WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. Dies at Age 85

WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. has died at the age of 85.

WWE and AEW announced Funk's passing on Tuesday.

Funk was a member of the legendary Funk wrestling dynasty and followed in the footsteps of his father, Dory Funk Sr., who was also a wrestler.

"As a kid, I used to dream I could do all the things my father could do," Funk said during a 2007 interview with WWE. "I wanted to be just like him."

Funk got his start in professional wrestling in the Texas-based Western State Sports promotion, which was founded by his father. He competed in the National Wrestling Alliance from 1963 to 1987, where he had a four-year run as the World Heavyweight Champion.

Funk also competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1973 to 1987 and later returned in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was a promoter in both the United States and Japan.

He eventually made his way to WWE, where his time was highlighted by The Funks' victory against Tito Santana and Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania 2.

Funk later opened the Funking Conservatory, which trained many athletes who went on to WWE. Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz, Mark Henry and Mickie James were some of the notable names to train at the Funking Conservatory.

Funk, along with his brother Terry, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Dusty Rhodes in 2009.