Daily Update: Terry Funk forever

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

See Dave & Bryan in London

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • G-1 MVP and best match of G-1
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • Behind the scenes of the last month of AEW. why stories were kept quiet, why people were not allowed to attend Collision, why this has gone on for 18 months
  • All of the recent incidents talked about from multiple sides
  • The promo by C.M. Punk and what happened at the Greensboro show which led to all of his getting out
  • Different reactions to the promo
  • The apology that did happen
  • All In and attendance records plus the updated card with new matches that have not yet been announced
  • Full coverage of the end of G-1 and the big fall shows for New Japan
  • Business notes on G-1
  • Naito has two of the best matches of the year
  • Koichi Yoshizawa and his role in Japanese wrestling coverage in the U.S.
  • Saturday’s UFC coverage and where the top stars go from here as well as the business notes
  • Coverage of the final TripleMania show of the year and storylines behind it
  • Tammy Sytch update
  • The most detailed look at ratings for all the wrestling and MMA shows, gains and losses with what groups and why, what segments did the best and worst
  • Another women’s champion out of action due to surgery
  • RevPro and CMLL working relationship notes
  • World Grand Prix notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage and upcoming tag team tournament
  • N-1 coverage
  • New Japan and Stardom business notes
  • Hiromu Takahashi talks junior heavyweight goals
  • New Japan PPV shows this weekend
  • One of the biggest women stars has major surgery and a look back at her career
  • How the television industry continues to change
  • Full PWG coverage of the first show since January including some of AEW’s top stars
  • Update on new promotion opening next month and what well known announcer is in talks to appear
  • RevPro anniversary show update
  • WWE & AEW upcoming ticket sales
  • WWE & AEW streaming numbers
  • WWE and AEW international ratings
  • Conor McGregor talks future
  • Former UFC legend officially retires
  • Update on Bellator sale
  • Update on PPV numbers for Diaz-Paul and SummerSlam
  • Former WWE wrestler wins MMA fight
  • Edge and possible retirement
  • Build to Payback show
  • ESPN exec talks interest in pro wrestling
  • Possible retirement of Lacey Evans
  • Women’s tag title update
  • Asuka talks Japanese wrestling and the back story
  • Logan Paul offers a $1 million bet
  • New WWE signing

