The wrestling world has been paying tribute to Terry Funk in the wake of news of his passing.
Dory Funk Jr, Triple H, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and more have written tributes to Funk online.
“Every night in cities all over the world, Terry Funk left it all in the ring for our business and for the fans. An icon of our industry. My thoughts are with Terry’s family, friends and fans,” wrote Triple H.
“My Brother Terry Funk was all in with life and Loved pro wrestling and his fans- Terry has been Blessed with 2beautiful loving and supportive daughters All my Love to my brother Terry,” wrote Dory Funk Jr.
Our own Dave Meltzer commented on Funk’s passing and wrote of his legacy on the website here.
“Sorry I haven’t posted sooner. This is a very sad day. Terry Funk’s knowledge and teachings changed the way I look at so many things and changed my life. I wrote a story on the Observer site that should be up soon. RIP, best wishes to his family and to everyone in this industry because he changed so many lives you could never tally them up,” Meltzer posted to Twitter.
“New Japan Pro-Wrestling is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Funk. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Terry’s family, friends and fans,” NJPW wrote.
“No matter what generation of wrestling you grew up with, I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Terry Funk. He was universally respected and loved. Terry knew what was important in this life, the way you treat people. Thinking of Terry and his family tonight,” wrote Natalya.
“The National Wrestling Alliance is saddened to hear of the passing of former Worlds Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk. Our thoughts are with our fellow fans, friends and family as tonight we remember one of the greats. Terry Funk Forever,” the NWA wrote.
CM Punk paid tribute to Funk at last night’s Collision tapings.
“Terry Funk is like an older brother to me and a master. Without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I freeloaded at his house for about a month, he helped me a lot. I have many memories. My deepest condolences to his family,” wrote Atsushi Onita.
“I don’t really come here ever anymore but I had to today to say that Terry Funk was the absolute best of us and that getting to be in the ring with him 10 years ago is and always will be one of the absolute highlights of my career, bar none. To this day, I still often think back on that night and shake my head in disbelief at the absolute privilege and incredible luck I had to get to be in there with him. The energy and aura that Terry Funk carried with him into the ring that night is something I had never experienced before and have not experienced since, and I’ve been in there with some pretty crazy names… I’ll never forget it. Terry Funk. Forever,” wrote Kevin Owens.
“Terry Funk was a truly unique performer for the ages that inspired and influenced so many, myself included. There was a passion and a sense of chaos in his work that was so beautiful to watch. My condolences to his friends and family. RIP,” wrote Sami Zayn.
“I’m very sad to hear of the passing of a true legend & a great person, Terry Funk. Several of us had the honor & pleasure of being at his Double Cross Ranch many years ago after a show in Amarillo, I’ll never forget that!! Words can’t explain how Terry was just GREAT on so many levels,” wrote Taz.
“10 years ago, Lance Storm & I had a match with Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer. I vividly remember standing in the ring crying while Terry made his entrance to Desperado by The Eagles. I was so honored to be in that match with Pro Wrestling’s folk hero,” wrote Sean Waltman.
“Saddened to learn that we lost the great Terry Funk. An unbelievable performer whose passion for our industry was unmatched. Rest in peace, Terry,” wrote Jake Roberts.
Missy Hyatt shared a story about Funk as well, writing “Trivia note. When terry funk did the branding iron gimmick in wcw in 1989. He was using channele lipstick that he kept stealing from me to leave his mark on his opponent’s.”
The big Saturday night with SummerSlam, UFC, Diaz vs. Paul, Collision and G-1 and who watched what
The departure of Brock Lesnar and his scheduled return, and departure of Ronda Rousey and her importance and the MMA rules attempt
The Bloodline angle
Business numbers including PPV, WWE buyers who bought Forbidden Door, Spence vs. Crawford and Diaz vs. Paul
What record did SummerSlam set and what record that it set will last only a few more weeks
The ruling in the Cung Le vs UFC lawsuit regarding it becoming a class action suit, what the judge said, the MLW suit against WWE, and how this lawsuit potentially affects WWE
Full coverage of the G-1 Climax tournament, with the storylines and match reviews from the past week
All In sets its own new record and update on the show
Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
CMLL anniversary show news
The most in depth look at the ratings of all national pro wrestling and MMA shows, including segment-by-segment and by different groups, as well as where the wrestling and MMA shows stood in the overall weekly cable and network standings
Lots of foreign stars coming to CMLL
TripleMania notes
Stardom Five Star Grand Prix tournament update
N-1 tournament update
NOAH sells out in seconds
New Japan’s All-Star Junior event in Philadelphia
Hulk Hogan and his new stories
Schedule of shows for London over All In weekend
Arenas trying to block their agreements with WWE from public view
Legendary tag team reunites
Young Bucks talk signing their new deals and current thoughts on wrestling
Full Gear 2023 update
Dynamite and Smackdown upcoming time changes for baseball playoffs
Lots of injury updates
Upcoming attendance numbers for WWE and AEW
International TV ratings and streaming numbers
Update on Forbidden Door PPV numbers
Dana White predicts a fight doing 10 million buys at $100 a view
New UFC main events
Bellator planning huge show
Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz
Logan Paul’s next fight and why it’s such a joke
Boxing superstar signs with MMA group
Vince McMahon’s ownership in the new UFC/WWE company
New Board of Directors
Plans for NXT
More on Kairi’s return
AEW star close to signing with WWE
WWE performer going for the real wrestling Triple Crown
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Friday Update
Garrett and I did a two-hour interview with RevPro promoter Andy Quildan, talking all kinds of subjects from All In, RevPro’s new relationship with CMLL, RevPro history, the show at the Copper Box, Pat Patterson watching the British J Cup with me a few years ago, Leon Slater, Luke Jacobs and other stars on the rise, COVID and NXT UK’s effect on the British independent scene and so much more. Bryan and I will be back Sunday night talking the weekend news including the G-1 finals.
The big stuff this weekend is TripleMania and G-1. We’ll be doing polls on both G-1 shows at Sumo Hall and TripleMania and you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
When the fast nationals come in tomorrow for Smackdown, please note that they will be heavily inflated because a number of markets, including Atlanta and Detroit, are airing NFL football and not Smackdown in that time slot. Fast nationals only count the time slot, not the show. The actual ratings will be out on Tuesday but sometimes people every August jump to conclusions and think there was a huge rating when the number is actually inflated due to football.
Heard Kenoh vs. Yuki Yoshioka at today’s NOAH show at Korakuen Hall as part of the N-1 tournament was great.
Jon Moxley will be on the OTT anniversary show on 10/28 in Dublin at the National Stadium. He had promised them a date when he had to pull out of a date due to an AEW conflict some time back.
Bushi & Shun Skywalker vs. Matt Sydal & Yoh was added to the 8/19 All Star Junior show New Japan is putting on at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
We’re also looking for reports from these shows:
Smackdown tonight in Calgary (dark matches only)
NXT tonight in Sanford, FL
AEW Collision tomorrow night in Greensboro (ROH stuff only)
NXT tomorrow night in Jacksonville, FL
We’re looking for results, finishes, angles and other highlights to [email protected]
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Togi Makabe & Toru Yano & Yoh vs. David Finlay & Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin & Chase Owens & KENTA
Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi & Bushi vs. Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan & Aaron Henare
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita
Sanada & Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki & Taka Michinoku vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Hikuleo & El Phantasmo & Jado
Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito in the G-1 semifinals
Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil in the G-1 semifinals
The winners of the semifinals meet in the finals which start at 2 a.m. Eastern late Saturday night.
TripleMania from Arena Ciudad in Mexico City Saturday night at 10 p.m. Eastern:
Dalys & Lady Shani & Sexy Star vs. Chik Tormenta & La Hiedra & Maravilla
Copa Bardahl (usually a Rumble match) with Komander, Laredo Kid, Willie Mack, Dave the Clown, Pagano, Aramis, Mr. Iguana, Murder Clown, Arez, Octagon Jr., Myzteziz Jr., and Nino Hamburguesa
Negro Casas vs. Nicho
Taya vs. Flammer for the Reina de Reinas title
Penta vs. QT Marshall vs. Dralistico vs. Brian Cage for the vacant Latin American title
El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Mike Bailey vs. Daga vs Jack Cartwheel for the AAA Mega title
Rush vs. Sam Adons vs. LA Park vs. Psycho Clown, loser loses his hair or mask
UFC Saturday is an ESPN+ show from 4-10 p.m. Eastern:
Juliana Miler (126) vs. Luana Santos (126)
Da’mon Blackshear (136) vs. Jose Johnson (135.5)
Jaqueline Amorim (116) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (113)
Josh Parisian (266) vs. Martin Buday (266)
Francis Marshall (145.5) vs. Isaac Culgarian (145.5)
Terrance McKinney (156) vs. Mike Breeden (156)
JP Buys (136) vs. Marcus McGhee (136)
Josh Fremd (189) vs Jamie Pickett (186) -Fremd missed weight by three pounds and was fined
AJ Dobson (185.5) v. Tafon Nchukwi (189.5) – Nchukwi missed weight by 3.5 pounds and was fined
Polyana Viana (116) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116)
Khalil Rountree (203.5) vs. Chris Daukaus (205)
Cub Swanson (146) vs. Hakeem Dawodu (146)
Rafael dos Anjos (171) vs. Vicente Luque (170.5)
Insane Wrestling Revolution on 9/28 in Monroe, MI has King Thom Latimer defending their title against Sami Callihan and Heath.
Eddie Kingston defends the New Japan Strong title on 9/23 in Seattle at Washington Hall for Defy against Rocky Romero.
Takumi Iroha won the West Coast Pro women’s title from Masha Slamovich last night. Iroha celebrated after the match with the legendary Chigusa Nagayo. Iroha then rushed back for Saki Akai’s 10th anniversary show for DDT on Sunday.
Impact has added a second show in Coventry, England on 10/29. Tickets for the show go on sale Wednesday at 9 a.m. UK time.
Helen Maroulis goes for a spot on Team USA in the 2023 world championships next month in Belgrade, Serbia tomorrow. Maroulis will face Xochitl Meta-Pettis in the 125 pound weight class. Due to a Maroulis injury, this match was delayed until tomorrow.
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, let’s take a look back at a retro Apter mag: the April 1988 issue of Inside Wrestling.
This issue features a look at the storyline run-up to the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant feud where Ted DiBiase tried to buy the WWF World title from Andre.
Also in this issue are features on Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter, Jimmy Jack Funk, some great VHS ads, Michael Hayes, King Kong Bundy, and the Von Erichs. This fun issue also includes the Roll Call of Champions.
On this installment of my DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show longform history of pro wrestling series, I am up to November 1983 which is hugely important because we have NWA Starrcade — a show that was highlighted by Ric Flair regaining the NWA World title from Harley Race in a steel cage match.
That show wasn’t even the biggest drawing event that day as many areas had traditional Thanksgiving shows and this year may have been the peak of that tradition.
Plus, David Von Erich, Japan, and more.
Enjoy this giant, historically important month in pro wrestling history.
On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I cover the entire story of Ric Flair quitting WCW to jump to WWF in 1991 while still WCW/NWA World Champion.
A few questions that are answered:
Karl discusses what the NWA was during that time.
Could Flair have jumped as still NWA World Champion and not WCW World Champion?
Why we really didn’t get Hulk Hogan vs. Flair at WrestleMania VIII. Actual quicksand and plexiglass mazes are part of the story (I’m not even kidding).
How WCW got the big gold belt back, the 1992 Royal Rumble, and more.
This show has everything you could possibly want to know as I go week-to-week through the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to fill in the details and what narratives have changed over time.
Both Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair have opened up about the influence of “Superstar” Billy Graham on their pro wrestling careers.
Graham passed away last week at 79 years old after decades of declining health and tributes poured out afterward for how influential he was to the wrestling business and some of its biggest stars and influencers including Hogan, Flair, Jesse Ventura, Vince McMahon and countless others.
Talking to Sports Illustrated, Hogan said Graham “was decades ahead of his time” and that even when he was a heel, Graham drew fans to him “like a magnet.”
“He looked like a superhero, but when the good guy put his fist up and acted like he was going to punch him in the face, Billy Graham would drop to his knees and start begging and pleading. I modeled ‘Hollywood’ Hogan after that. Watch Hogan-Sting from WCW, and you’ll see a lot of the way Billy Graham carried himself in the ring. Even as a babyface, I did that, too. He was really something special.”
Hogan said he and Graham became friends in Hogan’s early days riding the roads and became close even though their friendship “had its share of twists and turns over the years.
“I still remember ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham standing on the second turnbuckle and doing the double bicep. That was the moment for me. I told my dad, ‘I want to be just like that guy.’ I was already a huge Dusty Rhodes fan, but ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham took it to a whole new level.”
