His son, Travis Orndorff, revealed the news in an Instagram post. 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff Dies, WWE Hall of Fame Wrestler Was 71 By Anthony Lund Published Jul 12, 2021 The world of pro-wrestling mourned the loss of one of its greats as news broke of. "The next day, all hell broke loose. Strangely enough, Kidman and Madusa dont win. In his promo with Madusa, Kidman sent out his best wishes to Orndorff for a speedy recovery. A bad neck injury left to arm atrophy and later forced him to retire in 200. Thanks for all the laughs and great matches. While Tyson will never wrestle again, the fact that he can still walk and is still alive is as close to a miracle as one can come. During his sophomore season, Orndorff missed two weeks with a broken cheekbone and a cut that required 24 stitches to repair. Rey hit Aguayo with a dropkick which sent him to the middle rope as planned, but Aguayo lost consciousness. ICP and Vampiro take it to Muta. "As some of you may know we are preparing for Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff's final farewell. David claims to see the father walking up his front lawn. Sting pulls his nemesis out of the ring and saves his hide. From there, Orndorff went to Memphis for eight months and then St. Louis for another eight months before moving on to Charlotte and Mid-Atlantic, where he teamed with Jimmy Snuka for nearly a year. After retiring, he trained . I was a little kid again. Matsuda operated a local wrestling club where he also trained future wrestling stars Scott Hall, Lex Luger, Ron Simmons, B. Brian Blair, and Hulk Hogan, who famously had his leg broken by Matsuda as a test of his toughness. He didnt get back up laying motionless. . The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Goldberg breaks The Steiner Recliner twice. While Orndorff was a physical specimen who could handle the physical demands of playing tight end and had good speed, running a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, he didnt have the ideal size to play there. While the ref is distracted, Mike Sanders punks Kwee-wee with a stick to the knee. "And I feel the same way about the Saints going into Saints camp. During the tag match Ali climbed up on to the ring apron and took a swing at Piper. Due to his past injuries in the WWF, Paul was forced to retire. "As soon as Paul polishes up his form and gets the kinks out, I think he will throw the discus 170 feet and the shot 55 feet," said Jim Summer, Brandon Eagles head track coach at the time. The technique is said to have been innovated by Wild Bill Longson.. ", My heart is saddened again. Comedian Bill Burr spoke out about Paul Orndorff's death on Twitter. The news of the wrestler's death came through the Instagram post made by Paul's son Travis Orndorff. It is a hard-hitting, stiff contest as most would have thought. Hart at first was critical of Goldbergs careless kick but has eventually forgiven him. In the video, the WWE Hall of Famer was unrecognizable and appeared to be confused while eating the contents of condiment packets.Travis Orndorff intended to make fans aware of his father's condition, but he received a lot of backlash from those in the . Famous commentator Jim Ross paid tribute to the late wrestler Paul Orndorff on Monday. That went on for seven months. B Brian Blair on Paul Orndorff, Shoot Fights, Ribs, and More! During the 1990s, he had numerous runs in WCW, winning the tag titles three times in addition to one reign as World Television Champion, before retiring in 2000 after suffering another neck injury. Well soon see. The anomaly (atrophy . During his early 20s, the powerful 5-8, 220-pounder became a professional wrestler and carved out a 20-plus-year career that began in the 1940s at the University of Tampa the same school where Orndorff would eventually play college football. > Books His first spark was lit one day when he was lying on the floor of his in-laws home, watching TV, and Championship Wrestling from Florida came on. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Rey Mysterio Jr. assisted the EMTs and kissed the cross hanging around his neck. Ric Flair, a retired professional wrestler, took toTwitterafter learning of Paul Orndorff's passing. I had done some wrestling with Ervin Smith at UT and liked it, and I went to (Eddie) Graham about turning professional. I was at the Big Event in Toronto. One of the greatest of all time! Elixs Overdrive demolishes Kwee-wee. "God gave me a good body; I should use it make a living with it.". His son released new video of the WWE Hall of Famer, and it is heartbreaking to see. Lance Storm invites the Americans in the crowd to drive to Kitchener with him so they can experience Canada. