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{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1949–2021)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paul Orndorff
| image = Paul Orndorff (cropped).jpg
| caption = Orndorff in 2009
| birth_name = Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|10|29}}<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/paul-orndorff/|title=Paul Orndorff Profile|access-date=September 19, 2008|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[ Brandon, Florida]], U.S.<ref>Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.</ref>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|07|12|1949|10|29}}
| death_place = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[University of Tampa]]
| family = [[Terry Orndorff]] (brother)<ref name="OWOW"/>
| spouse = {{Marriage|Ronda Maxwell|1971}}
| children = 2
| module = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
| names = "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff<ref name="WWEBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/paulorndorff/|title=Paul Orndorff|access-date=March 30, 2011|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
| height = 6 ft 0 in<ref name="WWEBio"/>
| weight = 252 lb<ref name="WWEBio"/>
| billed = Brandon, Florida, U.S.<ref name="WWEBio"/>
| trainer = [[Bob Backlund]]<ref name="OWOW"/><br />[[Jack Brisco]]<ref name="OWOW"/><br />[[Eddie Graham]]<ref name="OWOW"/><br />[[Hiro Matsuda]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
| debut = 1976<ref name="OWOW"/>
| retired = 2000
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox NFL biography
| embed = yes
| college = [[Tampa Spartans football|Tampa]]
| high_school = [[Brandon High School (Florida)|Brandon High (FL)]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Terriers, Brandon to clash|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/331624362/|access-date=2024-02-29|website=The Tampa Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=From Eagle to Spartan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/331602226/|access-date=2024-02-29|website=The Tampa Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Brandon fears injuries|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/328880668/|access-date=2024-02-29|website=The Tampa Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
| number =
| position = [[Tight end]], [[fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]]
| draftyear = 1973
| draftround = 12
| draftpick = 289
| pastteams = * [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1973}})*
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1974}})*
* [[Jacksonville Express]] (1975)*
| highlights = * [[Tampa Spartans#Hall of fame|University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame]] (1986)
}}
}}
'''Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr.''' (October 29, 1949 – July 12, 2021), nicknamed "'''Mr. Wonderful'''", was an American [[professional wrestler]] and [[American football|football]] player, best known for his appearances with the [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) and [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW).
After seven years working around the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), Orndorff became a star in the [[1980s professional wrestling boom|1980s WWF wrestling boom]], and featured with manager [[Bobby Heenan]] and champion [[Hulk Hogan]] extensively, including in the main events of the first [[WrestleMania]] and [[Survivor Series]]. He left the [[WWE|WWF]] for [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] in early 1990, where he won the [[WCW World Television Championship]] and the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] with [[Paul Roma]] (as a team called [[Pretty Wonderful]]).
Arm atrophy from a nagging injury led him to retire in 2000. After retiring, he trained aspiring wrestlers. Orndorff was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame#2005|WWE Hall of Fame in 2005]] and the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] [[NWA Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] in 2009.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Early career (1976–1983)===
After his football career ended, Orndorff watched Championship Wrestling from Florida in the mid-1970s. He called his father-in-law, who knew someone who knew Florida promoter Eddie Graham, which got his start into the wrestling business.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=July 12, 2021|title='Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff dies|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/07/12/mr-wonderful-paul-orndorff-dies/|access-date=January 18, 2022|publisher=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref>
Orndorff started wrestling in 1976 in [[Continental Wrestling Association|Mid-Southern Wrestling]] where he feuded with a young [[Jerry Lawler]]. Orndorff won his first wrestling title when he pinned Lawler for the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship on June 7, 1977.<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref> Orndorff lost the title back to Lawler before he left the Memphis territory. Orndorff began working for the NWA Tri-State promotion where he got involved in a feud with [[Ernie Ladd]]. The feud with Ladd saw Orndorff win the [[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship|NWA Tri-State North American Heavyweight Title]]<ref name="Titles" /> from Ladd on two occasions (on May 29, 1978<ref name="Titles" /> and again in June). Both times, Orndorff's reigns were short and were ended by Ladd.<ref name="Titles" />
After feuding with Ladd, Orndorff continued to make a name for himself in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA) where he feuded with [[Bill Eadie|The Masked Superstar]]. During this time he became known as "The Brandon Bull", a nickname he had during his days as a football player. In December 1978, Orndorff teamed with [[Jimmy Snuka]] to capture the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship]] from [[Baron von Raschke]] and [[Greg Valentine]].<ref name="Titles"/> The duo held on to the title for five months before losing it to Raschke and his new partner [[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]] on April 16, 1979.<ref name="Titles"/>
In 1979, Orndorff traveled to the Alabama territory's "Southeast Championship Wrestling." There, Orndorff worked mainly as a tag team competitor teaming with [[Dick Slater]] to win the [[CWF Tag Team Championship|NWA Southeast Tag Team Championship]] from the team of [[Bunkhouse Buck|Jimmy Golden]] and [[Norvell Austin]] in October 1979.<ref name="Titles"/> Their reign only lasted about a month before being upended by the combination of [[Dennis Condrey]] and [[David Schultz (professional wrestler)|David Schultz]].<ref name="Titles"/> Orndorff then teamed with former opponent Austin (who was calling himself "The Junkyard Dog" at the time, not to be mistaken for the more famous [[Junkyard Dog]]) to win the title in late 1979.<ref name="Titles"/> The duo beat Condrey and [[Randy Rose]], the same team that ended Orndorff and Austin's run with the gold.<ref name="Titles"/> Austin, Condrey, and Rose formed [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Midnight Express]] shortly thereafter.
