Terry Funk, the the hardcore wrestling icon who set a new standard for brutality in entertainment, has died at the age of 79.
His death was confirmed by World Wrestling Entertainment on Wednesday. A cause of death was not given at this time.
Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, his father, Dory Funk, Sr., was a professional wrestler, and the family relocated to Amarillo, Texas. Following in their father’s footsteps, Terry began wrestling in the Sixties as a tag-team with his brother Dory Funk, Jr., according to WWE.
Funk’s...
His death was confirmed by World Wrestling Entertainment on Wednesday. A cause of death was not given at this time.
Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, his father, Dory Funk, Sr., was a professional wrestler, and the family relocated to Amarillo, Texas. Following in their father’s footsteps, Terry began wrestling in the Sixties as a tag-team with his brother Dory Funk, Jr., according to WWE.
Funk’s...
- 8/24/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
Pro wrestler Terry Funk has died, according to WWE and pro wrestler Mick Foley. Funk was 79 years old.
Along with wrestling, the highly respected performer worked in film, including multiple Sylvester Stallone projects as far back as 1978’s “Paradise Alley.” Funk also appeared in “Over the Top,” did stunts in “Rocky III” and choreographed the climactic fight in “Rocky V.”
Funk was also featured in the cult classic film “Road House” and Johnny Knoxville’s “The Ringer.” He also had TV roles on shows such as “Quantum Leap” and “Swamp Thing.”
Funk was best known in his later years for pioneering “hardcore” wrestling, which involves using weapons and sharp objects, such as barbed wire, to both simulate and cause actual damage in order to increase the drama in a match. This often involved copious amounts of bleeding. Funk was also infamous for wrestling multiple “retirement” matches before quickly coming back afterward.
Along with wrestling, the highly respected performer worked in film, including multiple Sylvester Stallone projects as far back as 1978’s “Paradise Alley.” Funk also appeared in “Over the Top,” did stunts in “Rocky III” and choreographed the climactic fight in “Rocky V.”
Funk was also featured in the cult classic film “Road House” and Johnny Knoxville’s “The Ringer.” He also had TV roles on shows such as “Quantum Leap” and “Swamp Thing.”
Funk was best known in his later years for pioneering “hardcore” wrestling, which involves using weapons and sharp objects, such as barbed wire, to both simulate and cause actual damage in order to increase the drama in a match. This often involved copious amounts of bleeding. Funk was also infamous for wrestling multiple “retirement” matches before quickly coming back afterward.
- 8/23/2023
- by Mike Roe
- The Wrap
Antonio Inoki, whose most famous moment on the world stage was an unorthodox exhibition match against boxing champion Muhammad Ali that aimed to settle which sport could beat the other, died Friday in Japan. He was 79 and no cause of death was released.
Inoki was considered a combat sports trailblazer, but also was a successful entrepreneur and politician in his native Japan, where he was one of the country’s most famous people.
In wrestling-mad Japan, Inoki was considered its most important star, selling out countless arenas and stadiums from the 1970s and on. He was also the first Japanese wrestler to win the WWF championship and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
But all that was a prelude to the Ali exhibition on June 26, 1976, when Inoki took on the champion in a bout that was a precursor to today’s mixed martial arts matches.
In addition...
Inoki was considered a combat sports trailblazer, but also was a successful entrepreneur and politician in his native Japan, where he was one of the country’s most famous people.
In wrestling-mad Japan, Inoki was considered its most important star, selling out countless arenas and stadiums from the 1970s and on. He was also the first Japanese wrestler to win the WWF championship and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
But all that was a prelude to the Ali exhibition on June 26, 1976, when Inoki took on the champion in a bout that was a precursor to today’s mixed martial arts matches.
In addition...
- 10/1/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to this National Wrestling Alliance 70th Anniversary review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a major main event to cover, along with the return of the Nwa National Heavyweight Title. Let’s get right into the action of the original and most prestigious wrestling league in history, the National Wrestling Alliance.
Sam Shaw beat Colt Cabana, Sammy Guevara and Scorpio Sky – Nwa National Championship Tournament Semi-Final Four-Way Elimination Match My Take: 3 out of 5
I’m surprised that Shaw won, but he has gotten a lot better over the years, so at least he can make some-thing of this chance at a success. Cabana would have been the best choice in terms of star power, but since Shaw is the least known of the four, it could be argued that he is now on equal footing with the other three, more established athletes. The match...
Sam Shaw beat Colt Cabana, Sammy Guevara and Scorpio Sky – Nwa National Championship Tournament Semi-Final Four-Way Elimination Match My Take: 3 out of 5
I’m surprised that Shaw won, but he has gotten a lot better over the years, so at least he can make some-thing of this chance at a success. Cabana would have been the best choice in terms of star power, but since Shaw is the least known of the four, it could be argued that he is now on equal footing with the other three, more established athletes. The match...
- 10/24/2018
- by Nathan Favel
- Nerdly
From The Smashing Pumpkins to body-slamming: Billy Corgan has purchased the National Wrestling Alliance, according to PWInsider. The rocker and former Tna Wrestling president now owns the name, rights and trademarks to the Nwa — he also gets its iconic championship belt. Additionally, Corgan inherits a ton of history: the National Wrestling Alliance was formed way back in 1948, and its roots are even older. Since officially starting 69 years ago, the league has produced many all-time greats, like Buddy Rogers, Pat O’Conner, Dory Funk, Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Ken Shamrock, Jeff.
