The injury was left untreated for too long and the nerve damage caused his right bicep to atrophy. In December 1978, Orndorff teamed with Jimmy Snuka to capture the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Baron von Raschke and Greg Valentine. ", Paul Orndorff was the first wrestler I hated & feared as a child. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote. The feud with Ladd saw Orndorff win the NWA Tri-State North American Heavyweight Title[12] from Ladd on two occasions (on May 29, 1978[12] and again in June). [12] During the summer, he vacated the title to focus on pursuing the NWA World Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. U-Hi coach Don Owen needed an upper weights coach when he asked Orndorff to be an assistant coach 15 years ago. Tate is a heavyweight wrestler from Spokane, Wash. A post shared by Paul Orndorff (@mr1derfulofficial), ORNDORFF'S SON SAYS HE WAS 'AN AMAZING FATHER'. One of the top heels of the 1980s, Paul Orndorff is remembered for his dashing looks and incredible physique. I was at the Big Event in Toronto. [48] In May, Orndorff got a golden opportunity to regain the WCW Television title. Jane and Walt Dennis Golf Perfomance Center, Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility. HWT | No. 18 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | Fall, 6:02 Mr. I was extremely lucky to have had him on so many Southeastern cards. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. Last year, Tate had to get a pin for the Titans to place fourth and earn a trophy. Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. (October 29, 1949 - July 12, 2021), nicknamed "Mr. Wonderful", was an American professional wrestler and college football player, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). [27], Paul Orndorff retired in early 1988 due to his arm injury and focused on running his bowling alley in Fayetteville. May God rest his soul! No. He also reignited his feud with Bob Orton, Jr. in the UWF, where he beat Orton for the UWF Southern States Championship on June 22, 1992, and held the title until he left the promotion. Adonis kept on irritating Orndorff, going so far as daring Orndorff to prove just how close his relationship with Hogan really was. I love you Daddy. [53] In 2009, Orndorff was elected by a committee of his peers to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame,[citation needed] then located in Amsterdam, New York, now located in Wichita Falls, Texas. Married to Brinley, a former soccer student-athlete for Utah Valley #RIPPaulOrndorff . Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1911 [database on-line]. Orndorff earned a shot at the North American champion The Grappler but on the day of the match he overslept (storyline) and was incensed when his replacement Jake "The Snake" Roberts beat the Grappler for the title. During a televised phone call to Hogan, Orndorff was told that Hogan was too busy training to come to the phone, something which aggravated Orndorff no end. Tates better than I was in football and he loves it more than I did, Dave said. It was something he had worked through as best he could but by the end of 1995 he was forced to retire and started to work as a trainer and a road agent for WCW.[16]. 6 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D. 9-4, 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Lincoln, Nebraska, March 5-6 Orndorff teamed with a variety of opponents in his fights with Piper and Orton, including Andr the Giant. [12], Orndorff returned to singles competition with his most notable match at the time being an unsuccessful shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship when he faced champion the Great Muta at Slamboree. Paul Orndorff had more class, talent, athletic ability than almost anyone I ever knew. Who is NFL's Richard Sherman and why was he arrested? However, he did not stay long and left in the fall of 1990. This led to a brief six man tag team alliance between Orndorff, Payne, and Chris Benoit. 285 | No. He explained that his father had been battling with dementia, which he believes was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy. [11], Orndorff started wrestling in 1976 in Mid-Southern Wrestling where he feuded with a young Jerry Lawler. [5][6] He was inducted into the University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. [17] Hogan disposed of the challenger and moved on while Orndorff fought a variety of opponents including the Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana. [12] Orndorff's reaction to Roberts's title win signaled a change in attitude; he turned heel as he demanded a title match against Roberts. [16] Orndorff became one of the first people to challenge for the world title, shooting straight to the main event less than a month after his debut. YOU WERE THE TOUGHEST. (Jesse Tinsley). "He is better known as Mr. From his robes and ring gear to his muscular physique and legitimate toughness, he was to me what a pro wrestler should be. He is the brother of Mickey Ronald Cain, Terry Orndorff and Patricia. 17 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. Afterwards, Orndorff laid out Guerrero and several preliminary wrestlers with his piledriver finisher. [12] Orndorff then teamed with former opponent Austin (who was calling himself "The Junkyard Dog" at the time, not to be mistaken for the more famous Junkyard Dog) to win the title in late 1979. He ascended as high as No. Is Tate Orndorff related to Paul Orndorff? Jacob Robb (Mercyhurst) | D, 10-3 (1st), 2021 Cliff Keen Invitational Malachi Smith delivers key 3-pointer, block to help Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's , Recap and highlights: No. While the new season is just beginning, Orndorff hasn't stopped. Fans took to Twitter to express their sadness at the news of Paul Orndorff's recent death. Many will remember his intensity. 