Former WWE Pro Wrestler Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff (1950-2021) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-12-2021, 03:09 PM

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dies-at-age-71

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has died, his son
announced in an Instagram post on Monday.

He was 71.

"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote. "He is better known as “Mr. #1derful” Paul Orndorff. Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw, and Daddy at home. And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it. He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you Daddy."

Travis Orndorff said Paul had been dealing with dementia, which he believes was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition caused by repeated head trauma. CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously.

Several wrestlers have been diagnosed with CTE following their deaths.

Orndorff spent a quarter-decade in wrestling, getting his start in the territories before signing with WWF in 1983. He was with the company until 1988 when a freak bowling accident caused him to retire, though returned in 1990, first with WCW and then Smoky Mountain.

The stint with Smoky Mountain led to Orndorff re-signing with WCW in 1992, an extended run that continued through the final episode of Nitro in 2001. A neck injury suffered during a match at the 2000 Fall Brawl pay-per-view led to his retirement, with the lasting effects of the injury causing significant muscle loss in his arm.

While Orndorff never won a singles championship in WWE or WCW, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a member of the NWA Hall of Fame.

SledgeBarone · 07-14-2021, 03:34 PM

RIP

I'm not a historian, but several items in that obituary don't sound correct to me. Didn't his arm muscle loss trouble him back in his 1980s WWF run? I don't remember hearing about a freak bowling accident, either. It seemed like Orndorff already was being moved down the pecking order in the WWF before he disappeared. I don't recall him wrestling much in Nitro-era WCW -- thought he'd become a trainer by that time.

Can anyone describe how his career was going pre-WWF? He seemed like a perfect fit for the WWF - good body, but his image was mostly a no-nonsense SOB, which was refreshing in the cartoonish landscape of the Whiff at the time. Even though he was smaller than Hulk Hogan, he was totally believable as a threat, as evidenced by drawing 70,000 against Hulk at Toronto's baseball/football stadium for what wasn't originally supposed to be a supercard. But I haven't read anything about his territorial runs that said he was at a level above the other stars of that era.

His post-WWF run in WCW definitely paled in comparison. It was strange seeing Orndorff getting all bent out of shape by the fans calling him "Paula", especially when his partner of the same first name (Paul Roma) didn't get bothered by their chanting. Not that I'm not entertained by heels getting flustered by the fans, but a tough guy like him doing that was so odd.

Mikey Osmond · 07-23-2021, 01:58 PM

I didn't see his pre-WWF run but he drew big money with Hogan.

07-12-2021, 03:09 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,472	Former WWE Pro Wrestler Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff (1950-2021) https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dies-at-age-71 WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has died, his son announced in an Instagram post on Monday. He was 71. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote. "He is better known as “Mr. #1derful” Paul Orndorff. Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw, and Daddy at home. And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it. He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you Daddy." Travis Orndorff said Paul had been dealing with dementia, which he believes was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition caused by repeated head trauma. CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously. Several wrestlers have been diagnosed with CTE following their deaths. Orndorff spent a quarter-decade in wrestling, getting his start in the territories before signing with WWF in 1983. He was with the company until 1988 when a freak bowling accident caused him to retire, though returned in 1990, first with WCW and then Smoky Mountain. The stint with Smoky Mountain led to Orndorff re-signing with WCW in 1992, an extended run that continued through the final episode of Nitro in 2001. A neck injury suffered during a match at the 2000 Fall Brawl pay-per-view led to his retirement, with the lasting effects of the injury causing significant muscle loss in his arm. While Orndorff never won a singles championship in WWE or WCW, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a member of the NWA Hall of Fame.
	Last edited by Zoneboy; 07-12-2021 at 03:42 PM.

07-14-2021, 03:34 PM	#2
SledgeBarone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2020 Posts: 1,930	RIP I'm not a historian, but several items in that obituary don't sound correct to me. Didn't his arm muscle loss trouble him back in his 1980s WWF run? I don't remember hearing about a freak bowling accident, either. It seemed like Orndorff already was being moved down the pecking order in the WWF before he disappeared. I don't recall him wrestling much in Nitro-era WCW -- thought he'd become a trainer by that time. Can anyone describe how his career was going pre-WWF? He seemed like a perfect fit for the WWF - good body, but his image was mostly a no-nonsense SOB, which was refreshing in the cartoonish landscape of the Whiff at the time. Even though he was smaller than Hulk Hogan, he was totally believable as a threat, as evidenced by drawing 70,000 against Hulk at Toronto's baseball/football stadium for what wasn't originally supposed to be a supercard. But I haven't read anything about his territorial runs that said he was at a level above the other stars of that era. His post-WWF run in WCW definitely paled in comparison. It was strange seeing Orndorff getting all bent out of shape by the fans calling him "Paula", especially when his partner of the same first name (Paul Roma) didn't get bothered by their chanting. Not that I'm not entertained by heels getting flustered by the fans, but a tough guy like him doing that was so odd.

07-23-2021, 01:58 PM	#3
Mikey Osmond Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 29, 2020 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 38	I didn't see his pre-WWF run but he drew big money with Hogan.