Terry Funk - Most Insane Promo Ever! (1981) Classic Memphis Wrestling Performance

A seemingly ordinary Saturday morning is interupted by stress pill Terry Funk on a rampage--looking for Jerry Lawler.
Unscheduled, Funk enters the studio and stops the match in progress by destroying the jobbers in the ring while squealing like a pig which prompts Jimmy Hart and the Nightmares to bail out of the ring and quickly vanish. The man is nuts!
Soon, Funk has talked himself into a rage and begins to take it out on Lance Russell and the furniture on set. The bit with a steel chair is priceless. Terry finishes the segment with some SERIOUS overacting. Whew! ;)
Date: ??? 1981
Location: WMC TV5 Studio, Memphis
Interview: Lance Russell
How many chair shots was that again?
"Terry Funk vs Steel Chair"
• Terry Funk vs Steel Ch...
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[@ozzyisgreat4eva]

I love how all this chaos and going on and Lance is just calmly saying “Come on Terry” 🤣

[@adambennett2737]

Your on lawlers side lol

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Lance was the calm in the storm

[@donted60]

There will never be another Terry Funk. The most believable person in the history of wrestling. R.I.P.

[@Unregistered.HyperCam.2]

Except when he says he's retiring. You didn't take Terry saying he was retiring with a grain of salt, but with an entire salt shaker.😂

[@RickinBaltimore]

I love that as nuts as Funk was, he didn't lay a finger on the ref.

[@maraviyoso8473]

He has scruples.

[@benjamin29471]

Also: Lance Russell and Dave Brown…

[@Stevedrums741]

Had the honor of briefly meeting Funk after an ECW card in Philadelphia with my buddies. The matches were over and we happen to bump into him. It was cold, he was bloodied and he walking slow with a couple of other people but stopped to thank us for coming. We told him to take care of himself and get some rest and he replied "I will. thanks for caring..." So simple and yet said everything. A really nice memory. RIP, sir and thank you.

[@JasonHenson1975]

the Funker kept yelling "GET UP! GET UP! GET UP!" but the poor guy was already standing up LMAO

[@daviddavidson8050]

The jobbers were purposely standing in Funk's blind spot.

[@dante666jt]

Lmao​@@daviddavidson8050

[@TechTwerpII]

About 15 years ago my son got a new vehicle and we put his old 1990 Ford Bronco for sale in the classified ads . Terry Funk called and was looking to put his youngest into some used wheels . Young Funk didn't want a Bronco but I spent over an hour visiting with Terry in my home. Terry Funk is a very intelligent, courteous , easy going man. It was a great experience. just two dads talking about their kids and life in general.

[@IRON5]

Wow that's an awesome story...

[@Alexisahottie]

sweet deal

[@jasonterry2177]

IRON5

[@IRON5]

Jason Terry What's your question?

[@VolumedMusicMan]

The act in the ring is just for wrestling. He is a kind man.

[@user-ys9fg4ol9s]

When Funk gets that crazy, high pitch voice , it FREAKS me out... imaging if I saw this on LIVE T.V. I would have been 11 years old and Funk would have given me nightmares!!!! This area is Horse County 🤣

[@TNAROHfan]

Terry Funk was the only wrestler that even when he was an old man, I believed he was crazy enough and still tough enough, to actually hold his own if the fight had been real. That's the natural aura he brought to wrestling and he was a master of his craft, FOREVER! Most of the guys who stayed long past their primes, I thought and think hell no. Even with Harley Race towards the end of his career, it was getting obvious he was out of his league. Some wrestlers can sell that they are the dirtiest, the strongest, the smartest, the most technical, the most athletic, ruthless etc whatever, for quite a while. Terry Funk though, was just a different breed of a crazy assed wild man.

[@ChrisPutt]

Who's here to pay tribute to The Funker?

[@Yoni123]

t's good but I don't like no-selling chair shots

[@VolumedMusicMan]

When terry starts screeching you know he means business!

[@ronniesanders8546]

RIP Terry Funk. 1944-2023

[@freestaterevolution]

This era of Funk was probably my favorite- totally insane, and when the audience saw him coming their way, they’d scatter.

[@ronaldshank7589]

He was an extremely souped-up, and a very powerful version, of Yosemite Sam, that's for sure!

[@toddkurzbard]

Just imagine a match between 1981 Terry Funk and 1981 "Macho Man" Randy Savage. The sheer amount of batsh*t promos would boggle the mind. When they weren't tearing each other limb from limb, they'd both be hitting themselves in the head with steel chairs.

[@jackmurray2446]

"Come on now, Terry, get out of there!" LOL, like that's going to work!

