Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore

Terry Funk's book is an informative read for any wrestling fans or wrestling historians.By far, the most interesting part is Terry's description of wrestling in the 1960s and 1970s, as Terry offers a clear picture of life under the N.W.A. territorial system. He mentions a ton of wrestlers whom I had never heard of: Sputnik Monroe, Duke Keomuka, Butch Levy, Don Serrano, Babs Wingo, Dick Murdoch, Thunderbolt Patterson etc. He also describes the logistics of running a wrestling promotion during that time (he and his family owned the NWA promotion that operated out of Amarillo, TX); the manner of travel; the dedication to maintaining kayfabe; and the role of the NWA champion. Terry's thoughts about the end of the territories are insight too. I had actually never known that some guy in the 1970s named Eddie Einhorn had tried to do what Vince McMahon Jr. eventually did, going national.In the later chapters, Terry talks about his work in the 1990s and 2000s (i.e. his work in Japan, WCW, ECW, WWF as well as his feud with Lawler in the Memphis territory). In most of the wrestling books that I've read, this section is usually the most interesting portions, as there is talk of the Monday Night Wars and the Attitude Era. But in Terry's book, these chapters are uneventful because Terry didn't do much of note; he was a low-card wrestler for a lot of these years. The value of Terry's book definitely comes from the early chapters about the NWA territories.Overall, excellent read. I would daresay that I learned more about wrestling history from Funk's book than I did from reading any of the other wrestling bios.

Really enjoyed Terry's giving us glimpses of how things were run and how things were done and how it all varied between the 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Fun read from a great old school representative.

Growing up a wrestling fan in Texas panhandle in the 70's, I was excited to see this book. I was looking forward to hearing Terry's stories of wrestling days in Amarillo. He didnt really do much, but I did enjoy the parts where he did. He talks about wrestlers "getting over" in the business. I think it is safe to say the the Funks were over in the panhandle. I can remember the night Jr lost the title to Harley Race. We were sitting at home watching TV. The station we were watching actually ran a crawler stating that Jr. had lost the belt! I have hated Harley Race ever since! I also discovered that it was fun to read about his matches and then find them on you tube and watch. I didnt find all of them but I found a lot. I never liked seeing him as a heel even in the latter years because he was always a hero to me as a kid. I enjoyed hearing his stories of being on the road and the crazy things he and the others did. I also appreciated his thoughts on why the WWE won the "wrestling wars" against WCW. I never could understand how that happened as I thought WCW was a much better product. This book explains it very well. It was a good read for someone that has enjoyed wrestling for years. Wrestling lost something to me when it became sports entertainment. Terry's book gave me a pretty good idea of why by explaining what wrestlers had to do to be successful in the business before as opposed to after the change. Wrestling today lacks of the characters from the old days. I recommend this book to anyone who has been a wrestling fan for many years, not just since Hulk Hogan hit the scene.

I picked up this book because of how Mick Foley has talked up Terry Funk in his previous two books (Have A Nice Day & Foley Is Good). I've become somewhat of a late Terry Funk fan thanks to Mick Foley. I've missed out on some of Terry's best days and best matches (notice to WWE - get moving on a Terry Funk dvd!) so I must admit to being weary heading into reading this book.I was very pleasantly surprised. I was informed and more importantly, entertained by Terry Funk. He's a lot smarter than his wrestling personality leads you to believe. Also, like his protege Mick Foley, his morals show through in an industry known for a lack of morals at best. In one of the earlier chapters I was waiting in a car while shopping was being done and decided to read more of the book to pass the time. There was a funny part of the book that literally made me laugh out loud! Funk is funny as hell when he wants to be and there is a good amount of humor in this book.I must admit there were things in the book that either went over my head or was about people/things I did not know about. For the most part, Terry did well to explain things a person like me (someone who didn't follow his career before recent years) could understand. Also, we got to hear his side of the friendship between him and Foley. I'd almost be willing to say this book should be recommended even if you aren't a wrestling fan. Like Foley's book it goes beyond the wrestler and brings you insight into the MAN himself. I am completely glad I bought this book. It took me away from the real world and my real life problems. I was absorbed by a man who loves wrestling, but loves his family even more. High praise to Terry Funk & co-writer Scott Williams!P.S. - Special thanks to Mick Foley for talking so nicely about Funk in his books that he made me interested in Funk to buy this book and start following Terry's wrestling career.

