Dory Funk, Jr. Wins NWA World Heavyweight Title

Dory Funk, Jr. becomes NWA World Heavyweight champion by defeating Gene Kiniski in Tampa, Florida. Funk’s time as NWA champion would last nearly four and a half years (1,563 days) and remains the second longest uninterrupted title reign (behind Lou Thesz’s six and a half year run) in the history of the National Wrestling Alliance.