University senior Tate Orndorff has the big-bone build of his father, Dave, who was a two-sport standout in football and wrestling like his son. If he were 6-foot-4, he would have been recruited by everybody in football, Dave said. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. Ghanaian winger Nana Ampomah age, football statistics, salary, latest updates. Is Tate Orndorff related to Paul Orndorff? A look at the potential road for Rutgers University wrestlers in the Big Ten Tournament and what chances they have for qualification for the NCAA Orndorff becomes UVU's third wrestling All-American in program history. May God rest his soul! 285 lb R16, Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State vs Tate Orndorff, Ohio State. 6 Tate Orndorff (OSU) vs. No. Most of you will remember him for his physique. At the 2000 Fall Brawl, in a match between The Filthy Animals and The Natural Born Thrillers, Orndorff suffered a neck injury after delivering a piledriver. After the feud with Cactus cooled off, "Mr. Tate Orndorff, U-Hi's defending state champion heavyweight, practices a throw on a training partner. ", My heart is saddened again. [60], 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. Read Full. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | MFF, Duals (7-4) Arm atrophy from a nagging injury led him to retire in 2000 and he was treated for cancer in 2011. Paul Orndorff excelled in various sports, including amateur wrestling, bodybuilding, football, track and field, and even arm wrestling. While the new season is just beginning, Orndorff hasn't stopped. Ben Cohen: co-founder of Ben & Jerry's early life, age, social activism, net worth, updates. Orndorff joined the World Football League's Jacksonville Express in 1975 after training camp with the Chicago Bears in 1974, but he was injured. Orndorff faced Salvatore Bellomo on the night that Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWF World Heavyweight Title and "Hulkamania was born". Junior Greco National Champion (2015), Fila Cadet National Champion (2014) and Fargo National Cadet Freestyle runner-up (2013) 30 Joe Doyle (BING) | MD, 10-2 [citation needed] 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 Hogan himself, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Okerlund, Jimmy Hart, and Piper. Orndorff returned to the ring on June 2, 1987, in Buffalo, New York during a WWF Superstars taping. HWT | No. He was considering giving professional wrestling a try, like his former Tampa teammate Ron Mikolajczyk, who made his wrestling debut that summer. You cant do two sports, like wrestling and football, at the NCAA Division I level today like you could when I was in school.. Mason Fiscella (APP) | D, 7-1 HWT | No. 6 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D. 9-4, 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Lincoln, Nebraska, March 5-6 He was an All-Pac-10 selection in football in addition to being an All-American in wrestling. He married his high school girlfriend Ronda Maxwell Orndorff. Orndorff lost the title to DiBiase on November 1, 1981, in a match at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana. HWT | No. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who led a number of other lawsuits against WWE. Terry went on to have limited success as a tag team wrestler with other partners such as The Junkyard Dog and Kerry Von Erich. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This led to a brief six man tag team alliance between Orndorff, Payne, and Chris Benoit. Paul Orndoff, known to wrestling fans as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, has passed away at age 71. On the page, Travis's wife, Amayou Smith, wrote: "Hi my name is Amayou, my husband is Travis Orndorff. HWT | No. Is Einstein the horse still alive? On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Paul Orndorff, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.. Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. was born in Winchester, Virginia on October 29, 1949. 285 | No. HWT | (13) Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. After the 1993 WCW pay-per-view Battlebowl, Horsemen members Paul Roma and Arn Anderson faced the semi-regular team of Paul Orndorff and "Stunning" Steve Austin on WCW Saturday Night. (20) Joe Doyle (BING) | MD, 10-2 The exact cause of Paul Orndorff's death is not known at the moment. WCW later explained that Orndorff had been seriously hurt in the attack and that his career was over. Former WWE superstar CM Punk wrote: "Damn. 285 (Orndorff, 2-3, 8th) 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. How old is Paul Orndorff? Wonderful aka The Brandon Bull. Paul Orndorff was one of the greatest and most talented entertainers. "He is better known as Mr. Hes mostly solid muscle and bone, Owen said. I hate to lose ask my friends, Orndorff said. All donations and love gifts are appreciated.". During his time away from wrestling he was actually reported to have died; the story made several newspapers. Ancestry.com. Due to his past injuries in the WWF, Paul was forced to retire. Even in those times, it stands to reason he might have remained in or around the main event picture for another five-to-ten years. Instead of keeping the peace, Sammartino became a target for Orton and Piper,[20] which led to Orndorff and Sammartino teaming up. "Paul was a bad ass. 13 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | MD, 10-2 Tanner was a three-time NCAA Qualifier for Utah Valley Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) | Fall, 6:03 "He is better known as Mr. Media. No. A week later, Roma teamed with Erik Watts to take on the team of Orndorff and Lord Steven Regal. Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. (October 29, 1949 July 12, 2021), nicknamed "Mr. [53] In 2009, Orndorff was elected by a committee of his peers to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame,[citation needed] then located in Amsterdam, New York, now located in Wichita Falls, Texas. [55][11], On January 5, 2011, Orndorff told the Busted Open Sirius Satellite Radio show that he had recently been diagnosed with throat cancer. [citation needed] 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. It is set to occur later this week in Fayetteville, Georgia. No. Thank you for all of them Paul. He fired Heenan two months later and began a feud with Rude. 2021 All-American (eighth), PRIOR TO OHIO STATE Tate, whose baby face belies his age, matched that state title last year, going 38-0 the first U-Hi junior to go undefeated. Fans took to Twitter to express their sadness at the news of Paul Orndorff's recent death. WWE Hall of Fame member Eric Bischoff tweeted out his condolences after announcements of Paul Orndorff's death. This time they wrestled without their manager and were officially known as "Pretty Wonderful". One of the greatest of all time! [12] Orndorff then traded the title back and forth with Super Destroyer. Meet Kayla Simmons, the world's sexiest volleyball player who loves posing topless, Ex-UFC star VanZant sends fans wild as she flashes bum while climbing tree, Veronika Rajek wows in figure-hugging top as she invites fans to 'happy time', Brady could star in 'Netflix roast' while still 'trying to win back Gisele', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Orndorff retired from wrestling after he injured his arm in a match, Travis Orndorff, Mr Wonderful's son, confirmed his father's death, He explained that his father had been battling with dementia. It is not clear if an autopsy has been done yet. Before the team left the ring, they also took a couple of shots at the Nasty Boys for good measure. [4] He voluntarily quit during training camp, citing "personal problems". MY BROTHER. Tate is a heavyweight wrestler from Spokane, Wash. They have been together for over 50 years as she was his high school sweetheart. WE RIDE TOGETHER. Orndorff signed with the World Wrestling Federation in late 1983 and made his debut in November of that year on Championship Wrestling. "It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr," Travis Orndorff wrote. He returned to wrestling in 1990 in the WCW (world championship wrestling), making his debut in Dudes with Attitudes. [61][62] He believed that his father's dementia was a result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). One incident especially stands out that established Pretty Wonderful in the title chase. Orndorff quickly became affiliated with a group called the "Dudes with Attitudes" consisting of himself, Sting, Lex Luger, Junkyard Dog, and The Steiner Brothers. WE RIDE TOGETHER. [16] Piper nicknamed Orndorff "Mr. Lee Herrington (UNK) | Fall, 2:32 [12] Austin, Condrey, and Rose formed The Midnight Express shortly thereafter. The opportunity to add a two-time NCAA Qualifier and NWCA All-American into the fold is rare, but that is exactly what happened when Tate Orndorff transferred to Ohio State for his final two seasons of competition. Anderson and Flair tried to calm Orndorff down but Orndorff lost his temper and attacked Pillman. While he was here, he was given the name of Mr Wonderful by his then-manager, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. 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. I just want to win out and get better, he said. He was 71. With an untreated neck injury, he left the WWF for 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). [12], While working for the UWF, Orndorff also competed in the American Wrestling Federation (not the same promotion as the AWF) and held the AWF Heavyweight title after beating Stan Lane on December 16, 1991. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Paul Orndorff dead WWE wrestler cause of death revealed as son raises awareness of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Khabib Nurmagomedov names himself in 'magnificent seven' UFC GOAT list but has no room for rival Conor McGregor. Paul Orndorff Death. 2020 First Team All-Americans MANHEIM, Pa. -Utah Valley University sophomore heavyweight Tate Orndorffhas been named a 2020 Division I First Team All-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). 