Ric Flair
Like for Hogan, Graham’s impact on Flair’s career was also massive. He said Graham’s look “changed the whole perspective of the business” and that “Superstar” was often imitated, but never duplicated.
Flair talked about driving Graham early in his own career and how his wife was the first person to bleach Flair’s hair — a signature for the “Nature Boy.”
“I tried to be just like Billy, but there’s only one Billy,” says Flair. “I have so many fond memories. I was his chauffeur, driving him around in that white El Dorado with red interior. I loved that. His wife was the first woman to ever bleach my hair. He and Dusty (Rhodes) were the two biggest influences on me, ever, in this business. They were so damn charismatic. It was a gift.”
My deep dive into pro wrestling longform history continues.
We stop into September 1983 and the time is getting near for Hulk Hogan to jump to the WWF. Sgt. Slaughter (seen above) continues to rise there as does the Masked Superstar as the era of change draws near.
Before we get there, NWA Starrcade looms where the NWA World title will go back from Harley Race to Ric Flair. Thus, Flair is doing the job tour to set up challengers and will lose the Missouri title to David Von Erich, lose clean to Bob Armstrong, and lose to Pedro Morales in Puerto Rico.
While appearing on the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Ric Flair revealed that Vince McMahon is his “hero.”
Flair made the statement after the subject of McMahon’s sexual misconduct scandal was brought up. Flair said he judges people by how they treat him, and no one in the pro wrestling business has ever treated him with more respect than McMahon.
Rogan: When he was getting involved in scandals and there was like girls that he had paid off, I just wanted to say: Duh. Like, duh. You’ve got an 80-year-old savage who’s built like a f*cking gladiator. Gee, you think he f*cks? What do you think? You think Vince McMahon is doing that just for f*cking hee-hees and haw-haws? No, of course he’s got some floozies on the side.
Flair: He’s my hero.
Rogan: That guy’s an animal.
Flair: I judge people by how they treat me and he has treated me like — I’ve never had anyone treat me with more respect ever in this business. He’s a great guy. I don’t care what he does. He’s my hero.
McMahon retired from WWE amid the sexual misconduct scandal in July 2022 but returned to power this January. McMahon assumed the role of executive chairman upon his return and remains in that role following Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE.
In December 2022, McMahon agreed to a multi-million dollar legal settlement with former WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who accused McMahon of raping her in 1986. McMahon’s lawyer Jerry McDevitt said that McMahon “denies and always has denied raping Ms. Chatterton” but settled the case “solely to avoid the cost of litigation.”
Flair recently made an appearance for WWE when he inducted The Great Muta into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania 39 week.
WWE and Peacock’s “Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair” documentary is one of five nominees in the Outstanding Long Documentary category at this year’s Sports Emmy Awards.
WWE and Peacock’s “Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair” documentary is in the running for a Sports Emmy Award.
The Flair documentary is one of five nominees in the Outstanding Long Documentary category at the 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards. The full list of nominees was revealed on Tuesday.
“After Jackie” from the History Channel, “Citizen Ashe” from CNN, “NYC Point Gods” from Showtime, and “The Redeem Team” from Netflix are the four other documentaries nominated in the category.
The Flair documentary premiered on Peacock in December 2022. The synopsis for it can be seen below:
16-time World Champion and 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is one of the most prolific and controversial superstars in professional wrestling history. Flair is a true American icon: from his famous ‘Woooo’ that is still heard in stadiums and arenas throughout the US, to his influence on hip hop music. At 73 years-old Flair remains a constant in American pop culture, but who is the real man behind the outrageous persona? Finally, Flair reveals all, opening up about his storied career, inside and outside of the ring, over the last 50 years. Hulk Hogan, Mike Tyson, Post Malone, Stephen A. Smith, and Charlotte Flair are among those who join Flair in telling the tale of the man behind ‘The Man.’
Flair tweeted today: “Wow, It’s Such An Honor To Receive This @sportsemmys Nomination For Best Long Documentary! Thank You @WWE For The Opportunity To Share My Life With The World Through Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair!”
The Sports Emmy Awards ceremony is taking place in New York City on Monday, May 22. They’re separate from the Primetime Emmy Awards, which are traditionally held in September.
The Great Muta is the second confirmed inductee for the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class.
