Remembering Paul Orndorff (1949-2021)

 "Mr. Wonderful" has gone to the squared circle in the sky.

It has come across the wires that Paul Orndorff, or, "Mr. Wonderful", as he was known during the latter part of the 80's and through the 90's, has passed away after a bout with dementia, this after he had beaten cancer nearly a decade earlier.

Orndorff was a college football star at the University of Tampa, and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1973. However, the Saints, and, later, the Kansas City Chiefs, released Orndorff when he failed physical examinations. He would play in the short-lived World Football League in 1975 before turning to wrestling.

Orndorff won several regional titles before signing with the then-World Wrestling Federation at the end of 1983. He never won a title there, and the closest he came was in a title feud with then-champion Hulk Hogan four years later. He would win 2 tag titles in WCW in the mid-90's, and also held the TV title.

Untreated injuries to his neck & arm ultimately led to Orndorff retiring for good in 2000.

From 1986, during his first babyface run in the WWF, Orndorff teams with Tito Santana vs. Randy Savage and Bob Orton, Jr..

Orndorff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame four years later. WWE will have a tribute graphic for Orndorff later tonight.

Rest in peace.