WrestleMania star Paul Orndorff, a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful, dies at 71
He was not on the list.
WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who once fought in Wrestlemania, has died at the age of 71.
His son Travis revealed that Mr Wonderful passed away in an Instagram post on Monday.
"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote.
He explained that his father had been battling with dementia, which he believes was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Hulk Hogan led tributes online to the legendary wrestler and said that he was "slammed" by the news of Orndoff's death on Monday.
"He was so much more than a wrestler," Paul Orndorff’s son, Travis, captioned an Instagram post.
14th Jul 2021, 11:30
ORNDORFF'S SON SAYS HE WAS 'AN AMAZING FATHER'
Paul Orndorff's son Travis announced the news of his father's death with a heartbreaking Instagram post.
He wrote: "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr."
"He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you, Daddy," he concluded the tribute.
DUSTIN RHODES POSTS IN MEMORY OF PAUL ORNDORFF
Fellow WWE wrestler known by his wrestling name "The Natural" tweeted in response to Orndorff's death.
"Man, I had so many matches and learned a ton with #PaulOrndorff," he wrote.
Orndorff was a college football star at the University of Tampa before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1973. But he didn't pass his physical and never played in the league, and instead began his wrestling career three years later. Orndorff signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983 and was given the "Mr. Wonderful" nickname.
He appeared in the main event of the first WrestleMania in 1985, with WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hogan and Mr. T facing off against Orndorff and his manager Roddy Piper.
Mr. Wonderful left the WWF for the WCW in 1988, where he went on to win the World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2009. After retiring, he trained other wrestlers. In 2014, he made an appearance at WrestleMania XXX.
Orndorff's son Travis mourned his father's death on social media Monday, writing that while others knew his father for his "physique" and "intensity," he wished they could "understand and see his heart." Orndorff was a college football star at the University of Tampa before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1973. But he didn't pass his physical and never played in the league, and instead began his wrestling career three years later. Orndorff signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983 and was given the "Mr. Wonderful" nickname.
He appeared in the main event of the first WrestleMania in 1985, with WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hogan and Mr. T facing off against Orndorff and his manager Roddy Piper.
Mr. Wonderful left the WWF for the WCW in 1988, where he went on to win the World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2009. After retiring, he trained other wrestlers. In 2014, he made an appearance at WrestleMania XXX.
Orndorff's son Travis mourned his father's death on social media Monday, writing that while others knew his father for his "physique" and "intensity," he wished they could "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," Orndorff added. "He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you Daddy."
"He was so much more than a wrestler," he captioned more photos of his father.
Days before his father's death, Travis posted a message on Instagram about Orndorff's confusion with his memory, writing that he hoped people realize "the brain damage and the consequences of this lifestyle. I do not blame the WWE or Vince McMahon as you might think. No one knew this would happen. But we can do something now."
In 2016, the wrestling legend was part of a class-action lawsuit against WWE alleging that wrestlers suffered "long term neurological injuries" and that the company "routinely failed to care" for them and "fraudulently misrepresented and concealed" the nature of injuries. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2018, with the judge ruling that some of the claims listed were frivolous and other claims were filed after the statute of limitations expired.
Travis's wife Amayou Smith has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral expenses.
Read more tributes to late wrestler below:
Tyrus
@PlanetTyrus
Rest In Peace to my favorite all time wrestler #Mr#1derful #paulorndorff I cried over this match and the fire was lit! Orndoff feet touched first !!!!! @nwa @wwe #nuffsaid
The Iron Sheik
@the_ironsheik
PAUL ORNDORFF. MY BROTHER. YOU WERE THE TOUGHEST. WE TRAIN TOGETHER. WE RIDE TOGETHER. YOU WERE EXCELLENT BUBBA. I AM SO SAD I LOVE YOU FOREVER REST IN PEACE
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