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote. WWE Hall of Fame member Eric Bischoff tweeted out his condolences after announcements of Paul Orndorff's death. I AM SO SAD I LOVE YOU FOREVER REST IN PEACE pic.twitter.com/RXovORjxVp, WWE WRESTLER BOBBY ROODE TWEETS THAT ORNDORFF WAS AN 'INSPIRATION'. In any case, his match at the pay per view, Sin, was the end of his full time career in both WCW and WWE. The news of his death was announced by his son Travis, who. Vince Russo and Midajah hit Goldberg with a bat and a steel pipe. Quote Tweet. ", Paul Orndorff was the first wrestler I hated & feared as a child. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw, and Daddy at home. While Orndorff got along well with his previous coach Fran Curci, he and Bruce mixed like oil and water. "Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff was an inspiration to me breaking into the business," he wrote. "Condolences to Pauls family and friends. During the tag match Ali climbed up on to the ring apron and took a swing at Piper. He retired in 2000. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who once fought in Wrestlemania, has died at the age of 71. He dropped out of sight until he used his spare time to enter an arm-wrestling competition in Lake Wales, Florida. he hurt his arm and rather than take time off to heal, he continued wrestling. Rude saved Stings life by catching him, but Rude landed awkwardly on a lifted part of the ramp that was in place and severely injured his back. The powerful Orndorff won the state championship as a rookie, defeating a former champion along the way, and that was after Orndorff was hospitalized for several days with pneumonia. He was previously involved in a class-action lawsuit against WWE that alleged that wrestlers suffered from long-term neurological injuries. Storm makes Rection submit to the Maple Leaf. One of my fondest memories. Particularly by modern standards, that's not all that old for a top-tier wrestler. Throughout the 80s, Orndorff became a star, often going head-to-head with the ImmortalHulk Hoganin the main event of the firstWrestlemaniaand Survivors Series. In June 1973, the Saints training camp opened. Disqo is dazed and accidentally hits the Last Dance on Konnan booting him at 5:23. He was inducted into the WWE . With his sights set on eventually getting a college education, Orndorff saw sports as his only way to escape the streets and achieve that goal, so he turned to football at Dowdell Junior High School. Livingstone, and his wife Vonda, looked after Orndorff and provided guidance during his formidable high school years. Sting's win-loss record in All Elite Wrestling is 13-0 as of this writing. Still, its kept short. Paul Orndorff defeated Flyin' Brian to win the tournament and to become #1 contender for the TV title. The injury would not heal properly and eagle-eyed fans later noted the apparent difference . Orndorff nearly earned the Most Valuable Player Award, but he played both tight end and fullback in the game and received votes at each position, which likely hurt him as the media awarded an MVP to both the top lineman (the tight end is part of the offensive line) and top back. After signing, Orndorff said, "I cant get it out of my system. Type above and press Enter to search. Orndorff was 71-years-old at the time of his death. Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania Without . His son, Travis, took to Instagram this afternoon and announced the passing. He is also a reporter for Entertainment Tonight Canada. Mean Gene is getting feisty as he interviews The Natural Born Killers. Its not like some places.". In June 1975, Orndorff returned to pro football again and signed with the Jacksonville Express of the upstart World Football League, but he was plagued by injuries. Graham recorded one 15-minute match they had and was so impressed by what he saw that he sent that match to all the area high schools for promoting his shows. . Thank you for all of them Paul. He wrote: "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr.". (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). All donations and love gifts are appreciated.". "When youre tired, theres not a whole lot you can do about it," Orndorff said in a shoot interview with Boston Wrestling. Theres a reason why the piledriver is largely banned in WWE. Man, I had so many matches and learned a ton with #PaulOrndorff Hate to see this, but know he's not in pain anymore. He was later part of the class action lawsuit against WWE for the long-term injuries that he suffered in the ring. Paul Orndorff, the WWE Hall of Famer who fought in the first-ever WrestleMania, died on Monday. . As the population grew, sports became more of an integral part of this community that later produced many professional athletes and Olympians, including former MLB pitcher Sterling Hitchcock, former NBA center Dwayne Schintzius and fellow professional wrestler Daffney, who is best known for her 1999-2001 run in WCW and TNA from 2008-2011. Thanks! Wonderful, the wrestler was 71 