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE extended its condolences to Terry Funk’s friends, family, and fans after his passing: “WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79. WWE extends its condolences to Funk’s family, friends and fans.”
  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque wrote: “Every night in cities all over the world, Terry Funk left it all in the ring for our business and for the fans. An icon of our industry. My thoughts are with Terry’s family, friends and fans.”
  • Mick Foley: “Hi, this is Mick. Terry’s daughters, Brandee and Stacy, have asked me to let you know how much they appreciate all the love and support you have showed him over the years – and how much they appreciate your condolences and kind words now. #RIPTerryFunk”
  • Kevin Owens posted on X:
          • I don’t really come here ever anymore but I had to today to say that Terry Funk was the absolute best of us and that getting to be in the ring with him 10 years ago is and always will be one of the absolute highlights of my career, bar none.
          • To this day, I still often think back on that night and shake my head in disbelief at the absolute privilege and incredible luck I had to get to be in there with him.
          • The energy and aura that Terry Funk carried with him into the ring that night is something I had never experienced before and have not experienced since, and I’ve been in there with some pretty crazy names…
          • I’ll never forget it.
          • Terry Funk.
          • Forever.
  • William Regal: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Funk. I knew Terry before I came to the US as he came to Europe. A totally incredible, wonderful and lovely man. I have my own treasured tales of times together. My condolences to Terrys family. Rest well.”
  • John Bradshaw Layfield: “One of the reasons I got in the business was Terry Funk. Love you Texas legend, RIP.”
  • In an interview with the Ten Count, Santos Escobar confirmed that Rey Mysterio suffered a “small, mild concussion” in their match on the July 28 episode of SmackDown. Escobar was asked how Mysterio’s injury changed the plans for the match:
          • The show that you got is the show that it was going to be. I believe that it is important to present a good show, and I believe that was the case that night. Rey and I went hard at it, that’s what we agreed upon. We have a very long relationship. We have a bond. And when you have that, you go hard. And that’s what happens when you go hard. He had a small, mild concussion. But he came back hard and then you know what happened a couple weeks after the fact [Mysterio won the United States title from Austin Theory].
  • Chelsea Green & Piper Niven posted a video attempting to rid the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles of their negative energy.
  • Hulk Hogan was the guest on today’s episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.
  • Edge, Becky Lynch, and Chad Gable appeared on WWE’s The Bump.
  • Joe Gacy was interviewed on Out of Character.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW posted a tribute to Terry Funk:
          • AEW is saddened to learn of the passing of the legendary Terry Funk. Hailing from the ‘Double Cross Ranch’ in Amarillo, TX, Funk was known to fans worldwide for being ‘middle aged and crazy’ with a charismatic persona and unpredictable in-ring style that spanned all forms of matches. Over the the course of his historic Hall of Fame career, Funk competed for wrestling promotions all over the world, holding multiple singles Championships and tag team gold alongside his brother, Dory, and captivated fans with rivalries against the likes of Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, Sting and many others.
          • Outside the ring, Funk consistently gave back to the business he loved through mentorship, offering his incredible guidance and experience to the next generation of wrestling stars. In addition, Funk made a successful transition to the silver screen, appearing in such films as ‘Road House’ with Patrick Swayze and ‘Over The Top’ alongside Sylvester Stallone.
          • AEW sends its deepest condolences to Funk’s family, friends and fans. His legacy will continue to influence the professional wrestling industry in perpetuity.
  • Jim Ross: “I loved him like family. Terry was a brilliant mind. Absolutely amazing ring psychology. He was physically and mentally as tough as a $2 steak.”
  • Dustin Rhodes: “Just heard that Terry Funk is gone. Truly heartbroken over this. He has known me since I was a child. He was an incredible mentor and friend. Love him so much and sad to see him go. I know he is no longer in pain and has probably rekindled his war with Pops in heaven. Rest easy TF #RestInPeaceTerryFunk”
  • Taz: “I’m very sad to hear of the passing of a true legend & a great person, Terry Funk. Several of us had the honor & pleasure of being at his Double Cross Ranch many years ago after a show in Amarillo, I’ll never forget that!! Words can’t explain how Terry was just GREAT on so many levels. #RIPTerryFunk”
  • Lance Storm: “I will say more eventually. This one hits hard. RIP Terry Funk. A pleasure and honour to know you. Respect always.”
  • Matt Hardy: “#RIP Terry Funk. Not only were you the most amazing pro wrestler ever, you were the most incredible human being. Godspeed, Funker. My thoughts are with your family, friends & fans. You’ll be greatly missed.”
  • MJF: “Forever. RIP, Terry Funk.”
  • Frankie Kazarian: “The words ‘great’ and ‘legend’ are thrown around way too frequently. Terry Funk was both of those things and SO much more. An incredible and unique talent. An influence of a generation. An absolute gentleman. A man I was honored to have been friendly with. Godspeed sir.”
  • Steve “Mongo” McMichael has been named as a senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024: “Steve McMichael is one of the three Senior Finalists for the Class of 2024. Each Finalist requires 80% approval from a vote that will be held early next year by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s full 50-person Selection Committee to be part of the Class of 2024.”
  • AEW announced that Stadium Stampede mode will be available to play on Fight Forever within the next 24 hours. The official launch time is 6 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow (August 24).
  • While appearing on the Under the Ring podcast, Adam Cole gave an update on his health. Cole said he’s feeling better than he’s felt in years:
          • Oh, man, I feel great. I feel really, really good. I’ve been wrestling for 15 years and I remember thinking, you know, nine months is both a long time and then I would also trick myself into thinking, ‘Oh, nine months isn’t that long? I’ll jump right back into it and I’ll be totally fine.’ There definitely was a re-learning curve when I came back. I think a lot of it had to do with the severity of what I went through. I remember being totally relieved and so happy that I was cleared by multiple doctors, but there still was that like, God, what if something else happens type of fear and I’m just being totally transparent and honest when it comes to that. But now as time has gone on, specifically, these past few months, I feel the best I have felt in years, honestly like, both in the ring, on the microphone, while traveling, in my personal life, like everything that’s happening right now I could not be happier. I’m so thankful, so grateful to be able to be back in the ring doing what I love to do, and truth be told, I have never been more physically, mentally, emotionally, more ready for this giant event. I feel great. I feel really, really good.
  • While speaking with Uproxx, Swerve Strickland discussed how being released by WWE left a big chip on his shoulder:
          • That left a big chip on my shoulder to prove it was one of the biggest mistakes you could have made. And now, winning the tag titles with Keith Lee and doing a co-main event in pay-per-views with said tag titles, doing all these big arenas and being featured in a lot of different, very unique ways and being able to do the music crossover and show them that was one of the biggest mistakes you made, but you can’t have it back now. You can’t make up for that now and I’m creating something that’s even bigger than what you expected of me over there. I’m really blessed in that department. I want to not just give back to them, but I want to showcase, I want to exceed the expectations of me here at AEW as well.
  • MJF told SI FanNation about how much he learned from his Iron Man match against Bryan Danielson from this year’s Revolution PPV:
          • I will say this about Bryan–I learned far more inside of that match, bell to bell, than I’d ever learned in the history of my career in a match. I wanted to kill that mother—–, but I also learned what made Bryan Danielson the American Dragon. And that made me levels better. We have zero in common, and I mean zero, but I learned a lot. And that was the first time we’d ever shared a ring together, which too many people gloss over.
  • MJF took part in a town hall with Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca yesterday at SiriusXM studios.
  • MJF and Adam Cole are appearing together on the next episode of Hot Ones Truth or Dab. The video will be uploaded to YouTube tomorrow.
  • The Athletic has a story on Tony Khan (subscription required).
  • DAZN interviewed Paul Wight.
  • Mike Mooneyham wrote about the death of “Honest Abe” Jacobs, who was the oldest known living wrestler at 95.