The Wrestling universe mourns Bray Wyatt and Terry Funk after years of dedication to the craft, the fans, and their legacies. Funk and Wyatt managed to reach a lot of fans regardless of the promotion they represented. Funk has been all over the world being one of the innovators of hardcore wrestling along with Mick Foley. Funk’s influence with the territories during his five decade career stands as nothing but legendary. He managed to step into the ring with some of the best the business had to offer.
He worked for the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and many more winning multiple different championships in the process. Funk managed to hold onto some prestigious amount of them as well. The ECW television and World Championship, The NWA world heavyweight championship, and even the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship. His resume even includes tag team gold when he and Cactus Jack won the WWF tag team championships. Funk also even won championship gold with his brother Dory Funk Jr. in other promotions.
The legendary hardcore wrestler managed to change the way people viewed wrestling outside of what the majority were. Funk’s run as a singles competitor skyrocketed as he managed to have feuds with some of the greatest of all time. That list includes Ric Flair, Rocky Romero, Dory Funk Jr., and others. The wrestling universe mourns Wyatt and funk at a time where all fans from all over the world are watching to see what is next for the wrestling universe.
Leaving A Legacy
Windham Rotunda is a second generation wrestler following the steps of his father Mike Rotunda aka IRS. The WWE Universe knows him better as Bray Wyatt, but Wyatt isn’t just a second generation his brother is as well. His brother Taylor Rotunda aka Bo Dallas has also wrestled with him in the promotion WWE. Wyatt began his career in NXT where they showed vignettes of the Wyatt family.
The Wyatt family emerged with Jon Huber aka Luke Harper while Erick Rowan aka Joseph Ruud. The group later added the black sheep Braun Strowman aka Adam Schaffer and some honorary members. Those honorary members are “The American Dragon Daniel Bryan and “The Viper” Randy Orton two hall of famers who brought great success to the Wyatt Family.
Wyatt won his only WWE Championship and of what began the Era of Wyatt in 2017. The Era of Wyatt pushed his career into new heights giving a time that people will never forget. Wyatt would go on and defend his championship against Orton at “Wrestlemania” that April.
Wyatt would then again get more creative and evolved into something the world was not prepared for. This new version of Wyatt gave the fans something more sinister than the family he once lead. Wyatt over the course of weeks led everyone know that he would be returning dawning a new start. That new start was when Wyatt debuted as “The Fiend” attacking and defeating “The Prince” Finn Balor in 2019.
Windham’s Revel and Terry’s Hardcore Mentality
The wrestling universe mourns Wyatt and Funk as wrestlers everywhere have gave their condolences about their passings. Funk the hardcore legend continues on through for the five decade career he represents an elite few. Some current wrestlers like All Elite Wrestling CM Punk and Cody Rhodes from WWE. “The Fiend” a creation that attempted to amend the wrongs that were caused when he was the eater of worlds.
The Fiend never let his opponents forget what they caused. Finn Balor was his first victim and then later focused his intentions on the former WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins at Hell in A Cell Premium Live Event ((HIAC)). The aura that was displayed from Wyatt caused his first run as Universal champion to last into the new year. The fiend’s wrestling spirit intertwined with his version of creativity has transcended the wrestling universe to new levels.
The wrestling community will be forever mourning by the lost of these two amazing athletes of the past and present. Legend Terry Funk will forever have a legacy through his hardcore style. To be able to reference to the end of time and to their families the wrestling universe stands with you through this tough times of mourning.
Written By Semetrius Holmes
Sources:
FOX: Friday Night Smackdown
USA Network: Monday Night Raw & Tuesday Night NXT
Peacock: WWE Payback 2023
Inset Image Courtesy of Miguel Discart’s Flickr Page Creative Commons License
Featured Image Courtesy of Miguel Discart’s Flickr Page Creative Commons License
