Being Good is Bad: 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff

By Kevin Hunsperger @kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter Listen to the podcast  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sometimes being good is bad for a wrestler's character. It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Such is the case with 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff.

The build-up to the first WrestleMania in 1985 involved the trio of Orndorff, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, and 'Cowboy' Bob Orton. These three were perhaps the most hated men in the WWF. They picked on pop star Cyndi Lauper, Dick Clark, Capt. Lou Albano and many other good guys and celebrities were involved in the infamous Rock 'n Wrestling Connection.

When it finally came to a head at the War to Settle the Score, and Mr. T stepped up to help Hulk Hogan, the main event was set for the upcoming WrestleMania show. Piper and Orndorff would team up to battle the Hulkster and Mr. T. 

We all know that Orton hit Orndorff with his cast during the match, and Hogan scored the victory for his team. I was 12 years old then, and the idea of a babyface, Mr. Wonderful, was, in fact, wonderful news to me. I loved that he and Hogan were teaming up and taking on the likes of Piper, Orton, Adrian Adonis, and the other villains that terrorized the WWF good guys. 

But in the summer of 1986, Orndorff had had enough of being a good guy and, in dramatic fashion, attacked Hogan during a tag team match with King Kong Bundy and 'Big' John Studd, members of the Heenan Family. This led to a reconciliation with Bobby Heenan, and Orndorff embarked on a fantastic feud for the rest of 86 and into 1987 against Hogan. At that point, he came closer than any other Superstar to winning the WWF Championship during that classic cage match on Saturday Night's Main Event.

By this point, I was siding with Orndorff in his battles with Hogan. Perhaps I had grown tired of Hulkamania too, but it wouldn't be long before I'd embrace it again. 

My point to all of this is that I did love the good guy 'Mr. Wonderful', but I don't think it fits with his persona. So turning bad again the following year made him even better. In hindsight, I liked Orndorff more during his second heel run. Eventually, the most hated guy in the company, Piper, turned good. This all worked on many levels and was a win-win for the fans. 

For some reason, in 1987, they did the face turn again. By this point, Orndorff was nearing the end of his tenure with the WWF and would be gone by the end of that year. He popped back up in WCW years later, where he remained a bad guy throughout his in-ring tenure. 

Being that cocky and calling himself 'Mr. Wonderful' is what being a fantastic bad guy is all about. He was next level during that 1986 run. I miss that era and Paul Orndorff. 

Mt. Rushmore: Wrestlers I've Met

By Kevin Hunsperger @kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter Listen to the podcast  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

After a delay, the My 1-2-3 Cents Mt. Rushmore is back. The last blog I wrote on the subject was the bucket list of wrestlers I'd like to meet. This time, it's about the top four wrestlers I've met. I have had the good fortune of meeting many wrestlers through the years, so I am narrowing this down a bit by only naming wrestlers that I've had conversations with and not just a meet-and-greet experience. 

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is one of my all-time favorite personalities in wrestling and, without a doubt, the greatest manager of all time. In 1998, when I was a young reporter (two months of experience), I was able to get access to a WCW Thunder in Huntsville, Alabama. While there, I interviewed Goldberg (just into the streak), Ray Traylor, Buff Bagwell, and Bobby Heenan. It was a great come true. Our interaction was probably about five minutes or so, but it meant the world to me. I never in my wildest dreams imagined such an opportunity would present itself to me. 

When TNA Wrestling came to southern Illinois for a BaseBrawl event, I reached out to get a wrestler on the morning newscast I co-anchored. I was excited to learn that D'Lo Brown would be filling that role. We chatted before his appearance and after as well. D'Lo even gave me his number. We've actually texted a few times, which to me is surreal. But what really impressed me was when I was in Las Vegas back in 2018 and trying out for a gig with Impact Wrestling, D'Lo was there and remembered me by name. A great guy and one of the most underrated wrestlers of all time. 

Jeff Jarrett and I first met in 2011 at that above-mentioned BaseBrawl event. However, it was a brief encounter, and a few years later, Double J returned to southern Illinois to promote another wrestling event at the ballpark, but this time with Global Force Wrestling. Jeff and I chatted before our interview and after and also indulged me with a selfie. He also bestowed me with the privilege of announcing one of the matches the night GFW came to town. Listening to the My World Podcast that he hosts often reminds me of how laid-back he met. A class act all the way. 

