Terrance Dee Funk (June 30, 1944 – August 23, 2023) was an American professional wrestler and actor. Funk is known for the length of his career, which spanned more than 50 years and included multiple short-lived retirements. He is also known for his influential hardcore wrestling style he pioneered in the latter part of his career.
Over the course of his career, Funk wrestled for professional wrestling promotions including All Japan Pro Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, the International Wrestling Association of Japan, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation, and multiple National Wrestling Alliance territories including Big Time Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and Stampede Wrestling. He was the promoter of the Amarillo, Texas-based Western States Sports promotion.
Championships held by Funk included the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, and WWF World Tag Team Championship. He headlined ECW's premier annual pay-per-view event, November to Remember, three times. Funk was inducted into multiple halls of fame (including WWE, WCW, NWA, and Hardcore).
Outside of wrestling, Funk had a second career as an actor, including numerous film collaborations with Sylvester Stallone.
Funk was born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana. He was the son of Dorothy Funk (née Culver) and Dory Funk, a professional wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. Following the end of World War II, the family relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where Terry and his brother, known professionally as Dory Funk Jr., grew up in the professional wrestling business. After graduating from Canyon High School, Funk attended West Texas State University, where he competed in amateur wrestling and American football.
Western States Sports (1965–1979)
Funk started his career in 1965, working in his father Dory Funk's Western States Sports promotion in Amarillo, Texas. His debut match was against Sputnik Monroe on December 9. He and his brother, Dory Funk Jr., quickly rose up the ranks as a team and in single matches against top names like Ernie Ladd and Hank James. They became big money wrestlers by the end of the decade.
By 1980, Western States Sports's ticket sales were beginning to decline. The Funk brothers sold the territory to wrestlers Blackjack Mulligan and Dick Murdoch for $20,000 (equivalent to $78,000 in 2025).
Championship Wrestling from Florida (1970–1982)
In 1975, Terry defeated Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Miami, when Dory failed to appear for a title shot. He began a 14-month title reign defending the title against Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, Carlos Rocha, Giant Baba, and Pat O'Connor. In addition to North America, he defended the belt in Australia, Japan and Singapore. The historic reign ended in Toronto when he was defeated by "Handsome" Harley Race, who had earlier beaten Dory Jr. for NWA World Heavyweight Championship before losing it to Jack Brisco. Race lifted Funk for a shinbreaker and then trapped him in an Indian death leglock. When Funk failed to respond to referee Fred Atkins the match was stopped.
During 1981, Terry spent some time in the Continental Wrestling Association feuding with Jerry Lawler. The most memorable match in this feud happened in April 1981 at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The match took place in the empty arena, with only Lance Russell, a cameraman, and a photographer present. Funk had challenged Lawler to this match at this time because he felt he was getting unfairly treated in Memphis. The confrontation only lasted a few minutes, and ended with Funk trying to put Lawler's eye out with a broken 2x4. But Lawler kicked Funk's elbow, causing him to hit himself in the eye. The tape aired on April 25, 1981.
Japan Wrestling Association (1970–1971)
In July 1970, Funk debuted in the Japan Wrestling Association (JWA) as part of its NWA World Champion Series. He primarily wrestled in the tag team division, teaming with his brother Dory. In August 1970, the Funks unsuccessfully challenged Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba for the NWA International Tag Team Championship. In November 1971, the Funks made a second tour with JWA as part of its World Champion Series. In December 1971, they defeated Inoki and Baba to win the NWA International Tag Team Championship. Later that month, Funk unsuccessfully challenged Baba for the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1972–1987)
Funk debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in October 1972, the same month it was founded by Giant Baba. In his first match, he teamed with Bruno Sammartino to defeat Baba and Thunder Sugiyama in a two out of three falls match. Later that month, he unsuccessfully challenged Baba for the PWF World Heavyweight Championship. In October 1973, Funk returned to AJPW alongside his brother Dory, wrestling NWA International Tag Team Champions Baba and Tomomi Tsuruta to a time limit draw.
Funk made his next appearance with AJPW in January 1974, primarily teaming with fellow gaijins such as Jerry Brisco and Luke Graham to face Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, and The Destroyer. In August 1974, he wrestled at AJPW's Summer Action Series II, again unsuccessfully challenging Baba for the PWF Heavyweight Championship. In March 1975, the Funks took part in AJPW's NWA Membership 2nd Anniversary Excite Series, against unsuccessfully challenging NWA International Tag Team Champions Baba and Tsuruta.
In March 1976, Funk - now the NWA World Heavyweight Champion - returned to AJPW as part of its "NWA Champion Series". On June 11, 1976, Funk successfully defended his title against Jumbo Tsuruta in the Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo.
In December 1977, the Funks took part in the inaugural Open Tag League, a round-robin tournament amongst nine teams. They won the League with 14 points, winning six of their eight matches and wrestling to a draw in the two remaining matches. The tournament final saw them defeat Abdullah the Butcher and The Sheik by disqualification in the Kuramae Kokugikan. The Funks' performance in the tournament and the violent bout with Abdullah and the Sheik saw them turn face in AJPW.