Tag: Dory Funk Jr.

Legendary Superstars Kamala, Dory Funk Sr., and Ivan Koloff Will Enter The WWE Hall Of Fame As The 2025 Legacy Inductees

With WrestleMania 41 just around the corner, WWE continues to build anticipation—not just for the in-ring action, but for one of the most emotional nights of the year: the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. While names like Triple H, Michelle McCool, Lex Luger, and the legendary tag team of The Natural Disasters (Typhoon & Earthquake) were already confirmed for the Class of 2025, WWE has now revealed three more legends who will join this year’s prestigious lineup.

In an announcement made Wednesday, WWE confirmed that Kamala, Dory Funk Sr., and Ivan Koloff will be honored as Legacy inductees for the 2025 class. Their addition brings this year’s total inductees to eight. And for the first time ever, a match will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as well—Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13, a bout often hailed as one of the greatest in WWE history.

Remembering Kamala, The Ugandan Giant

Few characters in wrestling history were as instantly recognizable—or as feared—as Kamala. With his tribal war paint, imposing presence, and unpredictable demeanor, Kamala was a standout villain during WWE’s golden era in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Iconic battles against the likes of The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan helped cement his legacy. But behind the menacing persona was a performer who fans came to love over time—a gentle giant who left a lasting impression on the business.

Dory Funk Sr.: A Pioneer and Promoter

Dory Funk Sr. may not have the mainstream name recognition of some of his contemporaries, but his fingerprints are all over wrestling history. A highly respected amateur wrestler in the NWA during the 1950s and ’60s, Funk Sr. went on to become one of wrestling’s most influential promoters. Based in Amarillo, Texas, he built the Western States Sports territory into a key developmental hub, nurturing future legends like Harley Race, Bruiser Brody, and, of course, his own sons—Dory Funk Jr. and the hardcore icon Terry Funk.

Ivan Koloff: The Man Who Shocked the Garden

Ivan Koloff’s legacy is etched in one historic moment: January 18, 1971, when he ended Bruno Sammartino’s nearly eight-year WWE Championship reign at Madison Square Garden. That jaw-dropping upset forever changed the landscape of professional wrestling. Known for his rugged, powerhouse style and fierce intensity, Koloff played the role of foreign heel to perfection during a politically charged era in wrestling. His place in the Hall of Fame has been long overdue, and this induction finally gives “The Russian Bear” his due.

The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most well-rounded groups in recent memory, blending iconic performers, pioneering figures, and unforgettable moments. With WrestleMania 41 looming large, fans now have even more to celebrate as the legends of the past take their rightful place in wrestling immortality.

Dory Funk Jr. (83-Years-Old) Hit With Exploding Baseball Bat During FMW-E Match In Japan

At a show celebrating Atsushi Onita’s fiftieth anniversary in pro wrestling and paying tribute to the late Terry Funk, the main event saw 83-year-old Dory Funk Jr. compete in a “Double Hell Current Explosion Death Match” as the wrestling Hall of Famer teamed with Osamu Nishimura to take on Onita and Raijin Yaguchi inside Fujitsu Kawasaki Stadium in Kawasaki, Japan.

During the match, Onita slammed an exploding baseball bat against Funk’s back, but the former NWA World Champion and his tag partner, who signed a waiver with his hospital to compete as Nishimura is currently battling stage four cancer, ultimately won the bout after a spinning toe hold from Funk forced Yaguchi to submit.

The match in Japan makes Funk a part of a rare group of wrestlers to compete in matches across seven different decades.

Source: Fightful via WrestleView

WWE Hall Of Famer Dory Funk Jr. Set To Wrestle In Japan At 83 Years Old

Dory Funk Jr. is penciled in to return to the ring at 83 years of age for Atsushi Onita’s Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in Japan. The infamous hardcore promotion is due to hold a memorial show for Dory’s brother, Terry Funk, on August 24 at the Kawasaki Stadium. Per the announcement, Onita will be teaming with a yet-to-be announced partner against Funk and Osamu Nishimura — confirmed to be participating on July 9 — with “Padre Del Deathmatch” living up to the moniker by expressing his desire for it to be an explosive death match, though the stipulation has yet to be finalized. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter” that the match was slated to be a six-person affair, with Onita teaming with two unannounced partners against Nishimura, Funk, and their own TBA partner. That appears to contradict what was announced by the promotion. He also noted that the event was being sponsored by the city of Kawasaki as part of their 100-year celebration. However, there is also no mention of FMW, Onita, Terry, or Dory Funk Jr. available on their official website as of writing. 

Nishimura is a significant partnership for Dory Funk Jr., considering both the facts that he is currently battling stage four cancer and that he was the last opponent Funk wrestled. They faced one another in a brief 10-minute exhibition in 2018 at a Tokyo indie event, renewing their affinity with one another in the ring after working together occasionally during Funk’s 2017 run with AJPW both as teammates and opponents.

Source: Wrestling Inc.