Dory Funk Jr

[Black Knight]

Dory Funk Jr.



Dory Funk Jr. after playing college football at West Texas State decided to follow his dad into the sport of pro wrestling. Having been born and raised in the business, he learned quickly from his famous father, though he never relying on his family name to gain favor from promoters. For Dory's young, talented son, no favortism 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, Inoki, 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.

[Fiona]

Jimmy I have no idea why you are putting all these threads regarding former wrestlers on. Why don't you just make one thread call it "Weekly Blast from the Past" and post a new (old) wrestler once a week. Just an idea.

[Bryp13]

Dory Funk JR. also once wrestled in the 1996 Royal Rumble.

[bigmatt]

Dory Funk jr was a great underated talent.

[Nemesis Enforcer]

I think Jimmy is trying to get a job in the Newsletter every issue putting a new old wrestler in the spotlight

Agree with Bigmatt though Dory Funk Jr was a very good talent

[Naitch]

When it comes to the Funks, Dory seems to have this real 'worker' reputation attached to him whereby people seem to have got caught up in the legitimate, 'real' wrestler character that he was working and because Terry was more the showman of the team and, let's face it, was batshit insane, his work often gets overlooked when it comes to the two of them. Dory was unquestionably good in that area but Terry was as good, if not better but because he worked the more Wildman brawler type thing for most of his career, Dory was seen as much more of the 'wrestler' of the two which kinda downplays how good Terry was when it came to the wrestling side of things. He did also, of course, set himself apart from being just a 'wrestler' into being one of the all round best performers in history.

Yeah...

Carry on.

[bigmatt]

Originally Posted by Naitch When it comes to the Funks, Dory seems to have this real 'worker' reputation attached to him whereby people seem to have got caught up in the legitimate, 'real' wrestler character that he was working and because Terry was more the showman of the team and, let's face it, was batshit insane, his work often gets overlooked when it comes to the two of them. Dory was unquestionably good in that area but Terry was as good, if not better but because he worked the more Wildman brawler type thing for most of his career, Dory was seen as much more of the 'wrestler' of the two which kinda downplays how good Terry was when it came to the wrestling side of things. He did also, of course, set himself apart from being just a 'wrestler' into being one of the all round best performers in history. Yeah... Carry on.

Dory was great but Terry was better there's no doubt about that in my mind.