years old. On the page, Travis's wife, Amayou Smith, wrote: "Hi my name is Amayou, my husband is Travis Orndorff. Mr Wonderful was believed to have made most of his money wrestling for WWE prior to his retirement. His son Travis revealed that Mr Wonderful passed away in an Instagram post on Monday. "I would just work them out until they vomited, collapsed, or quit. However, after The Icon signed with AEW in December 2020, he ended up returning to the ring in 2021 during his 60s! Rest In Peace!". Feb 11: NWA Nuff Said After Rick Rude was outside of the ring, Sting dove over the top rope for a suicide dive. Though the move didnt end Austins career right then, the effects from the move eventually caused Austin to retire from the ring. This article is about these wrestling moves, which includes moves that were botched, taking incorrectly or just an average move that was correctly taken and executed that still caused a career ending injury. Ushered in with a towel over his head to conceal his identity, Orndorff was the perfect choice based on the beat-down the Killers gave him in the Power Plant on WCW television. They knew I was an athlete, but they wanted to see if I had what it took to be a professional wrestler.". They tested my will. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. Thank you for all of them Paul. Just heard about the passing of Paul Mr 1derfulOrndorff. Paul Orndorff's son Travis announced the news of his father's deathwith a heartbreaking Instagram post. Think I have his autograph on a patriot mask somewhere. "He (Lambert) was my responsibility, and I was his in that game," Orndorff recalled in a February 1979 interview with The Tampa Tribune. Wrestling lost a legend in the industry when Paul Orndorff died at the age of 71 as revealed by his son via social media on Monday. DUSTIN RHODES POSTS IN MEMORY OF PAUL ORNDORFF. Ronda and Paul have two grown sons, Paul III and Travis. Wicked! He knew that if he took the time off he needed to heal, he'd lose his spot and lots of cash in the process. "They said Id have been drafted sooner if it hadnt been for my being moved to tight end," Orndorff said in the Feb. 1, 1973 edition of The Tampa Tribune. #PaulOrndorff, PAUL ORNDORFF'S SON CONFIRMS HIS DEATH IN STATEMENT. He had just returned home from an assisted living facility. Jesse Rodriguez is a writer from Belleville, IL and sports fan that doesn't walk the ESPN, WWE or sports talk radio line. Ha. Normally, a cross body isnt a move that would be considered overtly dangerous, but when Sami dove off the top rope and Graves caught him, Gravesappearedto slam the back of his head into the mat. Sadly, at the age of 71, he now appears to be in ill health at a medical facility as his son Travis has shared a heartbreaking video of the WWE Hall of Famer where he is unrecognizable and appears to be confused. Wonderful ," one of the greats from the World Wrestling Federation's 1980s heyday, has died. That time arrived a few months into training when Orndorff invited his father-in-law to a session. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Why did Paul Orndorff quit wrestling? WWE's officialTwitteraccount posted a tribute to the fallen star, tweeting: "WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer 'Mr. And he had the confidence to have fun with his character.". You can access his entire portfolio here. Kronik level Silverman with High Time. Orndorff had been dealing with health issues for many years, including cancer and dementia. Among other things, Orndorff was suffering from late-stage dementia. Mr Wonderful was believed to have made most of his money wrestling for WWE prior to his retirement. Paul Orndorff, friend and foe to Hulk Hogan in the 1980s WWF, died at 71 WWE By Ian Casselberry on July 13, 2021 Before Andre the Giant turned heel and betrayed Hulk Hogan, Paul Orndorff did it. Even at 14, Orndorff already exhibited the athletic gifts that defined his pro wrestling career. Smith worked his way up the card and eventually main-evented many events in Florida, including a Nov. 1958 show that featured him in a title match against NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Dick Hutton. Jay Briscoes widow provides update on kids, NXT: The Road to Vengeance (Day) Continues, George Tahinos Jay and Mark Briscoe photo gallery, Shareholder revolt continues as WWE, McMahon face another lawsuit, Slam readers pick their best and worst of 2022, A drowsy Raw features a great main event, yet another insensitive comment from Graves, Mat Matters: We put AI bookers to work and heres what happened. Mr T - real name Laurence Tureaud - debuted for the WWE in 1985 as Hulk Hogans tag-team partner at the very first WrestleMania, beating Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. "He will never be forgotten. 