Wrestling Hall of Fame – Bob Orton, Jr.
The infamous “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr. marked his name in the squared circle of WWE during the 1980s. A second-generation wrestler (son of wrestler Bob Orton, Sr.), Bob Orton Jr. rose to fame in the inaugural WrestleMania, where he participated in the main event by standing at the corner of the “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (he was Piper’s bodyguard since 1984) and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndroff. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndroff were fighting against the famous tag team of Mr. T and “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan. Bob Orton Jr. made a rookie mistake in the match when he tried to hit Mr. T and accidently ended up hitting his own partner, Roddy Piper. This mistake by Bob Orton Jr. resulted in the loss of the team of Roddy Piper and Paul Orndroff.
He started off his career often teaming up with his father in wrestling matches, sometimes under a guise and under the name ‘Young Mr. Wrestling.’ In the 1980s, he formed a tag team with Don Kernodle; a winning partnership that led to them winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
This was the introduction of Bob Orton Jr. to the professional wrestling world. After some months of training, Bob Orton Jr. tried to use deception to his advantage. The most infamous of Bob Orton Jr.’s techniques was to wear a cast during his wrestling matches. He broke his forearm in a wrestling match (‘The Way to Settle the Score’) with Jimmy Snuka in 1985. However, Bob Orton Jr. became highly controversial in the world of professional wrestling, as he always used his cast as a weapon against his wrestling opponents, hitting his opponents with it whilst dodging the referee, and illegally winning the match.
Bob Orton Jr.’s legacy will mostly be remembered as the partner of many other famous and dominant wrestlers. He often used his friendships to his advantage in the wrestling ring to beat his opponents. Bob Orton Jr. made a famous alliance with Hot Dog and stood in his corner as Hot Dog fought with Mr. T in a boxing / wrestling match at Wrestle Mania II. After becoming famous in the professional wrestling world, Bob Orton Jr. made another famous alliance with “Adorable” Adrian Adonis; Adonis had his bodyguard Orton wear a pink cowboy hat.
Bob Orton Jr. touched new levels of popularity when he joined forces with Don Muraco to create one of the most dominant tag teams of his decade. The team of Bob Orton Jr. and Don Muraco fought against the Can–Am Connection at the WrestleMania III. Wrestling fans from all over the world bought tickets to witness this historic clash. Unfortunately, Bob Orton Jr. was on the losing side at the end of Wrestle Mania III.
Bob Orton Jr. pioneered many new styles and techniques in the world of professional wrestling. Bob Orton Jr. became one the first wrestling superstars of his time who utilized the ring ropes for a wrestling finisher. The wrestling finisher of Bob Orton Jr. known as Superplex was loved by his fans and dreaded by his opponents. Many young wrestling superstars who use ropes for their finishers are inspired by Bob Orton Jr.
After years of service to the professional wrestling industry, Bob Orton Jr. gave another gift to the wrestling world. This gift was his son, the apex viper of WWE, the dreaded predator, Randy Orton. Bob Orton Jr. and Randy Orton joined forces together before Randy Orton’s match against Undertaker at WrestleMania. Many believe that Randy Orton will become a legend in the professional wrestling world and will follow the footsteps of his father.
Bob Orton Jr. was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in front of millions of his fans. Bob Orton Jr. will also be remembered as a deceptive wrestler who was nevertheless loved by the crowd. Bob Orton Jr. inspired many young wrestling superstars and urged them to enter the magical world of professional wrestling.
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