33 Brandon Whitman (UNC) | D, 2-0 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. Think I have his autograph on a patriot mask somewhere. [12], During a February 5, 1995 taping of WCW Worldwide, Orndorff crossed paths with Hogan for the first time since 1987. #1derful Paul Orndorff. He recruited me hard. He defeated Brian Pillman in a tournament to earn the shot at the champion. [12] It was soon revealed that Roop had sabotaged Orndorff's car so he could get the title shot instead (storyline). Starting in January 1984, Orndorff took on "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as his manager. [12], After feuding with Ladd, Orndorff continued to make a name for himself in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) where he feuded with The Masked Superstar. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. "Paul Orndorff had more class, talent, athletic ability than almost anyone I ever knew. (13) Tate Orndorff (OSU) | MD, 10-1 "As some of you may know we are preparing for Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff's final farewell. "But Paul also was one funny son-of-a-bitch. It is not known what caused his death, but according to reports, he had been diagnosed with dementia not long ago. In January 1993 he took on Cactus Jack, with the winner being manager Harley Race's chosen replacement for an injured Rick Rude at Clash of the Champions XXII. Ric Flair, a retired professional wrestler, took toTwitterafter learning of Paul Orndorff's passing. Two-time NWCA Scholar All-American and First Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree HWT | No. No. After two years at a junior college and a two-year mission with the LDS church, dad went on to be an All-American in wrestling, placing second in the NCAA tournament at heavyweight his senior year at Oregon State University. 2023 Ohio State University. Orndorff's last "big" appearance was at the inaugural Survivor Series on November 26, 1987, where he teamed with Hogan, Bam Bam Bigelow, Ken Patera, and Muraco to take on Andr, One Man Gang, Bundy, Rude, and Butch Reed. Pinned Tweet. I think hes still growing. Sometimes the youngest in a herd ofsizeable siblings turns out to be the best athlete. 31 Jake Slinger (PITT) | MD, 10-2 (Dec. 3-4, 2021, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas) Orndorff at the 2022 NCAA Championships (3-2) Before he heads to Corvallis, though, he will do a two-year mission as did his brothers and dad before him. [56] He was reportedly in critical condition and was on a feeding tube with a few days to live. [16], 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. Their half-year-long feud is one of the most notable (and profitable) feuds in the history of pro wrestling. [20] When no one succeeded, Heenan upped the bounty to $50,000. 1 seed against Rainier Beach. I love you, Daddy," he concluded the tribute. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, Zags-Gaels round 3? Story of the smallest horse in the world. Among the participants invited to compete were Buddy Landel, "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony, and Brian Lee. [17] Hogan disposed of the challenger and moved on while Orndorff fought a variety of opponents including the Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana. Fellow WWE wrestler known by his wrestling name "The Natural" tweeted in response to Orndorff's death. He competed in the National Wrestling Alliance for a considerable time before becoming a sensation during the 1980s. Paul Orndorff excelled in various sports, including amateur wrestling, bodybuilding, football "Paul Orndorff was a true, mans man. [18] Blaming Orndorff for the loss, Piper and Orton attacked him on Saturday Night's Main Event I. [16] 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. Orndorff then helped Hogan to his feet and raised his hand in the air, only to give Hogan a clothesline followed by a piledriver. 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. [12][40] After unsuccessfully challenging Ricky Steamboat throughout the fall and winter of 1993, Orndorff moved into the tag team division. Jordan Earnest (Ohio U.) Sportsmanship was always in his blood and he excelled in the fields. 285 | No. His reign as champion lasted years. Wonderful" set his sights on the vacant WCW World Television Championship. Orndorff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2009. Orndorff reappeared in Georgia Championship Wrestling in early 1982 immediately launching into a feud with Buzz Sawyer over the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D, 3-2 His death was confirmed via Instagram on Monday by his son . Orndorff spent time in rehab trying to recuperate his injured arm, but to no avail appeared smaller than the other one. One of the top heels of the 1980s, Paul Orndorff is remembered for his dashing looks and incredible physique. "He will never be forgotten. Paul Orndorff started his career in wrestling in 1976 in Mid-Southern Wrestling. Wonderful", was an American professional wrestler and college football player, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Rest In Peace!". The pair got marriedback in 1971 and remained together until the end. [12], In 1992, Smoky Mountain Wrestling opened its doors for the first time as they announced a tournament to crown the first SMW Heavyweight Champion. Orndorff was only listed as a "wild card" who had to win a match in order to enter the tournament. [12] Orndorff lost the title back to Lawler before he left the Memphis territory. I attribute a lot of my success in wrestling to church, Tate said. Throughout the 80s, Orndorff became a star, often going head-to-head with the ImmortalHulk Hoganin the main event of the firstWrestlemaniaand Survivors Series. If Tate were two inches taller theres no doubt hed have had an even more difficult decision about college. Boxing legend Ali helped promote the event, featuring as a guest referee. "Just heard about the passing of Paul Mr 1derfulOrndorff. (19) Luke Surber (OKST) | D, 5-0 Mr Wonderful, as he was known by fans, suffered an injury to his arm back in the late 1980s. Placed third in both Greco and Freestyle at the 2014 Fargo Junior Nationals His son Travis revealed that Mr Wonderful passed away in an Instagram post on Monday. [39] Orndorff defeated Bagwell controversially, using the second rope for leverage during the pinfall. No. T. Orndorff T. Orndorff N. Rino D. Romero J. Rubio A. Seely C. Smith T. Smith J. Tolentino C. Trussell K. Wilkinson J. Woodruff Brett Rojo/For The Big 12 Conference Tate Orndorff Weight: 285 Height: 6-0 Class: Redshirt Sophomore Hometown: Spokane, Wash. Highschool: University HS Summary Media Historical Summary At Utah Valley University . He returned to the WCW in late 1992 and continued to fight until his retirement in 2001. FANS 'SADDENED' AT NEWS OF PAUL ORNDORFF'S DEATH. The New Orleans Saints selected him in the 12th round of the 1973 NFL Draft as a fullback while leaving the door open for him to play tight end. Tate, one of four brothers, carries a 44-13 collegiate record to Columbus and was seeded eighth for the COVID-canceled 2020 NCAA Championships. He called me every day when he could. And he had the confidence to have fun with his character.". 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. 1, BTN Presents Coverage of 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, No. No. "PAUL ORNDORFF. MY BROTHER. Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1911 [database on-line]. Next, Pretty Wonderful was challenged by the duo of Stars and Stripes (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and The Patriot) at Fall Brawl. HWT | (13) Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. News of his passing was communicated to the public by his son Travis who announced the sad news in an Instagram post. Sadly, the situation doesn't seem to be improving . His rivalry with Hulk Hogan made him a household name, where he was involved in the first ever WrestleMania main event, teaming with Roddy Piper against Hogan and Mr. T. Tributes are pouring in from the wrestling world, as friends and . Orndorff was unable to wrestle in the rematch due to car trouble, which meant that Orndorff's friend Bob Roop got the title shot and won the match. No. Many will remember his intensity. ADDITIONAL INFO I just wanted to tell him that if he got a chance at a pin to go for it, Dave said. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. 18 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | Fall, 6:02 285 | No. Orndorff spent time in rehab trying to recuperate his injured arm, but to no avail appeared smaller than the other one. HWT | No. He went to a prestigious tournament in Ohio last month hoping to go up against the No. [12] Pretty Wonderful was granted a rematch against the new champions with a match booked for Halloween Havoc; Pretty Wonderful regained the belts when Roma used one of them to knock Bagwell out. . Wonderful more or less immediately started feuding with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, who attacked Orndorff to kickstart the feud. Orndorff got the better of Mantell and won the right to use the Freebird hair removal cream on Mantell. [16] 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. 15 seed in the 2019 NCAA Championships 3 in the national heavyweight rankings and owns 17 wins over nationally-ranked opponents. [citation needed], Under the tutelage of manager Masked Assassin, the team quickly began to work well together in a feud with Marcus Alexander Bagwell and 2 Cold Scorpio. Hulk Hogan led tributes online to the legendary wrestler and said that he was "slammed" by the news of Orndoff's death on Monday. 1-ranked wrestler in the nation. Race assisted Orndorff in the match and was quickly joined by Vader in his attack on Cactus Jack. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) def. [16] 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. The condition happens when someone suffers repeated head trauma, however, it can only be diagnosed once someone has passed away. I was at the Big Event in Toronto. "So Sorry To Hear Of The Passing Of Paul Orndorff aka Mr. 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. Mar 18, 2022 . "WWE extends its condolences to Orndorffs family and friends.". Jane and Walt Dennis Golf Perfomance Center, Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility. [12] 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. One of the greatest of all time! He explained that his father had been battling with dementia, which he believes was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Paul has one sister Patricia Orndorff and has two brothers named Mickey Ronald Cain and Terry Orndorff, with whom he wrestled briefly as a tag team in the early 1980s. [35] Orndorff was pinned by Cactus Jack in a subsequent Thunderdome match;[36] the two had an intense feud including a Falls Count Anywhere match at SuperBrawl III, which Cactus Jack won.