5 facts about "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff

#4. Paul Orndorff could have been in Rambo II

When you look at how the careers of Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff parallel, it's frankly kind of astonishing. In 1983, during Hogan's first WWF run, he was offered a part in Sylvester Stalone's Rocky III. Vince McMahon, Sr. wasn't a fan of it and told Hogan on no uncertain terms would he allow him to film the part. So, Hogan quit, became a media sensation playing "Thunderlips", and joined the AWA.

The younger McMahon saw the advantage of Hogan's movie appearance and leapfrogged off of it to and build the company he bought from his father around, and the rest is history. With that in mind, you would think Vincent Kennedy McMahon wouldn't have a problem with any of his stars taking high profile movie roles.

Well, you might be wrong.

In an interview with Boston Wrestling MWF, around the time of his aforementioned arm injury, Orndorff claims he was offered a role in Sylvester Stallone's Rambo: First Blood Part II - presumably as the villainous Russian soldier Sgt. Yushin. When Paul Orndorff asked McMahon for six to eight weeks off to film it, McMahon (according to Orndorff) denied it and Orndorff complied.

In hindsight, Paul Orndorff said he should have taken the role and filmed it despite McMahon's objections, but didn't because he was "stupid and loyal." Combine that and his injury, and it's no wonder that Mr. Wonderful got into the bowling business.

Edited by Greg Bush