Overview
- His death was confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, by WWE and by his wife Marti to the Ocala Gazette, which said he died while in hospice care in Ocala, Florida.
- Funk’s most notable in-ring achievement was a 1,563-day run as NWA World Heavyweight Champion from 1969 to 1973, the second-longest consecutive reign in the title’s history.
- After decades on the road in U.S. territories and Japan, he ran the Funking Conservatory in Florida and trained or mentored future stars including Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, Matt and Jeff Hardy, Mark Henry and Mickie James.
- Funk wrestled across six decades and remained active into his 80s, with his last noted match taking place in 2024 for Atsushi Onita’s FMW-E promotion.
- Promotions from WWE and the NWA to AEW and TNA issued tributes, funeral arrangements had not been announced, and no cause of death was disclosed at the time of reporting.