WWE legend Ric Flair is mourning the loss of former wrestler Dory Funk Jr. this week.
Funk fought for the National Wrestling Alliance and All Japan Pro Wrestling before joining the WWE in 1986. He had an excellent run in the tag team division and eventually earned a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Earlier this week, the WWE confirmed that Funk passed away at the age of 85. Flair posted a message about Funk's legacy on social media Wednesday.
"I’m More Than Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great And I Do Mean GREAT Dory Funk Jr.! If You Didn’t Have The Opportunity To Wrestle A Funk, Whether It Be Dory Or Terry, You Missed The Opportunity Of A Lifetime," Flair wrote on X. "The Word Wrestling And Funk Are Synonymous. There Are Not Enough Mount Rushmores To Accommodate Everybody, But I’m Sure That Anyone Who Wrestled Either One Of Them Would Agree That They’re On Someone’s Mount Rushmore. So Many Thoughts On My Mind Right Now As I’m Coming Home From A WrestleCon. I Know We Are All Getting Older, And I Would Emphasize To Everyone, Because You Can’t Buy Time, To Live Every Moment Of Your Life To The Fullest. Rest In Peace My Great Friend Dory Funk Jr.! What A Great Ride You Had!"
Flair's heartfelt tribute for Funk, which already has over 200,000 views, included a recent photo of them.
His legacy will live on forever.
After retiring from in-ring competition, Funk trained a handful of wrestling stars such as Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian and The Hardy Boyz.
“From the Double Cross Ranch to the @WWE Hall of Fame, Dory’s style inspired countless performers in our industry,” Triple H wrote on Instagram. “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 phenomena. 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. My thoughts and those of the entire @WWE Universe are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”
There's no doubt Funk's influence on wrestling will last for years to come.
