Arn Anderson has paid tribute to Dory Funk Jr., crediting the wrestling legend with showing future generations how to make professional wrestling feel like a genuine fight.

Funk passed away on Tuesday in Ocala, Florida, at the age of 85. His wife, Marti Funk, confirmed his death. A cause of death has not been publicly announced.

During the latest episode of ARN, Anderson reflected on Funk’s influence after his co-host shared Paul Levesque’s tribute on behalf of WWE.

Anderson believes Funk left a lasting mark on wrestlers who followed him, particularly through the realism he brought whenever he stepped into the ring.

“That’s his thumbprint on everything he touched. Guys from my era, which is one era later than him, I would probably say, learned how to go out and have a fight, and when it was all said and done, you knew you were in an entertainment show, but you looked at Dory Funk Jr. and whoever he was working with, and you went, those guys were in a real fight. That’s what he brought to our business.”

Anderson then offered his condolences to Funk’s family and the countless fans who followed his career.

“Much respect and our love and thoughts, prayers go out to his family and fans and pretty much everyone involved.”

Anderson began his own wrestling career in 1982, placing him in the generation immediately after Funk’s rise to the top of the NWA. Their careers still crossed during the territory era, with Funk remaining an influential presence long after his historic championship run had ended.

Funk captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in February 1969 and held the prestigious title until May 1973, giving him one of the longest reigns ever associated with the championship.

Alongside his younger brother Terry Funk, who passed away in 2023, Dory became part of one of wrestling’s most celebrated families. The brothers were inducted together into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

Funk’s influence also extended far beyond his own matches. Through the Funking Conservatory in Ocala, Florida, he helped train and develop wrestlers across several generations, with Kurt Angle, Edge, Lita and Matt and Jeff Hardy among the notable names who spent time learning under him.

Anderson’s tribute highlighted perhaps the simplest part of Funk’s considerable legacy: when Dory Funk Jr. wrestled, audiences could believe they were watching a fight.