@@SB-jn8cw TerryFunk's biggest strength as a performer was his ability to reinvent himself as he got older. It's why he manaeged to in many ways outshine his older brother. Dory Jr. basically stayed the same character his whole career, which is why you don't hear much about him following the 70s. I say this with all due respect to Dory Funk Jr. who truly may be one of the best professional wrestlers of all time, but I much prefer Terry.
I was blessed to get to see Terry during his champion run at the old Winston Salem Memorial coliseum, i was only 12 years old , but remember it like it was yesterday, setting front row, still have a polaroid picture of him that night, great memories!!!!!
In that era, wrestler like Funk and Race could play either role, depending on who they were wrestling that night. Ric Flair could switch roles as well. It was necessary to do that depending on whom they might be wrestling on a given night.
Love seeing these because it's a telling time when winning that belt was everything! Would love to see the full aftermath when Dusty won it from Harley.
Back when it was far easier to take wrestling seriously . I knew it was a work but they worked hard for you to easily suspend your disbelief for about an hour .
Jack Brisco had this belt for almost 2 years and got tired. He walked into the promoters office and stated he was finished being the NWA champion and bring in Terry Funk. He dropped it to Terry without apology.
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 to be fair every nwa champion asked to drop the title because they would sooner or later crack under the pressure only flair never asked to drop it.
And Terry was a fantastic Champion and he did took an all challengers ! Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, Carlos Rocha, Giant Baba, Pat O`Connor you name it !
The Funks... the old guard of hard-core wrestling. Hard-core , meaning the way they approached their matches and it showed. It was about attitude and respect for the business. It wasn't about stupid tables ladders and chairs.
I was the biggest Jack Brisco mark back then. I was absolutely devastated when this happened. Hated Terry with a passion. Now he is known as a sweet guy who did what was right for business. Those days will sadly never come back.
@@CP-kb1du 14 yr old me might have been upset with this old news but 63 yr old not so much.... I don't blame Ernie for using a tire iron on 2 drunk Brisco's but it's not exactly like he beat them mano o mano.
that was the belt that meant something, the territories worked together and the belt went everywhere, much better way to run the business, mid atlantic territory got Race to pass it to Flair in 83 and that was that, the NWA became wcw in short time
In Roadhouse Movie they should have made the story such that funk , Swaszey , Sam Elliot and the other good guys eventually Beat ass on all the others being open and Fair and Honesty ....
Funny how Gordon said that Brisco had not been pinned in two years. Of course, they didn't mention the fact that Jack did the quick switch with Giant Baba during a tour of All Japan.
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 yep. The switches between Baba and Brisco as well as Race and Baba were done to draw the houses while they were on tour for All Japan. Of course, they got the belt back when the tours ended. However, the NWA board got more than a little pissed because the switches were done without their approval.
@@Sargebri Yet, because of that, Baba treated all the American talent brought in like kings and paid them well. Sometimes the NWA office just couldn't see the forest for the trees.
Terrible belt. Worst conditioned belt I’ve ever seen. I preferred the AWA’s Inmate belt over this one. I only grew to appreciate it later in life, but still not in my top 10 of belt designs.
@@bohacekml this particular belt had obviously seen better days and had been used more than a few times to bop someone on the head ! But the one that they used during the Race/Flair days was upgraded and more of a gold colour. Still a crazy cool belt design that thankfully is currently being used by today’s incarnation of the NWA!!
My favorite era when you had Pro Wrestling it was not sports entertainment garbage of today. You want to argue with that I tell you what I will leave you with this. How many of the people in WWE could actually wrestle any of these Legends for 30 minutes or a 1 hour match? They would be gassed within 5 minutes. I would have loved to see a Roman or a Brock in this era because they would have gotten stretched.
This is the version of Terry funk that I want to remember everybody knows the crazy lunatic with the hardcore matches but this was funk the wrestler!! you had to be able to do this to be the NWA champion you had to be able to be Babyface or villain you had to be able to wrestle or brawl terry Funk could do it all
Yep. He pretty much sounded humble to be champion. He probably was just as humble behind closed doors because of what it meant to be the one to wear that belt.
