Funk’s Corner – Gene Kiniski
My Father, Dory Funk Sr. always said you can never learn the wrestling business unless you face the best.
In my first year in the wrestling, I faced the best. I wrestled Verne Gagne to an hour draw, defeated Sonny Meyers, Fritz Von Erich, and Pat O’Connor and I wrestled Gene Kiniski to a one hour draw in what I still consider one of the toughest matches I ever had. At about the 40 minute mark, Gene grabbed both of my legs and gave me his “Giant Swing” until I nearly blacked out, then dropped me in the center of the ring and jumped on me with all 6′ 6 280 pounds, then crossed my face with his forearm and said, “Your Mother is coming to ringside, Dorothy is worried about you, here she comes to help you.” To this day I still consider wrestling Gene Kiniski the most demanding athletic event I have participated in.