CHAVO GUERRERO Sr.

　　MAGAZINE　ARTICLES　13　　

The One Man Who Scares Terry Funk To Death

Can a young rookie make a world champion walk in fear ?

It's possible if the rookie is Chavo Guerrero !

( from July 1976 issue of "Inside Wrestling" magazine )

　Chavo Guerrero has pulled some upsets no other rookie can boast of.

He upset Terry Funk before Terry had won the NWA title, and also toppled Dory Jr.

And now, in a recent title clash, the rookie sensation won a decision over Terry !

　TERRY FUNK HAS BECOME a complete champion.　He doesn't fear the opponents he battles.　His every

　gusture shows his confidence. 　He is sure of himself now.　Nothing - or no one - scares Terry Funk.

　Except one man.　And that one man scares Terry Funk to death.

　Chavo Guerrero is an impressive young man.　In the short time he has been in the sport he has earned

　a remarkable reputation for being an excellent, skillful wrestler.　The list of opponents he has defeated is

　very impressive.　And high on that list is the name of the NWA champion, Terry Funk.

　The two men battled each other - before Terry won the championship from Jack Brisco - with Chavo

　emerging as the victor.　It was a brutal match, generating considerable controversy.　Many people claimed

　Chavo won only because he was the hometown favorite in Los Angeles.　Among those who claimed this was

　Terry's brother, Dory Funk, Jr.

　The Funk family is a very closeknit clan, with each member supportive of other members.　A challenge to

　one Funk is a challenge to all the Funks.　After Terry won the title, Dory felt it was necessary to avenge his

　brother's championship loss against Guerrero.　Dory traveled to Los Angeles and battled Chavo in another

　controversial match.　Again the young Mexican rookie was victorious.　Again the Funk family claimed it was

　a hometown decision against its relative.　This constituted a double insult to the Funk family.　They decided

　they would use their wealth to attract a man who would permanently cripple the rookie wrestler.　

　With $10,000 as the reward, many wrestlers tried to finish off Chavo Guerrero. They all failed.　

　It became apparent to the Funks one of their own would have to be the one to cut short the career of

　Chavo Guerrero.　At a family council meeting, Terry was selected.　He would have a revenge match against

　the Mexican rookie.　And this time, he would win.　" I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea," said Terry

　defensively, " I am not scared of that midget -brained rookie.　Even his face disgusts me.　And the fact that

　fans can even tolerate that fool astounds me.　"He has one victory over me.　So what ?　He was lucky that

　night.　He had the advantage of wrestling in his adopted hometown.　Take Guerrero out of Los Angeles and

　he's nothing.　They wouldn't even let him into the arena in Amarillo !　I know a lot of people say I'm scared

　of that little twerp.　It just isn't true.　I haven't agreed to wrestle him until now because I had other things

　to do.　The bounty my family placed on his head was for the purpose of disposing of Guerrero so I wouldn't

　have to bother with him.　But we are allowed to change our minds.　We decided only a Funk should defend

　the honor of the Funk Family.　You see, honor is a much stronger motivation than mere money.　Honor is

　everything !"　Terry spoke those words like a true Southern gentleman.　Unfortunately for him, there were

　few who would believe he wasn't afraid of Chavo.　And the night of their battle confirmed what many people

　thought.　Terry did not carry himself with the usual confidence and swagger with which he has been associ-

　ated since he captured his title.　He looked nervous.　He looked scared.　Scared to death.

　What followed was a vicious, brutal match between Terry Funk and Chavo Guerrero.　For the first few

　minutes, both men held their own, with neither man gaining control over the other.　But soon Chavo began

　to dominate the action.　It began to appear Terry had foolishly placed his title on the line for this match.　

　He was in serious danger of losing the belt.　But the motivation to retain that championship was strong.

　He held on, and fiercely battled against the Mexican.　Soon he was in control, but by then it was too late ;

　the time limit had expired and the match was over.

　The three ringside judges conferred among themselves.　After five minutes, a judgement was made :　

　In a split decision, Chavo Guerrero was declared the winner of the match.　However, since it was not a

　clear-out victory for the rookie, the belt would remain with Terry Funk.

　The crowd's reaction was mixed.　They were glad Chavo had been awarded the match, but they were upset

　he had not been awarded the belt.　Chavo was furious.　He had wanted to win the title from Funk.　He had

　expected to leave the ring that night with a diamond-studded belt around his waist.　Funk hurridly left the

　arena.　He refused to talk to the press.　He had retained his championship - but just barely.

　The next day, a statement was released by the Funk family from its Texas ranch.　In the statement, the

　Funks made it clear they felt Chavo once again got lucky ; he had won simply because he was wrestling in

　Los Angeles.　But then they added they had doubled the bounty on Chavo's head.　Now $20,000 would go

　to the man who permanently disabled Guerrero.　And so far now, the young Mexican rookie with the

　tremendous future had made some very powerful enemies - the Funks.