Terry Funk
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Terry Funk (born June 30, 1944) is an American professional wrestler known by some modern fans for his violent, hardcore matches. His style of wrestling inspired many later wrestlers, most notably Mick Foley, and Terry Funk is one of the greatest journeyman wrestlers in the TV era. He is affectionately known as "The Funker."
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Career
Funk started out his career in his father Dory Funk, Sr.'s promotion in Amarillo, Texas. He and his brother Dory Funk, Jr. quickly rose the ranks and became big money wrestlers by the end of the decade. In his tenth year as a pro, Terry defeated Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, then the most important wrestling championship in the business, and began a grueling fourteen-month title reign which ended in Toronto when he was defeated by "Handsome" Harley Race who won the title for the second time. Terry Funk took some time off after his world title reign but he and his brother traveled around the country (mostly in Texas, Florida and Detroit) looking for a fight. Terry and Dory, Jr. also made a name for themselves in Japan where they became one of the top drawing foreign acts in the history of Japan. He made a name for himself with his over the top mannerisms and sometimes colorful get-ups as well as his brawling ability.
In in the mid 1980s, Funk teamed with Dory and Jimmy Jack Funk, a fictitious brother. They were managed by Jimmy Hart. Eventually the brothers dumped Jimmy and brought in Mother Funker (Miss Elizabeth).
In 1994, Funk promised to help the fledgling Eastern Championship Wrestling (later renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling) by lending his talent and notoriety to the promotion, which had just split from the National Wrestling Alliance. Funk maintained a regular schedule of wrestling for ECW in its early days while also competing in Japan and had many feuds and programs with wrestlers such as Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack), "The Franchise" Shane Douglas, the Sandman, Sabu and Terry's own protege, Tommy Dreamer.
Terry Funk further elevated ECW by headlining their first Pay-Per-View, Barely Legal, on April 13, 1997 and winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship from Raven. He was later defeated for the title by Sabu in a much talked about barbed wire match, in which the ropes of the ring were taken down and replaced with barbed wire.
Chainsaw Charlie was the name used by Terry Funk in WWE for a short period in 1998. As Chainsaw Charlie, Funk won the WWE's World Tag Team Championship with Mick Foley (using the name Cactus Jack) at WrestleMania XIV, when they beat the New Age Outlaws in a Dumpster Match.
In 1999 Funk was featured in director Barry Blaustein's wrestling documentary, Beyond the Mat. He has also appeared in notable movies Roadhouse, Over the Top, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well as other film credits. His legendary toughness was attested to in the wrestling documentary when cameramen followed him to a doctor's visit where he was told he shouldn't even be able to walk without intense pain.
Currently Funk is semi-retired (although he has claimed to be retired many times, he always seems to come back, which has become a recurring joke among wrestling fans) working some dates on the independent circuit and in Japan.
Profile
- Birthday: June 30, 1944
- Hometown: Double Cross Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
- Marital Status: Married with children
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 247 lbs.
- Debut: December 9, 1965
- Previous Gimmicks: The Texan, Middle Aged & Crazy, Chainsaw Charlie
Finishing/Trademark moves
- Piledriver
- Sleeper Hold
- The Stunner
- Moonsault
- Spinning Toe Hold
- Hangman's Neckbreaker
- Trademark stiff punch
Books
Autobiography: Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore 2005
Acting Career
- Terry has appeared in several movies:
- Paradise Alley (1978)
- Over the Top (1987)
- Timestalkers (1987)
- Road House (1989)
- Mom, Can I Keep Her? (1998)
- Active Stealth (1999)
- He has also appeared in two television series:
- Wildside (1985)
- Tequila and Bonetti (1992)
- Terry also appeared in the 1999 wrestling documentary, Beyond the Mat.
Championships/Accomplishments
Terry_Funk_NWA.jpg
National Wrestling Alliance
- 1-Time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Los Angeles version) (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
- 2-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Texas version) (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
- 1-Time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA National Television Champion
- 1-Time NWA North American Tag Team Champion (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
World Wrestling Federation
- 1-Time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with Cactus Jack)
World Championship Wrestling
- 1-Time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- 3-Time WCW Hardcore Champion
- Member of WCW Hall of Fame (inducted in 1995)
Extreme Championship Wrestling
- 2-Time ECW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time ECW World Television Champion
Florida Championship Wrestling
- 1-Time Florida Television Champion
- 2-Time Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time Florida Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time Florida Tag Team Champion (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
Other Titles
- 3-Time AJPW International Tag Team Champion (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
- 1-Time USWA Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time Western States Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Romero)
- 5-Time Western States Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time Southwest Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time Southwest Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champion (with Dory Funk, Jr. and Wahoo McDaniel)
- 1-Time America's Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Dory Funk, Jr.)
- 1-Time 3PW Heavyweight Champion
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 22 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 9 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with his brother, Dory Funk, Jr.
- Terry won three PWI Awards over the years. He won Wrestler of the Year in 1976. He won Most Inspirational in 1997. He was in the Feud of the Year in 1989 (vs. Ric Flair).
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