It's sad to see where the N.W.A World Title is right now,the prestige is not there.... Back then being the traveling N.W.A. world champion MEANT something
Same belt. The dented globe was replaced (and that one got dented too), and the black paint that chipped off quickly was replaced with onyx. Mid-Atlantic Gateway sells a book that tells the story of the belt, and it's quite interesting.
![Ric Flair & Bob Backlund Interview [1982-07-03]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xiJXy8KqdIc/mqdefault.jpg)
Incredible to think that Terry switched from technical NWA traditionalist to hardcore death match icon with totally believable success.
Is it possible to dislike Terry Funk? He just seems so kind. A really tough babyface but with a heart of gold.
Didn't realise Terry was so well spoken, articulate and courteous. Amazing
The fact he is measured, reserved, and respectful is a far cry from the mad man he later became is mind blowing
@@SB-jn8cw TerryFunk's biggest strength as a performer was his ability to reinvent himself as he got older. It's why he manaeged to in many ways outshine his older brother. Dory Jr. basically stayed the same character his whole career, which is why you don't hear much about him following the 70s. I say this with all due respect to Dory Funk Jr. who truly may be one of the best professional wrestlers of all time, but I much prefer Terry.
Wtf you talking about?
@@redauerbach2753 google it
Terry Funk motor oil promo
@@giovannidibravato5576 why would I when I saw it
growing up with a dad who had a territory and all the greats coming over to your home and work out with your dad and teach terry and dory jr. awesome
I was blessed to get to see Terry during his champion run at the old Winston Salem Memorial coliseum, i was only 12 years old , but remember it like it was yesterday, setting front row, still have a polaroid picture of him that night, great memories!!!!!
I only dream of back then and being there... 🍻
I'd like to see that picture
I was there also. My uncle took me to Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Lexington.
Gordon Solie is the grandmaster of commentators.
@Lewis 970 Gordon was perfect for the times he was in. NWA wrestling then was presented pretty seriously and he made it believable. It worked.
@Lewis 970 fuck you!! You dont know shit about wrestling.
@@MrAitraining I couldn’t have said it better myself!
This interview was breathtaking, the way it should be done, from two legends Terry Funk and Gordon Solie.
In that era, wrestler like Funk and Race could play either role, depending on who they were wrestling that night. Ric Flair could switch roles as well. It was necessary to do that depending on whom they might be wrestling on a given night.
When he was sane. WOW
Yeah he ended up looking like his dad
That shirt says otherwise.
Terry funk was great as either a good guy or bad guy.
Funk was that good.
Funk seemed like a real tough cowboy.
Terry about 32 years old here....Awsome
wrestlers like terry or dory funk will never be seen again.
Love seeing these because it's a telling time when winning that belt was everything! Would love to see the full aftermath when Dusty won it from Harley.
Back when it was far easier to take wrestling seriously . I knew it was a work but they worked hard for you to easily suspend your disbelief for about an hour .
Jack Brisco had this belt for almost 2 years and got tired. He walked into the promoters office and stated he was finished being the NWA champion and bring in Terry Funk. He dropped it to Terry without apology.
Imagine holding it for 4.5 years like Dory Jr did .
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 to be fair every nwa champion asked to drop the title because they would sooner or later crack under the pressure only flair never asked to drop it.
@@bpnk5237 Flair asked to drop it twice .
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 probably would have been more if not for the horsemen
is jerry or jack brisco dead?
And Terry was a fantastic Champion and he did took an all challengers ! Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, Carlos Rocha, Giant Baba, Pat O`Connor you name it !
Excellent Shirt that Terry is wearing, A man of style and good taste
Terry Funk wearing a sweater and being mild mannered? Nice!
The Funks... the old guard of hard-core wrestling. Hard-core , meaning the way they approached their matches and it showed. It was about attitude and respect for the business. It wasn't about stupid tables ladders and chairs.
Terry Funk once lit someone on fire in an exploding ring wrapped in barbedwire
Terrance Farnsworth Funk is quite simply ; The Best to Ever Do The Dammed Thing ..
I like the mr rogers sweater he's wearing!!!!
