Dory Funk Jr. Passes Away at Age 85

Former NWA and All Japan Pro Wrestling legend Dory Funk Jr., full name Dorrance Earnest Funk, passed away earlier today at the age of 85.

Funk Jr.’s passing was first announced by the Ocala Gazette who reported that his wife Marti had contacted the outlet to announce his passing.

Portion of Ocala Gazette’s article:

“Talk about a punch to the gut—that’s how I felt when Marti Funk called me today to let me know the legendary Dory Funk Jr. had passed away.

Dory, of course, is world famous. But the native Texan has lived in Ocala so long that we claim him as one of our own.

Earlier this year, the “Ocala Gazette” wrote about Dory getting ready to celebrate his 85th birthday on Feb. 3 and learned from the couple how they met and more. According to Marti, he passed away under hospice care, today, Aug. 4. The two were “sweethearts” for 46 years and were married for 40.”

Funk Jr.’s pro wrestling career spanned from 1963 to 2024 and was most known for his time with the National Wrestling Alliance from 1963 to 1987 and his two stints with AJPW from 1973 to 1987 and from 1990 to 1996. Funk Jr. also had notable brief stints in both WWE in 1986 and Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1994 and 1997.

Funk Jr. was also known for being one half of the legendary The Funk Brothers tag team with his brother and wrestling legend Terry Funk.

Funk Jr. and his brother Terry are currently the only real life brothers in pro wrestling history to be a holder of the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship with Funk Jr. winning the belt in 1969 and Terry winning it in 1975.

Funk Jr.’s wrestling career achievements and accolades included being a one-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, two-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion, two-time NWA International Heavyweight Champion, four-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion, three-time AJPW World’s Strongest Tag Determination League winner, one-time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion, one-time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion, and inductions into the Stampede Wrestling (1995), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Musem (2005), NWA (2006), St. Louis (2008), WWE (2009), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling (2011), and International Professional Wrestling (2022) Hall of Fames.