[[File:Paul Orndorff applies a chinlock to Jake Roberts, 1981.png|thumb|Orndorff (top) applying a [[chinlock]] to [[Jake Roberts]] during a 1981 match]]
Orndorff reappeared in [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] in early 1982 immediately launching into a feud with [[Buzz Sawyer]] over the [[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=":0"/> He won the gold on June 20, 1982.<ref name="Titles" /> During the summer, he vacated the title to focus on pursuing the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship|NWA World Champion]] [[Ric Flair|"Nature Boy" Ric Flair]].<ref name="Titles"/> He was unsuccessful in his challenge and soon focused on the title he gave up. When Orndorff vacated the title, it was put on the line in a tournament that was won by [[Scott Irwin|The Super Destroyer]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/georgia/gasingle.html#national82 | title = Georgia Championship Wrestling – Tournament Results (National Title Tournament 1982) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> On August 19, 1982, Orndorff regained the title from the Super Destroyer.<ref name="Titles"/> Orndorff next feuded with The Masked Superstar, with whom he traded the National Heavyweight title back and forth during the fall of 1982.<ref name="Titles"/> Orndorff then traded the title back and forth with Super Destroyer.<ref name="Titles"/> Frustrated with his inability to beat Orndorff for the National title, [[Larry Zbyszko]] paid [[Killer Tim Brooks]] $25,000 to do his dirty work. Brooks beat Orndorff with the help of a chair and won the title only to turn around and give it to Zbyszko. The fact that Zbyszko bought the title and did not win it forced NWA President [[Bob Geigel]] to step in and strip Zbyszko of the title.<ref name="Titles"/>
Orndorff then moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling for several months. He made two tours of Japan, the first in April. He wrestled [[Kengo Kimura]], [[Riki Choshu]], and [[Akira Maeda]], as well as teaming up with [[Brutus Beefcake|Ed Leslie]] against [[Antonio Inoki]] and [[Seiji Sakaguchi]]. Orndorff returned in October and partnered with Big John Studd against Maeda and Sakaguchi, then faced Maeda again in singles competition.
=== World Wrestling Federation (1983–1988) ===
==== Alliance with Roddy Piper (1983–1985) ====
[[File:Paul Orndorff double bicep 1985.png|thumb|200px|Orndorff, circa 1985]]
Orndorff signed with the [[World Wrestling Federation]] in late 1983 and made his debut in November of that year on Championship Wrestling. Starting in January 1984, Orndorff took on [["Rowdy" Roddy Piper]] as his manager.<ref name="WWE80s">{{cite book| author=Brian Shields| title=Main event – WWE in the raging 80s| publisher=Pocket Books| year=2006| edition=4th| isbn=978-1-4165-3257-6| url=https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria}}</ref> Piper nicknamed Orndorff "Mr. Wonderful", a nickname that he used thereafter. Orndorff faced [[Salvatore Bellomo]] on the night that [[Hulk Hogan]] defeated [[The Iron Sheik]] for the [[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] and "Hulkamania was now in the WWF as it was in the AWA".<ref name="WWE80s"/> Orndorff became one of the first people to challenge for the world title, shooting straight to the main event less than a month after his debut.<ref name="Graham Cawthon">{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/84.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1984 | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = Graham Cawthon}}</ref> Hogan disposed of the challenger and moved on while Orndorff fought a variety of opponents including the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Champion]] [[Tito Santana]].<ref name="Graham Cawthon"/> When Piper assaulted Jimmy Snuka on the set of ''[[Piper's Pit]]'', Orndorff assisted the Rowdy One in his matches. Orndorff and Piper often faced Snuka and "[[Sam Fatu|The Tonga Kid]]" in tag team competition.<ref name="Graham Cawthon"/>
Near the end of 1984, Piper's assault on [[Cyndi Lauper]] ([[kayfabe]]) brought Orndorff and Piper on a collision course with Hogan and [[Mr. T]].<ref name="WWE80s"/> Hogan's feud with Piper also meant that Orndorff was thrust back into the main event picture; he defeated [[Tony Atlas]] at ''[[The War to Settle the Score]]'' and then played a part in the main event.<ref name="WWE80s"/> The fallout from ''The War to Settle the Score'' led to the creation of [[WrestleMania]], with Hogan and Mr. T (backed by Snuka) taking on Piper and Orndorff in the main event (with [[Bob Orton, Jr]], as Piper and Orndorff's manager). Orton's interference at the end of the match backfired when he accidentally hit Orndorff with the cast on his arm, allowing Hogan to pin Orndorff and win the match for his team.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#I | title = WWE WrestleMania Results (I) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Blaming Orndorff for the loss, Piper and Orton attacked him on ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event I]]''. Later in the evening, Orndorff ran to the ring to even the sides when Piper and Orton were preparing to double team Hogan.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/snme.html#1 | title = WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Results (I) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> He solidified his babyface [[turn (professional wrestling)|turn]] by publicly firing manager [[Bobby Heenan]] shortly afterwards.<ref name="WWE80s"/>
==== Alliance with Hulk Hogan (1985–1986) ====
