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Joe Babinsack Looks At The Terry Funk DVD Roast

Posted: Dec 17th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Ring Roasts 2: All Funked Up!

2 disc DVD Set

Kayfabe Commentaries
www.kayfabecommentaries.com

165 minutes

$25.00

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack



If we created a pantheon of professional wrestling, Terry Funk would be near the top of the food chain. If we created a Mount Rushmore with busts of the greats, the “middle-aged and crazy” face of Terry Funk would be there.

We can debate the inclusion or exclusion of others, and the importance of mainstream versus nonmainstream, but with the Funker, there’s no doubt.

Whether as NWA Champion, Japanese fame in both wrestling and booking, and his utter revamping of his career as the hardcore icon, we know that Funk stands tall and proud in pro wrestling’s history. His stints – brief, tantalizing and often dubious – in Vince McMahon land only serve to set him further apart, further away from most of his challengers.

His innate skill, psychological mastery and ultimately his realistic (read stiff) approach to the ring puts him in the company of a very few… a very select few, and again, we can debate others, but Terry’s the man at the head of this dais.

A Roast, in the sense of an Ambrose Bierce definition, is a gathering of bitter old farts and glory seeking younger farts, with the expectations of lots of laughs, lots of inappropriate commentary, and a lot of entertainment value.

With the assemblage of Ring Roasts 2, readily add lewd, crude and obnoxious to the mix.

Which is par for the course, but a little too coarse for mixed company: believe me, every time I put this on, once my wife entered the room, it was off within 30 seconds.

Sure, that’s mostly because of the First Lady of Professional Wrestling, Missy Hyatt, and all the whole-some baggage she brings with her reputation. (did I misspell something in that line?)

Fifteen names in the mix was a little too many, but who’s complaining? The first disc dragged at times, except when New Jack was front and center, but the second was utterly priceless, especially with the wit and crudity of Hyatt, the insight of Mick Foley, and the honest emotion of Superstar Billy Graham.

Do you realize how close I came to saying that the Superstar was honest?

Crazy.

Just to get the other names out of the way, up front, because I’m not doing blow-by-blow commentary here, and don’t even take that as an implied chance to reference ring rats.

Talent:

Kevin Sullivan

King Kong Bundy

JJ Dillon

Dennis Stamp

Kevin Von Erich (with appearance by Lacey Von Erich!)

Mick Foley

New Jack

Missy Hyatt

Superstar Billy Graham

Mike (no relation) Graham

EmCee:

Bill Apter

Roastee:

Terry Funk

Comedians (call them no-talent?):

Ryan Maher

Sean Morton

Matt Bridgestone



The awesome part of a roast is the intermixing of ripping on each of the attendees, with ripping on the industry in general, ripping on Terry Funk and his career, and especially the juxtaposition of comedy, sincerity and people who need and need not read off of notes.

Strangely enough, while the comedians held their own in terms of comprehension, they were the ones that needed pieces of paper in front of them.

Then again, Billy Graham had reference, and still repeated himself.

One of the early comedic gems was a reference to Billy, in which it was said that he inspired Hogan and Ventura, and fans don’t know “whether to shake his hand or punch him in the face.”

That’s classic.

Way too many quotes are too off-color for my typically PG-13 level commentary. Suffice to say, if you want to get an X-rated indoctrination into the lives and reputations of some of the names on the list, you’re in for a rather intimate discussion.

How many ways can I call this a great DVD? How many ways can I just repeat good lines?

It’s far better to watch and enjoy.

But to hit some of the highlights and lowlights:

Did Apter really have to dress in drag?

I enjoyed Bundy. He’s no comedian, but he tries really hard, and it’s the passion you want to see.

I thought the comedians were a bit out of place, but I realize there is tradition. Thankfully no Scott Hall this time, I can’t consider that subject funny, even if I can laugh at Kurt Russell jokes.

New Jack is the king! I simply cannot believe that someone would not want to put this man in a manager role. Sure, he’d have to be bleeped way too much, and he’d likely not put up with crap and threaten the boss, but c’mon, wouldn’t it be worth it?

Will there ever be a Roast with New Jack without a Mass Transit reference?

Dennis Stamp, Mike Graham and Kevin Von Erich were the rather low key contributors. Stamp was impressive by just being so different and changing the pace and being the first one to really shine a spotlight on the greatness of the Funker.

Kevin Sullivan shined a greater spotlight on Funk.

Missy Hyatt is crazy good, and a great sport to be part of a ceremony where she’s outnumbered by a vast majority of men, at the tables and in the room. But there’s no fear that she’s overwhelmed, and she’s more vicious and humorous than most of the comments against her.

Foley, as one would expect, truly stole the show. There was one line in there that he’s lucky he was last, referencing people who saw the last TNA PPV. Of course, being there courtesy of TNA meant cutting back on the TNA jokes, which limits some things, but hey, what do you expect?

But Foley’s impersonations, his story surrounding the infamous fire incident in ECW, and his praise for the Funker all were must-hear. It’s been referenced a few times that Mick is doing stand-up. He’s good at it, that’s for sure…

And then there’s Billy Graham, who brought with him the Amazing, Amazing Kong, and another tough women wrestler. Graham’s very emotional here, and very respectful of Terry, and more so, he provides the Funker with a painting that is presented by the two women wrestlers he brought with him.

It was equal parts awkward, impressive and interesting, but hey, that’s what a Roast is all about.

Terry’s turn at the podium was sentimental, short and sufficient. He was presented with an award, as if he needs an award, but I guess you got to give the honoree something. Terry is one class act, and despite swimming in the humor, the crudity and the well deserved accolades, he’s standing above it all at the end, as if it’s just another day in his awesome career.

But to us, the viewers who appreciate the man, it’s another great day.

And to think, I didn’t crack any retirement jokes!

Tags: Terry Funk, NWA, Missy Hyatt, Mick Foley, King Kong Bundy, Dennis Stamp, Kevin Von Erich, TNA, ECW