Dory Funk Jr. on receiving the Lou Thesz Award in Las Vegas at the Cauliflower Alley Club
Posted: Apr 10th 2019 By: Dory Funk, Jr.
Lou Thesz was a friend of my father, Dory Funk Sr. I had my first opportunity to train with Lou in my father’s garage at the Flying Mare Ranch. The floor of his garage was covered with an amateur wrestling mat. Our cars were parked outside in the West Texas weather to make room for Dad’s wrestling training center.
Lou Thesz was Dad’s special guest, invited for a special day at the ranch that included a training session in with me in Dad’s garage. I was 16 years old at the time. Lou Thesz was the master of the Double Wristlock, the Flying Cat Leap and the top body scissors. He also had a devastating Elbow Smash to the side of the face that he only talked to me about. No demonstration.
Lou talked to me about the credibility of professional wrestling and the respect reserved to those who could really wrestle and demonstrated that skill in the ring.
Back to the wrestling mat and Lou told me, “I am going to tell you ahead of time, “I am going to get your left leg.” I doubted that he could. As we tied up, Lou grabbed my left arm and pulled down hard. I blocked and resisted with my left leg planted and forward. Lou dropped to the mat and picked up my left leg, just like he said.
After finishing my football career with a win for West Texas University in the Sun Bowl over Ohio University in 1963 I signed a contract at the Amarillo Airport to become a professional wrestler. (At the wheel well of a chartered TWA Super Constellation)
I had the opportunity and the privilege to face Lou Thesz in my first year of professional wrestling and 3 times as NWA World Champion. Lou Thesz represented “Credibility in professional wrestling” both as NWA World Champion and as one tough professional wrestler. Lou’s shoot wrestling skills made him one of the most respected among all professional wrestlers.
I am looking forward to seeing you at the Cauliflower Club in Las Vegas Nevada. I will be honored to accept this most prestigious award. Thank you to Brian Blair, Cauliflower Alley Club members and all who have supported me for this honor. Thank you to my friend Lou Thesz.
If you would like to enter the “Fraternity of Professional Wrestling” Call now 352-895-4658 or visit our website at www.dory-funk.com. You can also e-mail Dory Funk Jr. at fuanku@dory-funk.com.
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Spotlight in History
- 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02
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- 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
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