FUNK’s CORNER: PRO WRESTLING FAMILIES
- 12/16/2005 (11:52:38 am)
- Dory Funk, Jr.
……
Funk's Corner - Pro-Wrestling Families
By Dory Funk Jr.
This morning I checked out Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer and saw he had a poll up on his website:
Who do you think is the greatest wrestling family?
Listed were Von Erichs, Harts, Funks, Guerreros/Llanes, Guzman (Santo), Rodriguez (Mascaras/Caras), Fuller/Golden/Welch and Mendoza-Diaz (Villanos)
I know most of them well, The Von Erichs from the days of Fritz working the Amarillo Territory and hearing my father say, "Watch this guy, Here is someone who knows how to get over as a heel." Fritz and my father, Dory Funk Sr. sold out the Amarillo Sports Arena and the Fire Department stopped them from letting any more people in so the matches started ten minutes early. (That is the only time I have heard of a show starting early) In those days, David and Kevin were two red headed kids playing in the ring after the show was over. David went on to be a good friend and partner in the Florida Territory and a huge world wide wrestling career. I had a great time with Kerry in Japan and knew kevin well from working the Amarillo Territory. I knew Fritz and his wife Doris when he was supreme and in control of wrestling and his life.
I really got to know the harts in 1969 on my first trip to Calgary. There were kids everywhere, picking me up at the airport, taking me to the Show, In the dressing room and they all spoke just like Stu. Owen was only about 5 years old. Stu was tough as nails and his wife Hellen was beautiful and as nice as could be. When I left Calgary, I said, 'Come to Texas and see me some time and they did, Bret, Owen, Diane, Dean, Bruce, Wayne, Keith, Smith, Ross and Stu. Only Gerogia, Ellison and Ellie did not make the trip to Texas.
I first knew the Guerreros in 1947 when we stayed in El Paso at the Del Norte Hotel and my father wrestled Gory Guerrero in El Paso. Gory became promoter in El Paso and in the years of the Amarillo Territory I saw him and his family every week as El Paso was our Monday night town the drew very well every week. I later wrestled Chauvo Guerrero for the NWA World Championship in Los Angeles. He was such a great worker I wish we would have worked together much more. Eddie was only a baby and Mando and Hector went into wrestling. Chauvo Jr. is doing a great job now.
In those days in El Paso, Gory Guerrero suggested we bring El Santo to the Coliseum as he was huge in Mexico and he thought Santo would draw big in El Paso. The Coliseum sold out and turned people away as El Santo wrestled Dick Murdoch. Santo returned many times to wrestle for us throughout the territory.
Mil Mascaras (Aaron Rodriquez) and his brother were a huge drawing card in Japan where I made many trips with him. Terry and I wrestled both of them in the Real World Tag Team Tournament for All Japan Pro-Wrestling. I also wrestled Mil Mascaras for the NWA world championship in Los Angeles at the Olympic Auditorium to another sell out crowd.
In Florida, I wrestled for Buddy Fuller and Lester Welch as part owners of Florida Championship Wrestling. Lester was the most fearless private pilot I have ever known. (I could tell lots of airplane stories) He was also very serious about the wrestling business. In my time, Buddy Fuller had a great mind for the business that he passed on to his two kids who did so well in wrestling Ronald and Robert. Jimmy Golden made a trip to Japan with Terry and I and we had a great time.
I only had a chance to meet Ray Mendoza on one occasion but knew much of his drawing ability from his days in what they called the Dallas Territory.
My father, Dory Funk Sr. returned home from serving in the U.S. Navy in 1944 and began a career in professional wrestling that led him to Texas Boy's Ranch then the Flying Mare Ranch. He became a legend in the Amarillo Territory. He was my hero in professional wrestling and paved the way for the success Terry and I have had in professional wrestling. Through my father's hard work, Terry and I both became NWA World Champions.
My thanks to all of the wrestlers in the poll for their contributions to the wrestling business.
You can vote at Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer web site at http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/
Thanks Dave for including us in your poll.
Dory Funk Jr.
Tags:
