Breaking news coming out today that has major impacts across wrestling, and especially All-Japan: Dory Funk Jr., the legendary wrestler and chairman of the Pacific Wrestling Federation (PWF), the governing body of All-Japan Pro Wrestling, has died. He was 85. The cause of death is not yet known.
Funk, real name Dorrance Earnest Funk, was the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of hardcore icon Terry Funk. Trained by Dory, Pedro Morales & Ricky Romero, he is the second-longest-reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time, a 2009 WWE Hall Of Fame inductee, and much more. He debuted in All-Japan in 1973, just a year after the promotion began, and frequently teamed with Terry over 10 years there, including winning the annual World’s Strongest Tag League/Real World Tag League 3 times. He also was a 3-time NWA International Heavyweight Champion. After leaving in the mid-1980s, he briefly went to WWF/E in 1986 then to Puerto Rico & the US independents before returning to All-Japan in 1990, staying until the end of 1096. He returned in 2008 for a match then again in 2013 and stayed until 2017, during which time he was named PWF Chairman. His final match was in the promotion in 2017 but he remained in his PWF role until his death.
Funk won numerous championships and accolades around the world. He is survived by wife Marti and 5 children.
As this news is just breaking and it’s 6:30 AM Wednesday in Japan, All-Japan has not yet posted about this. This will be updated when they issue a statement(s).
RIP and God Bless, Dory.