Terry Funk had a recent interview with Sports Illustrated‘s Justin Barrasso and the wrestling legend had a lot to say about his admiration for All Elite Wrestling, WWE and the legend of Dusty Rhodes. Funk talks Dusty’s lasting influence in wrestling and how his legacy and acumen for the business will be an imperative aspect for AEW. Quotes are below:
Terry Funk on Dusty Rhodes’ lasting impact with All Elite Wrestling:
“I’ll tell you more about Dusty,” said Funk. “He tried to break into the business in Amarillo, but we wouldn’t let Dusty in. Back then you needed to earn it, so he traveled around to prove himself.
“Dusty would go to the arena every Thursday night with Dick Murdoch and Bobby Duncum. When they were in school, they’d go to the arena, buy a ticket, sit in the stands, and watch the matches. And they loved it. That love grew when they were able to walk into the dressing room and become a part of it. They were fans before they were wrestlers, they loved it.”
“Dusty had his first match trying to prove himself. He was at a show in the northeast, and one of the guys didn’t show up. Dusty told the promoter, ‘I’m Dusty Rhodes, and I wrestled them Funk boys in Amarillo.’ That wasn’t true, of course. But Dusty, who’d never wrestled before, talked his way into it. After the match, the promoter quickly realized Dusty wasn’t smartened up.”
“Dusty had no fear against Vince because he was so very sharp,” explained Funk. “He knew his profession. Dusty would love everything about what his boys are doing. And they needed him to get here.”
“I really mean this, they couldn’t have done this without Dusty. Without their father’s genes, they couldn’t be doing something so special. He also went down the road with them and taught them to respect the business. Those boys are smart, just like their pop.”
On the current state of WWE:
“Vince and WWE, they’re not fresh,” said Funk. “Yes, Vince does big business. They have the best talent in the world, but they have no fresh ideas. They should be selling out every arena. Vince thinks he’s fresh, he thinks he’s the best. That’s when you get knocked on your ass.”
On what AEW benefits from having Jim Ross:
“Jim Ross has such compassion for the fans,” said Funk. “That’s because this is natural for him, it’s a love, just like the love Gordon Solie had for the business. Jim is following what he loves and doing a god-damned good job. He’s the greatest announcer ever.
“Jim could make chicken soup from chicken s—. And these wrestlers are great. He adds quality, believability, and gives them everything they need. There is nobody else like him. He’s what they need.”
On what AEW needs:
“They need believability,” said Funk. “They must believe in what they’re doing, they must believe in wrestling.
“I thought I could beat the s— out of anybody in the world when I was wrestling. That’s how they need to think to run this new promotion. They’ve got to be smart about it, but after that show, they have it rolling.”
“Once you’re involved with it, you’re in love with it,” said Funk. “I’m still nuts about this stuff. I want to see the talent dictate w
