WWE aired tributes to recently passed legends Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt on Friday evening’s episode of “SmackDown.”
Funk passed away at 79 years old on Wednesday at a hospital near Phoenix and Wyatt — born Windham Rotunda and son of wrestler Mike Rotunda — died unexpectedly at 36 on Thursday from a heart attack after initially making progress toward a recovery while battling heart issues, the site Fightful reported.
To begin “SmackDown,” WWE performed a 10-bell salute with all wrestlers and staff from the roster standing on stage as a form of respect, a sight often seen in pro wrestling when someone passes away.
WWE also put together separate tribute video packages commemorating the accomplishments and lives of Funk and Wyatt, respectively.
Funk, who began pro wrestling in 1965, was involved in the sport for over 50 years.
The colorful Texas-raised hardcore legend was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004, the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021.
Funk notably won numerous championships across many of wrestling’s key promotions and territories across his career, including the NWA World Heavyweight, ECW World Heavyweight, WWE Tag team and NWA United States Championships.
Wyatt won the WWE Universal Championship twice, the WWE Title once, and his final world title reign famously ended at the hands of Roman Reigns — still the promotion’s top World Champion — on August 30, 2020.
At the time of Wyatt’s death, he had been engaged to JoJo Offerman, a former WWE Star with whom he had two children.
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