Western States Sports – Funk Amarillo Territory 

The Wrestling Territories

The Rise and Fall of Western States Sports (Funk Territory in Amarillo)

The Funks changed the business in many ways and left behind a rich legacy.

Dorrance Funk was born just south of Chicago, in the town of Hammond, Indiana, on the eve of the Roaring Twenties in May 1919.

Dory Funk, Sr.

Western State Sports Gets Its Start

Western States Sports was bought from SSE for the hefty sum of $75,000 by Karl Sarpolis.

A Groundbreaking Moment

After another meeting by the brass up in St. Louis in August 1963, Rogers was finally recognized as the unilateral champion for the NWA.

Dory Funk., Jr.

A year-and-a-half later, Dory Jr. won the coveted NWA Heavyweight Title by spinning toe hold from family friend Gene Kiniski on February 9, 1969.

The hard-nosed Western States Sports wrestling territory out of Amarillo, Texas, has its heart tracing back to one man: Dory Funk, Sr. He, alongside his sons, Dory Jr. and Terry, and a plethora of top performers, took wrestling and the NWA to great heights. 

However, changing times and an attempt to revive the territory by two notable names in the business in 1980 ultimately led to its fate. Here is the story of this great territory’s rise and ultimate demise.

Swipe up to read the full story

STORIES

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