Paul Orndorff, WWE Hall of Fame wrestler ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ passed away at the age of 71, according to his son Travis Orndorff.
On Monday, Travis said Paul had been suffering from dementia, which was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain injury caused by repeated blows to the head.
Travis wrote, “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 started wrestling in 1976 with Mid-Southern Wrestling. And then he joined WWE in 1983, becoming one of the biggest rivals of Hulk Hogan.
In 1085, Mr. Wonderful teamed up with Rowdy Roddy Piper to battle against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
After hearing the news, Hogan tweeted, “Just got slammed with the Paul Orndorff news, RIP my brother, love you and thank you for always making me fight for everything in our matches, heaven just got more Wonderful.”
In March 1993, Mr. Wonderful defeated Erik Watts to claim his first major championship. He was also a two-time WCW tag team champion with Paul Roma in 1994, according to Daily Mail, UK.
In 2016, Paul joined a class-action lawsuit against the WWE, suing the entertainment company for having “fraudulently misrepresented and concealed” the “long-term neurological injuries” wrestlers suffered. However, the lawsuit was dismissed in 2018.
In January 2011, Paul told the Busted Open Sirius Satellite Radio show that he had been diagnosed with cancer. However, in August 2011, he announced that his cancer was gone
Born on October 29, 1949, Paul resided in Fayetteville, Georgia. He married his high school girlfriend Ronda Maxwell Orndorff. They have two sons, Paul Orndorff III and Travis, and eight grandchildren.