Orndorff and Hogan started teaming up to feud with Piper and Orton, facing them in tag team competition all over the country.<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com">{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/85.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1985 | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = Graham Cawthon}}</ref> Orndorff's feud with Piper and Orton continued to rage on while Hogan started to defend his title against other contenders; Orndorff faced both Orton<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com"/> and Piper<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com"/> in individual competition, usually without a conclusive outcome. After Orndorff fired Heenan as his manager, Heenan placed a $25,000 bounty on Orndorff, payable to anyone who could injure him.<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com"/> When no one succeeded, Heenan upped the bounty to $50,000.<ref name="WWE80s"/> One of the first men to try to claim the new, higher bonus was Piper himself, but their matches got so out of hand that [[Bruno Sammartino]] was appointed as a special referee in the hopes of keeping the peace. Instead of keeping the peace, Sammartino became a target for Orton and Piper,<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com"/> which led to Orndorff and Sammartino teaming up. Orndorff teamed with a variety of opponents in his fights with Piper and Orton, including [[André the Giant]].<ref name="WWE80s"/> In February 1986, Heenan used a match between Hogan and [[Don Muraco]] as an opportunity to have [[King Kong Bundy]] attack Hogan, setting up their [[WrestleMania 2]] match. While Hogan fought off Bundy, Orndorff battled Muraco in a match that ended in a double count out.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#II | title = WWE WrestleMania Results (2) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref>
==== Feud with Hulk Hogan; arm injury (1986–1987) ====
{{see also|Heenan Family}}
[[Adrian Adonis]] took every opportunity that he could to mock Orndorff (including referring to him as "Hulk Jr."), saying that he had gone soft from teaming with Hogan. Adonis kept on irritating Orndorff, going so far as daring Orndorff to prove just how close his relationship with Hogan really was. During a televised phone call to Hogan, Orndorff was told that Hogan was too busy training to come to the phone, something which aggravated Orndorff no end.<ref name="WWE80s"/> The next time that Hogan and Orndorff teamed up, against [[The Moondogs (professional wrestling)|The Moondogs]], Orndorff wrestled most of the match by himself in an attempt to upstage Hogan, scoring the winning pin.<ref name="http">{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1986 | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = Graham Cawthon}}</ref> The next week, during a tag match where Hogan and Orndorff faced the massive duo of [[Big John Studd]] and Bundy, Hogan and Orndorff accidentally collided and Hogan knocked Orndorff off the apron. When Studd and Bundy started to double team Hogan, Orndorff did not help out; he looked like he had hurt his eye in the collision. It was not until Studd and Bundy had Hogan in a compromised position that Orndorff re-entered the ring to fend off Studd and Bundy. Orndorff then helped Hogan to his feet and raised his hand in the air, only to give Hogan a clothesline followed by a [[Piledriver (professional wrestling)|piledriver]].<ref name="http"/>
Orndorff soon reunited with manager Heenan and again feuded with Hogan, and began using Hogan's theme music, "Real American", as his own entrance theme. During the Hogan feud, Orndorff seriously injured his right arm in a weightlifting accident. Because he was in the middle of his big-money run with Hogan, he did not want to take the time off to have the surgery to properly treat it, opting instead to continue to wrestle.<ref name="WWE80s"/> Their matches included a memorable outdoor match in Toronto at [[The Big Event]] which drew an estimated 76,000 fans.<ref name="WWE80s"/> After a series of matches with no clean outcome it was decided that Hogan and Orndorff would clash in a [[steel cage match]] on ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event IX]]'' (which took place in December 1986 but aired in 1987). The cage match saw both Orndorff and Hogan climb over the top of the cage and touch the floor at the same time; heel referee Danny Davis, illegally at ringside, declared Orndorff the winner and assigned referee Joey Marella declared Hogan victorious. After reviewing the footage it was decided that it was a draw and the match was restarted. Once the match restarted, Hogan easily exited the cage to win the match following a [[leg drop]],<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/snme.html#9 | title = WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Results (#9) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> ending their feud. Their half-year-long feud is one of the most notable (and profitable) feuds in the history of pro wrestling.<ref name="WWE80s"/><ref name=":0"/>
After the program with Hogan ended, Orndorff worked a reduced schedule for a few months. In March 1987, he teamed with [[King Kong Bundy]] in the [[Frank Tunney Sr.]] Memorial Tag Team Tournament, defeating [[Bob Orton]] and [[Don Muraco]] in the first round but losing to the [[Killer Bees (professional wrestling)|Killer Bees]] in the semi-finals. During March, he briefly reprised his feud with Hogan on several house shows before taking time off because of the injury. While Orndorff was away from the WWF, Heenan brought in a new man [["Ravishing" Rick Rude]] to take Orndorff's place in the Heenan Family.
