Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff

Paul Orndorff "shoot" interview with RFVideo 20th Feb 2002

“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff was just at the RF Video offices for his RF Video shoot interview. The shoot will be available within a few months. Here is what Orndorff had to say about the shoot.

Gabe: Was the shoot interview what you expected?

Paul Orndorff: You gotta remember that I’ve been in this business for 25 years and there’s not much anything I haven’t been through with interviews, TVs, all that. I’m used to it and open to answering the questions. Rob did a good job on it. He knew what he was asking and he knew as much about my career as me cause I’ve fallen out of bed and gotten dropped on my head a lot. He’s young and he still has a good mind and he remembers a lot of that. He brought up some good things that I forgotten and I thought he did a very good job and it kind of gave me some old thoughts and old memories of some people who are no longer with us anymore and I miss them. You know, guys I started with and rode together with that are no longer here. That is kind of sad in one sense, but that’s how it is. That’s life.

Gabe: Did you talk about anything you didn’t think you’d talk about?

Orndorff: Yeah, a couple of things. The one with Vader where I got in a fight with him. There were a few others, but that one caught me off guard. It’s just a sad thing. If the right one don’t get ya, the left one will. You remember that Leon?

Gabe: Do you think people will see the real Paul Orndorff in this shoot instead of the wrestling character?

Orndorff: Yeah that’s a good one too. They are going to see the real Paul Orndorff. I used to be Mr. Wonderful, at least I thought I was. I know there is a God and there’s Jesus and I’ve accepted him into my life and now I’m a child of his.

Gabe: What was the highlight of the interview for you?

Orndorff: Probably the first Wrestlemania and probably the one in Toronto where there were 70,000 some people there and I wrestled against Hulk Hogan. They didn’t expect that. They expected something like 20,000 or 30,000 and it ended up being 76,000 or something. I think its still the largest outside crowd for wrestling. I think it is, I don’t know. That’s kinda neat to know you are down in the books for something especially something you’ve had a passion for. I love this business and I used to love to make the people out there mad at me cause I was good at it.

Gabe: Do you think this interview is a good look back at your entire career?

Orndorff: Yeah, I think it hit on a lot of the points. Of course we could talk for days and days if you really want to break it down to every territory, however this hit most of them. I’m a pretty honest person, too honest, I pretty well say it the way it is. I know there are people who don’t like me and I can’t help that.

Gabe: Thank you.

Orndorff: Thank you buddy.

Q:Were you a wrestling fan growing up Q:Talk a little about your collegiate football career Q:Memories of playing ball with Brian Blair Q:How come you did not go on to the NFL Q:How involved were you with body building before wrestling Q:How did you hook up with Hiro Matsuda Q:what was his training like Q:Was it tougher than what you expected Q:How did you wind up going to work for Bill Watts Q:Memories of Bill Watts as a boss and booker Q:Was he too tough on his guys and any memories Q:Was there added pressure to you since you were still new Q:Did anyone take you under their wings and mentor you Q:Memories of working with Ernie Ladd Q:Memories of Andre the Giant from this time period Q:Memories and thoughts on Dusty Rhodes from than Q:Memories of your matches with Bruiser Brody Q:What was the locker room like back than Q:What was it like as a new guy to work the Superdome Q:Were any of the vets jealous or bitter at your early success Q:Memories and thoughts on Stan Hansen Q:Why did you leave and wind up going to the Mid Atlantic region Q:Did you and Watts split on good terms

Q:Did you and Watts split on good terms Q:What were the Crocketts like Q:Memories of Jimmy Snuka back than in and out of the ring Q:Memories on your matches with Greg Valentine Q:Compare the locker room and crew from Mid Atlantic to Mid South Q:When you and Jimmy Snuka won the NWA Tag straps, did you two travel to other territories at all and if so, memories and thoughts Q:Memories of Ric Flair in and out of the ring, did you think he would become as successful as he did Q:Memories of Rick Steamboat Q:Why did you leave and return to Mid South Q:Did Watts treat you any different since you were coming back established as compared to your first tour here Q:Memories on your matches with Angelo Mosca Q:What are your early memories of Hulk Hogan Q:What lead to your leaving and going to the Alambama territory Q:Memories teaming with Dick Slater Q:Thoughts on Ron Fuller Q:Memories of David Schultz from than Q:Memories of your hair creame matches with Ken Mantell in Mid South Q:Who was the guy did the angle as your brother Terry Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Jake Roberts in Mid South Q:What was Jake like Q:Memories of your series with the Junkyard Dog from this terrirtory and what was he like Q:Memories of your matches with Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch Q:Memories of Bob Orton Jr from this time

