Jr. covers a lot of ground
in this interview, including:
How his father influenced his career. His career as a football player
at West Texas State.
His early days in Amarillo, Texas, with his brother, father, Dennis
Stamp, Jumbo Tsuruta, Bob Backlund and others. When the decision was to
make one of the Funk brothers the NWA World Champion, who said that
Dory be given the chance? Talks about his title win over Gene Kiniski and
what it meant to be World Champion. What was the schedule and pay like
as champion? Clears up confusion on a supposed loss to Lord Alfred Hayes
during his reign, and
why
he believes it never happened. Dory Funk Jr. was the first NWA Champion
in 12 years to go to Japan. He talks about his memorable match with Antonio
Inoki that made him an international star. Talks about his matches with
Jack Brisco. He speaks of specific memorable matches as well as why he
never lost the title to Brisco. Dory Funk Jr. clears up the controversay
with great details about the real reason why he did not compete the night
he was to lose the title to Brisco. Losing the title
to Harley Race in 1973 when he was injured. How did the schedule and work
change after losing the title? Speaks of the difference territories he
worked including St. Louis, Houston, Detroit, Florida, Los Angeles, Mid-Atlantic
and Georgia. Shares the infamous "ticket booth robbery" story from
Detroit. What did he think of the Sheik as a man? Talks about Ole Anderson's
statement that Dory was a 'Good worker, bad booker.' Speaks of his
stay in the WWE as "Hoss" Funk. Did he mind the name change? What did he
think of his short WWE stay? Talks about his matches in Puerto Rico against
the Road Warriors as well as a match that involved his wife teaming up
with him. Also, he remembers Bruiser Brody, a man he knew well. Terry and
Dory Funk Jr. were two of the biggest foreign stars to ever hit Japan.
He talks about being the foreign booker for All Japan and what his relationship
with Giant Baba was like. He speaks of two of the most 
memorable
matches of his career, both in Japan. The first being a battle with his
brother, the only singles match between the two. Then he talks about the
infamous tag match against Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik from the
1977 Real World Tag League. Dory Funk Jr. talks about some of the foreign
stars he helped book in Japan including Bruiser Brody, Terry Gordy, Ted
DiDiase, Stan Hansen and more. Explains the secret jump that he helped
organize to get Hansen and Abdullah the Butcher from New Japan to All Japan.
Talks about some of the names he has seen in the ring during his
career: Flair, Thesz, Rhodes, Watson, Sammartino, Morales, Slater, Murdoch,
the Von Erichs and more. He is still active in the ring, and he talks about
some of his more memorable matches from the last 15 years. Lastly, Funk
Jr. talks about the Funking Conservatory, a wrestling
school he runs in Florida. He talks about some of the talent that has come
through including Lita, Kurt Angle, Christian, Adam Windsor and more. Includes
match footage against Abdullah the Butcher, The Sheik, Jack Brisco and
more.
Date: 1/31/2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
To purchase Dory Funk Jr.'s Shoot Interview go to - Highspots.com
Dory Funk Jr.