Of course, I can't have this list without adding PAC to it. I've told the story many times, but here's the short version. We met for the first time at an AAPW event called Main Event in January 2012. Then crossed paths at WrestleMania Axxess in 2014 and at an autograph signing in 2016 (he remembered me by name both times). He's a great guy, and I wish him nothing but continued success in the ring. 

Instead of Bundy, how about Brody

Brody & Bundy

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When I started the 'Instead of' blogs a few weeks ago the intent was to look at Superstars who never won a championship and replace that person with someone who had. Today, I'm talking about swapping out a top contender with another. It's King Kong Bundy and Bruiser Brody.

My wrestling fandom came in the final years of Brody's life. It's hard to believe this summer will mark 30 years since he was murdered in Puerto Rico. Brody was a renegade who typically played by his own rules and avoided staying in one territory or company too long. During the boom of the 80s, he would have been the perfect foil for Hulk Hogan, assuming Vince McMahon would let Brody be Brody.

Bundy, Andre and Studd
Courtesy: WWE

King Kong Bundy had come into the WWF in late 1984 and ran roughshod over the competition. At the first WrestleMania, he destroyed SD Jones in nine seconds (yes, I know it was a little longer, but that's the 'official' time). As the year progressed, Bundy feuded with bigger names in the company, including the biggest in Andre the Giant. In early 1986, Bundy set his sites on Hogan and attacked the champion on Saturday Night's Main Event. This led to the main event match at WrestleMania II inside a steel cage.

Husk!

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Bundy. But the point of this blog is to look at other options. To do a little fantasy booking if you will. Imagine if instead of Bundy attacking Hogan during the match against Magnificent Muraco it was Brody bursting from the back with a chain in tow. I'd still pair him with Bobby Heenan, as he was Hogan's biggest rival. I can hear Brody's signature 'HUSK!' as he stands over a prone Hogan, bloodied and crumpled in the ring after the attack. Heenan announcing to the world he's signed the most unpredictable man in wrestling to a contract.  

This, of course, would lead to several wars of words prior to WrestleMania. Brody attacks Paul Orndorff, prompting Hogan to make the save. I'd send Bundy to Chicago for Mania to be in the battle royal. Then that summer, I'd pair he and Big John Studd against the new WWF tag team champions the British Bulldogs. 

Brody would continue to feud with Hogan and Orndorff after losing to the champ, even teaming up with Intercontinental Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage on a summer edition of SNME. That's where the Orndorff heel turn could come into play and he rejoins the Heenan family like he did. Like I mentioned, Brody was never one to stay in one place too long, so he'd leave the company before being saddled with some sort of silly cartoonish gimmick. Andre could still turn on Hogan and the two head to WrestleMania III.

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Previous 'Instead of' blogs

Instead of Debra, how about Luna?

Instead of Slaughter, how about Jake?

Instead of Hart, how about Von Erich?

Instead of Garvin, how about Windham?

Instead of Diesel, how about Bulldog?

Click for this week's podcast

In memory 2017

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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We lost several legends of the ring in 2017, including many from my childhood. May they all rest in peace. You can see more on the website Wrestler Deaths.

Modern day Heenan Family

The Heenan Family

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I'm moving forward with another tribute to the greatest manager in the world of professional wrestling, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Managers have become a much less common part of the business, however, in my 1-2-3 cents they play a huge role and have through history. We know Heenan managed some of the all-time greats, including Andre the Giant, Mr. Perfect, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and advised Ric Flair. So today I'm putting together a modern-day version of the Heenan Family. 

The monster heel
Courtesy: WWE

Braun Strowman. The Heenan Family always had some big men to back up the Brain. Andre, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy are just some of the behemoths that signed with Bobby. Strowman has developed into a main event player on his own. I can see Heenan confidently leading the big man to the ring in his upcoming battle against Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. 

The Glorious One
Courtesy: WWE

Bobby Roode. In his current "Glorious" incarnation, Roode reminds me a lot of "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and "Ravishing" Rick Rude, two mainstays in the Heenan Family. Roode is an excellent performer who is destined for continued greatness in WWE. But imagine if Heenan was there with Roode. I believe he'd manage him right to the WWE Championship.