I was the biggest Jack Brisco mark back then. I was absolutely devastated when this happened. Hated Terry with a passion. Now he is known as a sweet guy who did what was right for business. Those days will sadly never come back.
Here is more Devastation Big Cat Ernie Ladd Beat Both Bone Heads Brisco's in a Parking Lot and drove them to the Local ER
@@CP-kb1du 14 yr old me might have been upset with this old news but 63 yr old not so much.... I don't blame Ernie for using a tire iron on 2 drunk Brisco's but it's not exactly like he beat them mano o mano.
Back when the champion made the belt and not the other way around .
Humble, measured, respectful...I like this version of Terry Funk better
He was great as a psycho heel as well.
I graduated from Funk U in 1984
Terry has a sensible side. Just gotta use it.
I think this is the only time I've ever seen Terry Funk wearing a button down sweater like Mr. Rogers.
that was the belt that meant something, the territories worked together and the belt went everywhere, much better way to run the business, mid atlantic territory got Race to pass it to Flair in 83 and that was that, the NWA became wcw in short time
matt p I agree it meant so much
He was always middle aged and crazy for atleast the last fifty yrs
The title had prestige back in those days
Terry Funk a true wrestling legend and great promo talker
Uh...the forgotten man Terry Funk ! Weighed only 155 pounds as a high school senior.
Terry has been around forever
Terry Funk should have been a World Champion more than 1 or 2 times, He was in Road House and Over the Top for Christ sake!!!
In Roadhouse Movie they should have made the story such that funk , Swaszey , Sam Elliot and the other good guys eventually
Beat ass on all the others being open and
Fair and Honesty ....
underrated legends.
Definitely not underrated, everyone with a tiny bit of wrestling knowledge is aware that these two men are two of the GOATS.
Funny how Gordon said that Brisco had not been pinned in two years. Of course, they didn't mention the fact that Jack did the quick switch with Giant Baba during a tour of All Japan.
Baba is a 3 time champion and his reigns did not surpass 1 week .
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 yep. The switches between Baba and Brisco as well as Race and Baba were done to draw the houses while they were on tour for All Japan. Of course, they got the belt back when the tours ended. However, the NWA board got more than a little pissed because the switches were done without their approval.
@@Sargebri Yet, because of that, Baba treated all the American talent brought in like kings and paid them well. Sometimes the NWA office just couldn't see the forest for the trees.
If Dory Funk Jr. was the longest reigning NWA Champion I have swampland in Arizona I’ll give away
Meaner than a rattlesnake and tougher than shoe leather!
What's this? A mild mannered polite Terry Funk wearing a button down sweater?
Lewis 970 want you be my neighbor lol
Lewis 970 Yes.That happened once .
@@franksullivan7110 You now make me imagine Mr. Funk's Neighborhood, which would be the greatest thing possibly ever...
@@MarquisLeary34 what is it kinda out of the loop with the new shit but but the Way Bryant fun house lol
@@MarquisLeary34 double cross ranch lol
i would love to see this on wwe network i really wish they would post the last six months of world championship wrestling 1989 and and all of 1990
That's to be the most beatup wrestler in History .
I've been beat up sideways , backwards
Foreward ands everyother way possible.
Pre-Hardcore legend Terry Funk
Terry funk became a completely different man afterwards lol
The funk brothers they were just great
it's still one of the best ever looking world championship belts!
Terrible belt. Worst conditioned belt I’ve ever seen. I preferred the AWA’s Inmate belt over this one. I only grew to appreciate it later in life, but still not in my top 10 of belt designs.
@@bohacekml this particular belt had obviously seen better days and had been used more than a few times to bop someone on the head ! But the one that they used during the Race/Flair days was upgraded and more of a gold colour. Still a crazy cool belt design that thankfully is currently being used by today’s incarnation of the NWA!!
I think Lou Thesz held the belt a little longer than Dory, eh.
Still weird seeing the Funker looking like he's the Fourth Doctor...
Now that you mention it…if he’d left the arena in a TARDIS, it would have been a HOOT!