[@Mrsmassflex]

You don't see good promos like this any longer. Hardcore Legend!

[@TuMalditaMadre]

A typical Saturday morning in Memphis, ladies and gentlemen

[@wrobinson1702]

LOL so true!

[@troylowe814]

That's why Memphis wrestling rocked, so much insanity!

[@lanenordgren7641]

Lmao 🤣 🤣

[@terenciob5398]

Terry Funk was insane and funny as hell 🤣🤣🤣 those were the days!!!

[@mitchclement3773]

My favourite of all time.

[@larryjones4096]

I've sat front row for his matches,the fun you saw on TV could turn to fear in real life when he came near you.

[@timspellman47]

If there were an Oscar for wrestling promos this would have to win.

[@maraviyoso8473]

Method acting at its finest

[@stoneddom]

"I'm gonna take Lawler.... I'm going to... I'm going to take him oouuuuttt! And NOT forrr a shorrrt tiiiimmmmmeee!!!" Scary how it seemed like he really meant it.

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

Wanna chat about something scary? Look at 4:42 until 4:46. *That's* scary. :) LOL

[@VTECH650]

Terry funk is the best performer I’ve ever seen could do everything amazingly he was incredible at everything

[@northbykenwest]

"We'll uh...We'll talk about it later." -Lance Russell

[@midstateNYsummers]

I hope all you punks and modern day wimps are paying close attention to Mr. Terry Funk, this man is a genuine role model. They don't make 'em this way anymore. Truly, a man to be admired.

[@ninjavigilante5311]

My favorite wrestler of all time

[@grantorino2009]

Good thing Terry's a nice guy in real life.

[@stevemtc1]

grantorino2009 that is real life

[@roberthrodebert9263]

One of the greatest wrestling entertainers of all time. One of the greatest poes ever. A one-of-a-kind artist.

[@shanebrandy6074]

Terry Funk is the BEAST of promos

[@zackvanhalen]

Is this where Mankind got his squeals? I know Funk was a hero of his. Either way, Terry is not a man to funk with.

[@joshuadavidson5128]

I was thinking the same thing while watching this classic vid..... Terry Funk was one of a kind, this should be required viewing for anyone trying to break into the business. That is a promo!!

[@mr.mirchenstein6549]

I heard the resemblance too. That's the first thing I thought of!

[@evanabbott2737]

I love hearing him lose it like that...🤣

[@cheerwhiner7829]

Love these old Memphis / Terry Funk videos- classics! RIP Terry Funk ☹️

[@israelmendoza543]

Rest in peace Terry Funk

[@frankbonini9128]

" ... From the Bottom of My Wallet ... I'd Like to Say ... Thank You, Terry Funk ... " - Mick Foley

[@hillsboroughsports2461]

Wrestling is choreographed. Terry Funk is not.

[@TheJugulator62]

That is the best description of Funk I've ever seen.

[@ndingo]

When Terry Funk cuts a promo give me some popcorn 🍿 and a soda🥤

[@somethingyousaid5059]

No, he's just unhinged.

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

This is why I look at him the same way Tommy Dreamer and Mick Foley my Pro Wrestling father figure throwing punches like a baseballs

[@ChrisPutt]

Perhaps the truest thing I've ever read on the Internet

[@TheeBurchill]

The airplane people are on Lawler's side...lol

[@OaktownABQ]

After that promo, I'd still buy a ticket to see T. Funk v. Lawler!

[@OomaGooma]

I love Terry Funk. One of my favorites of all time.

[@adanvaldcontreras4283]

One of the greatest.. RIP 🙏.. legend

[@MrCt40]

Even stone cold Austin admitted it - terry is the toughest sob that ever lived He was the essence of hardcore , raw wrestling talent

[@nellbowie7986]

Can you imagine these WWE writers trying to make Terry stick to the script? Lol

[@MrAitraining]

THIS is how you build a feud! Lost art and guys today could learn a lot!

[@toddhawk4670]

One clip of the good ol' days of wrestling...better than hours and hours of WWE footage!

[@ericpledge1]

WWE has been a joke for an awhile now!

[@Saber808]

@@ericpledge1 It's still a BIG JOKE TODAY in 2023. Still banning the word wrestling too.

[@Minsooky]

they just don't deliver promos like this anymore. funk is god

[@Desstrik]

yep, the old Funkster was good

[@dustydiamond2618]

Free style no Terry Funk could do

[@tysargent9647]

You got one word wrong. Terry Funk wasn't God, but he was pretty damn GOOD.