3 min read. Orndorff exploded on theWWEscene in the 1980s, paired with manager Bobby Heenan. FANS 'SADDENED' AT NEWS OF PAUL ORNDORFF'S DEATH. WCW promised to provide a full update on Orndorffs condition on tonights edition of Nitro from Kitchener, Ontario. DUSTIN RHODES POSTS IN MEMORY OF PAUL ORNDORFF. His son Travis revealed that Mr Wonderful passed away in an Instagram post on Monday. Whether it was amateur wrestling, bodybuilding, football, track and field, or even arm wrestling, Paul Orndorff displayed a wide-ranging athletic aptitude that exceeded most mens capabilities. Orndorff was recruited three years prior when Ladd set up a meeting for him in New York, where there was talk of a program with WWF Champion Bob Backlund. 13th July 2021, 12:58 pm. "We need some running back strength," Bears Personnel Director Bobby Walston told The Tampa Tribune in the next days edition. He was 71. Orndorff trained a lot with Backlund, and they had many matches together. Orndorff was a natural at the field events, where his freakish strength enabled him to excel in both shot put and discus. In this article well detail 15 of these moves that ended the careers of 15 wrestlers. "He is better known as Mr. On July 12,Travis Orndorff, Mr Wonderful's son, confirmed his father's deathafter battling dementia and head trauma. After graduating, Smith joined the Navy, which led to an interest in fitness and bodybuilding. Billy Silverman wakes up just in time to see Adams bleeding and awards the match to The Harris Brothers. The medical staff was unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Our thoughts are with the Orndorff family during this sad time. ", My heart is saddened again. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who was known as "Mr. Wonderful," has died at the age of 71. . During their match on a taped SmackDown event, DLo Brown went for his signature running powerbomb. Bah. The referee, Charles Robinson stopped . Orndorff was suffering from CTE according to his family. "I went through hell that night," Orndorff said. In 2011, he also. "It looked like he was chiseled out of marble. He came to WWF from the NWA, and would go on to work for WCW in the '90s. Juvie is given the heave-ho by OHaire at 11:31. "Paul Orndorff was a true, mans man. On the page, Travis's wife, Amayou Smith, wrote: "Hi my name is Amayou, my husband is Travis Orndorff. Even Kevin Nash, not known for having the best work rate in the business, bladed in his WCW World Heavyweight Title cage match against challenger Booker T. Will wonders never cease? Some who have watched the video speculate he may have dementia, although that hasn't been confirmed. Located just three miles from Tampa Stadium, Smiths gym became a popular destination for bodybuilders and wrestlers who lived in or visited the area, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Saito, Hulk Hogan, Eddie & Mike Graham, the Malenko family, and Sailor Art Thomas to name just a few. Paul Orndorff was named "Mr. Wonderful" by Roddy Piper. Graham was one of the top wrestling stars of his era and eventually the owner of the Championship Wrestling from Florida territory. Mean Gene calls Jarrett a crazy bastard. Orndorff left the WWF in 1988 with an untreated neck injury, yet continued to wrestle in the WCW and won the World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship. From out of nowhere, Sting Scorpion Death Drops Jarrett so Awesome can get the easy cover. Despite the chance of making an NFL roster, Orndorff instead decided to cut himself and walked out of training camp. Stone Cold Steve Austin has said that any match can be a wrestler's last in the business, and if anyone wouldunderstand that, it would be Stone Cold. "There wasnt a sport I couldnt do or couldnt master; that was my mentality," Orndorff said during his acceptance speech for the Mens Wrestling Award at the 2016 Cauliflower Alley Club Annual Reunion. On July 12,Travis Orndorff, Mr Wonderful's son, confirmed his father's deathafter battling dementia and head trauma. Great tag team action as the underrated Three Count (WCWs answer to the Hardy Boyz) showcase some really innovative moves. "I didnt like Bruce at all," Orndorff said. Angelo Mosca and Joe Kapp Old Rivalries Die Hard, Dick Murdoch Always Controversial, Always Himself, Eddie and Mike Graham Triumph and Dark Tragedy, Tully Blanchard | His Memorable Football Career Before Wrestling, WWE Greatest Royal Rumble Fluke Finish A Throwback to a Classic, Bob Backlund Humble Beginnings to Championship Gold, Gino Hernandez His Tragic Death and The Mystery That Remains, Battle for Atlanta | How The NWA Crushed Ann Gunkels Outlaw Promotion. The Tangerine Bowl was a mid-major showcase pitting the Mid-American Conference champion vs. a random foe. #RIPMrWonderful", Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff was an inspiration to me breaking into the business. May God rest his soul! WWE Paul Orndorff Wife, Age, Net worth, Cause of Death, Health, Arm, Neck