• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Dory Funk, Jr. and Gorilla Monsoon in 2011 Hall of Fame

Posted: Oct 15th 2010 By: mikeiles

Dory Funk, Jr. and Gorilla Monsoon to enter Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame

WATERLOO, Iowa ? Two professional wrestling legends, Dory Funk, Jr. and Gorilla Monsoon, have been selected for induction into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2011. The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame is located inside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.

Criteria for induction into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame include substantial impact on professional wrestling, general respect within the profession, and a strong amateur wrestling background.

The 30-member selection committee includes all living hall of fame members and Frank Gotch Award winners, as well as wrestling historians William Murdock, George Schire, Jason Sanderson, and Mike Mooneyham.

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1999. That class included Frank Gotch, Ed Lewis, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, and George Tragos. The Class of 2011 will be the 13th induction class.

?This hall of fame has set the standard for professional wrestling excellence,? said William Murdock, a member of the selection committee and a past Lou Thesz Award winner.? Every inductee since its inception has honored the sport of wrestling through their ability, character, and professionalism. In honoring these wrestlers the sport of wrestling itself is elevated.?

Dory Funk, Jr., this year?s living inductee, will join his father, Dory Funk, Sr., and brother, Terry Funk, in the hall of fame. Dory, Sr. was inducted in 2006 and Terry was inducted in 2010. The Funks will be the first family with three members in the hall of fame.

Funk, Jr. is best known for his four-year NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign. Funk is currently the coach of Funking Conservatory, a professional wrestling school featuring his unique brand of wrestling. The school is based out of Ocala, Florida.

Bob Marella, known by his professional wrestling name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an accomplished college wrestler. Marella placed second at 1959 NCAA tournament for Ithaca College at heavyweight.

Monsoon had a distinguished professional wrestling career that included many titles, including the WWWF (now WWE) United States Tag Team title. He was also known for his successful career as a commentator for the WWE. Monsoon died on Oct. 6, 1999.

Winners of the Frank Gotch Award, Lou Thesz Award, George Tragos Award, and Jim Melby Award will be announced in the coming weeks.

The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend will take place on July 22-23, 2011, in Waterloo, Iowa. The weekend includes a celebrity golf tournament, a professional wrestling show, wrestling seminars, a wrestling round table discussion, an autograph signing, and an induction banquet.

For additional information contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745 or e-mail info@wrestlingmuseum.org.