The Cocky One
Courtesy: WWE

Dolph Ziggler. He's up and he's down. Ziggler reminds me a lot of Mr. Perfect, who we saw Heenan work with as well. The Brain and the ShowOff together would be a great combination. In general, most Superstars these days are expected to get over on their own. Dolph has done that, but a manager can be that cherry on top. That's exactly what Heenan would do in this situation.

The Tag Team
Courtesy: WWE

The Bar. The Heenan Family always had strong tag teams too. From the Islanders to the Brain Busters to the Colossal Connection, the Brain was a major player in the division.  Sheamus and Cesaro have gelled well together as a team, actually much better than I had expected. Both are big, tough and strong and would be excellent at keeping the Brain safe after running his mouth too much.

The Confident One
Courtesy: WWE

Carmella. I debated this choice, but the Heenan Family never had a female member. When I say I debated, it wasn't about putting a female in the family, but instead which one. I originally was going to go with Charlotte Flair, but Carmella has really grown on me this year and in my 1-2-3 cents Heenan could have helped her get over even more so than she has now. 

The Raw Talent
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Red Daniels. This is another choice I struggled with because I don't want to overlook or leave anyone off the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. There are several men who could have reaped the benefits of The Brain and Red is one who fits the Heenan Family mold as far as being a big guy with a bad attitude. Heenan could have harnessed that aggression and used it to take Red to new heights.  

I love the Brain. I still consider myself lucky to have met and interviewed him nearly 20 years ago. It was a surreal moment and one I cherish now more than ever before. Godspeed, Brain.

3 Heenan Family members you forgot about

Forgotten Heenan Family members
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is revered by most fans as the greatest manager in the history of wrestling. We all remember his Family members like Andre the Giant, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Paul Orndorff, Mr. Perfect and The Brain Busters. But there are a handful of guys Heenan managed in the WWE that some fans probably didn't realize. 

Toward the end of his career (and life) Adrian Adonis had donned a new look and attitude. He was flamboyant and came to the ring dressed in pink tights, bows and a dress. But before he was "Adorable" Adonis was a street tough New Yorker, who wore a black leather hat and jacket. After he and Dick Murdoch lost the WWF tag team championships to Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo, Adonis signed on with Heenan to manage his singles run. The relationship didn't last long as Heenan "traded" Adonis and The Missing Link to Jimmy Hart for King Kong Bundy's contract.

Missing Link and Bobby Heenan
Courtesy: WWE

The Missing Link was a mainstay in World Class Championship Wrestling. But the green-faced, bizarre one showed up in the World Wrestling Federation in May 1985. The Brain took him under his wing in what I thought at the time was a strange pairing. Link had worked with General Skandar Akbar in WCCW, who was nothing like Heenan. The partnership lasted a few months until that abovementioned trade went down. Under Heenan's tutelage, Link wrestled the likes of SD Jones, Bruno Sammartino and Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana.

While the first two Superstars I remembered being managed by Heenan, I had forgotten about the Brain and Buddy Rose working together. Their time together was limited too. Other than this appearance on Piper's Pit, I can't find any other evidence of the partnership. 

Rest in Peace Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Meeting the Brain in 1998

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've just read from several sources that Bobby "The Brain" Heenan" has died. When I list my all-time favorites in professional wrestling, Ric Flair tops the list. But Heenan is not far behind the "Nature Boy." His work as a commentator and a manager was untouchable. 

Heenan, Studd & Patera
Courtesy: WWE

My first memories of Heenan were in his early days of the WWF. He was managing Big John Studd and Ken Patera as the trio feuded with Andre the Giant. Hulk Hogan and Hillbilly Jim eventually got involved and would throw the Brain around like a rag doll. His wit was quick and his ability to absorb punishment made him must-see TV for me. 

Bobby Heenan & Rick Rude
Courtesy: WWE

From Andre the Giant to the Red Rooster, Heenan gave all his family members a shine that some managers never had the ability to do. He made the Brooklyn Brawler a Superstar, took The Brain Busters to the WWF tag team titles and helped Rick Rude become Intercontinental Champion. Of course, there's Andre and Haku's title run too, his time with Mr. Perfect and his pair of IC title reigns and Heenan's role in bringing Ric Flair into the WWF and eventually winning the WWF Championship.

