WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr has died at the age of 85, prompting a wave of tributes across the professional wrestling community.
Triple H announced Funk’s passing on Tuesday, honoring the legend’s in-ring style and the impact he made on the industry during his decades-long career.
‘From the Double Cross Ranch to the WWE Hall of Fame, Dory’s style inspired countless performers in our industry,’ Triple H wrote in a tribute on social media.
‘Whether it was at WrestleMania 2, WCW, ECW, or the dozens of NWA-affiliated promotions, his travels across North America and Asia were a part of the early blueprint that helped build this business into a global phenomenon.’
Funk began his professional wrestling career in 1963 and reached the pinnacle of the sport in 1969 when he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
He held the title for over four years, marking the second-longest uninterrupted reign in the belt’s history.
WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. has died at the age of 85
Funk began his professional wrestling career in 1963 and reached the pinnacle of the sport in 1969 when he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Alongside his younger brother, Terry Funk, who passed away in August 2023 at age 79, Dory made history as part of the only pair of siblings to both hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
The duo wrestled together worldwide, including a notable tag-team appearance at WrestleMania 2, before being inducted together into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Beyond his accomplishments in the ring, Funk was instrumental in shaping the next generation of sports entertainment stars, spending decades training future legends such as Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian Cage and the Hardy Boyz.
‘A hard-nosed and fierce competitor, his rugged in-ring style was only eclipsed by the decades he spent training athletes to perform in the squared circle he loved so much,’ Triple H added.
‘My thoughts and those of the entire WWE Universe are with his loved ones during this difficult time.’
