Terry Funk: Worthy or Not?

[TheOneBigWill]

Terrence "Terry" Funk (born June 30, 1944) is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the later part of his career that inspired many later wrestlers, most notably Mick Foley.
He has held many championship titles, including the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, the latter of which was also granted to him as an honorary lifetime title.
Funk is often noted for the longevity of his career, which has included multiple "retirement" matches. He is affectionately known as "The Funker."

Terry made his WWF debut in 1985 a memorable one. In his televised debut on Championship Wrestling he not only beat Aldo Marino, but he also beat up a ring attendant named Mel Phillips who was also at the time, one of the WWF ring announcers. Funk also had the gimmick at the time of carrying a branding iron with him to ringside and using it to "brand" his fallen opponents.
In the mid 1980s, Funk teamed with Dory (calling himself "Hoss" Funk) and Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr), a storyline "brother." They were managed by Jimmy Hart. At the time, he had a heated rivalry with the Junkyard Dog which led to a match between Terry Funk and Hoss Funk and the team of Tito Santana and Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania 2.

In 1989, Funk returned to the NWA and joined the J-Tex Corporation. He began feuding with Ric Flair after Flair beat Ricky Steamboat at WrestleWar for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Funk, who was one of three judges for the main event, challenged Flair to a title match. Flair refused, saying that Funk was "spending time in Hollywood" instead of focusing on wrestling. Funk then attacked, piledriving Flair on a ringside table. This put the champion, Flair, out of action until the Great American Bash where he faced Funk. Flair won the match by reversing a small package into one of his own, but shortly after was attacked by Gary Hart and The Great Muta. Sting came to aid Flair and the two brawled with Funk and Muta to close the show. Funk got injured but returned to continue feuding with Ric Flair. The two then had an "I Quit" match at Clash of the Champions, which Funk lost after yelling "YES, I QUIT" after Flair put on the Figure four leglock. This match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer. A notable part of the feud occurred when Funk used an actual plastic shopping bag to suffocate Flair on television after Flair and Sting defeated Muta and Dick Slater at Clash of the Champions. Because this was obviously dangerous to anybody and to prevent children from emulating the incident, it was never replayed.

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. On July 14, Terry and Dory Funk lost a barbed wire match against The Public Enemy. Terry got his face wrapped in barbed wire and Dory had to cut him out. Funk maintained a regular schedule of wrestling for ECW in its early days while also competing in Japan. He had many feuds and wrestled programs with wrestlers such 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 Championship from Raven. Earlier in the night, he defeated The Sandman and Stevie Richards in a Triple Threat match, thus earning him the match with Raven. He was later defeated for the title by Sabu in a much talked about Barbed Wire match at ECW Born to Be Wired, in which the ropes of the ring were taken down and replaced with barbed wire. Both men had to be cut out of the wires at the end of the match. This was a truly violent match, involving interference and sickening instances - for instance, Funk's opponent (Sabu) had his biceps visibly torn open by the barbed wire - as a result, the wound was taped up and the match continued. This match is lauded by many fans as the ultimate demonstration of hardcore, but ECW's owner (Paul Heyman) has since remarked in the ECW DVD Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches that, "What you are about to witness is truly disturbing." In September of that same year, a show was held in Funk's hometown of Amarillo. It was called "WrestleFest - 50 Years of Funk" and was both his own show and a celebration of the careers of Terry, his father, and his brother. Terry lost to then WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart in the main event. However, before the match, ECW owner Paul Heyman presented Terry with a belt, paid for through a collection taken up by wrestlers on the ECW roster, that declared him the Lifetime ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

Terry Funk's retirement lasted just three months before he started taking independent bookings again. Soon after, he was signed by the WWF and debuted as Chainsaw Charlie. Funk had a match with Foley on Raw and the New Age Outlaws came and threw both in a dumpster, and pushed them off of the stage. This led to a match between The Outlaws and Funk/Foley at WrestleMania XIV, for the titles in a Dumpster match when Funk/Foley beat the New Age Outlaws. The titles were held up and put on the line in a Steel Cage match the next night on Raw due to a technicality: the wrong dumpsters had been used in the match. The Outlaws regained the titles. He then had a Falls Count Anywhere match with Foley on Raw in 1998, where Foley defeated him.

