As previously noted here on eWn (click here to read) one of the innovators of hardcore, Terry Funk, is returning to in-ring competition on September 23rd for the Big Time Wrestling promotion. Funk, who is 73 years old spoke with Sports Illustrated & spoke on why he is returning to the ring.
Check it out:
Funk: “I’m back doing what I love. I’m really honest about this, I don’t need the money. My pop was in the business and he loved it very much, he actually went ahead and passed away while wrestling. We used to have a few parties out at the house and invite the wrestlers. There was one by the name of Lance Thornton and he thought he could take my father. My father went ahead and said, ‘Dah gumit, I don’t think you can do that’ so everybody pushed by the tables and chairs in the house and they went at it.”
“My father, who was 54 at the time, beat him. He sat down beside me and said, ‘Wasn’t bad for an old man, was it?’ Then he got up and left the room and went out the front door. About 15 minutes later, my wife came to me and said, ‘Your father is out on the front porch and thinks he’s having a heart attack.’ Sure enough, he was and he passed away. He passed away doing what he loved. I certainly don’t want to pass away, but I’m doing what I love and so what if I’m doing it in my 70’s? I know this is hard for some people to understand, but I still think I can kick ass. This love of wrestling has been in my family with my dad, my brother, and myself. To this day, it’s what I love.”
“I don’t want to die. The last thing I want to do is go in a wrestling ring with a bunch of people watching. I’d rather it be somewhere high up on a mountain, I don’t need any fans there for that. It’s very special and different from every other form of entertainment. I’m blessed from being around my father and his knowledge and blessed from being around a bunch of wonderful guys for many, many years. Lawler sure is different, I love sharing my moments with people that I made money with. I used to love to wrestle on the same card as him and I’m back to doing what I love.”
“The crowd is everything in my life. I just love the fans and I also have a lot of respect for them. They’ve given me everything I have in my life. They’ve given me my house, they gave me my ranch when I had a ranch; don’t have one now, I sold the damn thing, but I shouldn’t have because if went up in value. I don’t know if I can kick some ass or not, I don’t know if I can get my foot up that high, I’ll bet I can. I’ve been working out hard at it and one more time is all I want. It’s the wrestling fans who’ve done that and nobody else and I understand that. I more than appreciate them, I love ‘em, I’ve got all the time in the world for them. I’ll be with them until midnight if they want; if they want an autograph, I’ll give them one.”
