FUNK’s CORNER: WRESTLING HISTORY
- 08/30/2006 (10:47:35 pm)
- Dory Funk, Jr.
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FUNK'S CORNER - WRESTLING HISTORYBy Dory Funk, Jr.
I can remember watching my father, Dory Funk Sr. wrestle against the original Nature Boy Buddy Rogers on TV coming from Chicago's International Amphitheater. Commentator Jack Brickhouse was describing the action. (Jack Brickhouse was the earlier equivalent of Gordon Sole, Jim Ross or Mike Tenay and Don West) I was only four years old and my father was my wrestling hero. At the age of seven, I was wrestling on the Boy's Ranch wrestling team where my father was Coach and Superintendent of Texas' Boy's Ranch.
As a kid, I would lay in bed at night and imagine I could do all the things I saw my father doing in the ring, even to the point of breaking out in sweat at times imagining I was fighting the villains that Dad had to face - Frankie Hill Murdoch, Antone "The Ripper" Leone, Tough Toni Morelli, Professor Roy Shire and Dangerous Danny McShane.
Even though my career as an athlete in college was football, when my football career ended with a 15 to 14 victory for West Texas State University over Ohio University in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, nobody was surprised when I turned professional wrestler three days later wrestling for the Amarillo Territory working for my Father, Dory Funk Sr. and Doc Sarplois.
Wrestling is in my blood. Even though I was trained in the ring by others, (Pedro Morales and Ricky Romero), I wrestled in the style of my Father, Dory Funk Sr. I walked like him, talked like him and looked like him. Professional wrestling came naturally for me.
Jeff Jarrett grew up in the wrestling business with a highly successful wrestling ancestry. Jeff Jarrett's grandfather, Eddie Marlin, was a professional wrestler and successful wrestling promoter and one of the best wrestlers in the business. Jeff's grandmother, Christine Jarrett, worked in the wrestling office of the NWA's Tennessee territory for 40 years. Christine was one of the nicest people working for promoter Nick Gulas. Jeff Jarrett's father, Jerry Jarrett, started in the wrestling business at the age of 7 years old selling programs. Jerry Jarrett became a wrestling promoter when he got his drivers license at the age of 14.
Much like I did, Jeff Jarrett tried other sports. Jeff was an outstanding basketball player in high school and college but his bloodline is professional wrestling. He is a third generation wrestler.
Professional wrestling and success in professional wrestling come naturally to Jeff Jarrett. Wrestling is in his blood.
Right now, Jeff Jarrett is in a special position as NWA World Champion. His position is special because of the prestigious line of succession of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and Jeff is also in a special position because of the line of succession of his professional wrestling family.
Expectations are high for a third generation wrestler and 6 Time NWA World Champion. This is what Jeff Jarrett puts on the line against Sting at Bound For Glory in October.
Next week, we will take a look at what Sting brings to the table at Bound For Glory.
Dory Funk Jr.
Coach of the Funking Conservatory and Second Generation Professional Wrestler
www.dory-funk.
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