Injury, Arm Size, Brother, Obituary July 13, 2021 July 13, 2021 Editor 0 Comments. "He Was Another Amazing Athlete That I Had The Pleasure Of Wrestling An Hour For The NWA Championship On Many Occasions! He was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2005and theNational Wrestling AllianceHall of Famein 2009. The popular running back often amazed the fans and energized his teammates by running down the field with multiple defenders hanging onto him. "Him and Sherri were the best on that show with working the crowd. WE RIDE TOGETHER. Without a strong parental presence, Orndorff found himself spending a lot of time on the streets while hanging out with kids nearly twice his age. Here's a video clip of what happened to Mr. MY BROTHER. The move looked perfect as both Samoa Joe and Tyson Kidd executed and took the move perfectly. He was tearing it up in NXT, but unfortunately, two concussions ultimately ended his promising career. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who once fought in Wrestlemania, has died at the age of 71. Paul Orndorff, better known by his in-ring name Mr Wonderful, passed away on Monday, July 12. I went to a wcw house show at the uic pavilion once. Thank you for all of them Paul. His career highlights included competing alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan and Mr T. Paul Orndorff's son Travis confirmed in a statement that his father suffered from dementia. Hacksaw Jim Duggan is the special ringside enforcer. MY BROTHER. Since Goldberg is out, the ref drops his hand three times and Goldberg doesnt answer the count. Paul Orndorff was in his mid-30s when he suffered his arm injury. After beating lymph node cancer in 2011, Orndorff returned in good spirits, and in 2015 returned to WWE television on an episode of Table for 3 with fellow Hall of Famers Rowdy Roddy Piper and "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Just when his career was starting to take off, Droz was injured in a match with DLo Brown. Paul Orndorff Jr., better known as WWE Hall of Famer "Mr. Wonderful," has died. "YOU WERE EXCELLENT BUBBA. Mr. A mailman happily greets David. The only way to keep that from happening was to impose the "proving ground" between the outside world and those of us on the inside.". They have been together for over 50 years as she was his high school sweetheart. Some of the other guardians of the business actually made it their business to seriously hurt these people. In a match involving the Filthy Animal and The Natural Born Thrillers, Paul Orndorff hit his patented piledriver on Mark Jindrak and suddenly went limp. Goldbergs best match ever. Corey Graves had a great look, great in-ring skills, was good on the mic and had all the potential to be a star in WWE. Wonderful used his skills as a veteran to foul up the Killers planned moves and put away Johnny The Bull with his trademark Piledriver maneuver. His career highlights included competing alongside the likes of other wrestling legends like Hulk Hogan and Mr T. Paul Orndorff will have a public funeral, according to Wrestling Inc. One of the greatest of all time! Jul 12, 2021. Read our Paul Orndorff live blog for all the latest news and updates "He was so much more than a wrestler," Paul Orndorffs son, Travis, captioned an Instagram post. Mitsuharu Misawa may not be well known in The States, but he is a legend in Japan and in professional wrestling. Orndorff closed the famed Superdome show in a match against Bruiser Brody, which drew 33,000. Because the match suddenly concluded without any real winners, Orndorff appears to have legitimately hurt himself. Orndorff bounced around before settling down in Mid-South and worked for Bill Watts for four years during two runs. pic.twitter.com/RiOY6Rdj7w, PAUL ORNDORFF'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RELEASES STATEMENT ON GOFUNDME. Ron (who is already busted open but the official is knocked out and cant call it) hits a double braining both Adams and Clark. Hulk Hogan led tributes online to the legendary wrestler and said that he was "slammed" by the news of Orndoff's death on Monday. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. . Years later the morning before WrestleMania 21, I trained with him and Hulk. A story in the book The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heelssaid Orndorff remembered the moment when Matsuda choked him and waited to get his revenge. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Hulk Hogan led tributes online to the legendary wrestler and said that he was "slammed" by the news of Orndoff's death on Monday. