Wrestling icon Dory Funk Jr., known for his global career and influence on the sport, has passed at 85, as confirmed by WWE. Funk’s wrestling journey began in 1963 following his college football tenure at West Texas A&M University. In 2009, his contributions were recognized with an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Chief Content Officer, expressed his sadness on social media, highlighting Funk’s broad influence on wrestling. Funk’s career spanned multiple wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW, and NWA. His approach to wrestling and his dedication to training new talent were fundamental to shaping modern wrestling.

Funk’s entry into wrestling was influenced by his father, Dory Funk Sr., at the Western States Sports promotion. He gained experience competing against wrestlers like Harley Race. In 1969, he became the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Champion, holding the title for over four years. Funk continued with NWA until 1987.

The National Wrestling Alliance issued a statement mourning the loss of Funk, acknowledging his enduring impact on professional wrestling.

In 1986, Funk appeared in WWE (then World Wrestling Federation), partnering with his brother Terry. Despite memorable matches against stars like Junkyard Dog and Tito Santana, his WWE tenure was brief. He later competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, retiring in 2017.

Dory Funk Jr.’s lasting influence is also seen through his training school, The Funking Conservatory. Here, he trained numerous successful wrestlers including Kurt Angle, Adam Copeland, and Lita, further cementing his legacy within the industry.