The wrestling world lost an icon on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, when the hardcore legend Terry Funk passed away. Terry Funk was a second generation superstar, and brother of the second longest reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. The 6'1, 247 pound Terry Funk was billed from Amarillo, Texas. Terry Funk's career would span over 50 years and include stints with the NWA, WWE, WCW, TNA, ECW, CWA, Japan and many other promotions along the way.

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Debuting in 1965, Funk would officially officially retire in 2017 (after multiple retirement attempts). Funk would begin wrestling, after playing football at West Texas State University. Funk is credited for his role in expanding the popularity of hardcore wrestling. Terry Funk had numerous memorable moments in his wrestling career.

10 WCW 2000

While WCW 2000 is mostly looked upon as a disaster to the modern wrestling fan, Terry Funk thrived in the chaotic environment by winning 3 WCW Hardcore titles and his second US title during the dying days of World Championship Wrestling. Funk would also become the on-screen commissioner of WCW in January 2000. As commissioner, Funk would lead the Old Age Outlaws faction that included Arn Anderson, Paul Orndorff and Larry Zbyszko. WCW 2000 would highlight the charm that Terry Funk brought to any wrestling organization.

9 Jerry Lawler Empty Arena Match 1981

Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler would feud for 40 years in professional wrestling. Yet, the most memorable match between the two would occur in 1981 in the Continental Wrestling Association. At the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, Funk and Lawler would wrestle in an empty arena match. The match would only have a camera operator, photographer, Lance Russell and the two wrestlers. Funk would show off his future hardcore style by attacking Lawler with a 2x4 spike. Unfortunately, Jerry Lawler would use the spike on Funk.

8 Cactus Jack Exploding Death Match 1995

Terry Funk would truly step up his extreme side when touring in Japan in 1995. Funk would participate in the King of the Death Match tournament in 1995. The match was produced by the International Wrestling Association of Japan. In the first two rounds of the tournament Funk defeated Leatherface and Tiger Jeet Singh in extreme matches, Then in the final match, Funk would face Cactus Jack in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Exploding Barbed Wire Boards & Exploding Ring Time Bomb Death Match. Wow! While the Funkster lost the match, he made Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) a star.

7 WWE Tag Team Champion With Foley 1998

Terry Funk would team with Mick Foley in WWE in 1998. The duo used their alter egos; Chainsaw Charlie and Cactus Jack, as a tag team. The hardcore legends would defeat the New Age Outlaws in a dumpster match at WrestleMania 14 in a 10-minute slugfest for the tag team titles. Unfortunately Funk and Foley would lose the titles back to the Outlaws the next night on Raw in a steel cage match. By May 1998, Funk and Foley were wrestling each other again in hardcore style matches.

6 All Japan Real World Tag Champion With His Brother 1977

Terry Funk and his brother, Dory would be one of the most successful tag team's of their era. In 1977 the brothers would compete in All Japan's Real World Tag League round robin tournament and come out the winners. The brothers would capture the crown in 1979 and 1982 as well.

RELATED: Dory And Terry Funk & 12 Other NWA CHampions Who Appeared At WrestleMania

Pro Wrestling Illustrated named the Funk Brothers the 9th best tag team of the PWI years in 2003. Terry and Dory would hold the Western States NWA International Tag Team titles 2 times, NWA Hollywood International Tag Team titles 3 times, NWA Florida Tag Team Championships 2 times, the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championships once and SCW World Tag Team Championships once.

5 Defeating Raven For The ECW World Championship 1997

Terry Funk would capture the ECW World Title on the promotion's first pay-per-view, Barely Legal 1997. Terry Funk and Raven would headline the pay-per-view. The extreme match would see Raven's Nest and Tommy Dreamer get involved, leading to Dreamer DDT'ing Raven and allowing Funk to capture the ECW World Championship. Funk would drop the title 4 months later to Sabu in a barbed wire match. At the end of the match, both men had to be cut out of barbed wire.

4 Ric Flair Feud 1989

Terry Funk would join WCW in 1989 and have the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Feud of the Year with Ric Flair. Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat at WrestleWar 1989 for the NWA World Championship. After the 30-minute match, Funk would challenge Flair for the World Title. When Funk didn't receive the answer he wanted from Flair, he would piledrive the Nature Boy through a table.

RELATED: 10 Things Fans Should Know About The Ric Flair Vs. Terry Funk WCW Rivalry

That dastardly act would have the Wrestling Observer name Funk the 1989 Best Heel. The feud led to an I-Quit match at Clash of the Champions 9. Flair would win, but the fans were the big winners, as the match was an all-time classic.

3 NWA World Champion 1975

Terry Funk would defeat the legendary Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1975. Funk would hold the title for over a year and defend it across the world. His historic reign included stops in Japan, Australia, Singapore and all over North America. Funk would drop the title in Canada to Handsome Harley Race. Race locked Funk into an Indian Death Lock and eventually Funk didn't respond to the referee. This led to the match being stopped and Race being named champion.

2 WCW Hall of Fame 1995

Terry Funk would be inducted into the World Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame at Slamboree 1995. Funk was still an active competitor, but WCW felt he deserved the honor to go into the hall of fame with Big John Studd, Dusty Rhodes, Gordon Solie, Angelo Poffo and Antonio Inoki in 1995. The WCW Hall of Fame would only have three classes and a total of 17 inductions. Funk was proud to be one of those old school legends to be honored at Slamboree.

1 WWE Hall Of Fame 2009

Terry Funk and his brother Dory Jr would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009. The star studded 2009 class also included Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, Cowboy Bill Watts, Howard Finkel, the Von Erichs and Koko B Ware. The Funks were inducted by the American Dream Dusty Rhodes. The event took place at WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas and was hosted by his long time rival, the aforementioned Jerry the King Lawler.