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Courtesy of WWE
“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, one of professional wrestling’s biggest stars of the 1980s, has passed away at the age of 71.
Orndorff’s death was announced Monday by his son Travis in an Instagram post.
“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. He is better known as’ Mr. # 1derful ‘Paul Orndorff,’ Travis wrote.
“Most of you will remember him for his looks. Many will remember its intensity. But if only I could make you understand and see her heart. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw and Daddy at home. And even though a lot of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it. He was an amazing father who showed me more love than I deserved. I love you dad.”
Orndorff’s son had previously said his father suffered from dementia, which Travis believed to be the result of CTE brain disease.
In 1985, Orndorff was part of one of the most significant moments in professional wrestling history, teaming up with Roddy Piper in a tag team match against Hulk Hogan and actor Mr. T at the Premier League. WrestlingMania.
Orndorff, who was led by Bobby Heenan in WWF, was one of Hogan’s most memorable opponents and their feud was among the most financially successful live event programs in WWE history. Hogan and Orndorff headline WWF The big event at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto in 1986 and then faced off in a steel cage match during an episode of The main Saturday night event aired on NBC in 1987.
Orndorff’s professional wrestling career began in 1976. His journey as a full-time artist ended while wrestling for WCW in 1995, and he retired from professional wrestling in 2000. Orndorff suffered arm and neck injuries that caused his right arm to atrophy and led to the end of his ring career.
Orndorff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Orndorff was part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE in 2016 by a group of wrestlers claiming the company had failed to protect them from concussions. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2018.
Prior to his stint as a professional wrestler, Orndorff played college football as a running back for the University of Tampa. He was drafted by the Saints in the 12th round of the NFL Draft in 1973 and played one season in the World Football League.
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