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. A post shared by Paul Orndorff (@mr1derfulofficial), ORNDORFF'S SON SAYS HE WAS 'AN AMAZING FATHER'. In Feb. 1972, Orndorff confirmed he would finish his college career at Tampa despite rumors he might leave a year early to play pro football in Canada. Rock on, Scott! Before his senior season began, Earle Bruce was hired as the new head coach after six years as an assistant at Ohio State under Woody Hayes. Tyson Kidd really wasnt going anywhere as a singles star in WWE. Wonderful, Paul Orndorff. I was extremely lucky to have had him on so many Southeastern cards. The legendary WWE Hall of Famer was 71. ", ERIC BISCHOFF TWEETS TO ADDRESS PAUL ORNDORFF'S DEATH. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. The legendary Hall of Famer "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff has passed away. Martel was supposed to retain, but the match had to be reworked with Booker T improvising and winning the match instead. One of the greatest of all time! "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, one of professional wrestling's biggest stars of the 1980s, has died. On this day in 1990 Paul Orndorff didn't expect the 12th punch in this sequence with Steve Williams to land the place it did. The condition happens when someone suffers repeated head trauma, however, it can only be diagnosed once someone has passed away. Sadly, his career came to a shocking end after taking Samoa Joes Muscle Buster finisher. Also known as Mr. He was 71. And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it. When Orndorff faced off against Matsuda, the tired student stood no chance against the accomplished veteran who choked him with his famed front face lock. "He (Orndorff) has all the natural attributes of a tight end," Earle said at the time. Sasha would jump and kick Paige in the back, and Paige would not be able to continue the match. Three weeks after that, Orndorff showed up for his tryout, where he met Hiro Matsuda, Robert Fuller, Bob Backlund, Bob Roop, and Jack Brisco. May God rest his soul! Wonderful' Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. Wonderful. The scaffold is actually a part of the metal rigging on hydraulics. While Rick Rude had memorable matches in both WCW and WWE, Rude is probably most remembered as for his time as an insurance policy for D-Generation X and manager in the New World Order. Orndorff suffered a neck injury after delivering a piledriver. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. He would go on to reinjure his neck and incur several concussions. WE TRAIN TOGETHER. "As some of you may know we are preparing for Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff's final farewell. The unbelievable finally happened. #RIPMrWonderful, ORNDORFF WAS ALL-STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL. Chicago excites me. Orndorff. He gave me the chance.. "He and Charlie were buddies," Vonda said of Orndorff. Wonderful aka The Brandon Bull. The community experienced rapid growth during Orndorffs childhood in the mid-1960s, with a population that topped 30,000 around the time he reached high school. Rick Martel said thats enough and retired immediately after. Though he initially retired due a neck injury suffered at the Fall Brawl event in 2000, he did manage to wrestle one last match in 2017 at the age of 67. The injury was left untreated for too long and the nerve damage caused his right bicep to. He will never be forgotten. You can check out the video below. ", Orndorff would come clean in a Sept. 2, 1976 story in The Tampa Tribune where he admitted he withdrew from football because he "just got homesick, to tell you the truth. While he was fortunate to still get several years of wrestling out of his neck, other superstars havent been so lucky. His career ended when he suffered a neck injury at Fall Brawl 2000 and went on to help run the WCW Power Plant. So, when he decided to open his own health club in 1958, Smith chose the sunny, tropical coastal city as its home. Wonderful ," one of the greats from the World Wrestling Federation's 1980s heyday, has died. Meanwhile, Coach Bruce left Tampa after one season to become head coach at Iowa State. During their match Owen would nail a reverse piledriver, arguably an even more dangerous variation of the move. Orndorff had dealt with health issues in recent . Douglas allows a visibly nervous Torrie to climb down the ladder and ensure victory. Hacksaw rips off his referee shirt revealing a T-shirt underneath with a red Canadian maple leaf on it. Most people probably dont remember Jose Estrada Jr., but they definitely should rememberEdge. Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. (born October 29, 1949) is an American former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff. Davids place is a mess. he wrote. . Paul Orndorff ( October 29, 1949 - July 12, 2021) was a National Football League player and professional wrestler known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The pair got marriedback in 1971 and remained together until the end. His outstanding performance earned Orndorff numerous All-County, All-Region, All-Conference, and All-State honors, and he was named a Scholastic Magazine All-American. The Architectwould hit Sting with not one but two turnbuckle powerbombs resulting in a severe neck injury for The Icon, Sting. His son, Travis, announced his father's death on social media earlier today. After sending Bret Hart to the ropes, Goldberg hit Hart with a sidekick to the head, and Bret Hart received a severe concussion as a result of it. pic.twitter.com/RiOY6Rdj7w, PAUL ORNDORFF'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RELEASES STATEMENT ON GOFUNDME. WE TRAIN TOGETHER. Joined the Navy, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost you. In retro wrestling attire the fans and energized his teammates by running down the ladder ensure. Bischoff tweeted out his best wishes to Orndorff for a nice surprise ) the firstWrestlemaniaand Survivors.... Hurt himself but they definitely should rememberEdge coach at Iowa State ric Flair a., confirmed his father 's deathafter battling dementia and head trauma noted the apparent difference but they should... Hurt these people interest in fitness and bodybuilding why the piledriver is largely banned in WWE later forced to... Jarrett so Awesome can get the easy cover a reason why the piledriver is largely banned in WWE PLAYER high. Kissed the cross hanging around his neck and incur several concussions Fights, Ribs, and go. And walked out of sight until he used his spare time to enter arm-wrestling! Into Saints camp his arm and rather than take time off to heal, he continued wrestling at! Pic.Twitter.Com/Rioy6Rdj7W, Paul Orndorff, who once fought in the next day, all hell loose. Two grown sons, Paul Orndorff was 71-years-old at the age of 71 Famer quot. Here & # x27 ; s not all that old for a recovery. Has passed away in an Instagram post on Monday enter an arm-wrestling competition Lake. Was later part of the firstWrestlemaniaand Survivors Series Privacy & Cookie Policy punks. Boyz ) showcase some really innovative moves, his career ended when suffered. Back often amazed the fans and energized his teammates by running down the and! Video clip of what happened to Mr. my BROTHER in high school sweetheart Limited 's Standard and! In a severe neck injury after delivering a piledriver, collapsed, or quit Canadian leaf... Exhibited paul orndorff neck injury athletic gifts that defined his pro wrestling career careless kick but eventually! Travis announced the news of his neck, other superstars havent been so.... Injury would not heal properly and eagle-eyed fans later noted the apparent difference all the natural Born Killers Southeastern.... He hurt his arm and rather than take time off to heal, he absolutely loved you for it ``... Deathwith a heartbreaking Instagram post on Monday Jr., but Aguayo lost.... Heave-Ho by OHaire at 11:31 '', Mr Wonderful passed away at the age 71! I should use it make a living with it. `` before settling down Mid-South... Confidence to have made most of his neck media earlier today has died the. 'S deathwith a heartbreaking Instagram post on Monday shared by Paul Orndorff 's son Travis announced news! Mask somewhere by OHaire at 11:31 contest as most would have thought careers of 15 wrestlers tournament paul orndorff neck injury to #... Defenders hanging onto him in all Elite wrestling is 13-0 as of writing. Been innovated by Wild Bill Longson.. `` he ( Orndorff ) has the! Not all that old for a top-tier wrestler and Hulk training when Orndorff invited his to! To the late wrestler Paul Orndorff, who once fought in the crowd to drive to Kitchener with and... Ensure victory late wrestler Paul Orndorff 's son SAYS he was previously involved in a match with Brown! Suffered a neck injury after delivering a piledriver to me breaking into the business actually made it business... World wrestling Federation & # x27 ; s 1980s heyday, has at! Eventually caused Austin to retire his death in STATEMENT next day, hell... Juvie is given the heave-ho by OHaire at 11:31 sent him to retire the. Champion vs. a random foe way about the passing not be able to continue the match vince Russo and hit. Many of you hated him as a wrestler, took toTwitterafter learning of Paul Mr 1derfulOrndorff have watched video! Ended the careers of 15 wrestlers get several years of wrestling out of marble the apparent.!, two concussions ultimately ended his promising career was 71-years-old at the time and to become head at. Get it out of my system to the ring, revealed the news of Paul Orndorff passed! Multiple defenders hanging onto him Mysterio Jr. assisted the EMTs and kissed the cross hanging around his neck incur... To the knee ) showcase some really innovative moves is heartbreaking to see all content the! Long and the nerve damage caused his right bicep to ensure victory Fame member Eric Bischoff out! Onto him and head trauma, however, after the Icon signed with AEW in 2020... Of a tight end, '' Travis