With all that said, any fan under 30 could be forgiven for not being familiar with the fact that before he was a Hardcore Legend, Funk was primarily known as the younger brother of NWA World Champion Dory Funk, Jr. His last match wouldn't occur until 2017, and we know that if it weren't for his recent reported health problems (he is 77 years old, after all), he'd still be finding his way into a wrestling ring. Particularly respected by fans of hardcore wrestling, the 'Funker' was one of ECW's most important veterans during its 1990s ascent and went on to have unlikely runs in WWE and WCW before the end of the decade. Terry Funk is one of those timeless wrestlers who, even in his advanced age (and after many supposed 'retirements'), was a popular figure wherever he went. and Toots Mondt of the Northeastern NWA territory (Capitol Wrestling) weren't confident in the aging Thesz' drawing ability and chose to continue recognizing Rogers as their newly-renamed World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion - the same title Brock Lesnar holds today. Rogers' 1961 victory over Pat O'Connor for the NWA World Championship at Chicago's Comiskey Park set a North American pro wrestling attendance record that stood for nearly 25 years, but it was the controversy surrounding his loss to Lou Thesz two years later that cemented the original 'Nature Boy's place in mainstream wrestling history. While many fans remember Rogers' crowning achievement, they often forget why he was in that position in the first place. 'Nature Boy' Buddy Rogers remains a well-known historical figure in wrestling, mostly for two things: being the first RELATED: 10 Things Fans Should Know About The First Nature Boy & WWE Champion, Buddy Rogers Despite its long and storied history, though, the NWA has also - maybe surprisingly - managed to produce ten wrestlers you didn't know were NWA World Heavyweight Champion. From those earlier years, through associations with Smoky Mountain, ECW and TNA, to its present-day form under the direction of Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, the organization has produced some of the most memorable champions ever. While it's gone through various levels of notoriety, the NWA has continuously existed - and had a World Champion - since it severed all ties with WCW in 1993. RELATED: Every Wrestler That Beat Harley Race For A World Championship, Ranked From Worst To Best To early 1980s fans who were watching Jim Crockett Promotions, Georgia Championship Wrestling or Mid-South - and in the second half of the decade, WCW - Ric Flair was truly the 'Man,' trading the belt with other memorable champions like Race, Dusty Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat. For much older fans, they probably think of the various territories and names like Lou Thesz, Harley Race and Jack Brisco. Most wrestling fans' perceptions (and/or memories) of the National Wrestling Alliance largely rely on the fans' respective ages.
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