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Bernard Funk Retires

Posted: Oct 29th 2009 By: CMBurnham

One of the longest careers on the Oklahoma independent circuit came to an end Saturday night as "The Texas Veteran" Bernard Funk declared his career over and retired in front of the ComPro crowd.

Funk began his career in 1993 and formed a dominant tag team with The Orginal Renegade. Together the pair won the WWEmp Tag Team Titles as well as securing the WWEmp Television Title. After WWEmp closed in 1996, Funk made his way to OPW, where he and his fellow members of the Texas Outlaws secured the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles. Funk's greatest singles accomplishment occurred in 1998 when defeated Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Title. He only held the belt for 3 weeks, but the reign would be considered a high point of his career.

Funk left wrestling in late 1998 to deal with some personal issues and would not return until 2004. By that point, his nephew Tim Rockwell had entered the sport and Funk engaged in a feud with his family member of the Texas Heavyweight Title that Funk carried (a title that has never been verified as legitimate by Oklafan.com). That feud eventually led to a partnership when both men left SRPW and came to TPW. With Ryan Davidson, they formed Texas, Inc. and began to run over the competition in the federation. But it was the departure of Davidson and the addition of manager Big Stevie Caballero that brought Texas, Inc. to their greatest point. Together, they would become the only documented tag team to hold 3 different tag team titles in 3 different federations simultaneously in Oklahoma history. They also hold a notable place as the first-ever ComPro & SWCW Tag Team Champions, as well as the last team to hold the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Titles and the TAP Tag Team titles.

October had not been the kindest month to Funk, as he & Rockwell engaged in one of the most brutal matches of their careers against The Old School Express for the MWA Tag Team Titles. The OSE came out victorious in that Old School Buttwhoopin' Match, finally capturing the belts they had been chasing for so long. At the end of that match, there seemed to be some tension between Funk & Rockwell as each blamed the other for the loss of the tag team titles. But all that seemed to be solved the next night when the defeated Team SuperBad for the ComPro Tag Team Titles.

This past Saturday, Rockwell & ComPro Champion Draven Cross came to the ring at the opening of the show. Rockwell declared that there was no competition for their titles and that was why he wasn't dressed to wrestle. At that point, Dawn of Extreme arrived. Crucifer took the microphone and said that he was tired of hearing Texas, Inc. talk. He said he wanted a title shot but Rockwell just laughed, saying Texas, Inc. was the best and everyone else was just garbage. ComPro owner Mike Two said that he disagreed and believed it was DOX's time. Rockwell reminded Mike that Funk wasn't there and he was dressed to wrestle. He also said the only way that Funk would wrestle was if he got free nachos. Mike Two told Rockwell to call his uncle because there would be a tag team title match in the main event that night and, if it helps motivate him, Funk would be paid in nachos!

Funk was there by the main event, gold around his waist and focused. Dawn of Extreme was also ready to gain the first championships in their young career. As should be no surprise, both teams stayed with their strengths. DOX concentrated on speed, quick tags and a flurry of offence. Texas, Inc. relied on double-team moves, experience and intimidations. The end came when Funk grabbed one of the tag team belts off the table and went to hit Ty Thunder, who was being held by Rockwell. Thunder ducked, Funk connected with Rockwell's head, knocking him out of the ring. Thunder then rolled up Funk for the win and the titles.

Bernard Funk then shocked the audience by asking for the microphone and announcing that they had seen his final match. He thanked the crowd for their support, whether they loved him or hated him. For 17 years, he had tried to entertain them. After saying a final good-bye, Rockwell went to meet his uncle and hug him in the ring, but that hug turned into a grapevine DDT, bringing even more surprise to the moment. Rockwell was venomous as he knelt over Funk, saying that he had broken his back for Texas, Inc. and could not believe that his partner was quitting on him. With a look of hatred on his face, he screamed "Good-Bye Bernie", then left as Mike Two summoned assistance to remove Bernie from the ring.

In the end, Funk will be remembered as an outstanding tag team wrestler, a vicious combatant and a long-time veteran. While Rockwell may carry on his legacy, Funk stands on his own. Oklahoma rings may be just a little safer now that Funk is retired, but it seems quite likely his spectre will hang over the rings for quite a while.