==== Feud with the Heenan Family (1987–1988) ====
Orndorff returned to the ring on June 2, 1987, in Buffalo, New York during a ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]'' taping. Orndorff (along with Bundy, who had been off TV since WrestleMania III as well) returned to team with Hercules and King Harley Race in a victory against Mario Mancini, Don Driggers, Paul Roma, and Jim Powers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm |title=1987 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref> Orndorff received a babyface response from the crowd during his return, leading the WWF to change his character. He fired Heenan two months later and began a feud with Rude.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1987 | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = Graham Cawthon}}</ref> Orndorff took [[Oliver Humperdink]] as his manager in his fight with Rude and Heenan. Orndorff's last "big" appearance was at the inaugural [[Survivor Series (1987)|Survivor Series]] on November 26, 1987, where he teamed with Hogan, [[Bam Bam Bigelow]], [[Ken Patera]], and Muraco to take on André, One Man Gang, Bundy, Rude, and [[Butch Reed]]. Early in the match, Rude eliminated Orndorff with a [[pin (professional wrestling)#Roll-up|roll-up]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/survivor.html#87 | title = WWE Survivor Series Results (1987) | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> His final match with the WWF came on a house show on January 4, 1988, against Rude in Augusta, Georgia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/88.htm | title=Ring Results 1988 | publisher=The History of WWE | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | access-date=May 30, 2015}}</ref>
===Semi-retirement and return (1988–1990)===
Paul Orndorff retired in early 1988 due to his arm injury and focused on running his [[bowling]] alley in Fayetteville. During his time away from wrestling he was actually reported to have died; the story made several newspapers. The time off was because of the injury to his arm/neck that he suffered during the Hogan feud and left untreated for too long.<ref name="WWE80s"/> With the time off, Orndorff recovered and started working out, reestablishing the physique that earned him the nickname "Mr. Wonderful" in the first place. The only difference was that his right arm was noticeably smaller due to a neck injury that caused nerve damage and eventually the atrophy of his right biceps.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
In 1990 Orndorff returned to the squared circle, wrestling a series of matches against [[Kerry Von Erich]] on the [[independent circuit]].<ref name="WWE80s"/>
===World Championship Wrestling (1990)===
On the May 26 episode of ''World Championship Wrestling'' it was announced that Paul Orndorff would face Arn Anderson at [[Clash of the Champions XI]]. Orndorff made his in-ring debut on June 9 in Beckley, West Virginia, defeating "Nasty" Ned Brady on ''[[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]''. Orndorff quickly became affiliated with a group called the "Dudes with Attitudes" consisting of himself, [[Steve Borden|Sting]], [[Lex Luger]], [[Junkyard Dog]], and [[The Steiner Brothers]]. The Dudes backed Sting in his fight with the [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]]. At Clash of the Champions XI Orndorff defeated Anderson<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XI |title=WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XI) |access-date=April 16, 2007 |author=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> and at the [[The Great American Bash (1990)|1990 Great American Bash]], Orndorff teamed up with the Junkyard Dog and [[Jorge González (wrestler)|El Gigante]] to defeat Arn Anderson, [[Barry Windham]], and [[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]] by disqualification.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/gabash.html#90 |title=WCW Great American Bash Results (1990) |access-date=April 16, 2007 |author=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Throughout the summer, he faced Anderson and defeated the WCW TV Champion by pinfall in several non-title matchups. He also defeated [[The Undertaker|"Mean" Mark Callous]] in multiple house show encounters. His final WCW match came on August 26 in Chicago when he teamed with The Junkyard Dog in a losing effort against the tag-team champions [[Doom (professional wrestling)|Doom]]. Orndorff departed from the promotion that fall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm |title=WCW 1990 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref>
===UWF, AWF, and NWL (1990–1993)===
By late 1990, Orndorff became one of the featured headliners for [[Herb Abrams]]' fledgling [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]].<ref name="WWE80s"/> Televised on several cable outlets, the UWF saw many former WWF stars such as Don Muraco, Bob Orton, Jr., "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, [[Lou Albano]], and [[The Killer Bees (professional wrestling)|The Killer Bees]] (known as "Masked Confusion" in the UWF). Mr. Wonderful more or less immediately started feuding with [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams]], who attacked Orndorff to kickstart the feud. Orndorff and Williams clashed several times in what was promoted as the "Signature Feud" of the UWF in its early days. He also reignited his feud with Bob Orton, Jr. in the UWF, where he beat Orton for the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) championships#UWF Southern States Championship|UWF Southern States Championship]] on June 22, 1992, and held the title until he left the promotion. It was awarded back to Orton when Orndorff left the promotion.<ref name="Titles"/> On June 9, 1991, Orndorff competed on the UWF's only PPV [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)#Results|Beach Brawl]], defeating [[Colonel DeBeers]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Strap match|Strap match]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/abrams.html#beach | title = UWF Show Results (Beach Brawl) | access-date = April 16, 2007 | author = prowrestlinghistory.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061119063319/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/abrams.html#beach | archive-date = November 19, 2006 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Orndorff left the UWF sometime in early 1993, vacating the Southern States title.<ref name="Titles"/>
While working for the UWF, Orndorff also competed in the American Wrestling Federation (not the same promotion as the [[American Wrestling Federation|AWF]]) and held the AWF Heavyweight title after beating [[Stan Lane]] on December 16, 1991. When Orndorff left the AWF in February 1992, he vacated the title.<ref name="Titles"/> During this time Orndorff also worked in the National Wrestling League, holding its tag team championship alongside [[Brian Blair]] some time in 1993.<ref name="Titles"/>
===Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1992)===