I grew up watching the Funk family in Amarillo. I had the pleasure of meeting Dirk and getting to spend an evening with Terry and his wife, Dory and his wife, and Dirk. They were my childhood heroes but they were a down to earth family that were nice to me. I was lucky to meet them and Ricky Romero and Duck Murdoch and some of their family members. So being able to read Some of Terry’s accounts of the business was pretty cool. I’m back in the Panhandle now and it’s great. Who knows maybe I’ll run into them again. But if your a fan of wrestling it’s a must read.

We all know Terry Funk, or at least the work he's done. With more retirements than a decade of top-flight cricket batsmen he's the man who just can't let go of what he loves - but does so without embarrassing himself. Unlike other legends who received the true limelight in the television era, who we would like to remember as they were in their prime, the Funker looks like he could still go convincingly.A wart-and-all insight into the mind and experiences of the man behind the aura this is undoubtedly one of the better wrestling books out there. Not quite at the Jericho/early Foley level, but gives 'Hitman' a real run for the candid nature of it all. There's not a great deal of "I sold out X arena; This town came just to see me" stuff that others write; instead we see a family man at heart who was virtually born into wrestling. Being slightly too young to remember the territories of the NWA days, this is a tour-de-force of those halcyon days, giving a real insight into how it all worked - how they played off against each other; the trials and tribulations of running a promotion in the territory system. Recent history is littered with those that have fallen by the wayside due to their failure to attract the attention of 'big TV', which is now the lifeblood of pro wrestling. The struggles are similar, but somehow back then it was able to work.It's a refreshing change from those books largely written in character - Terry Funk the man is wildly removed from the uber-violent Death Match Competitor or aggressive bouncer in Roadhouse and he's surprisingly eloquent too.

The blurb on the back cover of this book has one critic saying that it's the best Wrestling book since Mick Foley's first autobiography. Foley is on four such books (so far) so it goes without saying that with a wrestling career that started in 1965, 250 pages for Terry Funk is not going to be able to go into his career in the match by match/feud by feud basis that Foley's  Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks  did.So it would be fair to say that if you are looking for play by play on the big feuds and matches in Funk's long, varied and storied career you won't find it here.But what you do have is one of wrestling's legendary storytellers telling you about his career and the strange and wacky people he has met along the way. Funk's ongoing excellence can be seen by the very fact that he was a star not only in the old wrestling territories, but was a star of the NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, WWE and in Japan as well.He takes you to all these places, filling us in on the backstage politics of the various promotions, and how they differed from each other. He goes someway to explaining the psychology of both the sport AND business of wrestling and you often find yourself thinking that if there were more people like Terry involved with the big promotions today, there would almost definitely be an improved product all round.Funk is a genuine legend who managed to be relevant from the 60s to the 21st Century. This book in truth may only scratch the surface in terms of his varied career but it is a thoroughly entertaining book that is at times laugh out loud funny. If you have any love for professional wrestling, this is a book for you. Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks

Not quite as good as others, and a bit rambly at times. However it is full of interesting stories from an interesting life.

Terry Funk has had a storied career and met just about every personality in the industry. A fascinating journey charting his whole career from his reign as NWA champion, Japan, WWF, WCW, ECW and a plethora of regional territories. Essential reading for anyone keen on pro wrestling history.

glad i bought the book, a great insight into the man and his years in wrestling buisness from a regional star to nwa world champion,this book deserves to be read by any true wrestling fan