Heenan with Andre at WrestleMania III
Courtesy: WWE

Heenan convinced Andre the Giant to turn against Hulk Hogan and set up one of the biggest WrestleMania main events of all-time. Even though Andre came up short, it started a new chapter in the career of the Giant. Heenan played a big role in that story.

The Weasel!
Courtesy: WWE

He took years of bumps and abuse from the company's top good guys including Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Roddy Piper and The Ultimate Warrior. In fact, it was the Warrior who wrestled Heenan in a series of matches in which the loser would get stuffed into a weasel costume. Guess who won those encounters?  

I was heartbroken when Heenan left the WWF and signed with WCW. I enjoyed both promotions but was a WWF loyalist. However, it was Heenan's time in WCW that I got a chance to meet the legend. I was working in Florence, Alabama as a TV anchor and there was a Thursday Night Thunder happening an hour away in Huntsville. I talked with someone at WCW and was granted media access and the chance to interview several stars. One of them was Bobby Heenan. I was completely starstruck and nearly 20 years later wonder how I made it through the interview. I was a young journalist at the time and tried hard not to fanboy right there. That moment remains one of my favorite in my career.

WrestleMania 27
The Heenan Family

In 2011, I joined my friends Chad and Travis as members of the Heenan family at WrestleMania 27. I was the Brain, Chad was Rooster and Travis was Brawler. I still wear the jacket my mom made as a ring announcer in Stride Pro Wrestling. Fans call it the Bobby Heenan coat. Now it means even more to me.

This barely scratches the surface on my admiration for Bobby Heenan. I will have more in the coming days. Be sure to check out My 1-2-3 Cents on Facebook for updates. Rest in peace, Brain.

Go figure... Superstars on my wanted list

Shockmaster action figure

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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The summer of 1985 I purchased my first wrestling action figure. To my knowledge, it was the first time such toys had been offered. It was the Hulk Hogan LJN. My brother got "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Andre the Giant, "Big" John Studd and the Iron Sheik were the other three characters in that first series and would be added to the collection before summer ended. I built that collection and was way too old to be playing with wrestling "dolls" when I bought my last two in 1989. I was entering my junior year in high school and randomly found a "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Slick figures at a store in Canada while on vacation with my family.

My WWE WWF LJN, Hasbro, Jakks collection

A couple years later, WWF partnered with Hasbro for a smaller version of Superstars. I bought another DiBiase figure, but kept him in the package and hung him on my bedroom wall. Fast forward 15 years and when I met DiBiase for the first time, he autographed the box for me. In between that first purchase and meeting the WWE Hall of Famer, I had picked up several other Hasbro figures in the box at flea markets and on the discount shelf at various toy stores. They've all remained in the packaging, except for a few. Excessive heat in my storage space for them damaged the package and they've become free. Now they along with a handful of Jakks Pacific figures are on display in our bonus room.

The new WWE Isaac Yankem figure
Courtesy: Dalton Anthony

That's my history with the figures. I've seen at Comic Con in San Diego a whole new line of Elite figures will soon be sold. Plus there's the exclusive Comic Con figure this year, Isaac Yankem. A new friend of mine, Dalton from Podzilla 1985 & Cape Championship Wrestling, has acquired one of these, which is pretty cool. Chad has a Shockmaster figure from last year's show still in the box too. We are hopefully going to be giving that away in the future.

Bobby "The Weasel" Heenan

I'd love to add the Bobby Heenan in a weasel costume to my collection. Since I'm a huge Von Erich fan, I'd also like to get the Texas Tornado Kerry Von Erich figure too. And up until today, I thought the company had produced a Roddy Piper WrestleMania VI figure with half his body painted black. Turns out that was a custom figure I had come across online a few years ago.

What's your figure collecting history? Who is on your "must have" list?

My managerial Mt. Rushmore

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Before we get into the nuts and bolts of this post, let's address the 600-pound gorilla. My inability to edit photos. I do not know how to do Photoshop, but it is on my list of things to learn sooner rather than later. I made the beautiful pic before you thanks to Snapchat. Now on to my managerial Mt. Rushmore. In my 1-2-3 cents Bobby Heenan, Jim Cornette, Paul Heyman and Jimmy Hart are the creame of the crop when it comes to managers.

