History Wrestling / TerryFunk

"The Hardcore Icon" and "The Funker" '''Terry Funk''' (born Terrence Funk on June 30, 1944) is a semi-retired American [[ProWrestling professional wrestler]] who is a former [[{{Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance}} NWA]] [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world-h.html World Heavyweight Champion]], a pioneer of the [[GarbageWrestler hardcore wrestling]] style in North America, and one of the [[{{Wrestling/ECW}} ECW]] Originals. He also has made appearances in Japan with both [[{{Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling}} AJPW]] and (around 2011) [[{{Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling}} (NJPW)]], as well as in Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council (WWC), the [[{{Wrestling/WWE}} WWWF/WWF/WWE]] and [[{{Wrestling/WCW}} WCW]] (both during the later NWA/WCW days and near the end of WCW's run).

* TalkShowWithFists: Funk's Grill in [[{{Wrestling/WCW}}]], circa 1989/1990.

* UnfortunateNames: His last name is one letter away from being one of [[{{Creator/GeorgeCarlin]] George Carlin]]'s [[SevenDirtyWords Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television]]. (Does the interchangeable letter need to be noted here?)

* UnrelatedBrothers: Both straight with Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr, son to wrestler and promoter Sandy Barr, older brother to [[{{Wrestling/WCW}}WCW]] and AAA wrestler Art Barr) in Rock 'N' Wrestling Era WWF and averted with RealLife brother Dory Funk Jr.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With [[{[Wrestling/MickFoley}} Mick Foley]]. If they're working at the same promotion at the same time, they'll have brutal matches against each other and teaming up in a short span of time.

"The Hardcore Icon" and "The Funker" '''Terry Funk''' (born Terrence Funk on June 30, 1944) is a semi-retired American [[ProWrestling professional wrestler]] who is a former [[NationalWrestlingAlliance NWA]] World Heavyweight Champion, a pioneer of the [[GarbageWrestling hardcore wrestling]] style in North America, and one of the {{ECW}} Originals. He also has made appearances in Japan with both All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and (around 2011) New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), as well as in Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council (WWC), the {{WWE}} (both when it was the WWF and the WWE), and {{WCW}} (both during the later NWA/WCW days and near the end of WCW's run).

Oh, and too many {{Ten Minute Retirement}}s to count. He was last noted to have fought JerryLawler in 2011, so he's a LongRunner, too.

* BlessedWithSuck: Being NWA World Heavyweight Champ back in TheSeventies meant lots of travel from one territory to another, ''seven days a week''. (This still continued with {{Wrestling/Ric Flair}}'s NWA World Heavyweight title reigns in the 1980s.) Traveling so much led to...

* BloodKnight: In Memphis, aiming straight for JerryLawler.

* ConspiracyTheorist: Felt that Memphis fans, wrestling announcer Lance Russell, and Memphis police were all on JerryLawler's side in 1981. This led to him challenging Lawler to an Empty Arena Match. (See EyeScream for the results.)

* {{Expy}}: Terryman in ''{{Manga/Kinnikuman}}''. {{Wrestling/Mick Foley}} in ProWrestling.
* EyeScream: Twice, both in 1981. First, the "Empty Arena Match" against JerryLawler: Got himself stabbed in the eye with a piece of broken-off wood. For the second one, which you don't exactly hear him screaming, see GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim below.
* FinishingMove: Spinning Toe Hold.

* GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim: The "Florida Cracker" promo. In 1981, when he was feuding with JerryLawler, this time in Florida, he was saying that Lawler wanted to become a ''real'' Floridian (Lawler's from Memphis, Tennessee), "not a transplant". The Funker wanted to know what it'd be like to be a "true Florida cracker". He then really mocks the people of Florida (and what he said was Lawler's desire to become one of them) by dumping ''Quaker State Super Blend motor oil'' on his head, upper body, and ''face'', which ''[[CaptainObvious burns his eyes]]''. (Damn, Terry could've blinded himself right then and there!) He then pours dirt and sand on himself to really drive it home and then wants to challenge Lawler to a loser-gets-covered-in-motor-oil-and-dirt match. (At this point, Terry shuts his eyes tight enough due to the oil burning his eyes. Ouch.)

