Wrestling legend Terry Funk, whose career spanned five decades, has died at the age of 79.
Funk, who was widely considered the father of hardcore wrestling, made his debut in 1965 and officially returned almost 53 years later.
Fellow wrestling star Ric Flair broke the news on social media, posting: ‘In My Entire Life, I’ve Never Met A Guy Who Worked Harder.
‘Terry Funk Was A Great Wrestler, Entertainer, Unbelievably Fearless, And A Great Friend!
‘Rest In Peace My Friend Terry Funk Knowing That No One Will Ever Replace You In The World Of Professional Wrestling!’
Wrestling legend Terry Funk, whose career spanned five decades, has died at the age of 79
Mick Foley also shared a tribute, adding that Funk’s daughter had confirmed the news to him earlier in the day.
‘WE JUST LOST A LEGEND,’ Foley wrote. ‘There will never be another like him. May God bless Terry, his friends, family and all who loved him. RIP my dear friend – it was an honor to know you.’
Funk was preceded in death by his wife, Vicky Ann, on March 29, 2019. They were married 53 years and had two daughters.
In June 2021, fellow wrestling legend Don Muraco reported that Funk had been diagnosed with dementia.
Funk celebrated his 79th birthday just last month and had continued wrestling until the age of 73, with his final matches coming in September 2017.
Funk enjoyed a storied career in the ring, winning several titles, including the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions, and the WWE Tag Team Championships alongside Cactus Jack, aka Foley.
His success earned him an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Funk’s father, Dory Funk Snr., was the owner of the ‘Amarillo territory’ and got his two sons, Terry and Dory Jnr, into wrestling.
The Funk Brothers went on to win numerous tag team competitions in the National Wrestling Alliance’s affiliates.
They also competed in the All Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual tag team showcase, the World’s Strongest Tag Determination League, which they won on three occasions in 1977, 1979, and 1982.
The Funks went their separate ways, enjoying more success in the singles ranks, They became the first – and the only – brothers to hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Terry Funk initially retired from pro-wrestling in 1983, pursuing a career on the Silver Screen.
He starred in 1987’s Over the Top and the 1989 Patrick Swayze classic Roadhouse.
However, he returned to the ring in 1989 for a heated showdown with then-NWA World Champion Flair.
After leaving the NWA again, Funk bounced around a few smaller companies in the United States before returning to World Championship Wrestling in 1994 where resumed his feud with Dusty Rhoades and his son, Dustin.
In August 1995, now 51 and 30 years in the business, he competed in the infamous King of the Death Match Tournament in Kawasaki, Japan where he ultimately lost in the finals against Foley.
More to follow.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk