The semi-retired Terrance Terry Funk, part of the legendary Funk family that ran the NWAs Texas promotion (before Vince McMahon killed and ate the territories) is legitimately considered one of the greatest character workers of all time, and one of the finest wrestlers to step into the ring. Thats not a bad reputation for a man also famous as the meanest, craziest wildman that professional wrestling had ever seen. Funk doesnt have Bruiser Brodys sheer size, or Wild Bull Currys look. He never needed Mankinds mask, or Abdullah The Butchers aura of violence. Terry Funk is a master of psychology and drama, as well as one of the bloodiest brawlers that professional wrestling has ever seen, live or on TV. Famous for his feuds with Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and other legends of the territories, the nineties saw Funk move from the more southern style of brawling wrestling hed helped popularise to take part in the newer style of hardcore wrestling that was becoming so popular at the time. Always one of the smartest men in any room, Funk brought his NWA connections and credibility and his notoriety as a genuine hard man to Extreme Championship Wrestling, who had just fairly acrimoniously dumped their own NWA connections. Funk was cannily able to help legitimise a style of wrestling that the old school were happy to bury as talent-free stuntfests, while at the same time increasing the longevity of his own career. Hed become ECW Champion twice during this period, but its his utter fearlessness and his peerless instinct for storytelling that would get Terry Funk over as one of the most insane wrestling characters of all time. Even today, the real life southern gentleman could turn up at the opening of a church fete and people would start looking nervous and checking him for weapons. Now thats a rep.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
