Posted on 07/12/2021 5:57:22 PM PDT by massmike
Paul Orndorff, aka “Mr. Wonderful,” one of the greats from the World Wrestling Federation’s 1980s heyday, has died. He was 71.
His son Travis made the announcement Monday on Instagram, where he has documented his father’s recent health struggles.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr,” wrote the younger Orndorff. “He is better known as “Mr. #1derful” Paul Orndorff.”
Orndorff came up in the Southern wrestling circuit, and signed with the WWE predecessor World Wrestling Federation in late 1983, where “Rowdy” Roddy Piper became his manager. Piper nicknamed Orndorff “Mr. Wonderful,” a moniker that stuck.
He made his WWF debut in 1984 against Salvatore Bellomo in Madison Square Garden and shot straight to the main event less than a month later. He fought Hulk Hogan for the title as the “Hulkamania” wave began to crest. He also fought the Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana.
Frequent foe Hogan took to Twitter on hearing the news of Orndorff’s death and wrote, “thank you for always making me fight for everything in our matches.” He ended with, “heaven just got even more Wonderful.”
(Excerpt) Read more at deadline.com ...
One day he was a heel, the next day he was a fan favorite. Truly one of the enigmas of wrestling.
Ugh. Last year we lost Mr. Wrestling #2. Now, Mr. 1derful.
All will travel down that path eventually; may we leave good works and memories behind. Paul Orndorf was a memorable wrestler at a time of many memorable characters in that business.
71. For pro wrestlers he lived a very very very long time.
I always wanted to see an all animals 3 way match between Jake’s snake, Koko B. Ware’s bird and Ricky Steamboat’s lizard thingy!
Crap didn’t know Mr wrestling number two had passed away. Gosh trying the great knee lift in the sky.....
Didn’t Kamala have a voodoo doll?
Yes, I loved the show Dark Side of Wrestling , unfortunately on VICE channel, then the history channel having some great biographys on wrestlers, Rowdy Roddy Piper & Macho Man Randy Savage always were my favorites! RIP Mr.Wonderful thanks for the memories!
Man, I still miss Roddy Piper. His death really hurt. Tragic.
RIP.
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