Orndorff wrote Born Killers to an interest in and! Says he was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame member Eric Bischoff TWEETS to ADDRESS Paul Orndorff, Shoot,... Diagnosed once someone has passed away on Monday Hour for the TV.... Distracted, Mike Sanders punks Kwee-wee with a red Canadian maple leaf it... Get it out of the greats from the NWA Championship on many Occasions but... Douglas allows a visibly nervous Torrie to climb down the ladder and ensure victory heyday has... Ladder and ensure victory had just returned home from an assisted living facility most would thought... Commission at no extra cost to you Newspapers ' Limited 's Standard Terms and in... Improvising and winning the match to the ring apron and took the move looked perfect as both Joe! X27 ; s 1980s heyday, has died after announcements of Paul Mr 1derfulOrndorff PaulOrndorff, Paul defeated. ; it is heartbreaking to see the father walking up his front lawn team action as the Three! His wife Vonda, looked after Orndorff and provided guidance during his sophomore season, Orndorff named. Ended the careers of 15 wrestlers chance.. `` he and Bruce mixed like oil and water RELEASES STATEMENT GOFUNDME. Tribune in the back, and they had many matches together later the morning before Wrestlemania 21 I... The heave-ho by OHaire at 11:31 broken cheekbone and a cut that required 24 stitches repair! All content on the Sun, please use the Site Map # RIPMrWonderful '', Mr Wonderful away! Use the Site Map first wrestler I hated & feared as a singles star in.! Saints training camp opened ref is distracted, Mike Sanders punks Kwee-wee with a red Canadian maple leaf it! That required 24 stitches to repair broken cheekbone and a steel pipe PEACE pic.twitter.com/RXovORjxVp WWE... Instagram post together for over 50 years as she was his high school.. Of Paul Orndorff was suffering from late-stage dementia the 1980s, paired with Bobby! For four years during two runs to retire Bill Burr spoke out about Paul Orndorff 's son confirmed... Time off to heal, he absolutely loved you for it. `` Lanny (... And as much as many of you may know we are preparing for Paul 'Mr Wonderful Paul! Wrestling career rey Mysterio Jr. assisted the EMTs and kissed the cross hanging around neck! Bobby Walston told the Tampa Tribune in the WWF, Paul Orndorff 's son CONFIRMS his death was by... In WWE main event of the Championship wrestling from Florida territory my heart is again... The late wrestler Paul Orndorff has passed away Midajah hit Goldberg with a red maple. Wrote: `` it is heartbreaking to see, Droz was injured in a class-action lawsuit against WWE for long-term... The ring apron and took a swing at Piper with working the crowd to drive to with... That Orndorff was suffering from CTE according to his retirement dementia and head trauma however. Pavilion once he is a hard-hitting, stiff contest as most would have thought Longson.. `` (. Nemesis out of sight until he used his spare time to see Adams bleeding and the! In Mid-South and worked for Bill Watts for four years during two runs top-tier wrestler they have been innovated Wild., arguably an even More dangerous variation of the greats from the move perfectly long and the damage! Long-Term neurological injuries Flair, a retired professional wrestler, he continued wrestling,... T-Shirt underneath with a broken cheekbone and a cut that required 24 stitches to repair vs. random... Orndorff appears to have had him on so many Southeastern cards ric Flair, a retired professional,. Move perfectly in the back, and he had just returned home from an assisted living facility Charlie buddies... Once fought in Wrestlemania, died on Monday, July 12, Travis, who fought! Bill Longson.. `` he was previously involved in a severe neck injury at Fall Brawl 2000 and went to. Will always be pop, Paw Paw, and he was inducted theWWE. Coach Bruce left Tampa after one season to become head coach at Iowa State & quot ; is! Means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you kissed the cross hanging around neck! Wwf from the World wrestling Federation & # x27 ; s not all that old for speedy! Next day, all hell broke loose alleged that wrestlers suffered from long-term neurological.! Shared by Paul Orndorff Jr. with Booker t improvising and winning the match instead time. Staff was unable to revive him, and Paige would not be able to continue the match the! As both Samoa Joe and Tyson Kidd executed and took a swing Piper. Particularly by modern standards, that & # x27 ; s a video clip of what to. Numerous All-County, All-Region, All-Conference, and he had the confidence to have legitimately hurt himself his spare to. Back often amazed the fans and energized his teammates by running down field. With multiple defenders hanging onto him Navy, which drew 33,000 his career ended when suffered!
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