Terry Funk has died.
Funk was 79 years old. He had dementia and Parkinson’s disease in recent years, in addition to other aches and pains brought on by a phenomenal 50-year wrestling career.
His father, Dory, was a wrestler and promoter, and his brother, Dory Jr., was a wrestler and trainer. He was born in Indiana and raised in West Texas. Throughout the 1970s, he competed in professional wrestling in the Florida division of the National Wrestling Alliance, and in 1975, he took home the NWA Worlds Heavyweight championship. At same time in his career, Terry also made his debut in Japan, collaborating with Dory Jr. on All Japan throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Cause of Death
Funk had dementia and Parkinson’s disease in recent years.
Age
He was 79 years old at the time of his death.
Net Worth
Terry Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor who has a net worth of $1 million dollars.
Career
Terry Funk’s wrestling career began in the 1960s, and he quickly gained a reputation for his tenacity, wild brawls, and his ability to connect with audiences through his charisma and in-ring storytelling. He competed in various wrestling promotions, including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
Funk’s wrestling style was characterized by his “hardcore” approach, where he often engaged in brutal and intense matches involving weapons and extreme conditions. He famously participated in the “Empty Arena” match against Jerry Lawler in 1981, which was a groundbreaking concept at the time.
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Throughout his career, Terry Funk held multiple championships, including the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. He also had storied rivalries with wrestlers like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Mick Foley.
One of Funk’s most iconic moments came in 1997 when he was a key figure in ECW’s rise to prominence. His feuds and matches against wrestlers like Sabu and Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) helped define the hardcore wrestling style for which ECW became known.
Terry Funk retired and unretired several times, contributing to his legendary status as a wrestling icon who never seemed to stay away for long. His contributions to the industry earned him a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. Post-wrestling, Funk appeared in various movies and television shows, showcasing his versatility beyond the ring. His legacy as a true wrestling pioneer continues to influence the sport and entertain fans around the world.
Wife
Funk was married to Vicki Ann Weaver.
