Dory Funk Jr., the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion whose influence extended from international main events to the training of future WWE stars, has died. He was 85.
Funk died on August 4 in Ocala, Florida, according to his wife, Marti Funk. She told the Ocala Gazette that he had been receiving hospice care.
Marti confirmed her husband’s death directly to the local newspaper, which had interviewed the couple at their Ocala home in January. They had been together for 46 years and married for 40.
The family has not publicly disclosed a cause of death.
His Four-Year Championship Reign Made Wrestling History
“He was such a good guy,” Marti said before repeating the description more forcefully. The family plans to hold a private ceremony honoring Funk’s life. A public memorial is expected on Thanksgiving Day for Dory, his younger brother Terry Funk and several of their longtime associates from Japan.
Funk was born on February 3, 1941, and grew up in Amarillo, Texas, as part of one of professional wrestling’s most influential families. His father, Dory Funk Sr., was a wrestler, trainer and promoter who introduced Dory and Terry to the business from an early age.
Dory Jr. played college football at West Texas State University before beginning his professional wrestling career in 1963. He defeated Gene Kiniski in February 1969 to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, then widely regarded as wrestling’s most important title.
Funk held the championship for 1,563 consecutive days before losing to Harley Race in May 1973. His run remains the second-longest uninterrupted reign in the title’s history, behind only Lou Thesz. Funk traveled extensively while holding the belt and defended it throughout North America, Australia and Japan.
Dory and Terry Became the Only Brothers to Hold the NWA Title
Terry won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1975, making the Funks the only brothers to have held the historic title. The siblings also built a successful tag-team career, particularly through their work with All Japan Pro Wrestling.
WWE’s history of the Funks describes them as major attractions in Japan as well as accomplished singles competitors with sharply different styles. Dory was known for his technical precision, deliberate pacing and spinning toe hold.
Terry eventually developed a more unpredictable and aggressive style that helped make him a pioneer of hardcore wrestling. The brothers joined WWE during the 1980s. At WrestleMania 2 in 1986, they defeated Tito Santana and Junkyard Dog.
He Continued Wrestling Into His 80s
Funk’s career ultimately spanned more than six decades. His final match took place at Fujitsu Kawasaki Stadium in Japan on August 24, 2024, when he was 83.
Funk teamed with longtime friend Osamu Nishimura against Atsushi Onita and Raijin Yaguchi in a Double Hell Current Explosion Death Match.
The match was part of an event honoring Terry Funk and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Onita’s career. Funk and Nishimura won the bout, according to the official account published through Funk’s website.
His Training Work Extended His Influence
Funk built a second legacy by teaching and evaluating younger wrestlers after his years as a world champion. During the late 1990s, he helped run demanding training camps known as the Funkin’ Dojo as WWE experimented with a more centralized system for identifying potential performers.
WWE credited those camps with helping develop or evaluate future stars including Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, Jeff Hardy and Mark Henry. Dory and Marti later operated the Funking Conservatory in Ocala, where he continued teaching the technical fundamentals, conditioning and professionalism required for life in the wrestling business.
His list of students and trainees also included Matt Hardy, Mickie James, Lita, Paul London and numerous performers who worked across WWE and the independent circuit.
Wrestling Figures Remembered His Global Influence
WWE announced Funk’s death and described him as an influential trainer and a member of one of wrestling’s most respected families. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said Funk’s style inspired countless performers.
He credited Funk’s appearances across the NWA territories, WWE, WCW, ECW and promotions throughout Asia with helping establish the early blueprint for professional wrestling as a global business.
Funk entered the NWA Hall of Fame in 2006. He and Terry were inducted together into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, with longtime friend and rival Dusty Rhodes presenting them. Terry died in August 2023 at age 79.
His Final Advice Was ‘Never Quit’
During the Ocala Gazette’s January visit, Funk reflected on the beginning and peak of his career. When asked to identify its greatest highlights, he named winning the world championship and competing in his first match.
The interviewer then asked what advice he would give to young wrestlers beginning their careers. Funk initially answered softly: “Never quit.” He repeated it louder before delivering the message one final time with full force: “NEVER QUIT!”