On August 23, 2023 the wrestling world lost a true legend in Terry Funk at only 79 years old. I had met Terry in 2003 in Danbury, Connecticut at and independent show called Xobuko. I think they only ran a couple shows. Mr. Funk was one of the nicest and kindest wrestlers I have ever met, he was so warm and welcoming. Maybe it was the soft voice or the kindness in his eyes but he was just awesome! My picture with Terry Funk is one of my all time favorites.
I've listened to a couple tribute podcasts about his life including the Something to Wrestle episode with Brice Prichard and Conrad Thompson with one of Conrad's thorough breakdown of Funk's career. One aspect they didn't discuss that I got curious about was his WCW run in 1994.
I remember back in the day watching WCW Slamboree 1994 a Legends Reunion, May 22, 1994 at the Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That night Terry Funk battled Tully Blanchard to a double DQ. I have always been a huge Tully Blanchard fan and it was so cool to see him wrestle again after not seeing him since he left WWF.
I know it was a one off for Blanchard and I don't recall seeing Funk in WCW after that match but his ECW run during that time is very vivid to me. In a Tully Blanchard interview he did years after this event he mentioned that Funk had been signed by WCW that night I didn't think much about it then, but after his death for some reason the one of the first things that popped in my mind was this mysterious 1994 WCW run.
Ultimately it lasted only 5 months, and in that time he competed in 23 matches and was a member of the Stud Stable with Bunkhouse Buck, Arn Anderson, & Col. Robert Parker.
May 15, 1994 Orlando, Florida
WCW Worldwide Aired August 6, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated David Walby & Kenny Kendall
May 17, 1994 Orlando, Florida
WCW Worldwide Aired August 20, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Erik Watts & Mike Houston
May 22, 1994 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WCW Slamboree 1994: A Legends Reunion
Terry Funk battled Tully Blanchard to a Double DQ
July 2, 199 Atlanta, Georgia
WCW Saturday Night Aired July 16, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Barry Houston & Todd Morton
July 15, 1994 Albuquerque, New Mexico
WCW Pro Aired July 16, 1994
Brian Pillman defeated Terry Funk by DQ
July 17, 1994 Orlando, Florida
WCW Bash at the Beach
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Arn Anderson & Dustin Rhodes
July 19, 1994 Atlanta, Georgia
WCW Saturday Night Aired July 30, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Joey Maggs & Todd Morton
July 30, 1994 Jacksonville, Florida
Sting defeated Terry Funk
August 1, 1994 St. Lucie, Florida
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Kevin Sullivan & Cactus Jack
August 4, 1994 Orlando, Florida
WCW Worldwide Aired September 17, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk, Col. Robert Parker, & Arn Anderson defeated Barry Houston, Brian Armstrong, Steve Collins, & Terry Taylor
August 10, 1994 Atlanta, Georgia
WCW Saturday Night Aired August 20, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck, Arn Anderson & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated The Armstrong's: Brad, Brian, & Scott
WCW Saturday Night Aired August 27, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Joey Maggs & Todd Morton
August 16, 1994 Gainesville, Georgia
WCW Pro Aired September 17, 1994
Dustin Rhodes defeated Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker
WCW Pro Aired September 25, 1994
Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, & Sting The Stud Stable: Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker
August 18, 1994 Houston, Texas
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Chavo & Mando Guerrero
August 19, 1994 Beaumont, Texas
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Chavo & Mando Guerrero
August 21, 1994 Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Chavo & Mando Guerrero
August 24, 1994 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Dusty & Dustin Rhodes defeated The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker by DQ
September 18, 1994 Roanoke, Virginia
Fall Brawl 1994
War Games: Dusty & Dustin Rhodes and The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags defeated The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk, Col. Robert Parker, & Arn Anderson
September 28, 1994 Atlanta, Georgia
WCW Saturday Night Aired October 8, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Joey Maggs & Larry Santo
October 4, 1994 Atlanta, Georgia
WCW Saturday Night Aired October 22, 1994
The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker defeated Alex Davis & Pez Whatley
October 16, 1994 Anaheim, California
Dustin Rhodes and The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs defeated The Stud Stable: Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker
October 23, 1994 Detroit, Michigan
Halloween Havoc
The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs defeated The Stud Stable: Bunkhouse Buck & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker
October 28, 1994 Tampa, Florida
Dusty & Dustin Rhodes defeated The Stud Stable: Arn Anderson & Terry Funk with Col. Robert Parker
The man was on TV, wrestled at a Clash and two other PPV's and I have no memory of it. He wrestled on the Hulk Hogan Bash at the Beach debut show and still, nothing! Funk's time in WCW does not fit in my brain with the dawn of the Hulk Hogan era of WCW.
You know what I do remember during this same time period, his no rope barbed wire match teaming with Dory against The Public Enemy at ECS Heat Wave 1994, his match with Cactus Jack at ECW Hardcore Heaven 1994 and other ECW matches.
Arn and Terry were in a stable together!?!?!
Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page. You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my new book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.
Until next time!
Favorite part of this run was at the Halloween Havoc '94 match with the Nasties, Terry had the absolute best sell of the Pit City. I thought no one would ever be able to top Regal but Funker did it. He looked extremely upset and screamed "YOU BASTARD! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?"
ReplyDeleteI need to go watch this match!
Delete