Terry Funk has sadly died at the age of 79 years old.
Best friend Mick Foley was one of the first people to break the news, announcing on social media that he heard the tragic news from Funk’s daughter Brandee.
WE JUST LOST A LEGEND
Terry Funk is gone. I just talked to Terry’s daughter, Brandee, who gave me the awful news. He was my mentor, my idol, and one of my closest friends. He was the greatest wrestler I ever saw.
If you get the chance, look up a Terry Funk match or a Terry Funk promo, and give thanks that this incredible man gave so much, for so long, to so many. There will never be another like him. May God bless Terry, his friends, family and all who loved him. RIP my dear friend – it was an honor to know you. #RIPTerryFunk
I will be writing much more about Terry in the next few days.
Born June 30th 1944, Funk’s legendary career would begin in 1965, wrestling for Western States Sports in Amarillo, Texas. Following stint in the territories and All Japan, WWE audiences would be first introduced to Funk in 1985 and would go on to team with Dory Funk Jr. to defeat The Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana at WrestleMania 2.
Travelling to WCW in 1989, Funk’s rivalry with Ric Flair would take place, culminating in one of the greatest “I Quit” matches ever seen in the history of the industry.
Funk would go on to ECW and help establish the promotion with their extreme style, winning the World Championship in the first pay-per-view ECW ever presented, Barely Legal. Funk would continue to utilise the extreme style throughout his career, being a pioneer of the violent match stipulations.
Known as Chainsaw Charlie in 1997, Funk would return to the WWE in The Attitude Era and became an instant fan favourite due to his style that was perfectly suited to the industry at the time.
Funk would continue wrestling all around the world until 2017, having his final match at Big Time Wrestling in North Carolina.
Recognised for his contributions to wrestling, Terry Funk was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Features of Wrestling would like to send condolences to the family and friends of Terry Funk at this time.
Featured image: WWE