[@charlierobles316]

God doesn't exist

[@ChrisPutt]

This catapulted into my top five - maybe top three - promos of all time

[@williamaquino8049]

Funk was still and will always be the man

[@eugeneenyaosa6397]

RIP KING. One of the best promos ever. Terry Funk

[@jasedaniels4412]

Terry's high pitched voice is nightmare fuel.

[@VTECH650]

Terry is my all time favorite

[@daviddavidson8050]

Mr. Terry Funk is a one-man wrecking crew. Hard. Honory. Cantankerous. Belligerent. Thought-provoking. Eye-opening. Respondent. Despondent. Immediate. And withdrawn. He's all the things we'd like to be and so much more, but most of all he's crazy as hell and one helluva nice old man, now. Lol. Long live the hardest hardcore wrestler that's ever lived! Long live the longest era of middled-aged and crazy that's ever been and with high high hopes I pray gets dusted off, rinsed and repeated as an on-going tribute to Mr. Funk! Funk yeah! Kayfabe for life.

[@joshuamay443]

"Terry, you took multiple unblocked chair shots to the head...we need you to take an impact test..." "MY EYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! "

[@adamsBASSCOVERS]

3:04 Rest in peace to a LEGEND.

[@mindlessdroid3630]

You may not believed wrestling was real but you knew Terry Funk was real.

[@evanabbott2737]

I fucking, LOVE Funk’s promos.......😂👍

[@joshua2814]

R.I.P to the meanest man in professional wrestling. 😢

[@ronaldshank7589]

This Man not only knew how to make it real, but this Man, The Funker, was a real Legend! I'll never forget, how much he mauled Ric Flair, back in 1989. He's gotta be the absolute meanest Men, that's ever laced up a pair of Wrestling Boots, bar none!

[@rs232il]

This was during Terry Funks Memphis face run. He started acting crazy shortly after this.

[@maraviyoso8473]

I think the face turn was after this

[@kevinpayton2664]

@@maraviyoso8473 I think his face run was after this too.

[@theinfamousmrsleep]

Terry Funk would destroy all those kids in the wwe.

[@ericmonaco4509]

King Gooch The Troll King Exactly

[@magpatocx]

(1944-2023) WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk has passed away at the age of 79. WWE extends its condolences to Funk’s family, friends and fans.

[@MarquisLeary34]

40 years later, and Terry can still sell that eye :D

[@scottsimmons7897]

Terry Funk was among the most crazy and entertaining wrestlers to watch.

[@ptothej100]

There haven't been many guys that could go into any territory as a heel or face and get over with the fans with just their reputation. Terry Funk is one of those wrestlers. Not only that, but when he shows up, he delivers the goods every time. The hype is justified. There is 1 other wrestler that fits this mold, Roddy Piper. These are guys that you can build a promotion around, they draw money and entertain any type of fan. Plus, both guys are absolutely nuts, when they need to be.

[@Anything4adollar]

***** Abby would at least do what he could withing the restrictions of his gimmick....while Cacti..should have never went to Vince. He scared his reputation by following off of cages and hanging out in hospitals

[@skysthelimit7579]

Terry and Lance together was a all time duo

[@Fraevo10]

"former NWA World Heavyweight Champion..."

[@Anything4adollar]

Fraevo10 took it off of Brisco..only to drop it to Harley in Canada...if my memory serves me right

[@pablogrijalva1581]

Man that chop at 2:26! people almost went WOOOOOOO before anyone else did it.

[@jasonlane1528]

Just as impressive today as it was back then. God but im going to miss him. RIP Terry Funk

[@seldomseenG]

Memphis Gold! And to think I grew up with this every Saturday! MANE, I never knew how good I had it...

[@biffroberts1007]

This was before Terry Funk was middle aged & crazy. He was just crazy at this point. lol

[@LB1973]

He was 37 there !

[@DeeNice681]

Still kind of young.

[@kasandrapurplekitten]

Bring the kids we got entertainment for the whole family

[@troylowe814]

Terry funk screaming equals safe family entertainment!

[@tedoverholt156]

I grew up watching Tennessee wrestling, i was 21 when this was going on, the most convincing part was how Dave Brown always had the look of a deer in the headlights

[@TheHannibalTV]

Very good beating

[@johnasbury3856]

I believe that was one of the hardest chest slaps I've ever seen or heard. And I watch all the classic wrestling I can from every decade.

[@stoneddom]

The poor jobber later sued Funk for mental trauma and physical damages in a state court. True story.

[@stoneddom]

He told the Judge, Funk's knife edged chopped him so hard his wife left him for the garbage man, his children were unmade from existence and even his chest hair refused to grow back.

[@supergravy6104]

Rest in peace Terry funk, one of the best to ever do it

[@patrickwall8517]

Promos like this sold out arenas-although I believe this is the lead up to the famous empty arena match.

