[1986-09-19-WWC] Terry Funk vs Barry Windham

[paul sosnowski]

First Round of the WWC Universal Title Tournament

 

[tcg91]

I might be wrong, but this might be the only time they ever faced and I am glad this exists. This was such a rugged and snug bout, they quickly established their roles and Funk was so effective in his dirty heel portrait, despite him still being able to wrestle in the 'All Japan way'. Great selling by Windham, who was determined to get revenge after being beaten down and spat on. The spot of the match was Funk piledriving Windham on the concrete, only for Windham to give it back to him twice when he started his comeback. Funk did wonders with his drunk and anger selling, even though he outsmarted his opponent at the end

****

[Superstar Sleeze]

Terry Funk vs Barry Windham - WWC 9/19/86 WWC Universal Title Tournament First Round 

I believe the only meeting between two legends that you think would have faced off against each other multiple times but not sure where and when their paths would have crossed. This is the WWC match that has stuck out to me as the match I really wanted to watch after a decade plus finally getting to it. 
 

BW starts off having some fun at Funk’s expense where his cowboy hat and Funk is down to stooge early. Hennig was not a bad pick for Mr Perfect but Windham is one of the most athletic men to ever wrestle. Watch how he nonchalantly catches a flying wooden chair with one hand from a Funk temper tantrum. Some see sawing on the top rope from Funk. All in good fun. Now it is time for the match to pick up on the outside. 
 

if you love piledrivers you will love this match, 5 total. Two from Funk on the outside here and a then a mule kick Ballshot because we are in Puerto Rico baby! In addition to how Windham catches that chair, watch he melts into his bumps especially a crazy one through the ropes to the floor. Such a stud. The heads collide and now it is BW’s turn. One of the best Windham control segments I have seen. Three piledrivers, two on the floor. Great punches of course. What makes this so great are the little wrinkles they throw in. When Windham misses an elbow drop he sells so well that you think it is leading to a heat segment. Instead he holds onto the top rope on a neck breaker and Funk goes crashing down. Excellent. Funk throws in some light heartedness acting so phased by repeated blows into the top turnbuckle that he is still seesawing until he falls out of the Ring head- first and ends up horse collaring a chair  and feeding for Windham punches. Excellent! BW LARIAT! Barry thinks he gets the pin but Funk rolls him up for the win im a very 80s finish for BW to save face. Funk’s promo against Rick Martel is fun at first saying he is cattle rancher not a pig farmer and Puerto Rico is full of pigs but takes a darker turn when he references that Martel’s life-ending heart attack that happened on the island. This was awesome real slam bang stuff no down time that was elevated by Funk’s humor/creativity and Windham’s athleticism. ****