Hello Everyone. I’d say Happy Thursday, but it’s not an especially happy day due to the passing of wrestling legend Terry Funk.
I didn’t start regularly following wrestling until 1998, and during that time one of my favourite acts was the wacky hardcore tandem of Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie. They were an act that you just had to pay attention to, and a big reason why I got into wrestling to begin with.
Charlie would be better known as Terry Funk of course. The suggestion to come into the WWF as a wild chainsaw swinging nutter with powdered tights over his head as opposed to just being Terry Funk apparently came from Funk himself, thinking it would be a fun thing to do. It also allowed him to chainsaw his way out of a wooden box for his debut, which was a memorable moment from that period of wrestling.
Another moment from my early wrestling fandom that is seared into my memory forever is when The New Age Outlaws locked Cactus and Chainsaw into a dumpster before wheeling it off the entrance ramp to the unforgiving concrete below. This not only drew a loud reaction from the crowd, but Jim Ross was at his most indignant yelling “Mah God, there’s people in there!”
My friends and I used to quote that line all the time back in the day. It was truly an iconic moment from the early days of the Attitude Era, and the resulting feud led to some fun matches between the two tandems.
Seeing as I have reviewed the three WWF pay per views that Chainsaw Charlie appeared on previously here on the Blog of DOOM, I thought I’d share them here as a kind of tribute to one of the characters that led to my enduring love of the grapple game.
WWF Royal Rumble 1998
https://www.blogofdoom.com/2022/01/08/mike-reviews-wwf-royal-rumble-1998-18th-january-1998/
WWF In Your House 20: No Way Out of Texas
https://www.blogofdoom.com/2022/02/19/mike-reviews-wwf-in-your-house-20-no-way-out-of-texas-15th-february-1998/
WWF WrestleMania XIV
https://www.blogofdoom.com/2022/03/19/mike-reviews-wwf-wrestlemania-xiv-29th-march-1998/
Condolences to Terry Funk’s family and friends at this very sad time. Thank you for playing a key role in making me a wrestling fan Terry. You will be missed but always remembered.
RIP