Paul Orndorff, who first made a name for himself as a WWF wrestler in the 1980s and was one of Hulk Hogan’s main foes, has died.
The Brandon, Fla., native, who was famously dubbed, “Mr. Wonderful,’' was 71.
Orndorff’s son, Travis, announced his father’s death on Instagram on Monday. Travis Orndorff said his father suffered from dementia, which was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The brain ailment is a direct result of receiving too many blows to the head.
“Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. He will always be Pop, Paw Paw, and Daddy at home,” Travis Orndorff said. “And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it.
“He was an amazing father that showed me more love than I ever deserved. I love you Daddy.”
Orndorff, as well as a host of other former wrestlers, filed a class action lawsuit in 2016 against the WWE. The plaintiffs claimed the WWE “fraudulently misrepresented and concealed” wrestlers’ neurological injuries. The lawsuit, however, was dismissed two years later.
WWF wrestlers Hulk Hogan, left, and Paul Orndorff face off in the ring. Orndorff, who wrestled under the name "Mr. Wonderful," passed away at the age of 71. (Staten Island Advance).
Orndorff joined the now-defunct WWF in 1983 and quickly became one of legend Hulk Hogan’s biggest opponents for a good portion of the 1980s. Mr. Wonderful was not only a participant in the first WrestleMania in 1985, but was teamed with the late Roddy Piper in the main event — a tag-team match against Hogan and Mr. T. The match was won by the latter duo.
He temporarily retired because of injuries in 1988, but he returned to the ring for another long run beginning in 1990 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Hogan was stunned by the news.
“Just got slammed with the Paul Orndorff news,” Hogan said via Twitter. “RIP, my brother. Love you and thank you for always making me fight for everything in our matches. Heaven just got even more Wonderful.”