In 1992, [[Smoky Mountain Wrestling]] opened its doors for the first time as they announced a tournament to crown the first [[SMW Heavyweight Championship|SMW Heavyweight Champion]]. Among the participants invited to compete were [[Buddy Landel]], "Dirty White Boy" [[Tony Anthony (wrestler)|Tony Anthony]], and [[Brian Lee (wrestler)|Brian Lee]]. Orndorff was only listed as a "wild card" who had to win a match in order to enter the tournament. The "wild card" status was a blow to Orndoff's ego (storyline), causing him to attack several wrestlers including [[Hector Guerrero]], whom he defeated in a "wild card" match to earn a spot in the tournament. Afterwards, Orndorff laid out Guerrero and several preliminary wrestlers with his piledriver finisher. Orndoff beat [[Tim Horner]]<ref name="SMW1">{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/smw/results/1992b.html#052292 | title = SMW Show Results April – June 1992 (May 22)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> and [[Robert Gibson (wrestler)|Robert Gibson]]<ref name="SMW1"/> in the preliminary rounds to advance to the finals of the tournament. In the finals, Brian Lee won the title when Orndorff was disqualified.<ref name="Titles"/><ref name="SMW1"/>
Siding with the "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony, Orndorff feuded with Hector Guerrero and Brian Lee. Lee brought in [[Ron Garvin]] to fight off Orndorff;<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/smw/results/1992c.html#071792 | title = SMW Show Results July – September 1992 (July 17)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> the feud included a featured "piledriver match", which Garvin won.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/smw/results/1992c.html#080892 | title = SMW Show Results July – September 1992 ("Fire on the Mountain" August 8)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Orndorff was fired from the SMW after piledriving a referee in frustration.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
===Return to WCW (1992–2001)===
==== World Television Champion (1992–1993) ====
Orndorff returned to WCW in late 1992. In January 1993 he took on [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]], with the winner being manager [[Harley Race]]'s chosen replacement for an injured Rick Rude at ''[[Clash of the Champions XXII]]''. Race assisted Orndorff in the match and was quickly joined by [[Big Van Vader|Vader]] in his attack on Cactus Jack. After the match, Race declared that Paul Orndorff was his chosen man.<ref>{{cite book | author= Mick Foley | author-link= Mick Foley | title= [[Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks]] | publisher=Regan Books | year= 1999 | isbn=0-06-039299-1}}</ref> Orndorff was pinned by Cactus Jack in a subsequent [[Thunderdome match]];<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXII| title = WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXII)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624035919/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXII| archive-date = June 24, 2008}}</ref> the two had an intense feud including a [[Professional wrestling match types#Falls Count Anywhere match|Falls Count Anywhere match]] at [[SuperBrawl III]], which Cactus Jack won.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#III | title = WCW SuperBrawl Results (III)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref>
After the feud with Cactus cooled off, "Mr. Wonderful" set his sights on the vacant [[WCW World Television Championship]]. Orndorff signed up for a 16-man tournament beating [[2 Cold Scorpio]], Cactus Jack, [[Marc Mero|Johnny B. Badd]], and then [[Erik Watts]] in the finals to win his first title in WCW.<ref name="Titles"/> Orndorff, the TV champion, and Rick Rude, the [[WWE United States Championship|U.S. Champion]], began teaming on a regular basis, including a PPV victory over [[Dustin Rhodes]] and [[Kensuke Sasaki]] at [[Slamboree (1993)|Slamboree]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#93 | title = WCW Slamboree Results (1993)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> During this time Orndorff also turned back the challenges of [[Ron Simmons]] and Marcus Alexander Bagwell, amongst others, holding on to his Television title by any means necessary.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#blast93 | title = WCW Beach Blast Results (1993)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Orndorff defeated Bagwell controversially, using the second rope for leverage during the pinfall. The two feuded over the WCW World Tag Team Championship. Orndorff's TV title reign also included a successful defence against future ECW champion Shane Douglas and a disqualification loss to Johnny B Badd, after [[Maxx Payne]] violently interfered. This led to a brief six man tag team alliance between Orndorff, Payne, and [[Chris Benoit]]. On August 18, 1993, Orndorff's luck ran out as [[Ricky Steamboat]] won the title at ''[[Clash of the Champions XXIV]]''.<ref name="Titles"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIV| title = WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXIV)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624035919/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIV| archive-date = June 24, 2008}}</ref> After unsuccessfully challenging Ricky Steamboat throughout the fall and winter of 1993, Orndorff moved into the tag team division.
====Pretty Wonderful (1993–1995)====
{{main|Pretty Wonderful}}
After the 1993 WCW pay-per-view [[Battlebowl]], Horsemen members [[Paul Roma]] and [[Arn Anderson]] faced the semi-regular team of Paul Orndorff and [[Stone Cold Steve Austin|"Stunning" Steve Austin]] on ''[[WCW Saturday Night]]''. During the match, Roma acted very indifferently to his tag team partner, sowing the seeds to his heel turn. A week later, Roma teamed with [[Erik Watts]] to take on the team of Orndorff and [[William Regal|Lord Steven Regal]]. This time, Roma took it a step further and attacked Erik Watts before announcing that he was now teaming with Paul Orndorff.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Under the tutelage of manager [[Jody Hamilton|Masked Assassin]], the team quickly began to work well together in a feud with [[Buff Bagwell|Marcus Alexander Bagwell]] and [[2 Cold Scorpio]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#93 | title = WCW Starrcade Results (1993) | access-date = April 7, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXVI | title = WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXVI) | access-date = April 7, 2007 | author = prowrestlinghistory.com | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624035919/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXVI | archive-date = June 24, 2008 }}</ref> In the following months, both Roma and Orndorff focused on their individual careers before reuniting around May. This time they wrestled without their manager and were officially known as "Pretty Wonderful". With both men rededicated to teaming, they soon challenged for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] then held by [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]]. One incident especially stands out that established Pretty Wonderful in the title chase. The champions had one last defense against former champions [[the Nasty Boys]] that also saw Kevin's injured brother [[Dave Sullivan (wrestler)|Dave]]. The match degraded into a brawl that saw Pretty Wonderful make an appearance using Dave's crutch to attack the champions. Before the team left the ring, they also took a couple of shots at the Nasty Boys for good measure.