The Funk brothers, Dory Jr. and Terry
Two brothers have two different ways. They are really in contrast to each other. However, I really hope this parallel line will join again at the end of the century or the start of the 2000's.
Dory Funk Jr. will hold a pro wrestling camp, "The Funking Conservatory / A Fine Arts School of Hard Knocks," at "Too Your Health Spa" in Ocala, Florida, on the weekends of July 17 (Saturday) and July 18 (Sunday), July 24 (Saturday) and July 25 (Sunday), and July 31 (Saturday) and August 1 (Sunday). His students will learn how to wrestle as a pro wrestler and have a "graduation" match at the live event at Too Your Health Spa.
Too Your Health Spa---2841 SW 20th St, Ocala, FL 34474---(352) 237-6149
Dory explained on his official home page, "I enjoy training anyone. If they are green, they will be surprised at how much there is to the wrestling business. I have worked with some of the best and they are surprised at the small things that are necessary to the proper execution of wrestling maneuvers. There is something about being in the ring that I like, and it is contagious with my students. Generally, for every thing I teach, I have a story about how I learned it and who I learned it from."
Dory with Antonio Inoki
When Dory Funk Jr. was a special referee for the NWA World Heavyweight title match between Dan Severn and Naoya Ogawa at Yokohama Arena in Japan on March 14, another pair of parallel lines finally joined again --- Dory Funk Jr. and Antonio Inoki. They had one of the greatest matches in Japanese wrestling history at Osaka Furitsu Gym on December 2, 1969. Japanese wrestling fans will never forget about their rivalry. It is expected that we will see more of the Dory / NWA and Inoki / UFO relationship in the second half of this year.
Terry Funk and Masanori in a tug-of-war over the belt
"Middle-Age Crazy" Terry Funk has faced two of his biggest rivals, Abdullah the Butcher and Sabu, at the AWF (Apocalypse Wrestling Federation) shows in Ontario, Canada in the first half of the year. Terry lost to Abdullah via disqualification in the hardcore bounty main event of "AWF Scar Wars " at the Government in Toronto, Ontario on March 14. He beat Sabu in the "AWF One Last Dance" at Diamonds Cabaret in Mississauga, Ontario on June 6.
He said to SLAM! Wrestling, "I will probably come back and do one more match -- I don't care if it's a big match, little match, or whatever it is -- in 2000, so I'll have the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000. That's kind of a deal that not many people have done, is wrestle in five decades."
Everybody knows that Terry has retired more than once before. I have attended Terry's two big retirement shows, in Tokyo and in his hometown. The Funks faced Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy at Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall) in Tokyo on August 31, 1983, and he faced Bret Hart at the Tri-State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Amarillo, Texas on September 11, 1997. I know there are bitter opinions against not only Terry's but pro wrestlers' retirements and quick comebacks. Personally, I will be really impressed with it as a professional wrestler's "destiny" rather than be disgusted. I have made my view to wrestling by a lot of memories, which I got in countless live shows by myself. I will never forget about them and sympathy or telepathy with them. I seldom, if ever, feel it from the modern-day soap opera or computer game wrestlers right now.
The last tag team match as The Funks here in Japan was held in April 1991. Two of my dreams are to see Dory Funk Jr. and Antonio Inoki in the ring again, and Terry's real "Last Dance" to reform the one and only Funks with Dory again in front of me in the near future.
Dory Boy (The Great Kojika / Kung Fu Lee in Amarillo) & Terry Boy (Men's Teioh in the WWF and Michinoku Pro) --- They copied The Funks on Big Japan Pro-Wrestling. Dory and Marti laughed to death.
November 28, 1969---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Danny Hodge
(1) Hodge (27:12) Inoki
(2) Inoki (11:15) Hodge
(3) 60 minutes time up
December 1, 1969---Hiroshima Prefectural Gym
]All Asian Tag Team title match
Antonio Inoki & Michiaki Yoshimura (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Harley Race
(1) Race (16:28) Yoshimura
(2) Inoki & Yoshimura (6:23 disqualification) Dory & Race
(3) Yoshimura (2:32) Race
December 2, 1969---Osaka Furitsu Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. drew Antonio Inoki (60 minutes time up)
December 3, 1969---Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Sendagaya, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (21:07) Dory
(2) Dory (3:47) Baba
(3) 60 minutes time up
December 4, 1969---Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Killer Buddy Austin
(1) Dory (18:12) Inoki
(2) Baba (2:19) Austin
(3) Inoki (4:06) Dory
July 30, 1970---Osaka Furitsu Gym
International Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (1-1) Dory Funk Jr.