Q:Memories of your matches with Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch Q:Memories of Bob Orton Jr from this time Q:Who did you travel with during this time Q:Any good road stories Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Ted Dibiase Q:What lead you to leaving and going to Georgia Q:Did you prefer working as a heel or face Q:What happened between you and Tony Atlas Q:What was Ole like as a boss and compare him to Watts Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Buzz Sawyer and what he was like Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Masked Superstar Q:Who did you travel with during this time Q:Any good road stories Q:Memories and thoughts on working with Ric Flair Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Larry Zbysko Q:Compare wrestling in the states to Japan Q:How did you like working for Inoki Q:Did you leave Georgia on good terms Q:How did you wind up in the WWF Q:Initial impressions of Vince McMahon Q:Did Vince tell you his plans of expansion and his new direction when he hired you Q:Who's idea was it to stick you, Dave Schultz, and Piper together Q:What was it like traveling with them and what are they like outside of the ring Q:Did you and Roddy ever butt heads over being the top heel

Q:Memories of working with Hogan during his first title matches Q:Was he any different than he was before now that he had success Q:Was Jimmy Snuka much different from when you teamed with him years ago Q:Talk about the explosion of the WWF Q:Did it change a lot of guys good or bad Q:How did Vince change and how did it change being a WWF wrestler Q:Memories of Lou Albano Q:Who were some of your favorite guys to work with early on over there when you were a heel Q:Memories of Jesse Ventura Q:Are you surprised at his success Q:How did the boys hear about what happened between Dave Schultz and John Stossel Q:Do you think David should have been fired Q:Thoughts doing TNT Q:Did any of the goofy stuff bother you Q:Memories working with Rocky Johnson Q:Memories working with Jay Strongbow Q:Memories working with Bruno Sammartino Q:Thoughts and memories on the Tonga Kid and JYD from this time Q:Did you enjoy doing things for MTV Q:Was there ever any problem if you worked Tony Atlas Q:Did you wrestle any differently when you would have a huge audience like when MTV would simulcast your matches

Q:Did you meet a lot of celebrities during this time and if so, who, any good stories Q:Initial thoughts when you were first told you were wrestling Mr T Q:There is a story that Bruiser Brody was going to attack Mr T at Wrestlemania as a shoot, do you believe that Q:Did the whole boom of the WWF start to get overwhelming Q:Initial thoughts when you were told you were turning babyface Q:How was Mr T to work with, did he take it seriously Q:What was it like doing the angle at Saturday Night Live Q:Was there ever any fear that if Wrestlemania was not a success that the WWF could go under Q:Memories traveling with Bob Orton and Piper during this time Q:Do you think you and the boys were properly compensated considering the travel and schedule Q:Did you see guys crack from the schedule Q:Did you enjoy working at this time as a babyface Q:Memories and thoughts working with Roddy Piper and Bob Orton Q:Thoughts on your matches with Hogan against Piper and Orton Q:Was Hogan difficult to deal with as a partner or was he still level headed Q:You also teamed with Andre, what was Andre like during this time Q:Memories working with Big Jophn Studd Q:Was it hard being a babyface knowing that you could never go past Hogan Q:Was there a lot of politics in the WWF at this time Q:Memories and thoughts on the Dynamite Kid and do you think his ribbing went over the line Q:What was the drug use on the road like Q:You went from wrestling the main event at the first mania to Muraco in the second, did that bother you at all Q:Thoughts on Terry Funk from back than Q:Do you think you became more irritable as a person with the constant road schedule

Q:Do you think you became more irritable as a person with the constant road schedule Q:Memories and thoughts on your series with Adrian Adonis Q:What were your thoughts when you were told you were turning again and feuding with Hogan Q:Was there ever any promises of getting the belt or even intercontinental belt Q:Memories of wrestling Hulk Hogan in front of that monster crowd in Toronto Q:Any good stories about traveling with Bobby Heenan Q:Was there a lot of pressure to keep up your physique at this time Q:Did roddy change during this time with success and pressure Q:Thoughts on teaming with Harley Race Q:How did Vince react among the boys when Duggan and Sheik were busted Q:After you turned babyface again it seemed you got buried, is that accurate or was there another reason you werent spotlighted Q:Why werent you on Wrestlemania 3 Q:Memories of working with a very young Bret Hart and did you think he would be a success Q:Memories of the angle where you fired Bobby and than wound up being managed by Humperdink Q:Did you prefer to or not to have a manager Q:Thoughts on your series with Rick Rude Q:Around this time, the WWF had boomed for about 3 years. How did things and people change since you started in 1984 there Q:YOu left after the Survivor Series, what lead to you leaving Q:Did you and Vince leave on good terms Q:Did the friends you had over there remain in contact Q:Were you prepared financially to retire Q:How did it happen that an obituary was printed about you and how did people react

Q:How did it happen that an obituary was printed about you and how did people react Q:Was it hard stepping away from wrestling Q:Talk about coming back for Joel Goodhart and wrestling Kerry Von Erich Q:Did you look at this as a test or tune up for you Q:Did you attempt to return to the WWF Q:How did you wind up in WCW Q:Who was in charge at that time Q:Compare going to wrestle for WCW to the WWF Q:Compare the two locker rooms Q:Did you enjoy less pressure in WCW or miss the glamour Q:How were you treated by the new generation of guys like Sting, Luger, Steiners, Sid Vicicous Q:What did you think of them, did you think this core could be successful Q:Memories and thoughts working with Arn Anderson Q:Did Vince attempt at anytime to bring you back during this time Q:Memories of El Gigante Q:You just seemed to fade out from the WCW, what happened Q:Talk about Herb Abrahams and his UWF Q:How did you get involved with Smokey Mountain Q:Was it hard taking a pay cut from your past days to wrestle here Q:Thoughst on Jim Cornette Q:Was there any of the younger guys in this area that you thought would make it that didn't and some that you thought wouldnt that did Q:Thoughts on your series with Brian Lee Q:Memories of your series with Ron Garvin3

