We've spent a lot of time talking about the impact Hulk Hogan had on Paul Orndorff's . World Championship Wrestling still has some kinks to work out like maintaining uniform angles and breaking out of the put-everyone-in-a-gang mentality that led to the WWFs downfall in the nineties (Anyone remember The Nation, D.O.A. The move was executed normally, and Rude would have taken the move just fine had that raised area of the ramp not been there. Jeff Jarrett attacks Sting disputing his claim. When Orndorff faced off against Matsuda, the tired student stood no chance against the accomplished veteran who choked him with his famed front face lock. ", My heart is saddened again. Your email address will not be published. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and two appearances, first at . "Travis wants to give everyone, including fans, the opportunity to Donate to Paul's final expenses. Orndorff was the surprise tag team partner of The Filthy Animals in their elimination match against The Natural Born Killers. Orndorff was also one of five Floridians, and the first from Brandon, to be named to the All-Southern football team. Fellow WWE wrestler known by his wrestling name "The Natural" tweeted in response to Orndorff's death. During their match on a taped SmackDown event, DLo Brown went for his signature running powerbomb. Douglas kicks Madusa off the ladder. He was later part of the class action lawsuit against WWE for the long-term injuries that he suffered in the ring. Jan 28: WWE Royal Rumble While Paul Orndorff elected to play college football at the University of Tampa for geographic reasons, he was hardly making a great sacrifice in terms of the success of the program. On the page, Travis's wife, Amayou Smith, wrote: "Hi my name is Amayou, my husband is Travis Orndorff. It is stationed in front of the Nitro Tron, twenty or so feet in the air. "Paul Orndorff had more class, talent, athletic ability than almost anyone I ever knew. #RIPPaulOrndorff . Gene continues to spew forth rude comments in his subsequent Fall Brawl interviews. The 5-11, 230-pound Orndorff was in tremendous shape from his football days and years of weightlifting with Harry Smith. 1 overall pick in the 1973 draft), Leon McQuay, Freddie Solomon, and Noah Jackson, and still six years before the NFLs arrival in Tampa, the Spartans were the big game in town. "And I feel the same way about the Saints going into Saints camp. As a youngster, Orndorff was a star high school football player. As the match was wrapping up, Marty Jannetty prepared to hit his finishing maneuver, The Rocker Dropper, a leg drop bulldog move that even Kelly Kelly could perform. I had done some wrestling with Ervin Smith at UT and liked it, and I went to (Eddie) Graham about turning professional. Unlike other scaffold matches where you must throw your opponent off to win, all someone has to do in this one is climb down a ladder to the floor. I AM SO SAD I LOVE YOU FOREVER REST IN PEACE pic.twitter.com/RXovORjxVp, WWE WRESTLER BOBBY ROODE TWEETS THAT ORNDORFF WAS AN 'INSPIRATION'. While Orndorff was a physical specimen who could handle the physical demands of playing tight end and had good speed, running a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, he didnt have the ideal size to play there. In fact, even Sting said that both times he failed to take the move properlyby not keeping his head in place. Paul Orndorff Jr., better known as WWE Hall of Famer "Mr. Wonderful," has died. Orndorff worked at the WCW Power Plant and was brought back for a ten-man elimination tag at the Fall Brawl event in September 2000. MY BROTHER. The only way to keep that from happening was to impose the "proving ground" between the outside world and those of us on the inside.". Canadian wrestler Edge, real name Adam Copeland, tweeted out a tribute to Paul Orndorff. Hes finally living up to his nickname. #PaulOrndorff, PAUL ORNDORFF'S SON CONFIRMS HIS DEATH IN STATEMENT. > Music and Los Boricuas?) . Muta attempts a cover. In 1988, he left WWE for WCW, where he captured the WCW World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championships with Paul Roma. Due to his past injuries in the WWF, Paul was forced to retire. He said hed like to see him and talk. His career skyrocketed after. Its hard to believe a simple belly to back suplex could cause an injury much less a death, but supposedly Misawa already suffered from a cervical sprain and probably should not have been cleared to wrestle. I was at the Big Event in Toronto. The big fullback admitted he stuck it out during the second half of his final season even though he felt the change was a blow to his dignity. His memory seems to be going in and out. In wrestling there is nothing more dangerous than a botched move. Paul Orndorff Biography - Paul . May 27, 1995 - Saturday Night: Paul Orndorff defeated Jim Duggan in the semi-finals of the Slim Jim tournament. I love you Daddy. Not long after the gym opened, Smith added another bodybuilding championship to his resume by winning the Mr. Florida title. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Fall Brawl was a big surprise for WCW. He gave me the chance.. "He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. Five days a week. "WWE extends its condolences to Orndorffs family and friends.". Bruce moved Orndorff to tight end despite his leading the team in rushing at the time (79 rushes, 358 yards). After landing, Misawa lost consciousness and was unable to be revived as medical staff performed CPR in the ring. Press Esc to cancel. He will never be forgotten. Despite Earles explanation, Orndorff thought the position change was punishment for his two fumbles in the prior game against Louisville. Sting cuts a promo saying he has a world title match against either Booker T or Nash on Nitro tonight. Just when his career was starting to take off, Droz was injured in a match with DLo Brown. His son, Travis, announced his father's death on social media earlier today. She falls on the stage (air bag) below. Wonderful Paul Orndorff was an American professional wrestler. Orndorff was a street fighter, but his opponents knew how to wrestle, and some could hook him. He retired in 2000. Thanks for all the laughs and great matches. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania Read our Paul Orndorff live blog for all the latest news and updates "He was so much more than a wrestler," Paul Orndorffs son, Travis, captioned an Instagram post. #RIPMrWonderful", Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff was an inspiration to me breaking into the business. "He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I know hes a good coach, but I still dont like him. During the 1990s, he had numerous runs in WCW, winning the tag titles three times in addition to one reign as World Television Champion, before retiring in 2000 after suffering another neck injury. Eager to learn from the best, he regularly made the 140-mile ride from the Naval Base in San Diego to Santa Monicas famed Muscle Beach. "I can do that," Orndorff told his father-in-law Ross Maxwell, "Ill see what I can do," Maxwell said. Orndorff was selected in the 12th round (289th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints after finishing his college career with 376 rushes for 1,671 yards. The pair became thick as thieves, which isnt surprising when you consider Smiths athletic background, which, with the benefit of hindsight, mirrors much of how Orndorffs athletic and professional career played out. A post shared by Paul Orndorff (@mr1derfulofficial), ORNDORFF'S SON SAYS HE WAS 'AN AMAZING FATHER'. Injuries caused Mr Wonderful to step away from the square ring in 2000. I was at the Big Event in Toronto. The pay-per-view came to a halt as they assessed Orndorffs condition. The pair got marriedback in 1971 and remained together until the end. As soon as the news of Paul Orndorff's death broke out, fans swarmed to social media to pay their respects to the wrestling legend. Standing at a muscular 6-feet, 195-pounds, Orndorff thrived at Brandon High School, where he lettered three times in football and track and field. Everyone is grounded and guarded by the gimmick match. "Coach (J.D.) WWE may have banned it, but the piledriver is still a part of the industry. "As soon as Paul polishes up his form and gets the kinks out, I think he will throw the discus 170 feet and the shot 55 feet," said Jim Summer, Brandon Eagles head track coach at the time. Droz continues to believe his injury was an accident and has said he holds no animosity towards DLo whatsoever. The popular running back often amazed the fans and energized his teammates by running down the field with multiple defenders hanging onto him. WE TRAIN TOGETHER. Wonderful Paul Orndorff was doing the same thing, only for real (and without the benefit of reshoots and strategic video editing)! Paul Orndorff, aka " Mr. Sasha would jump and kick Paige in the back, and Paige would not be able to continue the match. However, after The Icon signed with AEW in December 2020, he ended up returning to the ring in 2021 during his 60s! Years of experience in writing, journalism, and digging exclusive insider info for Ringside News. Orndorffs first Mid-South program was with Ernie Ladd, who had a great influence on him. I AM SO SAD I LOVE YOU FOREVER REST IN PEACE", PAUL ORNDORFF. One of the mostdevastatingwrestling injuries happened to Darren Drozdov, who wrestled for WWE under the ring names, Puke and later Droz. Orndorff was reportedly worth $100,000, according toCelebrity Net Worth. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who once fought in Wrestlemania, has died at the age of 71. Heartbreaking Video Shows Paul Orndorffs Failing Health, Mystery Hand At WWE Hell In A Cell Was Disposing Of Crash Pad Evidence, AEW Dynamite Sees Nice Viewership Increase In Final Week On Fridays, Ric Flair Apologized To Triple H After Bitter Dispute, WWE CEO Nick Khan Says Vince McMahon Is Ready To Sell The Company, Ric Flair Is Not A Fan Of Women Bleeding In Pro Wrestling Matches, Eric Bischoff Roasted Over Tone-Deaf Tweet After Jay Briscoes Passing, Nick Khan Always Expected Vince McMahons WWE Return, Bray Wyatt & JoJo Offerman Finally Pick A Wedding Date, WWE NXT Changed Funeral Segment During The Show After News Of Jay Briscoes Passing. He was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2005and theNational Wrestling AllianceHall of Famein 2009. YOU WERE THE TOUGHEST. His son released new video of the WWE Hall of Famer, and it is heartbreaking to see. Orndorff left the WWF in 1988 with an untreated neck injury, yet continued to wrestle in the WCW and won the World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship. Rey Mysterio leg drop-to-the-crotches Reno at 10:08 and the pony-tailed one is gone. He is also a reporter for Entertainment Tonight Canada. The powerful Orndorff won the state championship as a rookie, defeating a former champion along the way, and that was after Orndorff was hospitalized for several days with pneumonia. Bill Goldberg wasnt known to be the safest worker, which is why he takes most, if not all, of the blame for ending the career of Bret Hart and putting the final nail in the coffin of Harts lackluster WCW tenure. Orndorff was the offensive leader for Tampa, scoring on a pair of touchdown catches from 15 and 35 yards. You can even see Rey Mysterio unmasked in th. ", THE IRON SHEIK TWEETS AFTER 'BROTHER' ORNDORFF'S DEATH. I was a little kid again. Man, I had so many matches and learned a ton with #PaulOrndorff Hate to see this, but know he's not in pain anymore. David claims to see the father walking up his front lawn. "Paul was a bad ass. Paul Orndorff was suffering from dementia, believed to have been caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In the video, the WWE Hall of Famer was unrecognizable and appeared to be confused while eating the contents of condiment packets.Travis Orndorff intended to make fans aware of his father's condition, but he received a lot of backlash from those in the . We lost another great one," one fan wrote. Ha. However, the father and son didnt have a close relationship. The schools football history dated back to 1933, and once Paul arrived, the Spartans were two seasons into playing their home games at Tampa Stadium, which had a capacity of more than 40,000. In 2011, he also. Sting pulls his nemesis out of the ring and saves his hide. Consider Mr. During his senior year, Orndorff served as team captain and led the Western Conference with 1,377 rushing yards. I was a little kid again. "It was Eddie Graham," Orndorff said. Storm bets none of them would want to return to the U.S. after that. Rey hit Aguayo with a dropkick which sent him to the middle rope as planned, but Aguayo lost consciousness. In the Fall Brawl main event, Booker T. defeated Kevin Nash in a passable cage match by reversing Nashs Jack Knife Powerbomb into his Bookend finisher. That evening, a linebacker on the team was shot to death. His career ended when he suffered a neck injury at Fall Brawl 2000 and went on to help run the WCW Power Plant. The legendary WWE Hall of Famer was 71. He suffered another neck injury after delivering a piledriver at the 2000 Fall Brawl, which led to his final retirement. Later through a brief period, we saw him leaving the competition with an untreated injury in the neck. Kronik level Silverman with High Time. The move sounds ridiculous enough, but it was made even worse coming from a large guy who normallydidn't perform moves off the turnbuckle. WWE Hall of Fame member Eric Bischoff tweeted out his condolences after announcements of Paul Orndorff's death. "So Sorry To Hear Of The Passing Of Paul Orndorff aka Mr. One of the greatest of all time! His skills led to multiple scholarships offers from prestigious football programs such as the University of Tennessee and Clemson. He wrestled for WWF until 1988 when he was forced to retire due to injury, but he later returned . 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