Floridian: The fortunes of Terry Funk

The fortunes of Terry Funk

By JIM VARSALLONE

A hard-core icon, Terry Funk is a living legend.

Some can make that claim, but few can support it with the kind of resume Funk possesses.

"Terry is definitely one of the pioneers of the hard-core style of wrestling," said Bobby Rogers, Florida's chief event coordinator for Future of Wrestling. "He started doing hard-core before there was hard-core. His crazy style makes him unique and special. I had the opportunity to work with him. You never know what he is going to do, and sometimes he doesn't know what he's going to do."

Well, you name it, Terry Funk has done it. Bull rope. Taped fist. Steel cage. Barbed wire. Exploding cage. Ring on fire. Moonsault.

Trained by his father, Texas wrestling legend Dory Funk, he defeated Sputnik Monroe in his ring debut in 1965. He later defeated Jack Brisco in a best of three falls match for the National Wrestling Alliance title in Miami.

Longtime Florida wrestling fans also remember Funk's bloody feud with the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.

Through the years, one other person, who sports his own lofty list of credentials, has always been in Funk's corner -- literally and figuratively -- his brother Dory Funk Jr.

"In life, in general, if I have a problem, he's going to be the first person I call and ask what to do," Terry said. "If there is a business decision I have to make and if I feel it's really a tough one, well, I'll get his input on that, and he does the same back with me. It has worked out to be very successful for both of us."

Dory periodically runs wrestling camps in Ocala. He also conducted a few Funkin Dojos, training sessions, for the World Wrestling Federation.

"He does a very good job with the individuals who come to his camp," Terry said."He takes a lot of the independent guys and brushes on them and fine-tunes them, watches them in the ring and watches how they work and how they perform and tries to put pluses to that.

"He also takes young kids and starts them from scratch and tries to work them through. He is very honest with them, and he will tell them right from the start not to quit their job to become a professional wrestler because it may never work out. Do it because it's something you love and enjoy."

Will Terry follow in his brother's footsteps?

"Dory's much more geared toward that," he said. "That's kind of like our ring personalities. I've got patience, but not that much patience. He's got the patience of Job, and you need it with these young guys."

Terry enjoys wrestling . . . brawling. He has worked in Japan, a mega-hot spot for pro wrestling, and achieved much success in singles action and teaming with his brother. The Japanese don't take highly to many foreign wrestlers, but they display great admiration and respect for Terry.

"Tagging with Dory was a great time in my life and a great time in his life," Terry said. "The run we had in Japan was absolutely phenomenal. It lasted about 15 years, and you can't beat that. We had some great matches and a great time. He is great in the ring, and we have two separate, different styles which complemented each other. It worked very, very well."

If the situation isright, Terry will continue competing in the Land of the Rising Sun.

"My days now have become more valuable," he said. "I have less of them every day that I live. We all do. We're all going to dry up and disappear sometime or another. If the situation arises that appeals to me, then I will head back over there and do one more show."

Terry has worked the big three -- WWF, World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling. Last year at age 56, he won the WCW U.S. title from Lance Storm during a house show (non-televised event) in Texas. Storm regained the title the following night, but it was a nice gesture on WCW's part for all Terry has done in the biz.

And he has done plenty.

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Steve Keirn's School of Hard Knocks, in conjunction with NWA Florida and Upscale of Tampa, will present its inaugural "Pro Wrestling Spring Mini-Camp" May 25-30 in Tampa.

For $949, current workers and future wrestlers can spend six days and five nights in Tampa, the home of many WWF and WCW superstars, learning what it takes to make it in pro wrestling. The price includes hotel accommodations, two meals a day and local transportation in Tampa between Tampa International Airport, the hotel and the training facility. It also includes the most complete program to prepare potential superstars for a career in pro wrestling.

Keirn began his career with Championship Wrestling From Florida. He later joined the WWF as Gator Keirn. The top four students from the mini-camp will be selected by Keirn and NWA president Howard Brody to wrestle in a match on the May 29th NWA Florida card at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory. Participants must be at least 18 years old. E-mail Brody at nwa-florida@nwa-wrestling.com.

-- Pro wrestling columnist Jim Varsallone can be reached at wrestling@tampabay.com.