WWE legend Dory Funk Jr. dies at 85
Dory Funk Jr., a pioneering pro wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer, died at age 85. The 2026 NFL preseason opened with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
Updated last month5 new reports, including Newsweek, New York Post.
The short version
Dory Funk Jr., a pro wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer, died at age 85. The 2026 NFL preseason began with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
Dory Funk Jr. died at age 85.1 Funk began his pro wrestling career in 1963 after college football at West Texas A&M University.1 He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.1
The 2026 NFL preseason opened with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 6.4,7 The Hall of Fame Game featured the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.4,7 The Hall of Fame Game is part of Enshrinement Week, which inducts the 2026 class.2
The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class includes Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri.2 Larry Fitzgerald, a Cardinals wide receiver and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee, stated he has no plans to retire.3,8 Luke Kuechly, a Panthers linebacker and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee, participated in the Hall of Fame Game.4
Carson Beck made his NFL debut during the Hall of Fame Game for the Arizona Cardinals.9 The New Orleans Saints suspended rookie receiver Brock Rechsteiner for the first six games of the 2026 season.5,6 Brock Rechsteiner is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner.6
Why it matters
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is an annual NFL preseason game held in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the NFL.4,7
Enshrinement Week is the annual event during which new members are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.2
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is the venue for the Hall of Fame Game and other Enshrinement Week events.4
This account was written from the 9 reports listed below, filed by 6 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Discussion
0Comments are screened automatically. Disagreement is fine; abuse and spam are not.
Loading…
Related
Lions sign Gibbs to $67.5M deal as NFL's top RB
The three-year contract includes $51.5 million guaranteed and makes Gibbs the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
ICE detains 51 migrants in four-state truck driver crackdown
Immigration officials detained 51 people and removed hundreds of truck drivers from duty in a four-state operation targeting migrant drivers.
Johnmaxmena2 / CC BY-SA 3.0Former NFL player Stedman Bailey arrested in Florida mall
Stedman Bailey, a former NFL wide receiver, and a woman were taken into custody after an alleged sexual encounter in a mall arcade bar area.
All-Pro Reels / CC BY-SA 2.0Buccaneers rule out Vita Vea trade after rumors
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Thursday there are no plans to trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea.