Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr., affectionately known as "Mr. Wonderful", was a trailblazing American professional wrestler and college football player, whose illustrious career spanned decades and multiple promotions.
Born on October 29, 1949, Orndorff's wrestling journey began in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA),where he spent seven years honing his craft before ascending to stardom in the 1980s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) wrestling boom.
As a key figure in this era, Orndorff frequently teamed with manager Bobby Heenan and champion Hulk Hogan, participating in several high-profile matches, including the main events of the inaugural WrestleMania and Survivor Series.
However, a nagging neck injury, left untreated, ultimately led to his departure from the WWF in early 1990, when he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW). During his time in WCW, Orndorff achieved significant success, capturing the WCW World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship alongside Paul Roma, as part of the duo Pretty Wonderful.
In the years that followed, Orndorff's career was marked by arm atrophy due to the persisting neck injury, ultimately prompting his retirement in 2000. He received treatment for cancer in 2011 and went on to dedicate himself to training aspiring wrestlers.
Orndorff's impressive achievements earned him inductions into not one, but two prestigious halls of fame: the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2009.
Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr.'s remarkable legacy in the world of professional wrestling continues to inspire and influence new generations of wrestlers and fans alike.
