35 Years Ago: Briscos Defeat Funks in Brother vs. Brother Match for the Georgia Tag Team Title

L-R: Jack and Jerry Brisco sign autographs for fans From John Cannon: Many, many years before Jerry Brisco became a lifer for Vinc...

L-R: Jack and Jerry Brisco sign autographs for fans

From John Cannon:

Many, many years before Jerry Brisco became a lifer for Vince McMahon and Terry Funk raised hell as a crazed hardcore senior citizen in ECW, both were part of successful tag teams with their brothers – Brisco, with brother Jack, and Funk, with brother Dory, Jr. – and all four would ultimately go on to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame; the Briscos in 2008, and the Funks in 2009. Between Thanksgiving in November 1978 and the opening day of 1979, both veteran teams and longtime rivals would win their first – and only for the Funks – Georgia Tag Team Title.

The brother tag teams first went head-to-head for the title in the finals of a tournament to crown new champions for the vacated title on November 23, 1978, with the Funks coming out on top. While both teams were new to the Georgia Tag Team Championship ranks, in 1979 they were well familiar with each other having even battled for the Florida Tag Team Title in 1971, the Brisco Brothers with two title wins to the Funks one head-to-head.

L-R: Terry Funk, Gordon Solie, and Dory Funk, Jr.

On January 1, 1979, the Brisco and Funk brothers would tie up once again at the Omni in Atlanta as part of a loaded holiday card that featured additional championship matches, including Harley Race vs. Andre the Giant for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and Mr. Wrestling #2 vs. the Masked Superstar for the Georgia Heavyweight Championship. By the time the smoke cleared at the Omni over 12,000 fans witnessed Jack and Jerry Brisco win their first NWA Georgia Tag Team Title.

The Brisco brothers again topped the Funks in a Texas Death rematch to retain the belts on January 12 at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium. Still, they would enjoy the taste of Georgia gold for only a mere nineteen days in total, losing the title to Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff in Atlanta on January 19 at the Auditorium, and would have to wait until Christmas day that same year to taste it again.