Terry funk man he was so great
My favorite era when you had Pro Wrestling it was not sports entertainment garbage of today. You want to argue with that I tell you what I will leave you with this. How many of the people in WWE could actually wrestle any of these Legends for 30 minutes or a 1 hour match? They would be gassed within 5 minutes. I would have loved to see a Roman or a Brock in this era because they would have gotten stretched.
I hate that his dad didn’t get to see Terry be the champion.
Terry Funk sounds like he had a little helium.
Yeah notice how that globe is dented in
Terry is my all time fave!
This is the version of Terry funk that I want to remember everybody knows the crazy lunatic with the hardcore matches but this was funk the wrestler!! you had to be able to do this to be the NWA champion you had to be able to be Babyface or villain you had to be able to wrestle or brawl terry Funk could do it all
Damn! the belt looks like it was in a demolition derby
I was looking for this comment.
Yeah, it didn’t deserve the praise Gordon Solie was giving it. Any diamonds it might have had were long gone before this interview.
Atsushi Onita's american mentor
Love Terry but Lou Thesz held the NWA title longer than anyone, not Dory Jr.
Fearless.
Terry was born "Middle Aged and Crazy!"
$10,000 belt with a dent in it. Lol
Gordon Solie = Legend
I always liked Terry. As a heel he absolutely shined. He was a bit scary.
Am I the only one who was distracted by that piece of faux wood paneling that was leaning against the table, between Gordon and Terry?
Rip gordon solie
He sounds like Mankind does
Hmm…you might be on to something there. They did become really god friends and maybe Terry was Foley’s inspiration?
That shirt is Hideous!!!!
Then he switched to hardcore
R.I.P. 💐
Never seen gordon solie without classes
I think this kid's going to make it
Terry sounded SOOOOO different
Yep. He pretty much sounded humble to be champion. He probably was just as humble behind closed doors because of what it meant to be the one to wear that belt.
Gord Solie: The lowbrow version of Howard Cosell
FOREVER!!
Did Greg Valentine cause that massive dent in the globe on the belt?
RIP Champ.
the greatest hardcore wrestler ever
Sheik
No it's Wild Bull Curry
Wow. The 10 pounds of Gold is in some serious ill health.
It's sad to see where the N.W.A
World Title is right now,the prestige is not there.... Back then being the traveling N.W.A. world champion MEANT something
legendary price
Terry was only 31 here.
It's Morgan..... #Roadhouse
...Mind your own business...Dad.
Classic!
Rip sir
indeed
Goddammit I'm the funker
The funker!
Y’all ever smoke the hard gimmick?
That was a babyface promo, thought he was a heel then
Depends on the territory the champion was in at the time.
The globe is squashed??
Great champion
The belt was a mess then
Chainsaw Charlie
is that the same belt harley race and ric flair wore?...or another belt
Same belt. The dented globe was replaced (and that one got dented too), and the black paint that chipped off quickly was replaced with onyx. Mid-Atlantic Gateway sells a book that tells the story of the belt, and it's quite interesting.
JasonBassn the book is very well written, I picked it up awhile back.
Was this December of 75?
Yes.
250, 000 dollars was a whole lot of money back in 1975 believe it. it's a lot now
that NWA World title looks so beat up.
A JEW red nick....wow!
It was not long after funk dropped the title to Harley that they refurbished the belt and that one is in Triple H's office at WWE
@@carldarden4507 Why the fuck should that wannabe have it ?
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 that is the belt that Ric Flair owned before Crockett went to the big gold and its that belt that was sold to wwe
yellow belly gotta lucky break
Sorry, I can't take Terry as a babyface.
He was pretty dam tough but he was no match for Patrick "TwinkleToes" Swayze
Paddy O'Lantern "Mind your own business Dad."
Any else noticed at the beginning of this video the Canadian flag looked very different ?
At the time, they were still using the old pre-1965 Red Ensign flag
N Dub-Yah A
Terry the good guy? NOOOOOO!
10 grand?! No chance! If you are going to make claims like that, the belt shouldn't look like it was in a car boot sale the day before!
Mark Jabroni 4.5 lbs of gold
sabrebitty6 u just made me laugh so hard thank u .
I like the dent in the globe