Episode 76 is a special one: The Dory Funk Jr. Tribute Show.
We honor the life and career of “The Champ” with four powerful segments and an incredible group of guests.
Segment 1:
Historian George Schire joins me to discuss the career of Dory Funk Jr. For the first time ever, we walk through my personal scorecard framework that supports the statement that Dory Funk Jr. was the greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time. Follow along and score it yourself.
Segment 2:
One of Dory’s longtime friends, tag-team partners, and opponents, “The Red Dog” Larry Lane, reflects on their relationship, their travels, and the years they spent working together.
Segment 3:
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase sits down for a deeply emotional conversation. Ted talks about his father, Iron Mike DiBiase, and Dory Funk Sr. — bitter enemies in the storylines but the best of friends behind the scenes. He also shares stories about breaking into the business in Amarillo while still playing football at West Texas State, and much more.
Segment 4:
Gerry Brisco, the man who lived the legendary Brisco-Funk feud, shares memories, stories, and a few choked-up moments as we look back on one of the great rivalries in wrestling history.
This is a fantastic, heartfelt episode as we remember The Champ, Dory Funk Jr.
📌 Episode 76 – The Dory Funk Jr. Tribute Show is available now on Castos, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all your usual platforms.
Hit play, leave a review, and join us in honoring one of the true greats.
We’ll see you in the Time Tunnel.
Your Home for the History of the Territory Pro Wrestling!
Here’s the archive of our regular podcast episodes for 2026:
Episode 52: Brian R. Solomon 2025 Book of the Year Surprise Party Celebration
Episode 53: 2026 Mailbag Episode 1
Episode 54: The Pro Wrestling World of Ian Douglass
Episode 55: The Dennis Condrey Tribute Show
Episode 57: Wrestlemania 42 Weekend
Episode 65: A Conversation with Michael St. John
Episode 66: Magnum TA & Nikita Koloff, 40th Anniversary of the Best of 7 Series
Episode 68: 2026 Mailbag Show #2
Episode 69: 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series 1: James Beard & Jimmy Garvin
Episode 70: 2026 Tragos-Thesz Hall of Fame Series 2: Southeastern 1976, Ron Fuller & George Schire
Episode 73: Lance Peterson and the Curse of The Von Erichs Doc, Dory Funk 1966, Mailbag
Episode 74: Cauliflower Alley Club 2026, Paige Von Hess, Dan Murphy, Rip Rogers
The 1976 Territory Review Series:
Episode 56: Herb Simmons and Darla Staggs and the 1976 Review of St. Louis Wrestling Club
Episode 58: Howard Baum and Steve Keirn and the 1976 Review of Championship Wrestling from Florida
Episode 59: Steve Gennarelli and the 1976 Review of the World Wide Wrestling Federation
Episode 62: Todd Goss and the 1976 Review of Jim Crockett Promotions and Mid Atlantic Wrestling
Episode 63: Michael Norris and the1976 Review: Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
Episode 64: George Schire and the 1976 Review: American Wrestling Association
Episode 67: Greg Klein and the 1976 Territory Review: Dallas, Texas Territory
Episode 71: Tim Dills and the 1976 Territory Review: Tennessee Territory
Episode 72: Steve Gennerelli and the 1976 Territory Review WWWF Part Two
Episode 75: Tennessee Territory 1976 pt2, Dory Funk 1966 (Abilene), Randy Hales
Towns of The Territories Series:
Episode 60: Towns of the Tennessee Territory: Sean Dulaney and Evansville, Indiana
The 1985 Territory Review Series:
Episode 40: Steve Gennerelli and the 1985 Territory Review of The World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
Episode 43: Lance Peterson and the 1985 Territory Review of World Class Championship Wrestling
Episode 44: Tim Dills and the 1985 Territory Review of Memphis Wrestling
Episode 45: George Schire and the 1985 Territory Review of The AWA
Episode 48: Jammie Ward and the 1985 Territory Review of Jim Crockett Promotions
Episode 50: Greg Klein and the 1985 Territory Review of Mid-South Wrestling
Episode 51: Mike Rodgers & Frank Culbertson and the 1985 Territory Review of Portland Wrestling
Special Bonus Episodes In 2026:
Special Bonus Episode 47: Lizzy Flanagan and the 40th Annniversary of the Passing of Gino Hernandez
Special Bonus Episode 61: Brian R. Solomon and Bob Smith, Tribute to Ted Turner
Thank You for Watching and Listening
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter and each episode of our podcast show. Thanks for your support! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, Premium subscribers get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Premium Subscribers. Being a Premium Subscriber also means you support me in my efforts to document Pro Wrestling History through my research, writing, books, vidoes and podcasts. And…I have something very special planned for our Premium Subscribers on the Podcast side of things in 2026! Details soon here in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel.
