Dory Funk Jr., Hall of Famer and NWA champion, dies at 85

Dory Funk Jr., a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Hall of Famer who was a cornerstone of professional wrestling for over half a century, died on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. He was 85. His wife, Marti Funk, confirmed he passed away under hospice care.

The news was announced publicly by WWE executive Paul "Triple H" Levesque, who paid tribute to Funk's multifaceted legacy. "From the Double Cross Ranch to the WWE Hall of Fame, Dory's style inspired countless performers in our industry," Levesque wrote. "A hard-nosed and fierce competitor, his rugged in-ring style was only eclipsed by the decades he spent training athletes to perform in the squared circle he loved so much."

Born in 1941, Funk was part of a legendary wrestling dynasty. His father, Dory Funk Sr., was the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion. The younger Funk, who often said he dreamed of being just like his father, began his professional career in 1963. He reached the pinnacle of the sport in February 1969 when he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, holding the title for over four years, the second-longest reign in its history. His brother, Terry Funk, won the same championship two years later,...