14 Nathan Trexler (VT) | D, 3-2 He returned to wrestling in 1990 in the WCW (world championship wrestling), making his debut in Dudes with Attitudes. After seven years working around the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Orndorff became a star in the 1980s WWF wrestling boom, and featured with manager Bobby Heenan and champion Hulk Hogan extensively, including in the main events of the first WrestleMania and Survivor Series. After the feud with Cactus cooled off, "Mr. With an untreated neck injury, he left the WWF for WCW in early 1990, where he won the WCW World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship with Paul Roma (as a team called Pretty Wonderful). 19 Tyrel Gordon (UNI) def. Orndorff joined the World Football League's Jacksonville Express in 1975 after training camp with the Chicago Bears in 1974, but he was injured. I was a little kid again. R.I.P. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! In 1986, he was named to the University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame. Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. HWT | Tyrell Gordon ( UNIA) def. 22 AJ Nevills (SDSU) | D, 4-4 (TB2) MY BROTHER. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. You wont find a heavyweight that works harder or has an energy level like he has, Owen said. Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff success in the WWF was evident in the matches he won, and he cultivated a name for himself. He really wanted someone from U-Hi.. Orndorff won his first wrestling title when he pinned Lawler for the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship on June 7, 1977. [6], Orndorff was selected in the 12th round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him as a fullback, while leaving open the possibility of playing him at tight end. "Paul was a bad ass. 31 Jake Slinger (PITT) | MD, 10-2 One of my fondest memories. MY BROTHER. Brendan Furman (COR) D, 4-1, 2022 Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 2-3, Las Vegas (3-2) 16 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. Mr Wonderful was believed to have made most of his money wrestling for WWE prior to his retirement. [16] With the time off, Orndorff recovered and started working out, reestablishing the physique that earned him the nickname "Mr. Mr Wonderful was believed to have made most of his money wrestling for WWE prior to his retirement. He was inducted on April 2 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles by Bobby Heenan. Ric Flair, a retired professional wrestler, took toTwitterafter learning of Paul Orndorff's passing. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. No. Most of you will remember him for his physique. YOU WERE EXCELLENT BUBBA. [59] In September 2020, an appeal was dismissed by a federal appeals court. Lee brought in Ron Garvin to fight off Orndorff;[33] the feud included a featured "piledriver match", which Garvin won. Orndorff returned in October and partnered with Big John Studd against Maeda and Sakaguchi, then faced Maeda again in singles competition. During the tag match Ali climbed up on to the ring apron and took a swing at Piper. In 1988, he left WWE for WCW, where he captured the WCW World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championships with Paul Roma. Tates goal is to do what his dad fell just short of doing at OSU win an NCAA title. Orndorff spent time in rehab trying to recuperate his injured arm, but to no avail appeared smaller than the other one. Orndorff and Williams clashed several times in what was promoted as the "Signature Feud" of the UWF in its early days. In 1976, Orndorff began his career as a wrestler. Paul Orndorff Death. Terry went on to have limited success as a tag team wrestler with other partners such as The Junkyard Dog and Kerry Von Erich. "But Paul also was one funny son-of-a-bitch. Wonderful", a nickname that he used thereafter. Yen.com.gh recently published an article regarding Denise Gordy's biography. No. One incident especially stands out that established Pretty Wonderful in the title chase. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. Mr Wonderful, as he was known by fans, suffered an injury to his arm back in the late 1980's. What happened to Paul Orndorff's Paul's name will live on in the hearts of many sports fanatics for the rest of their lives, and his legacy will be etched in the halls of fame. The time off was because of the injury to his arm/neck that he suffered during the Hogan feud and left untreated for too long. Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D, 3-2, 2022 NCAA Championships, Detroit, Michigan March 17-19 He was 71 years old at the time of his death on July 12, 2021. One of my fondest memories. Wonderful was riddled with self-doubt, until one night, after beating himself up backstage after yet another loss, he was visited by psychic Gary Spivey. Orndorff was in control, winning 3-2, when he tried for a throw. "WWE extends its condolences to Orndorffs family and friends.". Orndorff lost the title to DiBiase on November 1, 1981, in a match at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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