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Going into [[Bash at the Beach (1994)|Bash at the Beach]],<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#94 | title = WCW Bash at the Beach Results (1994) | access-date =April 7, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Pretty Wonderful had the advantage as both champions were suffering from injuries inflicted by the challengers on previous occasions (kayfabe). [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] were unable to hold off Roma and Orndorff, as Pretty Wonderful left the ring with the gold.<ref name="Titles"/><ref>{{cite book | author = Mick Foley | title = Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2000 | isbn = 0-06-103101-1 | page = 277}}</ref> Pretty Wonderful was immediately challenged by the Nasty Boys after winning the title, but the Nasty Boys were never able to take the gold from the champions. Next, Pretty Wonderful was challenged by the duo of [[Stars and Stripes (professional wrestling)|Stars and Stripes]] (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and [[The Patriot (wrestler)|The Patriot]]) at [[Fall Brawl (1994)|Fall Brawl]]. The champions retained,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#94 | title = WCW Fall Brawl Results (1994) | access-date =April 7, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> but a week later the championship changed hands when Stars and Stripes got the victory.<ref name="Titles"/> Pretty Wonderful was granted a rematch against the new champions with a match booked for [[Halloween Havoc (1994)|Halloween Havoc]]; Pretty Wonderful regained the belts when Roma used one of them to knock Bagwell out.<ref name="Titles"/>
During a February 5, 1995 taping of [[WCW WorldWide|WCW Worldwide]], Orndorff crossed paths with Hogan for the first time since 1987. The duo of [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Randy Savage]] faced Pretty Wonderful in a televised match which the latter lost. This was the only time Orndorff and Hogan wrestled each other in [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw95.htm |title=WCW 1995 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref>
At [[Clash of the Champions XXIX]] Stars and Stripes were granted a final shot at the tag team title, but the challengers also had to put up the Patriot's mask on the line. After a controversial double pin finish, Stars and Stripes were declared the winners and thus the champions,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIX| title = WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXIX)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624035919/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIX| archive-date = June 24, 2008}}</ref> putting the end to Pretty Wonderful's second and final run with the gold.<ref name="Titles"/>
====Retirement and various appearances (1995–2001)====
Orndorff returned to singles competition with his most notable match at the time being an unsuccessful shot at the [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] when he faced champion [[Keiji Mutoh|the Great Muta]] at [[Slamboree (1995)|Slamboree]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/slambore.html#95 | title = WCW Slamboree Results (1995)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> In May, Orndorff got a golden opportunity to regain the WCW Television title. He defeated [[Brian Pillman]] in a tournament to earn the shot at the champion.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw95.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1995 | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = Graham Cawthon}}</ref> He lost to WCW newcomer [[Rick Wilson (wrestler)|The Renegade]] at [[Bash at the Beach (1995)|Bash at the Beach]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#95 | title = WCW Bash at the Beach Results (1995)| access-date = April 16, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Orndorff was also unable to beat the rookie in subsequent matches and (in [[kayfabe]]) began to lose confidence in his abilities. After losing more and more matches, including a match on ''[[WCW WorldWide|WorldWide]]'' to [[Randy Savage]], Orndorff lost all faith in his abilities; the outwardly arrogant Mr. Wonderful was riddled with self-doubt, until one night, after beating himself up backstage after yet another loss, he was visited by psychic [[Gary Spivey]]. Spivey convinced Orndorff to believe in himself and that he shouldn't forget that he was "Mr. Wonderful".<ref name="WrestleCrap">{{cite book | author=RD Reynolds and Randy Baer | title=Wrestlecrap – the very worst of pro wrestling | publisher=ECW Press | year=2003 | isbn=1-55022-584-7 | url=https://archive.org/details/wrestlecrapveryw00rdre }}</ref>
On the December 11, 1995 episode of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Monday Nitro]]'', Orndorff confronted Brian Pillman after Pillman made derogatory comments about Orndorff. After telling Flair and Anderson how much he respected them, Orndorff told Pillman that he could have been a Horseman and the only reason Pillman was a Horseman was because he was also offered to be one, but turned it down. Anderson and Flair tried to calm Orndorff down but Orndorff lost his temper and attacked Pillman. Pillman, Flair, and Anderson attacked Orndorff and then Arn Anderson and Ric Flair delivered a spike piledriver to Orndorff on the arena floor during the attack. WCW later explained that Orndorff had been seriously hurt in the attack and that his career was over. In actuality, Orndorff was forced to retire due to his previous injuries in the WWF, with the entire right side of his body beginning to [[atrophy]] (eventually causing his arm and leg muscles to shrink). It was something he had worked through as best he could but by the end of 1995 he was forced to retire and started to work as a trainer and a road agent for WCW.<ref name="WWE80s"/>
On December 13, 1999, Orndorff wrestled against the [[Harris Twins]] in a handicap match by a losing effort on ''[[Monday Night Nitro]]''. At the [[Fall Brawl (2000)|2000 Fall Brawl]], in a match between The Filthy Animals and The Natural Born Thrillers, Orndorff suffered a neck injury after delivering a piledriver. The referee, [[Charles Robinson (referee)|Charles Robinson]] stopped the match as a result. After Orndorff retired for a final time, he began to run the [[WCW Power Plant]], where he trained several wrestlers including [[The Natural Born Thrillers]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/paulorndorff/ | title = WWE Hall of Fame: Paul Orndorff | access-date = April 16, 2007| author = wwe.com}}</ref> He had a brief onscreen role during this time in the Old Age Outlaws with [[Terry Funk]], [[Arn Anderson]], and [[Larry Zbyszko]] to feud with the last WCW version of the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]].