- 5/1/2017
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
WWE.com
WWE’s developmental system has been the breeding ground for future stars for over twenty years. Dory Funk’s camp produced the likes of Kurt Angle, while Ovw gave the world John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar.
In more recent years, WWE developmental has been based out of Florida, specifically Florida Championship Wrestling. When Vince McMahon asked Triple H to tour every aspect of the WWE and pick a personal project, The Game chose developmental and revamped it into Nxt as it is today.
Nxt used to be the game show where eight rookies would be paired with eight pros and compete for a spot of the WWE roster, but in recent years it’s transformed into so much more than that. Based out of Full Sail University and the WWE Performance Center, Nxt has become the ultimate platform to prepare future stars for the bright lights of WWE.
WWE’s developmental system has been the breeding ground for future stars for over twenty years. Dory Funk’s camp produced the likes of Kurt Angle, while Ovw gave the world John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar.
In more recent years, WWE developmental has been based out of Florida, specifically Florida Championship Wrestling. When Vince McMahon asked Triple H to tour every aspect of the WWE and pick a personal project, The Game chose developmental and revamped it into Nxt as it is today.
Nxt used to be the game show where eight rookies would be paired with eight pros and compete for a spot of the WWE roster, but in recent years it’s transformed into so much more than that. Based out of Full Sail University and the WWE Performance Center, Nxt has become the ultimate platform to prepare future stars for the bright lights of WWE.
- 11/28/2014
- by Kieran Shiach
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
There’s a problem in wrestling right now and it’s killing crowd heat, matches, and feuds. It’s an epidemic that has swept over professional wrestling for the last 15 years and it could very well end up being a nail in the coffin of the sport.
There are no more rules for the heels to break.
Yes, we here at WhatCulture.com are well aware that wrestling is predetermined and the results are made by a booker (or writing team) in the back. However, rules are in place for one reason and one reason alone: So that heels can cheat and get people to boo them.
Think about the last time you watched a Ufc fight or any other legitimate fighting sport. What’s the first thing they do at the top of the show? They present their rules on the screen for any new fans and...
There’s a problem in wrestling right now and it’s killing crowd heat, matches, and feuds. It’s an epidemic that has swept over professional wrestling for the last 15 years and it could very well end up being a nail in the coffin of the sport.
There are no more rules for the heels to break.
Yes, we here at WhatCulture.com are well aware that wrestling is predetermined and the results are made by a booker (or writing team) in the back. However, rules are in place for one reason and one reason alone: So that heels can cheat and get people to boo them.
Think about the last time you watched a Ufc fight or any other legitimate fighting sport. What’s the first thing they do at the top of the show? They present their rules on the screen for any new fans and...
- 8/14/2014
- by Mike Shannon
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
Women have always been a constant in wrestling. They might not always be inside the ring but a wrestling promotion’s roster is usually full of the fairer sex in some form. Recently, WWE has pushed their women’s division through their reality show Total Divas and moves their “reality storylines” into the ring. The newest crop of Divas might be reality television stars but there have been many before them who have rose to stardom within the industry.
Women and wrestling have gone together for decades and there have been many names that have stuck with fans throughout the year. Some got by on their in-ring ability while others became popular with fans because of their drop dead good looks and their ability to charm a crowd. No matter how these women achieved fame, the bottom line is that they have become part of wrestling lore so...
Women have always been a constant in wrestling. They might not always be inside the ring but a wrestling promotion’s roster is usually full of the fairer sex in some form. Recently, WWE has pushed their women’s division through their reality show Total Divas and moves their “reality storylines” into the ring. The newest crop of Divas might be reality television stars but there have been many before them who have rose to stardom within the industry.
Women and wrestling have gone together for decades and there have been many names that have stuck with fans throughout the year. Some got by on their in-ring ability while others became popular with fans because of their drop dead good looks and their ability to charm a crowd. No matter how these women achieved fame, the bottom line is that they have become part of wrestling lore so...
- 5/19/2014
- by Mike Shannon
- Obsessed with Film
As you may have noticed recently, the WWE and Owf have joined forces to create a heavy-weight tag-team the likes of which hasn’t been seen since The Natural Disasters burst onto the professional brawling scene in 1991.
The latest title we have the pleasure of reviewing is WWE – Top 50 Superstars of All Time, which is available to buy from today on DVD. And by the beard of Macho Man Randy Savage it’s a good ‘un.
The format is as simple as it is familiar in these list compilations: teaming up archive footage with talking head evaluations of each of the top fifty superstars, with an extended dedication to each of the top five choices, WWE Top 50 Superstars of All Time may not be the definitive list- as it is necessarily as subjective as all of these list features will always be- but it is certainly a well put together,...
The latest title we have the pleasure of reviewing is WWE – Top 50 Superstars of All Time, which is available to buy from today on DVD. And by the beard of Macho Man Randy Savage it’s a good ‘un.
The format is as simple as it is familiar in these list compilations: teaming up archive footage with talking head evaluations of each of the top fifty superstars, with an extended dedication to each of the top five choices, WWE Top 50 Superstars of All Time may not be the definitive list- as it is necessarily as subjective as all of these list features will always be- but it is certainly a well put together,...
- 3/28/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
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