He left the WWF in the summer as Mick Foley resumed his solo career as Mankind in a feud with The Undertaker. Upon leaving the WWF, Funk officially retired again, but only for a short time. His most memorable appearance during this time was in a non-wrestling capacity at ECW November to Remember 1998, the biggest show ECW ever held. He also appeared in the Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Mankind at King of the Ring 1998. After Undertaker chokeslammed Foley through the cage, Funk, among others, came down to aid Foley. Funk took a chokeslam "right outta his shoes" to buy Foley time as he recovered consciousness. His last match in the WWF at that time was in a tag team match at 1998 Fully Loaded, where he teamed up with Bradshaw to go against Scorpio and Faarooq. Right after Scorpio and Faarooq won, an irate Bradshaw took his frustrations on both of them as well as Funk (earlier before the match, Funk had told the interviewer that it would be his last match, and Bradshaw was visibly stunned to hear his sudden announcement).

Funk's retirement once again didn't stick, as he found himself back with the industry helping W.C.W. attempt to launch a Hardcore division. Becoming the company's Hardcore champion a record 3 times. Funk also played the role of a Commissioner during the final stages of W.C.W.

Funk was set to wrestle at the ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view on June 11. As part of the buildup to the event, Terry appeared on the May 15 episode of WWE Raw, his first appearance on WWE programming since 1998. He confronted Mick Foley over the attack of Tommy Dreamer the previous week. The two argued over whether Foley's legacy was rooted more in ECW or WWE, and ended with a brawl after Funk told Foley "Your kids are bastards", "Your wife's a ****e", and the final straw, "WWE sucks" (a similar promo was done between the two in ECW in 1995, when Foley, as Cactus Jack, was doing a pro-WCW heel gimmick). It was confirmed on the May 22 edition of Raw that Funk and Tommy Dreamer would take on the duo of Mick Foley and Edge (with Lita) at the ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view. Funk was at the June 7 WWE vs. ECW Head to Head event in Tommy Dreamer's corner and he competed in a WWE vs. ECW battle royal. Funk was slated to play a bigger role in the angle, but in his book, "The Hardcore Diaries", Foley explains how Vince McMahon lost all confidence in the aging Funk after seeing him accidentally stumble down the entrance way, and badly flub the wording in his promo.

At One Night Stand, Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer, and Beulah were defeated by the team of Mick Foley, Edge and Lita. Midway through the match, Foley ground his arm that was wrapped in barbed wire across Funk's eye. Funk was taken backstage complaining of an eye injury. Funk would later come back (with a bloody cloth tied over his eye) to hit Foley with a flaming 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire. He was later thrown onto the barbed wire board with Foley, and would have to be cut out of it at the end of the match via wire cutters. According to the footage of Funk's medical attention found on WWE.com, it appeared that Funk needed 5 or 6 minor stitches. His eye, however, didn't seem to be harmed in any major way. His list of accomplishments and Championships (according to Wiki) are as follows:

All Japan Pro Wrestling
World's Strongest Tag Team League (1977, 1979, 1982) – with Dory Funk, Jr.

Cauliflower Alley Club
Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2005)

Championship Wrestling from Florida
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time)
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dory Funk, Jr.
NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Dory Funk, Jr.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Eastern Championship Wrestling | Extreme Championship Wrestling
ECW Television Championship (1 time)
ECW World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

Georgia Championship Wrestling
NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dory Funk, Jr.
NWA Georgia Television Championship (1 time)

International Wrestling Association of Japan
IWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

Juggalo Championship Wrestling
JCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling | World Championship Wrestling
WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time)
WCW Hardcore Championship (3 times)
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA International Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Dory Funk, Jr.
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time) – with Dory Funk, Jr.

NWA Western States Sports
NWA International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Dory Funk, Jr.
NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (7 times)
NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ricky Romero
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (2 times) – with Dory Funk, Jr.

Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
3PW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Feud of the Year (1989) vs. Ric Flair
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1997)
PWI Wrestler of the Year (1976)
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Class of 2004

Southwest Championship Wrestling
SCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dory Funk, Jr.

St. Louis Wrestling Club
NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame

United States Wrestling Association
USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Wrestling Federation
WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Cactus Jack

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
5 Star Match (1984) with Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen on December 8
5 Star Match (1989) vs. Ric Flair in an "I Quit" match at Clash of the Champions IX
Best Brawler (1989)
Best Heel (1989)
Best on Interviews (1989)
Feud of the Year (1989) vs. Ric Flair
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Terry Funk: While Terry Funk's career within the World Wrestling Entertainment could've easily been summed up as mainly forgettable, the fact that his career is anything but. Funk is a well travelled vet. that's been everywhere, and helped many a company succeed, including being a main focus on the early up-rising that became E.C.W.

The underlining story within this situation is that Terry Funk has been inducted into "Pro Wrestling's Hall of Fame" (according to wiki) as well as several others, so the big question is, does it or rather would it, even mean anything to the Funker to be inducted into the W.W.E.'s version as well? While I believe Terry Funk could be a prime choice to get inducted, especially this year being in Texas.. I'm ultimately going to say NO.

The reason is because this is the W.W.E.'s Hall of Fame, and Terry Funk hasn't accomplished anything more than a weak Tag Team Championship run with Mick Foley. He helped build E.C.W. from the beginning, and he's a worthy N.W.A. Superstar.. so as such, he could and would likely make it in someday, but ultimately, he's already been (apparently) inducted so many times over that I fail to see how this time with this company, would make his career any more special, or end it with one final accomplishment. What are your thoughts and opinions on Terry Funk being a Hall of Fame inductee? Worthy or Not?

 

[realblackhart]

My answer is an overwhelming yes. There are other members in the WWE Hall of Fame who did close to nothing for the WWE and yet are still in there, therefore this shoul not be a requirement for the honor. The truth is that Terry Funk is in a class of his own. Ric Flair will tell you how worthy Funk actually is. Not listed here is that he was also proclaimed Lifetime ECW Heavyweight Champion of the World. Pretty nice achievement. That means that everyone in that company in the locker room and on the staff believed that he was worthy of such an honor. That wrestlers from the WWF at the time like Bret Hart and Foley under the Mankind gimmick were on the card means that they believed that Funk was worthy of that honor. That same night he wrestled Bret Hart and Bret stated before the match that he felt that Funk was the best wrestler in the business. That's saying alot, and I understand he had a rivalry with Flair but #2 in the world aint that bad either. Funk has been in this business forever and has done it for the fans and for the love of the business. You can't say that about all they guys in the locker room now.

 

[klunderbunker]

Yes. SInce in WWE's HOF what you did in WWE means nothing, (I'm looking at you Harley Race), then yes Funk belongs in. Almost no one remembers his year long run with the NWA title. Throw in his contributioins to hardcore, ECW and the fact that he might be the man responsible for giving us Mick Foley, and I don't see how you can leave him out. His longevity is mind blowing as his first retirement match was in 1983. Since then he's had a resurgence the likes of which have never been seen in any sport. Funk is a true legend and definitely should go in.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Well there is a better example of someone who has done nothing for the WWE and is still in the Hall of Fame and that is Nick Bockwinkel. So if someone that had never wrestled in the WWE is in then surely Terry Funk should get in. This all depends on his relationship to Vince, but he should get in as should his brother and his Father. He has done enough to warrant a place, more so than a number of people already in the Hall.

 

[NSL]

I'm going to have to talk myself into a choice here...

Funk is, without a doubt, the hardcore icon. He is to hardcore, what Hogan was to WWE as a whole. Without him, it would be nothing. He helped so many companies get their feet under them, and was involved with so many up-and-coming hardcore stars, that it would be hard to see guys like Sabu, Mick Foley, and Shane Douglas being successful without him.

He was also a great wrestler. His feud with Flair proves that. He's held titles in every region, and every company, and showed the longevity to be able to do it in different eras.