===Post-retirement appearances (2005–2017)===
[[File:Paul Orndorff et Nikolai Volkoff.jpg|thumb|right|Orndorff and [[Nikolai Volkoff]], 2015]]
On February 3, 2005, Orndorff was announced as one of the inductees for the Class of 2005 into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]]. He was inducted on April 2 at the [[Universal Amphitheatre]] in Los Angeles by [[Bobby Heenan]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/paulorndorff/profile/ | title = WWE Hall of Fame: Paul Orndorff | access-date =April 7, 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> In 2009, Orndorff was elected by a committee of his peers to the [[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]],{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} then located in Amsterdam, New York, now located in Wichita Falls, Texas. On April 6, 2014, Orndorff made an appearance at [[WrestleMania XXX]], marking his first time on WWE television since the 2005 Hall of Fame. He appeared in a segment with his [[WrestleMania I]] teammate [[Roddy Piper]] and their opponents from the event, [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Mr. T]], as well as the referee for the match, [[Pat Patterson (wrestler)|Pat Patterson]], interrupting Hogan's interview with [[Gene Okerlund]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} On August 11, 2014, Orndorff made an appearance at Hogan's birthday celebration on ''[[WWE Raw]]'', celebrating in the ring with many other WWE legends, including [[Hulk Hogan|Hogan]] himself, [[Ric Flair]], [[Kevin Nash]], [[Scott Hall]], [[Gene Okerlund|Okerlund]], [[Jimmy Hart]], and [[Roddy Piper|Piper]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} On May 3, 2017, aged 67, Orndorff had his final match, and first since 2000, winning a six-man tag at a Canadian Wrestling's Elite (CWE) show in [[Brandon, Manitoba]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://whatculture.com/wwe/10-old-wwe-stars-you-won-39-t-believe-are-still-wrestling?page=10 | title=10 Old WWE Stars You Won't Believe Are Still Wrestling| date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Orndorff's parents were both of [[Germans|German]] descent. His father died of cancer in 1965.<ref name=":0"/> He resided in [[Fayetteville, Georgia]]. He married his high school girlfriend Ronda Maxwell Orndorff. They had two grown sons, Paul Orndorff III and Travis Orndorff, as well as eight grandchildren. Paul had one sister, Patricia Orndorff, and two brothers named Mickey Ronald Cain, and [[Terry Orndorff]], with whom he wrestled briefly as a tag team in the early 1980s. Terry went on to have limited success as a tag team wrestler with other partners such as [[Sylvester Ritter|The Junkyard Dog]] and [[Kerry Von Erich]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/t/terry-orndorff/|title=Terry Orndorff|work=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=June 7, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=December 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231204254/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/t/terry-orndorff/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0"/>
On January 5, 2011, Orndorff told the ''Busted Open'' [[Sirius Satellite Radio]] show that he had recently been diagnosed with throat [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_46549.shtml | title = Other News: 1980s WWF headliner Paul Orndorff reveals he has cancer; flashback to June 2010 interview on his physical condition | date=January 5, 2011 | access-date = January 6, 2011 | last=Caldwell | first=James | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> He was reportedly in critical condition and was on a feeding tube with a few days to live.<ref name=":0"/> On August 10, he announced it was gone.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/21688-wed-update-world-champ-signing-memphis-makes-daily-show-hogan-edge-summerslam-and-ufc | title = Wed. update: World champ signing, Memphis makes Daily Show, Hogan, Edge, SummerSlam and UFC | date=August 10, 2011 | access-date = August 11, 2011 | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
In July 2016, Orndorff was named part of a [[class action]] lawsuit filed against [[WWE]] which alleged that wrestlers incurred "long term neurological injuries" and that the company "routinely failed to care" for them and "fraudulently misrepresented and concealed" the nature and extent of those injuries. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who led a number of other lawsuits against [[WWE]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-wwe-cte-lawsuit-20160719-story.html|title=Dozens of wrestlers sue WWE over CTE, effects of traumatic brain injuries|last=Bieler|first=Des|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=July 20, 2016|date=July 19, 2016}}</ref> In September 2018, US District Judge [[Vanessa Lynne Bryant]] dismissed the case, ruling that some of its claims were frivolous and some had been filed after the statute of limitations had expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/19/lawsuit-against-wwe-concussions-thrown-out/| title= Judge throws out lawsuit against WWE by ex-pro wrestlers over concussions|last=Collins|first=Dave|work= [[The Denver Post]] |access-date=October 22, 2018| date= September 19, 2018}}</ref> In September 2020, an appeal was dismissed by a federal appeals court.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former WWE Wrestlers' Lawsuit Over Brain Damage Is Dismissed |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2020-09-09/former-wwe-wrestlers-lawsuit-over-brain-damage-is-dismissed |access-date=January 1, 2021 |work=US News |date=September 9, 2020}}</ref>
On May 8, 2021, Orndorff's son Travis posted a video of him at a medical facility, where he was seen in a state of reported [[dementia]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mr. #1derful health update|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n15517Pm4s4|language=en|access-date=2021-06-22|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n15517Pm4s4|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Paul|date=2021-06-21|title=Sad health update on WWE Hall Of Famer Paul Orndorff|url=https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/sad-health-update-on-wwe-hall-of-famer-paul-orndorff/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Wrestling News|language=en-US}}</ref> He believed that his father's dementia was a result of [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Paul|date=2021-06-22|title=Paul Orndorff's son says his father's dementia is a result of CTE, urges fans to share his video to raise awareness|url=https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/paul-orndorffs-son-says-his-fathers-dementia-is-a-result-of-cte-urges-fans-to-share-his-video-to-raise-awareness/|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Wrestling News|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Death==
On July 12, 2021, Orndorff died of [[dementia]] at the age of 71 in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Travis Orndorff on Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPAsj2FsBa |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CRPAsj2FsBa |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=July 12, 2021|work=[[Instagram]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title='Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff Passes Away At Age 71|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mr-wonderful-paul-orndorff-passes-away-age-71|work=Fightful|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 12, 2021}}</ref>
==Championships and accomplishments==
===College football===
