Paul Orndorff Dead: Paul Orndorff, Wrestling’s Mr. Wonderful and Former Saints Draft pick, Dead at 71. Paul Orndorff, a WWE Hall of Famer and one of the four guys in the first-ever Wrestlemania main event, died on Monday at the age of 71. His son Travis Orndorff revealed the news in an Instagram post, although the cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Travis orndorff wrote on his intagram:
“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. Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity.
But if I could only get you to 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. He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you, Daddy.”
Paul Orndorff Dead: Orndorff was a college football star at the University of Tampa before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 Draft. He did not pass his physical and never played in the NFL before beginning his wrestling career three years later after a run in several different territories that included winning several secondary championships and multiple runs with the NWA National h Orndorff joined the WWF in 1983, where he was finally handled by a roddy piper and given the nickname Mr. Wonderful.
Orndorff’s relationship with Piper placed him in the main event of the inaugural WrestleMania, teaming up against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. Shortly after WrestleMania, Orndorff went face and began working alongside Hogan for a while before turning heel and assaulting him.
The problems with Hogan culminated in a significant match at the significant event in Toronto, which drew over 75,000 people, and a steel cage battle on Saturday night’s main event, which effectively ended the enormously successful Hogan VS Orndorff rivalry.
Orndorff would ultimately depart the WWF for a few stints in WCW and other organizations until being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and making a few appearances at WWE events after that, including Wrestlemania 30s.
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