** This troper won't post the link of the YouTube video here because the video seems to be in WWE's possession (with "WWE 24/7" in the upper right-hand corner), and TVTropes is leery about linking YouTube videos that are copyrighted by {{WWE}}. Search YouTube for "Terry Funk oil" or "Terry Funk Florida" to find it.

* LampshadeHanging: At {{ECW}} ''Ultra Clash'' 1993, Terry Funk and Stan Hansen faced Kevin Sullivan and "The Madman from the Sudan" Abdullah the Butcher in a "Bunkhouse Match." The match went to a DQ when "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, who had left the company the night before and announced his "retirement," interfered and attacked Funk. {{Wrestling/Joey Styles}} explained that in Eastern Championship Wrestling, which it was called back then, you can use weapons but can not have outside interference. Eventually, ECW got rid of the "no outside interference" rule.

* OlderHeroVSYoungerVillain: The older hero to the younger villain {{Wrestling/Raven}} in the original {{ECW}}.

* RedBaron: "Terrible" when he started with the WWF in 1985/1986.

* TheRival: RicFlair, the Briscos (especially when Terry teamed with Dory Jr.), Dusty Rhodes, and JerryLawler.
* [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules Screw the Money]]! ThisIsGoingToBeHuge!: His promo about the new ProWrestling company "The FFF: Funk, Funk and Florida!" in Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1987. He and Dory Funk Jr. didn't have millions of dollars to throw around or 220 syndicated stations, but they were the best athletes. (He then proceeds to rip into Blackjack Mulligan, Mike Rotundo [AKA [[Characters/WWERockNWrestling Irwin R. Schyster]]], Kevin Sullivan, and Dusty Rhodes. ''[[RefugeInAudacity Oh, and he also said that]] '''[[RefugeInAudacity Oliver North]]''' [[RefugeInAudacity -- and this was]] '''[[RefugeInAudacity after]]''' [[RefugeInAudacity the Iran-Contra Affair broke out -- wouldn't take a chance on either Terry or Dory!]]'')

* TalkShowWithFists: Funk's Grill in {{WCW}}, circa 1989/1990.

* UnfortunateNames: His last name is one letter away from being one of GeorgeCarlin's [[SevenDirtyWords Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television]]. (Does the interchangeable letter need to be noted here?)

* UnrelatedBrothers: Both straight with Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr, son to wrestler and promoter Sandy Barr, older brother to {{WCW}} and AAA wrestler Art Barr) in Rock 'N' Wrestling Era WWF and averted with RealLife brother Dory Funk Jr.
* VitriolicBestBuds: With MickFoley. If they're working at the same promotion at the same time, they'll have brutal matches against each other and teaming up in a short span of time.

"The Hardcore Icon" and "The Funker" '''Terry Funk''' (born Terrence Funk on June 30, 1944) is a semi-retired American [[ProWrestling professional wrestler]] who is a former {{NWA}} World Heavyweight Champion, a pioneer of the [[GarbageWrestling hardcore wrestling]] style in North America, and one of the {{ECW}} Originals. He also has made appearances in Japan with both All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and (around 2011) New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), as well as in Puerto Rico with the World Wrestling Council (WWC), the {{WWE}} (both when it was the WWF and the WWE), and {{WCW}} (both during the later NWA/WCW days and near the end of WCW's run).

* CowboysAndIndians: The Cowboys to the "[[InsistentTerminology Native Americans]]" [[NationalWrestlingAlliance Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco]].

* GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim: The "Florida Cracker" promo. In 1981, when he was feuding with JerryLawler, this time in Florida, he was saying that Lawler wanted to become a ''real'' Floridian (Lawler's from Memphis, Tennessee), "not a transplant". The Funker wanted to know what it'd be like to be a "true Florida cracker". He then really mocks the people of Florida (and Lawler's perceived desire to become one of them) by dumping ''Quaker State Super Blend motor oil'' on his head, upper body, and ''face'', which ''[[CaptainObvious burns his eyes]]''. (Damn, Terry could've blinded himself right then and there!) He then pours dirt and sand on himself to really drive it home and then wants to challenge Lawler to a loser-gets-covered-in-motor-oil-and-dirt match. (At this point, Terry shuts his eyes tight enough due to the oil burning his eyes. Ouch.)

** HeroicFatigue: His February 6, 1977 title loss to Harley Race was because of this. He got sick and tired of the travel schedule.

* [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules Screw the Money]]! ThisIsGoingToBeHuge!: His promo about the new ProWrestling company "The FFF: Funk, Funk and Florida!" in Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1987. He and Dory Funk Jr. didn't have millions of dollars to throw around or 220 syndicated stations, but they were the best athletes. (He then proceeds to rip into Blackjack Mulligan, Mike Rotundo [a.k.a. [[Characters/WWERockNWrestling Irwin R. Schyster]]], Kevin Sullivan, and Dusty Rhodes. ''[[RefugeInAudacity Oh, and he also said that]] '''[[RefugeInAudacity Oliver North]]''' [[RefugeInAudacity -- and this was]] '''[[RefugeInAudacity after]]''' [[RefugeInAudacity the Iran-Contra Affair broke out -- wouldn't take a chance on either Terry or Dory!]]'')

* TaremeEyes: More squinted than doe-eyed, but still, they aren't TsurimeEyes.

* TheRival: RicFlair, the Briscos (especially when Terry teamed with Dory Jr.), Dusty Rhodes, and JerryLawler.

* {{Expy}}: Terryman in {{Manga/Kinnikuman}}. {{Wrestling/Mick Foley}} in ProWrestling.

* CowboysAndIndians: The Cowboys to the ''Native Americans'' [[NationalWrestlingAlliance Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco]].

* GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim: The "Florida Cracker" promo. In 1981, when he was feuding with JerryLawler, this time in Florida, he was saying something about Lawler wanting to become a real Floridian (Lawler's from Memphis, Tennessee), "not a transplant". The Funker wanted to know what it'd be like to be a "true Florida cracker". He then proceeds to dump ''Quaker State Super Blend motor oil'' on his head, upper body, and ''face'', which ''[[CaptainObvious burns his eyes]]''. (Damn, Terry could've blinded himself right then and there!) He then pours dirt and sand on himself to really drive it home and then wants to challenge Lawler to a loser-gets-covered-in-motor-oil-and-dirt. (At this point, Terry shuts his eyes tight enough due to the oil burning his eyes. Ouch.)

* VocalDissonance: A crazy-as-hell Texan with a [[SoftSpokenSadist soft-spoken voice]]. Yeah, he'll scream, but he starts off like a gentle Tex.
* WhatAnIdiot: See GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim above.

* [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Japan Loves Terry Funk]]: Oh, boy, do the Japanese love this guy.

* NightmareFuel / Squick: His Barbed Wire Rope Match against Sabu on ECW's ''Born to Be Wired'' PPV, even though Sabu's gash-in-the-arm was more notable than what Terry suffered. PaulHeyman didn't want anybody in ECW trying another Barbed Wire Rope match because he didn't think it could be topped and didn't want to see anybody else ''try'', but Shane Douglas booked a Barbed Wire Three-Way-Dance between Sabu, Funk, and himself for ''Hardcore Homecoming'' - and it was just as disturbingly brilliant as the original.

* [[AmericansHateTingle Puerto Rico Hates Terry Funk]]: Loathed in Puerto Rico.