*'''[[University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame]]''' (Class of 1986)<ref name=mcewen_12251985>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=McEwen|title=UT Hall of Fame names new inductees|date=December 25, 1985|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81430872/|pages=1-C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81430839/ 5-C]|access-date=July 14, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
===Professional wrestling===
*'''American Wrestling Federation'''
**AWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
*'''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
**Men's Wrestling Award (2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/99891/arn-anderson-paul-orndorff-trish-stratus-and-more-to-be-honored-by-cauliflower-alley-club.html?p=1|title=ARN ANDERSON, PAUL ORNDORFF, TRISH STRATUS AND MORE TO BE HONORED BY CAULIFLOWER ALLEY CLUB | PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref>
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/12635 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703045403/https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/12635 |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |title=Paul Orndorff |work=National Wrestling Hall Of Fame |access-date=March 18, 2023}}</ref>
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA National Heavyweight Championship#Reigns|3 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/nat-h.html|title=NWA National Heavyweight Title|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
**[[NWA Hall of Fame]] (Class of 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/115470/NWA-News:-2009-Hall-Of-Fame-Class,-World-Mini-Title-Coming-Back.htm |title=NWA Class of 2009|date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=February 22, 2009|first=Larry|last=Csonka}}</ref>
*
**NWL Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [[B. Brian Blair|Brian Blair]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttnwl.html |title=NWL Tag Team Title History |author=Tsakiries, Phil |year=2004 |work=Solie's Title Histories |publisher=Solie.org |access-date=May 4, 2010}}</ref>
*
**[[NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship|Mid-America World Six-Man Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with Gorgeous George Jr. and [[Tommy Gilbert]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/nwa/tn-nwa-6.html | title=National Wrestling Alliance World 6-Man Tag Team Title History (Mid-America) | access-date=April 19, 2015 | publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
**[[AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship|NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship ''(Memphis version)'']] ([[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=42&page=5&reign=17 | title=Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship | access-date=March 24, 2017 | work=CageMatch}}</ref>
*'''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship#Title history|5 times]])<ref name="Titles"/>
**[[UWF Tag Team Championship|Mid-South Tag Team Championship]] ([[UWF Tag Team Championship|1 time]]) – with [[Ted Dibiase]]
*'''Peach State Wrestling'''
**PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
**Class of 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/orndorff.asp|publisher=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=February 4, 2009|first=Andrew|last=Malnoske|title=Paul Orndorff|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520004941/http://pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/orndorff.asp|archive-date=May 20, 2012}}</ref>
*
**[[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (1986) {{small|vs. Hulk Hogan}}<ref name="PWI Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|title=PWI Awards|work=[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]|publisher=[[Kappa Publishing Group]]|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=June 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610190704/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
**[[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (1985) {{small|with [[Roddy Piper]] vs. [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Mr. T]] at [[WrestleMania I|WrestleMania]]}}<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
**[[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Most Hated Wrestler of the Year|Most Hated Wrestler of the Year]] (1986)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
**Ranked No. 38 of the 500 top wrestlers in the ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]]'' in 1993<ref>{{cite web|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1993|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/1993.html|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref>
*
**Wrestler of the Week (August 23–29, 1987)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Pro Wrestling This Week |series=[[Superstars of Wrestling]] |first=Joe |last=Pedicino |author-link=Joe Pedicino |first2=Gordon (hosts) |last2=Solie |author2-link=Gordon Solie |network=[[Broadcast syndication|Syndicated]] |station=[[WATL]] |___location=[[Atlanta]] |date=August 29, 1987 }}</ref>
*
**[[CWF Tag Team Championship|NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship]] ([[CWF Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) – with [[Dick Slater]] (1) and Norvell Austin (1)<ref name="Titles"/>
*'''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) championships#UWF Southern States Championship|UWF Southern States Championship]] ([[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) championships#UWF Southern States Championship|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|title=UWF Southern States Title|work=Pro Wrestling History|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/indy/uwf/uwftitles.html#southern|access-date=January 26, 2008}}</ref>
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]/[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCW World Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-tv.html|title=NWA/WCW World Television Title|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com|access-date=July 2, 2007}}</ref>
**[[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|3 times]]) – with [[Jimmy Snuka]] (1) and [[Paul Roma]] (2)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html|title=WCW World Tag Team Title|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
**[[List of World Championship Wrestling tournaments#Slim Jim Challenge (1995)|Slim Jim Challenge (1995)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=350|title=Slim Jim Challenge « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>
**WCW World Television Championship Tournament (1993)
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2005)|Class of 2005]])<ref name="WWEBio"/>
*'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (1986) {{small|vs. Hulk Hogan}}<ref>{{cite journal|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=January 26, 2011|title=Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue|periodical=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|publication-place=Campbell, CA|pages=1–40|issn=1083-9593}}</ref>
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=November 18, 2024 Observer Newsletter: The 2024 Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wrestling-observer-newsletter/november-18-2024-observer-newsletter-the-2024-hall-of-fame-class/ |website=Figure 4 Weekly |date=November 15, 2024 |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{WWE superstar}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=459|wrestlingdata=161|iwd=paul-orndorff-22}}
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