(1) Dory (17:20) Baba
(2) Baba (28:20) Dory
(3) 6:55 double countout
August 2, 1970---Fukuoka Sports Center
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (1-1) Antonio Inoki
(1) Dory (30:38) Inoki
(2) Inoki (7:04) Dory
(3) 60 minutes time up
August 4, 1970---Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Sendagaya, Tokyo
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki (2-0) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Baba & Inoki (26:17 disqualification) Funks
(2) Baba (5:45) Terry
December 1, 1971---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
All Asian Tag Team title match
Antonio Inoki & Michiaki Yoshimura (1-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Dick Murdoch
(1) Murdoch (28:09) Yoshimura
(2) Yoshimura (23:00) Murdoch
(3) 60 minute time up
December 7, 1971---Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido
International Tag Team title match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (2-1) Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki
(1) Dory (16:05) Inoki
(2) Baba (5:34) Terry
(3) Terry (4:12) Baba---The Funks became the 15th champions.
December 9, 1971---Osaka Furitsu Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (2-1) Seiji Sakaguchi
(1) Sakaguchi (17:17) Dory
(2) Dory (4:21) Sakaguchi
(3) Dory (2:15) Sakaguchi
December 12, 1971---Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Sendagaya, Tokyo
International Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Terry Funk
(1) Terry (9:57) Baba
(2) Baba (7:18) Terry
(3) Baba (6:52) Terry
December 12, 1971---Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Sendagaya, Tokyo
All Asian Tag Team title match
Seiji Sakaguchi & Michiaki Yoshimura (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Dick Murdoch
(1) Dory (14:00) Sakaguchi
(2) Sakaguchi (6:00) Dory
(3) Sakaguchi (6:30) Race---Sakaguchi & Yoshimura became the 26th champions.
March 19, 1972---Sports Arena, Amarillo, Texas
International Tag Team title match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (1-1) Giant Baba & Seiji Sakaguchi
(1) Baba (6:32) Dory
(2) Terry (7:35) Baba
(3) 15:34 No Contest
March 20, 1972---Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Seiji Sakaguchi (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Terry (15:17) Sakaguchi
(2) Sakaguchi (13:20) Terry
(3) Baba (4:27) Dory---Baba & Sakaguchi became the 16th champions.
October 30, 1972---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
PWF (Pacific Wrestling Federation) World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Terry Funk
(1) Terry (19:15) Baba
(2) Baba (4:24) Terry
(3) Baba (5:00) Terry
September 8, 1973---Fukuoka Sports Center
PWF World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Dory Funk Jr.
(1) Dory (16:12) Baba
(2) Baba (4:10) Dory
(3) Baba (5:59 countout) Dory
October 9, 1973---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
International Tag Team title match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (1-1) Giant Baba & Tomomi (Jumbo) Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (23:57) Terry
(2) Terry (17:24) Tsuruta
(3) 60 minutes time up
January 29, 1974---Higashi-yodogawa Gym, Osaka
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) Dory Funk Jr.
(1) Dory (43:10) Brisco
(2) Brisco (10:16) Dory
(3) 60 minutes time up
January 30, 1974---Nichidai Kodo (Nihon University Hall), Tokyo
PWF Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (1-1) Dory Funk Jr.
(1) Dory (20:12) Baba
(2) Baba (2:31) Dory
(3) 3:50 double countout
June 15, 1974---Colorado Springs, Colorado
International Tag Team title match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (2-1) Giant Baba & Kung Fu Lee (Great Kojika)
(1) Dory (11:04) Lee
(2) Baba (6:22) Terry
(3) Terry (5:32) Lee
August 9, 1974---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
PWF Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Terry Funk
(1) Baba (12:18) Terry
(2) Terry (6:40) Baba
(3) Baba (1:44) Terry
December 26, 1974---Sports Arena, Amarillo, Texas
International Tag Team title match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (2-1) Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Baba (20:47) Dory
(2) Terry (12:20) Baba
(3) Dory (12:12) Tsuruta
February 5, 1975---Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Baba (15:45) Terry
(2) Dory (6:30) Tsuruta
(3) Tsuruta (11:13) Dory---Baba & Tsuruta became the 23rd champions.
March 8, 1975---Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Terry (14:10) Baba
(2) Baba (5:45) Terry
(3) Tsuruta drew Terry (9:38 double countout)
March 13, 1975---Nichidai Kodo (Nihon University Hall), Tokyo
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (2-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Dory (12:16) Tsuruta
(2) Baba (3:13) Terry
(3) Tsuruta (5:23) Dory
June 11, 1976---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Terry Funk (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (15:50) Terry
(2) Terry (6:05) Tsuruta
(3) Terry (5:12) Tsuruta
December 15, 1977---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
World Open Tag Team Championship Round-Robin Tournament
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (14:40 disqualification) Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik --- The Funks won the tournament.
Tournament (December 2 - December 15, 1977): (1) The Funks, (2) Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta, (3) Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik, (4) Bill Robinson & Horst Hoffman, (4-tie) The Destroyer & Texas Red (Red Bastien), (4-tie) Kintaro Oki (Kim ILL) & Kim Duk (Tiger Chang Lee), (4-tie) Rusher Kimura & Great Kusatsu, (8) Gen-ichiro Tenryu & Rocky Hata, (9) Mighty Inoue & Akihisa Takachiho (The Great Kabuki)
July 26, 1978---Omagari City Gym, Akita
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (2-1) Terry Funk & Dick Slater
(1) Terry (16:16) Tsuruta
(2) Baba (5:20) Slater
(3) Tsuruta (6:55) Terry
December 13, 1979---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
World Strongest Tag Team Round-Robin Tournament
Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk beat Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik (Dory [17:15] Sheik)---The Funks won the tournament.
