By Joe Puccio

For Generation Xers, the unofficial glory years in professional wrestling undoubtedly land between 1984, at the birth of Hulkamania, and 1992, as Hulk Hogan’s seemingly perennial immense popularity began to wane considerably. The colossal period in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE), which largely coincided with the revered Ronald Reagan era, was built around feeding top star Hogan a steady diet of ample heels, or “bad guys,” in their quests to topple the reigning kingpin. While dozens certainly fell into the challenger category, one individual in particular is perhaps remembered a bit more than the others, thanks in large part to his son.

Paul Orndorff debuted in the WWF at the tail end of 1983, and within two months, secured the services of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as his mouthpiece, or manager. The association with Piper, the lead villain at the time, combined with the University of Tampa college football standout’s undeniable athletic ability and sheer intensity arguably created one of Hogan’s most memorable feuds of his career, and subsequently, helped launch Orndorff into superstardom. Notably, the pair’s battle headlined the company’s sold out 1986 event at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in front of an estimated 70,000 people, an outdoor attendance record for the mat game at the time.

In 2005, the talented performer’s profound success led to an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, a class that, ironically, saw archrival Hogan enshrined the same year as well. “That night was a moment of greatness that stays with you for a long time,” said Travis Orndorff during a recent chat with Generation X Wire. “I’m glad my dad’s a part of it and he was very grateful too. He wore the ring proudly.”

The youngest of two sons of the pro grappler, Travis started an Instagram account for his father only six months before his untimely passing, in the summer of 2021. An amalgamation of Paul’s deteriorating physical condition and mental state, the result of dementia, along with Travis’ struggles at the time with addiction, as well as personal issues, was the impetus for the eventual several social media channels he created – partially to cope with the reality of his dad’s situation and partly to finally embrace the level of admiration that fans around the world had for his parental figure.

“I really didn’t get my head on straight until I was about 40 and unfortunately, by that point, his cognitive ability was pretty much shot,” Orndorff explained. “I brought him home from the hospital after seeing the condition he was in, and I flipped out. I was angry at my mother, who allowed the conditions he was living in to happen, not being shaved or bathed, but I was also angry at myself for trusting that things were okay.” Occurring during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Orndorff went so far as releasing a photograph of his father to the public to let everyone know of his dire circumstances – a controversial move that initially drew considerable criticism, even from family friend and fellow former wrestler Brian Blair. “A few people said that Paul would’ve been embarrassed. I said if my dad was able to realize that this was happening to him, he would not be embarrassed and would want people to know,” he contended. “There was a lot of hatred. We learn how to manage our perception.” As for Blair, once he understood Orndorff’s position, the duo was able to settle their differences. “Brian was actually at the hospital when I was born, so that should tell you how close my dad and him were. Brian used to call him Oscar because he was such a grouch,” he laughed.

The said reputation came into play during the buildup for the inaugural WrestleMania at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1985. The main event, Hogan and television and film actor Mr. T against Orndorff and Piper, was a gigantic success for the WWF and its owner, Vince McMahon Jr. The elder Orndorff, however, wasn’t thrilled. “My dad started out making $20 a night while spending $15 on gas and food, going from territory to territory, fighting with promoters,” he offered. “Getting that opportunity to headline WrestleMania after doing that for a decade was huge. And along comes this glorified bodyguard, Mr. T – that really bothered him. Piper felt the same way. Hulk understood it a little more. And Vince was a businessman, so he looked at it with a different point of view,” he continued. “But 20 years later, we spoke about it, and he realized it was a genius move on Vince’s part.” In addition to T, other major celebrities at the spectacular included Billy Martin, Cyndi Lauper, Muhammed Ali, and even Liberace. “He eventually saw that it was a business.”

Paul was also known for being both private and introverted, traits that might be surprising to his legions of followers. But he preferred working out with family members over coworkers. He did, however, enjoy surrounding himself with a number of particularly less shy colleagues. “He and Rick Rude were thick until he passed. And Bobby Heenan was the biggest ribber (prankster) of them all,” he added. “Bobby actually played a trick on me when I was a kid,” he recalled. “We were at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta. He said he was going to show me a magic trick. So, he handcuffed me to the locker, pulled my pants down, and turned the lights off. My mom found me because I was screaming,” he chuckled.

While many children of pro wrestlers tend to get that inevitable itch to follow in their parents’ footsteps, Orndorff was never one of them. It’s a tough, grueling vocation – a fact that was instilled in him at a young age. “I causally mentioned the possibility one day and my dad told me that I was too smart for it,” he acknowledged. “He told me not to give my brain away.”

Orndorff dabbled in acting for a bit (“Kenan Thompson was one of my close friends in middle school”) before settling into banking and nonprofit work. A man of faith, he makes sure not to push his beliefs on anyone. “My faith is my driving force for purpose and understanding of what life is meant to be,” he stressed.

Currently, the offspring of the man known as “Mr. Wonderful” is taking a swing at motivational speaking, dealing with heady topics like addiction, trauma, and living your best life. “I’m not a counselor but I can tell you there are options, and I can show you the path to take,” he assured. “I never dreamed that this would be the result of my experiences. If I can be a blessing to one person, then I’ve lived a good life.”

With assistance from media personality Tyler Elynuik, Orndorff’s various online platforms dedicated to the memory of his famous father act as a form of therapy that is priceless. “Before he died, I made a promise to my dad that he was never going to be forgotten,” he shared. “WWE called me and told me they loved what I’ve been doing. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. He was a wonderful father and an honorable man. He wasn’t a saint, but he loved me unconditionally and always did his best.”

And when it comes to his adoring admirers, Orndorff has a distinct message. “He always wanted to give you the absolute best of himself each and every night he was performing,” he asserted. “He loved the fans even more than they loved him. I’m grateful that I get to interact with everyone and that I’m presenting to the world peace, joy, comfort, respect, and gratitude for my dad’s legacy.”    

Follow Travis Orndorff here.