In sad news, WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff has suffered another setback due to his failing health. 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. Unfortunately, Orndorff would receive more bad health news as he would begin to suffer the effects of severe Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In 2016, Orndorff would join the Class Action suit against the WWE for past head injuries. In relation to the CTE, Orndorff is no longer to make appearances and has fallen on financial hardships, with the latest development being that he is on the verge of losing his home.
Check it out! https://t.co/mIdxPmxjkT via @gofundme Please help "Mr Wonderful" whom entertained us for so many years! He has beat stage 4 lymph node cancer and is now battling severe CTE. If you can afford $5 or more, it would be greatly appreciated! God Bless U & Yours!
— B Brian Blair 🇺🇸 (@Killerbee1B) September 15, 2018
A standout running back with the University of Tampa, Paul Orndorff was drafted by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in 1973. When he failed to sign on, he switched career paths and entered professional wrestling, working for Championship Wrestling From Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and in Memphis with Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). In the late 70s, Orndorff became a top star with Mid-South, where he became a 3x Mid South North American Champion, as well as a 4x NWA National Heavyweight Champion in Georgia.
In 1983, he made the jump to Vince McMahon‘s World Wrestling Federation (WWF), initially as a face, before becoming one of the company’s top heels and aligning with Roddy Piper and Cowboy “Ace” Bob Orton Jr. The trio were part of the first main event for the inaugural WrestleMania, where the team of Piper and Orndorff (with Orton in their corner) faced WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (with Jimmy Snuka in their corner). It was Piper who nicknamed Orndorff “Mr. Wonderful” in the WWF that gave him his famous moniker. Piper blamed Orndorff for their WrestleMania loss and Orndorff would turn face and ally with Hogan, until he eventually turned on Hogan and joined the Bobby Heenan Family. In 1986, Orndorff headlined main events around North America as Hogan’s rival for the World title, including in front of 74,000 fans in Toronto as part of The Big Event at CNE Exhibition Stadium. By 1988, an injury to Orndorff’s arm forced him into early retirement and he departed the WWF.
He came out of retirement in 1990 and headed to the WWF’s emerging rival, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He only lasted one year with WCW before heading to the indies, but in 1992 returned to WCW until his eventual retirement in 1995. During his time in WCW, he won the WCW World Television Championship and was a 2x WCW World Tag Team Champion with Paul Roma in the team Pretty Wonderful. Upon his retirement in 1995, he became one of the head trainers at WCW’s Power Plant until WCW folded in 2001. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Our best wishes to Paul Orndorff during this time and if any fans are able to help out, even with a little, then check out the GoFundMe set up by his son, Travis. As a special thank you to the largest donation by the October 1, 2018 deadline will receive Orndorff’s legendary black and gold robe.
