The Masters of the Bump - wrestling style

Wrestling Digest, Oct, 2001 by Steve Anderson

TERRY FUNK

He set the standard with his extreme bumping style. "The Funker" is a proud member of a legendary wrestling family who specialized in the sweet science of mat wrestling. At first, many considered Terry Funk a solid mat-worker. But he changed with the times, showing a sadistic, brawling side during various heel stints and as a risk-taking, 50-something wrestler in ECW, WCW, and the WWF. He has thrown his middle-aged frame in the air about as many times as he has officially retired. Funk has disciples who have followed in his footsteps and buckets of blood.

MICK FOLEY

Having Funk as your role model has its trappings. At one time in his career, the wrestler formerly known as Cactus Jack, among other identities, settled for a simple elbow off the ring apron, connecting with the concrete floor below. The more acclaim he received, the higher the structure he Chose to execute certifiably insane maneuvers. His legendary bump off the top of a cage at King of the Ring on June 28, 1998, set the standard, making his previous moves look tame. His career may have ended in his mid-30s, but his legacy continues in other marquee and up-and-coming wrestlers.

SHAWN MICHAELS

Before Foley fell off the cage, Shawn Michaels took a fall of his own off the "hellish" structure. He pioneered "Hell in the Cell" with the Undertaker on October 5, 1997. But Michaels was not just a hapless victim who plummeted to earth. He used athleticism in executing bumps that brought arena fans to their feet. What he lacked in size, he made up for in honing a style that is responsible for his current physical condition, which includes an injured back "The Heartbreak Kid" may have retired before his time, but he remains one of the best workers willing to take the scariest of bumps.