To illustrate his point, Mick Foley recalled a memorable moment that occurred during an appearance for Northeast Championship Wrestling

“Not everyone knew who Terry was, and I was going to be in [Jerry] Lawler’s corner. He was going to be in Man Scout’s Corner, but by the time he got to the ring, even if these younger fans did not know who he was, they knew he was not someone to be messed with. And I was saying to the ring announcer, I go, ‘You better get out of the ring.’ He goes, ‘Why? What do you mean?’ I said, ‘You better get out of the ring.’ And he goes, ‘But I’m the ring announcer.’ The first thing Terry does, I bail out because I don’t want to get hit. Here comes that big left hand, boom! Backstage, the guy’s got an ice pack on his head, and he goes, ‘I can’t believe he hit me.’ And I looked at him. I said, ‘What part of you better get out of the ring did you not understand?'”

Though Funk was aware he’d be breeding future competition for himself, Foley says Funk was always willing to share his knowledge, successfully put over his opponents, and suspend the disbelief of the audience. For that, Funk has earned himself the top spot on Foley’s Mount Rushmore of professional wrestlers.

In the wake of Funk’s death yesterday, several wrestlers, including Foley, paid their respects and issued their praise for the hardcore legend.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.