WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk. Jr. Passes Away

The world has lost another wrestling legend, as WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. has passed away. The Ocala Gazette reports that Funk passed away on Tuesday, as confirmed by his wife Marti. Details on Funk’s passing were not revealed, though Marti Funk said he was under hospice care. He was 85 years old.

The Cauliflower Alley Club memorialized Funk, writing on Twitter:

“The CAC mourns the passing of one of professional wrestling’s true legends, Dory Funk Jr.

A champion, a teacher, a gentleman, and an ambassador for our great sport, Dory Funk Jr. leaves behind a legacy that will forever be remembered by wrestlers and fans around the world.”

Funk’s legendary career spanned 61 years and included a lengthy list of accolades, including the second-longest reign ever with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. A member of the iconic Funk wrestling family, he started his career in 1963 after a college football run. He began working in his father Dory Funk Sr.’s Western States Sports promotion where he competed against the likes of Harley Race and Mike DiBiase. Before long, he was working in other territories as well as Japan. His run with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship began in 1969 when he defeated Gene Kiniski.

Funk’s work in All Japan Pro Wrestling made him a legend in that country as well with feuds against the likes of Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, Abdullah The Butcher, and Genichiro Tenryu. He was a two-time NWA International Heavyweight Champion there, working for the promotion from 1973 through 1987.

Funk also had a brief stint in the WWE alongside his brother Terry, and they had a WrestleMania moment at WrestleMania II when they defeating the Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana. Dory would stick around longer than his brother, and tagged with his kayfabe brother Jimmy Jack Funk.

Dory Funk returned to AJPW in 1990 for a six-year stint and made appearances in a number of other promotions, including a few with Terry in ECW. He continued wrestling on and off over the years until he finally retired for good in 2024 after a Double Hell Current Explosion Death match, teaming with with Osamu Nishimura for a win over Atsushi Onita & Raijin Yaguchi.

Funk also was the head of the Funking Conservatory, where he trained countless stars including The Hardys, Lita, Kurt Angle, Mickie James, Ted DiBiase, Adam Copeland, and Christian Cage. He is a member of multiple hall of fames, including the WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2006), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2011), and International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2022).

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends, and many fans of Dory Funk. Professional wrestling would not be the same without him.

The CAC mourns the passing of one of professional wrestling’s true legends, Dory Funk Jr.

A champion, a teacher, a gentleman, and an ambassador for our great sport, Dory Funk Jr. leaves behind a legacy that will forever be remembered by wrestlers and fans around the world. pic.twitter.com/8ryT4Wn70b

— Cauliflower Alley Club (@CACReunion) August 4, 2026