NJPW, Ric Flair, more pay tribute to Dory Funk Jr.
Tributes continue to pour in for Dory Funk Jr. after the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion’s passing.
Funk, who stayed semi-active in the ring into his 80s, died under hospice care at 85 years old on August 4. He and his late brother Terry were two of the greatest wrestlers of all time, achieving tremendous success on their own and as a tag team. They made a huge impact in Japan — and NJPW published a tribute today remembering Dory as a beloved figure who helped the company thrive in the 70s and 80s:
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dory Funk Jr. at the age of 85.
- The son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother to Terry Funk, Dory Jr. made his pro-wrestling debut in 1963. On February 11 1969, he defeated Gene Kiniski to lift the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, a title he held for four years and three months. During that reign, Dory made his first trip to Japan for the JWA, where he wrestled memorable bouts with Giant Baba and NJPW founder Antonio Inoki, both in singles matches and in tag bouts alongside brother Terry.
- The Funk brothers would be beloved by the Japanese fans, and became key international players in the Japanese pro-wrestling boom of the ’70s and ’80s. ‘The Great Texan’ wouldn’t wrestle in NJPW however until October 2001, where the Funks took on Tatsumi Fujinami and Bob Backlund for a dream tag team match in the Tokyo Dome.
- The thoughts and deepest sympathies of all at NJPW go out to Funk’s family, friends and fans.
AJPW’s website also posted a Funk obituary, and legends like Kenta Kobashi and Great Muta extended their condolences to his family.
Ric Flair & Kurt Angle’s tributes to Dory Funk Jr. —
Ric Flair sent out a tweet honoring Funk, saying that — for any wrestler — it was the opportunity of a lifetime whenever you got to face Dory or Terry:
- I’m More Than Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great And I Do Mean GREAT Dory Funk Jr.! If You Didn’t Have The Opportunity To Wrestle A Funk, Whether It Be Dory Or Terry, You Missed The Opportunity Of A Lifetime. The Word Wrestling And Funk Are Synonymous. There Are Not Enough Mount Rushmores To Accommodate Everybody, But I’m Sure That Anyone Who Wrestled Either One Of Them Would Agree That They’re On Someone’s Mount Rushmore. So Many Thoughts On My Mind Right Now As I’m Coming Home From A WrestleCon. I Know We Are All Getting Older, And I Would Emphasize To Everyone, Because You Can’t Buy Time, To Live Every Moment Of Your Life To The Fullest. Rest In Peace My Great Friend Dory Funk Jr.! What A Great Ride You Had!
In a statement, Kurt Angle shared how important Dory was to his early career in wrestling. Angle also expressed his admiration for how Funk was able to stay “old school” while evolving with the times:
- Dory Funk Jr. was a legend in many ways as a wrestler, a coach, and an incredible human being. I vividly remember the first time I had the privilege of meeting him at the ‘Dory Funkin Dojo’ during a WWE tryout and training camp aimed at preparing young wrestlers for future performances on TV.
- Dory taught me the basics of pro wrestling, and there was no one better than him. He quickly took a liking to me and decided to be my coach and manager for my very first matches. His genius in our sport was unmatched, and his unique style and vast knowledge set him apart from others.
- Being ‘old school’ was something I loved about him, but he also knew how to adapt to the evolving landscape of wrestling. Dory prepared me for my first matches in just five days, keeping things simple and basic so I could understand my movements in the ring.
- There will never be another like him. You will be sorely missed, Dory. Rest in peace, my friend.
WWE Vault shared a video today on Funk’s NWA World Championship victory from 1969:
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.