10 Greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champions

Beware the spinning toe hold, it's apparently infinitely more painful than its slightly awkward execution might suggest.

At an utterly insane 1563 days, Funk's '69-'73 reign on top of the NWA is the second-longest in the title's history. A babyface technician and mat master, the noble Funk grappled and submitted his way to victory over an international litany of supreme talent as Texas' No.1 wrestling representative.

While his younger brother Terry has become the considerably more famous one over the years, most would argue Dory was a superior champion in his day. Straight-laced and harshly realistic, the uppercutting mat scientist carried the NWA World Heavyweight Championship over many of the most lucrative territories at the time including Florida, Missouri and Texas.

By 1973, the NWA were ready to give the exhausted Funk, who'd gotten hurt in a mysterious pick-up truck accident, an ultimately permanent rest from his role as king. Jack Brisco had already been tipped as the next primary babyface but bookers were hesitant to have him beat the old guard good guy in Funk.

Instead, Dory Funk Jr. dropped the strap to a young, heel Harley Race in an exhausting two out of three falls match. While he wound up spending a lot more time in Japan after his reign came to an end, Funk remains an essential part of NWA history.