Biggest Fan: John Rohner
Paul Orndorff, or Mr. Wonderful as he would come to be known, took the football-to-wrestling career path. After a solid collegiate career, this talented running back was taken by the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 NFL Draft, nineteen slots ahead of two-time Pro Bowler Larry McCarren.
After his football career failed to pan out, Orndorff began wrestling in Mid-Southern Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance. He feuded with Jerry Lawler (briefly capturing one of Lawler's titles) and "The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd (who just missed the cut on this list), himself a former football standout. Orndorff would soon capture the NWA Tag Team titles with his partner, Jimmy Snuka, from the team of Baron Von Raschke and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
Orndorff was no stranger to wrestling gold during his career, but he might have worn even more had he not overslept and missed his shot at the Mid-South's North American championship. Instead, Jake Roberts won the belt that day. This injustice changed Paul Orndorff forever. He became angry and the crowds began to turn on him and his new, lousy attitude. Orndorff eventually captured the belt from Roberts, before losing it to Ted Dibiase, before Dibiase had made his millions.
As such a high-profile competitor in the era of wrestling before pay-per-view and weekly cable broadcasts, it is no surprise that when wrestling's popularity grew the demand for a superstar of Orndorff's caliber grew as well. The WWF signed him in 1983, and Orndorff immediately hired Rowdy Roddy Piper to be his manager. Piper, touting his new protégé as Mr. Wonderful, was a valuable ally for Orndorff throughout his WWF career. Orndorff's debut match happened the same night that Hulk Hogan won the WWF World Heavyweight Title for the first time, making that night one of the most monumental in the industry's history.
Inevitably, Mr. Wonderful and Hogan found themselves on a collision course. Although Orndorff was unable to take the Hulkster's title, their feud led them both, along with Mr. T and Rowdy Roddy Piper, to the main event at the very first WrestleMania! This was perhaps the most high profile match of Orndorff's legendary career.
In 1988, Mr. Wonderful retired from wrestling to manage his bowling alley, but his retirement didn't last forever as he went on to win the WCW Tag Team Championship with his "Pretty Wonderful" partner Paul Roma. Sadly, though, Mr. Wonderful's toughest battle began this past year when he was diagnosed with cancer. With his superstar mentality and toughness, though, there is little doubt that this Hall of Famer can take on whatever life throws at him. We wish Orndorff luck with his treatment and recovery.
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