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Dory Funk

Dory Funk

Nickname: Texas Bronco

Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 230 lbs.

From: Hammond, IN

Birthday: May 4th

Pro Debut: June 16, 1943

Aliases: Dory Funk, Sr., Outlaw, Dory Dean, Dory Deane, Dory Dillard

Feds Worked For: NWA-West, TSW, AWA, NWA, WWWF, All-Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Arizona Athletic Assocation (AZ), Big Time Wrestling (HI), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Central States Wrestling (KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Houston Wrestling (TX), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Midwest Wresting Association - Ohio (OH), NWA New Mexico (NM), NWA St. Louis (Mo), NWA Vancouver (Canada), Southwest States Enterprises (TX), Tom Pack Sports Enterprises (IN)

Finisher: Spinning Toe Hold

 

Career Highlights: -NWA (Florida) Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ Jose Lothario)
-NWA Southwest States Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Cowboy Carlson; 1 w/ Frankie Hill Murdoch)
-NWA Texas Brass Knucks Champion (5x)
-NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Champion (7x)
-NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Lou Thesz and Pancho Pico)
-NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
-NWA (Texas) World Tag Team Champion (5x; 2 each with Bob Geigel and Dick Hutton; 1 w/ Rip Rogers)
-NWA-West Western States Champion (25x)
-NWA-West North American Tag Team Champion (w/ Dory Funk, Jr.)
-TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion

Affiliates: Bob Geigel, Ricky Romero, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Jr., Cowboy Carlson, Eddie Graham, Jose Lothario, Frankie Hill Murdoch. Lou Thesz, Pancho Pico, Dick Hutton, Rip Rogers

Notable Feuds: Mike DiBiase, Art Nelson, Nick Roberts, Sputnik Monroe, Bob Morse, Tokyo Joe, Karl Kox, Nelson Royal, Tony Morelli, Ciclón Negro, Rey Urbano, Alex Pérez, Roy Shire, Frankie Hill Murdoch, Karl Von Brauner, Ricky Romero, Al Lovelock, Danny Plechas, Pak Song, Antone Leone, Harley Race, Ivan Kalmikoff, Rocky Smith, The Beast, Benny Trudel, Eddie Graham, Bob Geigel, Tony Borne, Gory Guerrero, Thunderbolt Patterson, Bull Ramos, Fritz Von Erich, Danny McShain, Gene Kiniski, Cyclone Anaya, Tony Gonzáles, Dizzy Davis, John Tolos, Danny Savich, J. C. Dykes, Dan Miller, Leo Newman, The Sheik, Jack Cain, Bob Cummings, Don Fargo, Dick Murdoch, Tommy Martindale, Roger Mackay, George Bollas, Herb Parks, Kurt Von Stroheim, Cowboy Carlson, Al Getz, Bob Orton, Ricki Starr, Ray Clements, Kurt Von Poppenheim, Kintaro Oki, Bobby Wallace, Rip Hawk, Don Slatton, Hans Schnabel, Billy Weidner, Moose Morowski, Don Evans, The Great Mephisto, Pat Patterson, Monte LaDue

Other Facts: -Full name was Dorrance Wilhelm Funk
-Father of pro wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk
-Great-Grandfather of pro wrestler Dr. Dory Funk, Jr.
-Brother of pro wrestler Herman Funk (AKA Herman Gust)
-Father-in-law of pro wrestling manager Marti Funk
-Billed as the father of pro wrestler Jimmy Jack Funk
-Trained by Billy Thorn
-3-time Indiana State High School wrestling champion. 1-time Amateur Athletic Union wrestling champion
-Served in the Navy during WWII. He was primarily stationed in the Philippines.
-Trained several wrestlers himself including Dory Funk, Jr., Gene Kiniski, Ricky Romero, Stan Hansen, Terry Funk, & Wahoo McDaniel
-Competed for a time under a mask as The Outlaw. He was unmasked by Gene Kiniski on September 18, 1962. He is not to be confused with either wrestler who competed in the late 20th/early 21st century as Outlaw.
-Credited with being the King of the Texas Death Match
-Owner of NWA-West in Amarillo, TX
-Passed away June 3, 1973 at the age of 54 from a heart attack
-Posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Posthumously inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2013
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020
-Posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (Legacy Wing) in 2025

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