* TearJerker: His ''first'' retirement in 1983 in Japan. "FOREVER! FOREVER!" Even with the subversion of this trope with future "retirements", some fans do get teary when seeing that moment replayed.

* ValuesDissonance: Playing a ProWrestling version of CowboysAndIndians, even without the costumes, might not work so well in the 21st century.

* UnfortunateNames: His last name is one letter away from being one of GeorgeCarlin's [[SevenDirtyWords Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Television]].
** Lex Luger in WCW around 1989/1990 had a slip of the tongue with it.

* WrestlingDoesntPay: His forays into acting, which do afford him health insurance by way of the Screen Actors' Guild.

* BlessedWithSuck: Being NWA World Heavyweight Champ back in TheSeventies meant lots of travel from one territory to another, ''seven days a week''. (This was ''before'' any of {{Wrestling/RicFlair}}'s title reigns in the 1980s.) Traveling so much led to...
** HeroicFatigue: His February 6, 1977 title loss to Harley Race was because of this.

* [[AmericansHateTingle Puerto Rico Hates Terry Funk]]: Loathed in Puerto Rico throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

* TheRival: RicFlair, the Briscos (especially if Terry teamed with Dory Jr.), and JerryLawler.

* BadassGrandpa

* CoolOldGuy
* EyeScream: Twice, both in 1981. Got himself stabbed in the eye with a broken piece of a wooden chair during his feud in Memphis against JerryLawler. For the second one, which you don't exactly hear him screaming, see GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim below.

* AmericansAreCowboys: Seen somewhat throughout the 1970s and 1980s in typical cowboy garb: cowboy hat, poncho, and chaps. He also had his "double-cross" branding iron at times.

* RedOniBlueOni: The Red Oni to his Blue Oni brother Dory Funk Jr. You should only need one match, preferably after both of their NWA World title reigns, to see who was what half of this trope.
* TearJerker: His ''first'' retirement in 1983 in Japan. "FOREVER! FOREVER!" Even with the subversion of this trope with future "retirements", some fans do get teary when seeing that moment replayed.

* TheRival: RicFlair, the Briscos (especially if Terry teamed with Dory Jr.), and JerryLawler.
* UnrelatedBrothers: Both straight with Jimmy Jack Funk (Jesse Barr, son to wrestler and promoter Sandy Barr, older brother to {{WCW}} and AAA wrestler Art Barr) in Rock 'N' Wrestling Era WWF and averted with RealLife brother Dory Funk Jr.

* WrestlingFamily: Duh.

* GoingNative / ToKnowHimIMustBecomeHim: In 1981, when he was feuding with JerryLawler, this time in Florida, he was saying something about Lawler wanting to become a real Floridian (Lawler's from Memphis, Tennessee), "not a transplant". The Funker wanted to know what it'd be like to be a "true Florida cracker". He then proceeds to dump ''Quaker State Super Blend motor oil'' on his head, upper body, and ''face'', which ''[[CaptainObvious burns his eyes]]''. (Damn, Terry could've blinded himself right then and there!) He then pours dirt and sand on himself to really drive it home and then wants to challenge Lawler to a loser-gets-covered-in-motor-oil-and-dirt. (At this point, Terry shuts his eyes tight enough due to the oil burning his eyes. Ouch.)

* CowboysAndIndians: The Cowboys to the ''Native Americans'' Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco back in the {{NWA}}.

** WhatAnIdiot: Terry should've worn goggles if he was going to shower himself in oil so he could spare his eyes ''the pain''. Because of the oil not washing out of his hair for several days, his pillow got oil blotches and had to be thrown away, confirmed by WordOfGod in his 2005 autobiography. Some VHS/DVD collections of his matches and promos have also hinted that he may have had to [[TraumaticHaircut either cut his hair short or shave it off]] because the oil wouldn't wash out.

* RedOniBlueOni: Red Oni to Blue Oni Dory Funk Jr.

* CoolOldGuy