Dory Funk Jr. signed a contract with the WWF, and Dory, assisted by Dr. Tom Prichard, has been training and coaching the present stars and future talents in the WWF's Funking Dojo at the WWF's Titan Towers Building in Stamford, Connecticut since January 1998. "Dojo" is the Japanese wrestling training system (actually, all-living facility in Japan), as its purpose is the training of young wrestlers into main eventers, while inculcating them with the strict etiquette, discipline, and special values of wrestling. Dory is teaching mat skills and ring psychology by his original curriculum, which mixes both the Japanese Dojo system and some drills from college football. Dory said, "Professional wrestling is one of the most highly complex sports. It's very hard to learn. Funking Dojo is designed for wrestlers just beginning, the intermediate, and the advanced to make the climb to the winner's platform."
3. Wrestling in-ring workouts (2:00 pm-6:00 p.m. / WWF's TV Production Studios)
(The scheduling of the Dojo is like Japanese Dojo; boys have to arrive a few minutes earlier than "sensei" [coach / teacher] and "senpai" [elder boys] and be ready to go throughout the schedule.)
(2) Positioning for takedowns, reversals, and escapes
(3) Self-controlling in both offense and defense
(4) Controlling opponent
2. Exchanging blows / Techniques / Maneuvers
(1) Locking up with opponent, (2) Taking opponent off, (3) Double leg tackle, (4) Single leg take-down, (5) Fireman's carriage, (6) Hip-lock, (7) Full body slam, (8) Arm drag, (9) Chicken wing and half nelson, (10) Dory Funk Sr.'s Special Chief Justice "Whizzer" White reversal (invented by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and former pro football player, Byron "Whizzer" White, who was also a wrestler) (11) Blows to the body, (12) Forearm to the midsection, (13) Back and front elbow, (14) Elbow drop, (15) Kicks, (16) Straight punches to the body, (17) Flying elbow, (18) Flying drop kick, (19) Aerial maneuvers
3. Interviews
4. Matches
5. Reviewing interviews and matches on the video tape
1/4 - 1/10/98
Marc Mero, "Blue Chippers" Sean Morley (Val Venis) and Adam Copeland (Edge), Steve Blackman, Mark Henry (Sexual Chocolate), Darren Drozdov (Puke / Droz of L.O.D.), Taka Michinoku, Robert Maillet (Kurrgan), Tiger Ali Singh (son of Tiger Jeet Singh), Ahmed Johnson, Shawn "Stasiak" Stipich (son of Stan Stasiak), Achim Albrecht (Brakus), Matt Bloom (The Mongolian), and Rodney Blackbeard ?.
Dory said, "At the Dojo, we begin with athletes that have in some way grabbed the attention of the talent relations department of the WWF. Some have wrestled the indy circuit like Copeland, O'Grady, and Grimes. Some come from the amateur ranks like Severn and Stasiak. Some from football like Drozdov. We also have some regular WWF stars who come to the Dojo to improve their skills."
4/18 - 4/26/98
Paulo Silva (Giant Silva of the Oddities), John Tenta (Golga/Earthquake), Solofa Fatu (Fatu/Sultan), Shawn Stasiak, Mike Tierney (Irish Assassin), Erin O'Grady (APW), Vic Grimes (APW)
5/10 - 5/17/98
Dan Severn, David Heath (Vampire Warrior/Gangrel), Paulo Silva, John Tenta, Solofa Fatu, Darren Drozdov, Andrew Martin (Test), Shawn Stasiak, Mike Tierney, Matt Bloom (Baldo/Prince Albert), Erin O'Grady, Vic Grimes, George Phillips, Emory Hale
7/18 - 7/25/98
Steven Regal, Miguel Perez, Paulo Silva, Christian Cage (Jay Reso; Christian), Andrew Martin, Apolo Dantes, Tarzan Boy (Armando Fernandez), Papi Chulo (Aguila), Shawn Stasiak, Ted Annis (Ted Hart, grandson of Stu Hart), Rhino Richards, Timber the Lumberjack
8/15 - 8/23/98
Christian Cage, Andrew Martin, Brakus, Matt & Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle (1996 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist), Shawn Stasiak, Matt Bloom, Glen Kulka (CFL Rough Rider), Tom Howard (KGB from AAA)
10/23 - 11/1/98
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams, Giant Silva, Tiger Ali Singh, Pablo Marquez (Babu/El Puerto Ricano/Ubas), Andrew Martin, Kurt Angle, Shawn Stasiak, Glen Kulka, Todd Passmore (Barry Houston), Ted Annis, Devon Storm, Steve Corino, Christopher Daniels (Fallen Angel)
11/18 - 11/23/98
Steve Williams, Giant Silva, Pierre Oulette (of the Quebecers), Andrew Martin, Kurt Angle, Glen Kulka, Todd Passmore, Devon Storm, Steve Bradley (CWA)
1/1 - 1/9/99
Road Warrior Hawk, Giant Silva, Brian Heffron (Blue Meanie), Kurt Angle, Glen Kulka, Todd Passmore, Steve Bradley, Shane Sewell, Lester Straight, Kevin Loughnane, Andy Lewis
5/3 - 5/10/99
Jason Ahrndt, Mark Henry, Russ McCullough, Stefan Gamlin, Robbie Dicks, Rico Cosantino, Tom Howard
Jim Ross talked about the Dojo Boys on his 900 report, saying, "Many of them have the physical skills, but it's more than executing an individual move or a collection of moves or a series of moves. It's more than that. We're looking for people who come to work on time, we're looking for people who want to keep themselves in condition, and we're looking for people who want to be the very best at what they do and not just hop onto the roster. We want people who want to be in the main event at WrestleMania. That's what you're always looking for. I know it sounds a little like a romanticist's way of looking at it, but there's more to being a star and more to having a long shelf life in the WWF than just being able to execute move A to move B to move C."
The WWF Funking Dojo is a new and different way of developing wrestling talents in 2000. Recently, Dory was released from his duties as head coach of the training camp. The WWF Training Camp has been moved from Stamford, CT to Louisville, Kentucky where Jim Cornette and Danny Davis are the lead coaches. Cornette and Davis are also in control of Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) that serves as a AA league while Power Pro Wrestling in Memphis serves as the AAA league, before moving up into the big league- The WWF.