It was confirmed on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon that Muta (Keiji Muto) will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania 39 week. Muta is being inducted by Ric Flair.
“He’s a tremendous guy, a tremendous athlete, a great person, a great man,” Flair said about Muta. “I’ve wrestled him probably 500 times. And I can’t think of a better guy for the company to honor. And boy when you’re honored and enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame, it really makes you a special, special person.”
Flair said he loves Muta beyond wrestling and has a special place in his heart for him because his late son Reid was working with Muta in Japan just before Reid’s passing.
The legendary career of Muta came to an end with a retirement tour that wrapped up at the Tokyo Dome last month. In his final matches, Muta faced Tetsuya Naito and Masahiro Chono.
Muta had his final match as the Great Muta character in January, teaming with Sting & Darby Allin in a six-man tag team match.
Muta’s retirement tour also included a match against WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura for Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Rey Mysterio (inducted by Konnan) and Muta are the first two entrants to be confirmed for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. The ceremony is taking place after SmackDown in Los Angeles on Friday, March 31. It will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.
It appears that The Great Muta (Keiji Muto) will be the next inductee confirmed for the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class.
On Raw last night, it was announced that Ric Flair will reveal the next Hall of Fame inductee on WWE’s The Bump this Wednesday. Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Flair has been asked to induct Muta into the Hall of Fame.
I presume that that’s Keiji Muto because Ric Flair has asked to induct Muto, or has been asked to induct Muto. A lot of people thought it would be Sting, but politically that would have been tough before. I think it would be even tougher now. So I don’t know that that’s the case. We do know that Muto has been asked to be in the Hall of Fame, and we do know that Flair has asked to induct him, so that seems to make sense.
Muta completed a retirement tour at the Tokyo Dome last month. The retirement tour also included a match against WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura for Pro Wrestling NOAH.
PWInsider first reported that Muta would be going into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. They’ve also reported that WWE is working on a deal for Stacy Keibler to be one of this year’s inductees.
The Hall of Fame ceremony is taking place in Los Angeles after SmackDown on Friday, March 31. The ceremony will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.
Rey Mysterio is the only inductee that has been officially announced for the 2023 Hall of Fame class thus far. He’s being inducted by Konnan.
The next Hall of Fame inductee will be revealed this Wednesday.
WWE announced on Raw Monday that Ric Flair will be a guest on The Bump, WWE’s weekly studio talk show, on Wednesday where he will announce the next WWE Hall of Fame inductee. The show airs at 1 pm ET.
The company began announcing Hall of Fame inductees on Friday when Rey Mysterio was announced as the first inductee. Mysterio came out for a speech, but was interrupted by his son, Dominik.
This year’s WWE Hall of Fame will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on March 31. It will take place immediately after WWE SmackDown takes place in the same building, and will stream live on Peacock.
After leaving WWE in 2021, Flair started to make appearances for the company again late last year, appearing in a new documentary on Peacock. He also appeared at Raw 30 earlier this year.
Ric Flair says a Real Housewives of Wrestling reality show could be in the works.
Speaking on an episode of his To Be The Man podcast, Flair said that both Netflix and Fox are interested in producing a show featuring his wife, Wendy Barlow, as well as the wives of Randy Orton (Kimberly Kessler), Jake Hager (Catalina White), and Kurt Angle (Giovanna Yannotti).
Flair said:
Fox and Netflix are looking at picking up the housewives of wrestling.
[Wendy Barlow] saw the reel yesterday. It’s Randy’s wife, it’s Kurt’s wife, it’s Wendy, and Jake Hager’s wife.
I don’t think Karen [Jarrett] is in it, I’m not sure. Karen would be great at it, though.
The reel came out so good they are looking at it.
Additionally, Flair revealed that Barlow has signed a deal to write a book on her life story with him.
[Wendy] just got a check to do her life story with me. She’s writing a book.
They gave her a hell of a bump up front. This damn documentary got everybody talking.
The Real Housewives franchise has been running since 2006 beginning with The Real Housewives of Orange County. 32 different adaptations have been made in total with 11 from the United States and 21 internationally. Another 27 spin-off series featuring former cast members have been made as well.
In 2011, TMZ reported that a show featuring Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (Booker T’s wife), Jackie Haas (then married to Charlie Haas), and Jerry Lawler’s ex-wife Stacy Carter was being produced by VH1 and shooting in Houston. The show never aired, however.