Tournament (November 30 - December 13, 1979): (1) The Funks, (2) Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta, (3) Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik, (4) Mil Mascaras & Dos Caras, (5) Kintaro Oki (Kim ILL) & Killer Tor Kamata, (6) Mr. Wrestling #1(Tim Woods) & Masked Strangler (Jose Rivera, Sr.), (7) Wahoo McDaniel & Frank Hill
October 13, 1980---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
United National Heavyweight title match
Abdullah the Butcher (1-1) Terry Funk
(1) Terry (7:50) Butcher
(2) Butcher (7:10 countout) Terry
(3) 3:35 double disqualification
April 24, 1981---Yokohama Bunka Gym, Kanagawa
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (1-1) Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
(1) Terry (21:07) Baba
(2) Baba (6:00) Terry
(3) 10:54 double countout
***********************************************************
April 30, 1981---Matsudo City Park Gym, Chiba
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (54:00) Terry Funk
***********************************************************
October 7, 1981---Yokohama Bunka Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (1-1) Terry Funk
(1) Flair (11:24) Terry
(2) Terry (3:07) Flair
(3) 3:42 double countout
October 9, 1981---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
International Heavyweight title match
Bruiser Brody (9:36 disqualification) Dory Funk, Jr. --- Brody became the 11th champion.
November 11, 1981---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk, Jr. (13:52 disqualification) Bruiser Brody --- Dory became the 12th champion.
February 20, 1982---Bayfront Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk, Jr. (12:36 disqualification) Hacksaw Butch Reed
March 7, 1982---Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk, Jr. drew Bill Robinson (60 minutes time up)
April 2, 1982---Civic Center Coliseum, Amarillo, Texas
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (22:45 countout) Harley Race
April 17, 1982---Oita Prefectural Gym
International Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (36:31) Ted DiBiase
April 21, 1982---Osaka Furitsu Gym
International Heavyweight title match
Bruiser Brody (15:10) Dory Funk Jr. --- Brody became the 13th champion.
October 26, 1982---Obihiro City Gym, Hokkaido
International Heavyweight title match
Bruiser Brody drew Dory Funk Jr. (11:29 double countout)
December 13, 1982---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
World Strongest Tag Team Round-Robin Tournament
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (12:30 disqualification) Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody --- The Funks won the tournament.
Tournament (November 26 - December 12, 1982): (1) The Funks, (2) Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta, (3) Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody, (4) Harley Race & Dick Slater, (5) Gen-ichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara, (6) Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood, (7) Umanosuke Ueda & The Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin)
April 7, 1983---Miyagi Prefectural Sports Center, Sendai
International Tag Team title match
Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta beat Terry Funk & Ted DiBiase (Baba [12:03] DiBiase)
April 23, 1983---Yokosuka City Gym, Kanagawa
International Heavyweight title match
Bruiser Brody drew Terry Funk (12:49 double countout)
April 25, 1983---Suwa-ko Sports Center, Suwa, Nagano
International Heavyweight title match
Bruiser Brody drew Dory Funk Jr. (13:46 double countout)
***********************************************************
August 31, 1983---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
Terry Funk's Retirement match
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk beat Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy
(Terry [12:35] Gordy)
***********************************************************
April 25, 1984---Yokohama Bunka Gym, Kanagawa
PWF World Tag Team title match
Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody beat Dory Funk Jr. & Giant Baba (Hansen [16:19] Dory)
August 26, 1984---Den-en Coliseum, Tokyo
PWF World Tag Team title match
Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody beat Dory Funk Jr. & Giant Baba (manager: Terry Funk)(Hansen & Brody [12:13 disqualification] Funk & Baba)
October 21, 1986---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
PWF Heavyweight title match
Riki Choshu (14:59) Terry Funk
October 24, 1986---Toyama City Gym
International Tag Team title match
Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu drew Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (13:52 double countout)
April 17, 1987---Kagoshima Prefectural Gym
PWF Heavyweight title match
Stan Hansen (15:38 double countout) Dory Funk Jr.
September 28, 1997---Kawasaki Baseball Stadium, Kanagawa
Texas Heavyweight title match
Terry Funk (12:23) Kodo Fuyuki
Jeremy Lopez, who has been wrestling since 1996, was trained by Dean Malenko with the help of Joe Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, and Carl "Malenko" Greco. He has been wrestling in Florida independents, and also wrestled once in Bristol, England. His goal is to make it in WCW or Japan. He has been trying to make it to any group in Japan. At last, his debut will be with Battlarts at Tokyo FM Hall in Hanzomon, Tokyo at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 1999 (Japanese public holiday---Marine Day).
Jeremy said, "Right now, I want to make a challenge to Chad Collyer (Michinoku Pro), if there is any company in Japan who wants to see a great match, put us in a match, and you will see what will happen!"
View From The Rising Sun / Introduction #1: Chad Collyer
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