Q:Memories of Brian Armstrong Q:How did you wind up coming back to WCW Q:Were things different from before Q:Thoughts on Bill Watts in WCW Q:Memories working with Mick Foley and did you think he would succeed as he did Q:Early memories as a team with Vader Q:Who did you travel with in this area and any good stories Q:Did the boys have a problem with Bill pushing his son Q:Memories of working with Too Cold Scorpio Q:Was Bill different than he was back in 1980 Q:Memories of working a young Dustin Rhodes Q:Memories working Rick Steamboat than Q:Was there ever an attempt by any of the boys to walk out on Bill Watts Q:How did things change once Bill was relieved of his duties Q:Thoughts on being teamed with the Equalizer Q:Thoughts on teaming with the Shockmaster at Battle Bowl Q:How did the boys take to Eric as a boss and your early thoughts Q:How did you wind up taking on more responsibilities as office Q:Thoughts and memories teaming with Steve Austin and did you think hed succeed Q:Thoughts on your Pretty Wonderful team Q:Did Sting change with success Q:Any good stories about the Nasty Boys and ribs Q:Were there any future plans for you and Roma if he didnt leave

Q:Were there any future plans for you and Roma if he didnt leave Q:Thoughts on when Hulk Hogan came into WCW Q:What was your relationship like with him at that time Q:Did you see things start to change Q:Thoughts on the Renegade Q:Thoughts on when Randy Savage came in Q:Who came up with that whole gary Spivey angle Q:What happened between you and Vader Q:Were you in on the whole Pillman-Bischoff angle Q:What were your thoughts when you were told about the idea of Nitro Q:What did you think of ECW at the time and just how the whole business was changing Q:When you did the angle where you nailed Pillman with the broom handle, where was that supposed to go Q:Were you pressured to stay outta the ring at this time Q:Were you in on the whole Benoit-Sullivan-Nancy angle and how did you react when it turned into a shoot Q:How did Eric change with the success of WCW Q:How did things change when Nash and Hall came in Q:What were your thoughts on the whole Flair-Bischoff issue Q:Why do you think WCW succeeded at that time Q:Why do you think they failed Q:Talk about the success of Bill Goldberg Q:Did you still receive proper respect from the new generation of talent Q:Did you ever have any discussions with Vince on returning in an office position Q:How did you get involved with the Power Plant

Q:some people say that the Power Plant is only there for the guys WCW want to be there, and a guy walking in off the street will not be given a chance, your thoughts Q:Explain the theory of beating a guy up, and just killing him with cardio and kicking him out if he cant make it , when a lot of guys that are on top could not do half of that stuff themselves Q:How much was Eric Bischoff involved with the Power Plant Q:Who were your favoirte students and least favoirte Q:What was Paul Wight like to work out with here Q:What were your thoughts when you were told that Russo was coming in to replace Eric Q:Did you agree with that decision Q:compare the two Q:Do you think Russo was in over his head Q:How much were you involved in day to day operations during this time or were you just consumed with the Plant Q:Whos idea was it to bring you back for the angle with Funk and Zbysko and were you into it Q:Did you resent the guys that did not work hard, and yet had big money deals Q:What happened during your match with Johnny The Bull Q:Were you really shaken up Q:How hard was rehab Q:How were you affected as a trainer in the PLant at the constant turning of bookers from Russo to Bush to Bischoff and Russo Q:If Eric was to buy the company, would you still be a trainer Q:Did you think Eric Bischoff was buying WCW Q:How did you find out about WWF buying WCW Q:Memories of the final Nitro and were you there

Q:Did you have any interaction with Shane McMahon Q:Who or what do you think ruined WCW Q:Did you think you would be picked up by the WWF and how did you first react when you werent Q:Do you still stay in touch with any of the boys from WCW Q:Did you watch the INvasion angle and if so, thoughts Q:Have you had any discussions since than with the WWF Q:How do you think the arrival of Hall, Nash, and Hogan will effect the WWF Q:Talk about ring rats in wrestling Q:Best ribs you have ever seen Q:What do you think the best match or matches are you ever had Q:Over the years, who were your favoirte and least favorite guys to work with Q:Did you ever refuse to do a job and if so what were the circumstances Q:Rate yourself as a worker Q:Could Paul Orndorff still be a draw in 2002 Q:Do you still want to be a part of the business Q:Advice for young wrestlers coming in Q:Where do you see the business in 3 years Q:Can any of these new promotions succeed Q:Do you miss teaching Q:Do any of your former students stay in touch Q:Any regrets on any decisions you made over your career

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