[37]. He will never be forgotten. At Clash of the Champions XI Orndorff defeated Anderson[28] and at the 1990 Great American Bash, Orndorff teamed up with the Junkyard Dog and El Gigante to defeat Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, and Sid Vicious by disqualification. In December 1978, Orndorff teamed with Jimmy Snuka to capture the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Baron von Raschke and Greg Valentine. The only similarity between the two is that they share a surname. R.I.P. [citation needed], Going into Bash at the Beach,[43] Pretty Wonderful had the advantage as both champions were suffering from injuries inflicted by the challengers on previous occasions (kayfabe). Paul Orndorff was in his mid-30s when he suffered his arm injury. 44-13 record in two seasons at Utah Valley After the match, Race declared that Paul Orndorff was his chosen man. On February 3, 2005, Orndorff was announced as one of the inductees for the Class of 2005 into the WWE Hall of Fame. Their matches included a memorable outdoor match in Toronto ("The Big Event") which drew an estimated 76,000 fans. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. No. Tate Orndorff (OSU) def. Posted an overall high school record of 142-15 with 103 pins as two-time Washington state champion On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was inducted on April 2 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles by Bobby Heenan. [48] In May, Orndorff got a golden opportunity to regain the WCW Television title. Statistics major. No. I was extremely lucky to have had him on so many Southeastern cards. pic.twitter.com/RiOY6Rdj7w, PAUL ORNDORFF'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW RELEASES STATEMENT ON GOFUNDME. No. Paul's career, in both football and wrestling, started in his higher learning years. 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. Unfortunately, he injured his arm in a weightlifting accident and retired in 1988 from the sport prematurely. [12] Their reign only lasted about a month before being upended by the combination of Dennis Condrey and David Schultz. HWT | Jacob Bullock (IU) def. 285 | No. [11], Orndorff started wrestling in 1976 in Mid-Southern Wrestling where he feuded with a young Jerry Lawler. [12] Frustrated with his inability to beat Orndorff for the National title, Larry Zbyszko paid Killer Tim Brooks $25,000 to do his dirty work. Former World Wrestling Federation favorite Paul Orndorff, who gained fame with fans as Mr. I went to a wcw house show at the uic pavilion once. WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, who once fought in Wrestlemania, has died at the age of 71. He put me on the mat pretty hard. [22] 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. Mr Wonderful was believed to have made most of his money wrestling for WWE prior to his retirement. 31 Zach Schrader (UMD) | D, 4-1 6 Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D, 3-2 She is a mother and grandma who did not let the issue surrounding the paternity of her first child derail her meteoric ascent to fame. Christian Lance (NEB) def. Likes. 285 | No. His career highlights included competing alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan and Mr T. Paul Orndorff's son Travis confirmed in a statement that his father suffered from dementia. Roddy Piper, aka "Rowdy," became his manager and would end up nicknaming Orndorff "Mr Wonderful," a title he kept for the rest of his life. I was extremely lucky to have had him on so many Southeastern cards. When Orndorff vacated the title, it was put on the line in a tournament that was won by The Super Destroyer. [12][13] Orndorff feuded with Ted DiBiase, JYD, Dusty Rhodes, and Dick Murdoch while holding on to the North American title. Orndorff then moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling for several months. [16] The next time that Hogan and Orndorff teamed up, against The Moondogs, Orndorff wrestled most of the match by himself in an attempt to upstage Hogan, scoring the winning pin. According to Hannibal TV, Orndorff is suffering from late stages of dementia. "Him and Sherri were the best on that show with working the crowd. [15] On August 19, 1982, Orndorff regained the title from the Super Destroyer. Hes like having another coach in the room. linktr.ee/PaulOrndorff Joined July 2021. While he lost the support of the fans, he won the North American title on July 4, 1981. He was 71 years old at the time of his death on July 12, 2021. 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. Orndorff will be a redshirt junior this season after reaching the national tournament each of the past two campaigns for Utah Valley University. Tate Orndorff (OSU) | D, 3-2, 2022 NCAA Championships, Detroit, Michigan March 17-19