Since this would be strictly ofr the WWF/E Hall of Fame, I'll have to say NO however. The only thing I remember from his days in the company was the title match against the New Age Outlaws. It was a good match, but it wasn't nearly enough to push him into the Hall of Fame.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Funk will have to join Steamboat in the party of wrestlers who ABSOLUTELY belong in the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, but absolutely DO NOT belong in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Funk is a legend. He's a wrestling deity. I am going to push him heavilly in the next WrestleZone tournament. he was hardcore before hardcore was cool.

But in the WWF/E, he's had a shit tag team run and is a part of the "original ECW legacy," which will act like a kiss of death for him. He won't get in - NONE of the ECW originals will. Not Dreamer, not Tazz, not RVD - and certainly not Funk.

 

[Slyfox696]

What I find terribly sad is how many people think of Terry Funk as a hardcore legend, and not just a legend. The man was tremendous in the ring, even before he got old and turned to hardcore wrestling.

I've noticed several people talking about how it is a WWE Hall of Fame. If that's true, how is Ric Flair in? Nick Bockwinkel? Harley Race? Gordon Solie? Verne Gagne? Dusty Rhodes?

The simple fact is that the WWE has NEVER made their Hall of Fame exclusionary to WWE workers. And with that in mind, anyone who votes Terry Funk out of ANY Hall of Fame needs to have their IWC card revoked. Terry Funk, before the hardcore, was a phenomenal worker. If he had quit working in 1990, then he would still deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

So, yes, Terry Funk is in.

 

[Shocky]

without question. The WWE owns the rights to most of the history of American Wrestling over the last, what 50 years. Their Hall Of Fame is pretty open to those that didn't accomplish anything in the WWE, if not more open then people that did succeed at a huge level in the WWF(Savage/Warrior vs. Rhodes Flair/Race).

Terry Funk is unfortunately remembered for his Hardcore antics by the majority of young wrestling fans, which is quite an accomplishment considering he was well into his 50's during the hey day of ECW. Terry Funk, in his mid 50's, nearly single handedly give credibility to ECW as a world title. Without Terry Funk, ECW never would have been what it was, and the WWE never would have brought it back. So much of ECW's legacy is built around the credibility of Terry Funk as a champion...

And why does Terry Funk bring credibility to ECW? Because Terry Funk is fucking god to quote Xfear. When you talk about someone that was insanely over as anasty brutal heel before most of us, including me, were born, you're talking about Terry Funk. Terry Funk was a former NWA champion, to quote JR, when the belt actually meant something. He also formed a hellacious tag team with his brother Dory Jr. Simply put, Terry Funk is awesome.

Terry Funk won't go in the Hall of Fame, just to stick it to Vince McMahon.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

I'd have to agree with both Sly and Shock. The guy is definitely a legend, and was legendary well before the things that i myself remember him for.

However, Terry Funk would probably never accept such an invitation from Vince McMahon. Terry's feelings about WWE and Vince are well documented. Another reason i say this is, on 'Hardcore Forever', Shane Douglas' answer to 'The Rise and Fall of ECW' Terry specifically states that he turned down an offer from WWE to appear at the first One Night Stand for a considerably large amount of money (by his standards), because he wanted to stick with the guys that he loved (even though Sandman and Dreamer both appeared) and stick to his principles rather than make lots of quick cash, despite how much flack he took from his family because of it.

Now i know what you may think. 'aG3Nt, he wrestled at ONS '07', and yes, you're right, he did, but i'd probably attribute that to literally having little to no money in his savings, and i bet Vince didn't offer as much cash the second time around. I bet Mick and Tommy had to talk him into accepting as well, most likely.

So, i think that while the guys in the locker room might want Terry in, Vince might think twice about it, and Terry probably wouldn't accept unless there was some benefit to him or his legacy by accepting.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Wow, and low and behold, almost a week later after i said he wouldn't accept, we have a report that Terry Funk does't want to accept being inducted into the HOF. Now i may be way off, in terms of Terry's reasons for not accepting, but it comes as no surprise to me personally.

If Funk sticks to this decision and doesn't accept, then look out for a sign at WM25 saying 'Funk is God', because directly beneath it, you'll see me.