WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff has passed away at the age of 71. Travis Orndorff, son of the legendary superstar, confirmed the news on his Instagram account today.
“Mr. Wonderful” will always be remembered for his time in WWE and battles with Hulk Hogan, which won Pro Wrestling Illustrated Feud of the Year in 1986.
Orndorff’s chiseled physique and rugged good looks set him apart from the other wrestlers during at the time. He was heavily featured during WWE’s boom period known as Rock ‘n’ Wrestling
Paul Orndorff and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper would go on to face the team of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T at the first ever WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Paul Orndorff wrestled his last match in WCW in 2000 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Orndorff would make cameos for the company from time to time. Paul’s final WWE appearance came in 2015 when he appeared on an episode of Table for 3 with “Mean Gene” Okerlund and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
Last month, his son shared a heart- breaking video of his dad being treated for dementia at a local medical facility. There’s no word if Orndorff’s death was as a result of his recent battle with dementia. Our deepest condolences go out to the Orndorff family during this difficult time.