[@stinkypinkeee5085]

patrick Wall This was afterwards, hence the eyepatch...

[@CarlMarxPunk]

This is what Moxley thinks he is and by god he's not gonna come close to it. No one will though. Terry Funk is one of a kind.

[@LuisPBE]

Rest in Peace to the best that ever done it. I don't believe in much but I believe in Terry Funk.

[@Plexpara]

lol funk was so great .......a total nuts dude.a great heel at this time.

[@TheJer1963]

1981 start of my senior year in High school. Had the best summer of my life and the worst day of my life (Nov.12). What a year. Doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

[@InTheKnow2011]

2:39 - Lance Russell & Dave Brown both wondering whether or not this is their last day on Earth. #WorriedLikeCrazy

[@kris24872705]

LMFAO.... the boxing stance and dance at 2:01 is absolutely priceless

[@ComicBookGuy420]

Terry Funk Often imitated never duplicated, RIP

[@Supertron1]

Terry Funk was a tough hombre. RIP.

[@DabsDad]

This is how you draw heat

[@jipsumies3435]

Damn this is history!

[@kerryc.7438]

I always heard of the legend,I just seen him in magazines, I lived in NJ just wwf

[@phrasesinner]

Terry Funk is a wrestling God. He was everything a heel should be. If this is 1981 then Terry only main evented for THIRTY MORE YEARS...and unlike Hogan, Flair, Dusty he wasn't doing the same tired spots over & over again. As a kid I started watching wrestling in 1973 & Terry was one of the guys that made me believe wrestling was real. He was truly frightening & I really believed that he & Dusty were going to kill each other in the ring. The guy was fearless & if you ever went to a show where he was on the card, u knew you were really gonna see something memorable. Dory needed Terry more than Terry needed Dory & we all could see that, when Terry bailed on Vince & Dory was saddled with Jesse Barr for the rest of his WWF run. There will never be another Terry Funk & that's unfortunate for he was someone who never disappointed. I still don't know whether that incident with Hannibal & Terry was a work or a shoot.

[@RoundaboutTRVL]

This is brilliance.

[@Reese13]

R.I.P. to Terry Funk. Forever "Middle-Aged and Crazy." 😂"The Funker." A true American Original. Thank you. 🎉🎉

[@myflymkultra268]

Me: I can handle my liquor Also me ten minutes later: 3:53

[@theflorgeormix]

the airplane people

[@richardburkard9839]

Delta is ready (to save Jerry Lawler) when you are.

[@richardremick1639]

Rest In Peace Terry Funk 😢

[@aronray6156]

I met Terry Funk one time, and that guy, you could just tell he was a real bad ass! Nice guy!

[@ingotants3809]

Talk about being believable.This is how you get heat.

[@Lewis9709]

1:45 "Come on Terry, get out of there!" Yeah like that's going to do any good.

[@kaihunlu2345]

HAHAHAHAHA-----it's so awesome

[@mark79]

I love his screeching! Terry Funk is awesome!

[@ericmonaco4509]

You can see when Mick got his screeching from

[@joemullaley6531]

"thank you mr funk, thank you for saying what needed to be said!!" - crying wrestling fan

[@norman9291]

This reminds me of the high school I went to. Something like this usually happened every couple of Fridays

[@godsnobody2915]

Lance Russell's cohost in the background looks genuinely scared! 🤣🤣🤣

[@SuperDevolution]

No wonder crowds used to panic if Terry got too close.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Terry Funk treating the competition like Bruce Walkup! When he goes in berserk mode he is the best!

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Get up! Get Up! Get Up!

[@seanbean3826]

What is it that makes this so believable? Why can no one touch a performance like this? What a feud!

[@Mark-sj3xb]

I love that he is left handed. I love how when Terry gets done yelling at the podium he starts strutting around and everyone’s like “oh crap he’s coming this way”

[@pniiice]

Terry has always been awesome

[@coltraneole]

This is just some classic ass Funk.

[@fattony123082]

coltraneole "stay outta this dad !!!!"

[@Lurvy1963]

Terry Funk was so insane a pro wrestler, he was funny. You can tape up both of his eyes, he'll still go nuts in the studio looking/feeling his way for a wrestler he doesn't like.

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

When TF yells, he sounds like Sgt. Slaughter.

[@TurtleFrack]

When Terry Funk whispers, it's like Sgt Slaughter YELLING!

[@MrAitraining]

Lance Russell should get more credit. He was one of the best! and look at that TV crowd. I thought Georgia TV crowds were small lol

[@TheTerrificTim]

"Get up!"