Paul Orndorff, pro wrestling’s ‘Mr. Wonderful’, dead at 71

Paul Orndorff, the professional wrestling legend best known as “Mr. Wonderful,” has passed away.

He was 71.

World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed Orndorff’s passing Monday with a tribute on the company’s website.

Orndorff’s son Travis, who announced his father’s passing, did not reveal the cause of death. “Most of you will remember him for his physique,” Travis Orndorff’s Instagram post said. “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. And as much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it.”

“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff, known to fans as ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ passed away at the age of 71,” their obituary read. ” WWE extends its condolences to Orndorff’s family and friends.”

Before he stepped into the wrestling ring, the Florida native played football at the University of Tampa where he scored 21 career touchdowns and gained over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his playing career. He was then a 12th round selection (289th overall pick) in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints but failed to pass the physical for the NFL with both the Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs. He’d also play for the Jacksonville Sharks of the World Football League in 1975.

He pursued wrestling in 1976 vi Mid-Southern Wrestling where he feuded with Jerry Lawler. He would work in the National Wrestling Alliance, Georgia Championship Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling before debuting in World Wrestling Federation in 1983. His manager “Rowdy” Roddy Piper nicknamed him “Mr. Wonderful.” The pair would appear in the main event of the inaugural “WrestleMania,” competing in a tag team match against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Orndorff would also work with World Championship Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Wrestling before retiring and subsequently making occasional appearances on WWE programming.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 along with Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Bob Orton Jr., Jimmy Hart, Nikolai Volkoff and Iron Sheik, during “WrestleMania 30″ weekend.

Fellow pro wrestling legends shared their condolences on social media Monday:

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