Terry Funk Forever Changed Pro Wrestling

The legendary Terry Funk passes away at the age of 79

Pro wrestling will never be the same.

The legendary Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79.

For the last eight decades, wrestling filled Funk’s blood supply. The son of wrestling icon Dory Funk, and brother of Dory Funk Jr., Funk created a masterful career. He was deft at in-ring maneuvers and the ability to craft a story on the canvas, but he also flourished in a sea of violence. Funk’s wrestling was extremely compelling, as were his colorful promos.

Renowned for his work in the NWA, WCW, ECW, Japan, and even brief runs in WWE, Funk set a new standard of excellence for the industry.

Jim Ross, who had the honor of calling Funk a friend for the past five decades, still marvels at Funk’s ability to redefine pro wrestling.

“I loved him like family,” says Ross. “Terry was a brilliant mind. Absolutely amazing ring psychology. He was physically and mentally as tough as a $2 steak.”

Funk built a litany of spectacular matches, though none greater than his “I Quit” match against Ric Flair in 1989.

“That match still stands the test of time,” says Ross. “One of my all-time favorites in my near 50 years in pro wrestling. Terry was special. And he was brave enough to reinvent himself multiple times.”

Funk’s work in the ring is timeless because of that willingness to embrace change. His all-time clashes include opponents like Flair, Mick Foley in their epic battle to become King of the Deathmatch, Dusty Rhodes, Raven, Sabu, Ricky Steamboat, Shane Douglas, and even Bret Hart, with whom he shared a classic against at his retirement show in 1997. Of course, Funk would retire on multiple occasions, which captured his spirit: the man who loved pro wrestling was constantly bringing joy to it.

For Funk, there was no sense in ever permanently departing. His love for wrestling was simply too strong to ever leave.

“You want to know if I’m going to come back?” Funk said to me in 2017 after returning for two six-man matches in a Big Time Wrestling ring. Those matches were ultimately Funk’s last, but he never the spirit of a young wrestler hungry to make his mark in the business. “Come to think of it, next weekend, I’m going to have my real, real, real, real, real, real retirement.”

Funk suffered from failing health over the last decade. His heart was broken when his wife, Vicki, passed away in 2019.

“We were buddies when we met in the fifth grade,” Funk told SI four years ago. We started dating in the ninth grade. Her and I, we were never involved in something we couldn’t get the best of, until now. She was the most wonderful person I ever knew.”

Funk’s deteriorating health will no longer cause him pain. Instead, his legacy will endure for generations.

He did not need WWE or Vince McMahon. Though he had brief runs there, his name was built outside of that company.

Funk made his own legacy, one that not even death can deny.

“Terry Funk is irreplaceable,” says Ross. “There will never be another.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.