Author: Paul Orndorff enjoyed a 24-year wrestling career largely as a top-of-the-card talent with WWE and WCW. So how did he find himself in this situation? Here is how fans and wrestlers alike came together for a great cause.
The Social Media Movement That Helped Paul Orndorff
When B Brian Blair was a guest on The Genius Cast in 2018, his appearance capped off a frenetic week involving his best friend and hall of fame wrestler, Paul Orndorff.
Blair shared stories about traveling with his friend, as well as Orndorff’s legendary toughness and shoot fights. He also gave a health update about Orndorff, which is why Mr. Wonderful found himself as a viral topic on social media.
So how did we get here? There is a backstory to how a sputtering fundraiser to help this legendary wrestler took hold, and I was happy to play a role in bringing attention to it.
The unexpected set of circumstances began when a wrestling fan posted a message on my Turnbuckle Magazine Facebook page. In that message was a link to a GoFundMe campaign for "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff launched by his son Travis Orndorff.
For myself, like many other wrestling fans, when a GoFundMe pops up on social media for a former professional wrestler, the campaign is viewed with a doubting eye.
When the first few campaigns were launched, nostalgia typically overrode any question about why a former high-profile entertainer who seemingly made a very good living would find themselves in the position of needing financial help to pay for knee surgery, hip replacement, or any other medical malady.
"They should’ve been smarter with their money," is a common retort. And in most cases, that is true.
If you would’ve asked for a list of 1980s wrestling stars who would likely end up in the situation of needing financial assistance, Paul Orndorff, who enjoyed many years as a main event star, would’ve been among the last names mentioned.
Not only did Paul Orndorff enjoy a 24-year wrestling career largely as a top-of-the-card talent with the WWF and WCW, during his career, he was also in the main event of the first WrestleMania and main evented a card in Toronto in a match versus Hulk Hogan that drew nearly 80,000 fans.
The GoFundMe campaign description said the funds were to pay three years of overdue property taxes on Paul Orndorff’s home and to purchase medication. If Paul didn’t get current on his property taxes by the end of September, his home would be sold by the bank. I could envision the eyes rolling as skeptical wrestling fans read this.
I reached out to Brian Blair, President of the Cauliflower Alley Club, a non-profit that helps wrestlers who are in need, asking if he knew about the campaign and if he could confirm its authenticity. He responded within a few minutes and confirmed this was real.
In my message, I expressed my surprise that Orndorff would find himself in this position, as he was known as a wrestler who was smart with the millions of dollars he earned during his career. Brian explained that the medical costs associated with Orndorff fighting, treating, and beating Stage 4 lymph node cancer had taken its financial toll.
Armed with this info and confident I could use it to respond to cynical fans, I tweeted the link to the GoFundMe campaign, as did Brian Blair.
More than 200 donations rolled in. Most were from fans, but wrestlers also contributed, including Dallas Page, Chris Irvine (Jericho), and Afa Anoai. Before amplifying the campaign, $640 was raised. Following the social media posts, the $10,000 goal was exceeded in a little more than a day.
With the funds, the three years of back property taxes were paid, and Paul Orndorff’s home was saved. Additional funds will be used for medication as Paul continues to fight health issues, including memory loss associated with the lymph node cancer. Orndorff was also diagnosed with showing signs of having CTE, which Blair said is likely due to the concussions Orndorff suffered during his wrestling career.
"He’s having problems with his memory; a lot of problems with that," Blair said on The Genius Cast podcast. "He’s on medication that is helping. He only recognizes a couple of people other than his family members. Luckily, I can pick up the phone, and he can remember so many things. He’s always so happy when I call him. It’s part of my weekly routine to call him.
"He’s healthy. He beat Stage 4 lymph node cancer. I thought we were going to lose him, but he beat all that. But with all that, it puts more pressure on his brain, and he’s suffered multiple concussions.
“There’s something called tau that they can find in living people’s brains that researchers say all CTE patients have this tau inside of them, so Paul has CTE as diagnosed by his doctors. He’s taking medication, and he’s getting ready to raise the dosage, so hopefully, that helps his memory because his body is healthy."
In addition to bringing Paul up to date on his property taxes, the family will have a much smaller burden on meeting future tabs as they successfully lobbied for an exemption, which lowered his tax rate going forward by 75 percent. Funds raised from the GoFundMe campaign will cover his home for the next four years at this new lower tax rate.
Watch Paul Orndorff Thanking His Fans and Fellow Wrestlers:
Editor’s update: It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Paul Orndorff on July 12th, 2021. The legendary WWE Hall of Famer was 71. Orndorff had been dealing with health issues for many years, including cancer and dementia.
Paul’s son Travis wrote on Instagram, "Most of you will remember him for his physique. 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. As much as many of you hated him as a wrestler, he absolutely loved you for it."
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.
Listen to Brian Blair’s Interview on The Genius Cast in Full:
These stories may also interest you:
- Paul Orndorff – His ‘Wonderful’ Sporting Career Before Wrestling
- Brian Blair – Paul Orndorff, Shoot Fights, Ribs, and More!
- Paul Orndorff and Vader | The Messy Fight That Led to WCW Departure
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