Various Heenan Family members
Found on allhiphop.com

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is not only my favorite manager of all-time, but he's on my top 5 of all-time performers in the wrestling business. His timing was perfect whether it was taking a bump or cutting a promo. Even though he was leading guys into war against Hulk Hogan, I could never boo Heenan himself. Sure I disliked King Kong Bundy, "Big" John Studd and eventually Andre the Giant. But I always loved the man behind the Superstars.

In 1998 I had the great honor of meeting Bobby Heenan when he was with WCW. He was just as amazing in person as he had been on TV all those years. My favorite Heenan memory has to be him unveiling the WCW World Championship on an episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge and teasing that Ric Flair would soon be coming to the World Wrestling Federation. 

Heenan and the big gold belt
Courtesy: WWE

I'm focusing on his work in the WWF, but of course, Heenan was successful long before his arrival in New York. He managed AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel. He helped "Ravishing" Rick Rude become Intercontinental Champion. Heenan's Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) and The Colossal Connection (Andre and Haku) won tag team gold. Other standouts include Mr. Perfect, Paul Orndorff and "The King" Harley Race. Bottom line, Bobby was the best.

The Midnight Express
Courtesy: jimcornette.com

Jim Cornette caught my eye when he and the Midnight Express arrived in World Class Championship Wrestling. I had read about him in the Apter magazines before that debut in Texas and despite his antagonizing tendencies, I appreciated the work he was doing. Corny's work on the mic was fantastic and like Heenan, he wasn't afraid to take a bump. The most famous one being (at least that I remember) was at Starrcade '86: The Sky Walkers. Cornette fell from the scaffold and Big Bubba Rogers was supposed to catch the manager but missed. 

Cornette, Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji
Courtesy: WWE

Other memorable Cornette moments for me include the screwing over of the Dynamic Dudes in WCW, the creation of Smoky Mountain Wrestling and his tenure in WWE with Yokozuna, Vader, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith and the NWA gang. I liked the idea, however, it was crushed out of the gates, no fault to the players involved. I love the fact that I can listen to Cornette twice a week now on his podcasts as he shares memories and a plethora of wrestling knowledge. 

The Dangerous Alliance
Courtesy: WWE

I'm definitely a Paul Heyman guy. Even when Paul E. Dangerously was walking around with a Zack Morris-style cell phone, I liked the guy. But not at first. I didn't like his time in the AWA, but once he arrived in WCW and built the Dangerous Alliance I was on board. Rick Rude, "Stunning" Steve Austin, Madusa, Arn Anderson, Larry Zybysko and Bobby Eaton were the best thing going in the company after Ric Flair left and the Four Horsemen dissolved. 

Paul and Brock
Courtesy: WWE

Of course to be a good manager one has to be good on the mic. Heyman demonstrated that through the years, eventually creating ECW. I popped like crazy when CM Punk dropped Heyman's name on Monday Night Raw in 2011 and then a short time later the advocate arrived back on the scene. He's done many great things and has added some flavor to Brock Lesnar. Heyman's presence when Brock isn't around is exactly what wrestling fans need.

The Mouth of the South
Courtesy: WWE

"The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart rounds out my Mt. Rushmore. Hart is another manager I had seen in the Apter mags. But when he showed up in the WWF in 1984 I became a fan of his. The megaphone and the loud suits set him apart from the other managers in the company. He lived up to that Mouth of the South moniker and drove fans insane.

Jimmy Hart and I in 2006
Courtesy: My 1-2-3 Cents

Hart's successes include leading the Hart Foundation to tag team gold. The world was shocked when his charge, the Honky Tonk Man pinned Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the IC Title. Not only did Honky win, he went on to become the longest reigning IC champ ever. That's a record that holds up some 30 years later. The Nasty Boys, The Natural Disasters, Money, Inc., Greg Valentine, The Mountie and the Funk Brothers are just some of the notables he managed. His face turn and run with Hogan and Brutus Beefcake was less desirable to me as a fan, but I never stopped liking what Hart was doing. I also had a chance to meet Hart in 2006 at a WrestleMania Axxess event. I'm also working to get him the My 1-2-3 Cents Podcast. And don't discount his work behind the scenes, creating and composing theme songs through the years.

This is just the tip of the iceberg on each of these incredible managers. I appreciate what they've done through the decades to make pro wrestling even more enjoyable. Without them, the business would not have been the same.