Funks training new wave of professional wrestlers at the Funking Conservatory

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Posted January 28, 2022 | By Joel Bronson

joel@ocalagazette.com

Professional wrestling has been an American institution since the early 1900’s.

Greats like Pat O’Connor, Gene Kiniski, Verne Gagne, Fritz Von Erich, “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, and Lou Thesz graced the covers of magazines and filled arenas all over the country.

Before there was the WWE, many wrestling territories existed all over the United States.

The Funks owned and operated the Amarillo Territory, led by Dory’s father, Dory Sr. When Dory Sr. passed away, Dory Jr. and his brother, Terry, ran the family business.

“There were as many as 50 different wrestling territories in the United States during the 1960’s,” Dory Jr. said.

In 1969, Dory Jr. would win the National Wrestling Alliance world’s heavyweight championship from Kiniski in Tampa, Florida. The NWA champion would travel all over the world defending the title against the world’s best wrestlers.

Dory Jr. is the longest reigning NWA champion in history, holding the title for over four years.

Both brothers wrestled overseas for All Japan Pro Wrestling, competing against legends like Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, and many others. Dory Jr. would make an estimated 70 trips to Japan through 1997.

The 80’s would see the Funk brothers work for Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF), with Dory Jr. adopting the moniker of “Hoss” Funk.

Terry and Dory Jr. were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, joining legends the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Eddie Graham, Gordon Solie, “Mean” Gene Okerlund, Bob Backlund, and Harley Race, just to name a few.

Dory Jr. and his wife, Marti, have been teaching aspiring grapplers the science of wrestling since the 1990’s, as owners and operators of the Funkin’ Dojo. The Dojo was a recruiting showcase affiliated with McMahon’s WWF.

The school started out as a six-day camp that taught everything from the technique and showmanship of wrestling to conditioning and weight room development.

In 1999, the Funks brought their school to Ocala and renamed it the Funking Conservatory. Many prominent and successful wrestlers graduated from the Conservatory, such as Edge, Christian, Mickey James, Lita, Matt and Jeff Hardy, as well as Olympians like Jumbo Tsuruta, Mark Henry and Kurt Angle.

Marti pointed out the many opportunities for their students in the wrestling industry.

“The WWE employs over a thousand people,” Marti said. “Only between 150-200 are wrestlers.

There are many opportunities for our students to work in the wrestling business. Announcers, managers and valets, and referees are essential. Producing the television and marketing the wrestlers and events takes a lot of folks,” she added.

The Funks produce monthly events for their aspiring wrestlers to showcase their talents. One such event will take place on Saturday, February 26th. Family and friends of the wrestlers will be in attendance to support their favorite participant.

While the show is not open to the general public, it can be seen on the Funking Conservatory’s “!BANGTV!” YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/DoryFunkWrestling, shortly after production is completed.

If you would like more information about joining the Funking Conservatory as a prospective wrestler, manager/valet, or referee, visit https://dory-funk.com/ or call 352-895-4658.