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WrestleReunion: Bob Orton Casts A Legacy

WrestleReunion: Bob Orton Casts A Legacy

Posted: Mar 31st 2011 By: CMBurnham

A member of the WWE Hall of Fame, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr. is best remembered as the cast-wearing bodyguard/tag team partner to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. During feuds with Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T and Bruno Sammartino in the '80s, Orton's cast would become an infamous fixture in helping him and Piper attain victories. Son of Bob Orton, Sr., and father to current WWE star Randy Orton, Bob remains a part of the wrestling industry, helping run Tennessee Mountain Wrestling in Knoxville, and occasionally using his dirty tactics to help Randy win matches. As he comes to town as part of WrestleReunion on Sun., April 3, Bob talks about some of his more memorable matches in Atlanta.

You became best known to wrestling fans in the World Wrestling Federation, but you actually got your start in Atlanta and the Southeast.

Yeah, sure did. I started in Florida in '72 and I think I come to Georgia in '73 and stayed about half the year, left for half a year and was back for two or three years. Then I went back to Florida for a couple of years. So the first five or six years I was down there in the Southeast.

You returned to the area when you were helping Randy in his feud against the Undertaker.

Yeah, I was down there in 2005. Boy, a lot has changed. It sure has built up since we were down there in the late '70s.

Where did you usually wrestle back then, the Omni or the City Auditorium?

Both. I wrestled at the Omni two or three times, maybe. But the Friday night show every week at the City Auditorium is where I did a lot of shows. The Omni came a little later and every once in a while they'd run a big show there.

What were some of your more memorable matches in Atlanta?

When ["Dirty" Dick] Slater and I were tag team partners we had some phenomenal matches down there. But the one I guess I will always remember was Ray Candy. He probably weighed 400 pounds and at the time I weighed maybe 200. He was laying down on me and wouldn't get up, so I reached around and hooked his head and hooked that leg and cradled him up and clamped my hands. That 400-pound son of a gun went right up over my head and I suplexed him. His eyes got as big around as saucers. When I watch it back, I laugh. But he wasn't laughing. That, I think, is my most memorable moment in Atlanta at Turner Studios.

You'll be appearing at WrestleReunion a few hours before your son competes at WrestleMania. What are you looking forward to the most as you return to Atlanta?

I'll get to see Bruno [Sammartino]. I guess he's going to stay home after this one and won't be going on the road anymore, so it's an honor to be at his last show. Like I said, I was in Atlanta a long time and it's always nice to come back.

The two of you were pretty big rivals for a while. How well do you think you'll get along at WrestleReunion?

It shouldn't affect anything unless he holds a grudge. I don't harbor any bad feelings. We didn't beat up Bruno too much. A little bit, though, when he tried to stick his nose in our business. I guess we roughed him up a bit. We took that hair that was combed over one side of his head and kind of pushed it up straight. I can see where he might be upset, but I'm sure he's gotten over that now.

You were a big part of the first three WrestleManias. How does that event today compare to the ones you were part of?

I was also in 21 and 22. I think everything's gotten bigger and better as time goes on. Those guys are doing amazing things nowadays. Not that we weren't, but they're doing really amazing things these days and I enjoy watching it. Heck, if you go to WrestleMania it's the greatest show on earth.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

Week of Sun 11-08 to Sat: 11-14

  • 11-08 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-08 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 11-08 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 11-08 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-08 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 11-08 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 11-08 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 11-09 1960 Danny McShain became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 11-09 1976 The Spoiler def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
  • 11-09 1978 Ron Bass became the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 11-09 1986 One Man Gang def. Terry Gordy for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 1986 Savannah Jack def. Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Title
  • 11-09 1986 Bill Irwin & Leroy Brown def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2002 Sonny C def. Butch Dalton for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 11-09 2002 Dexter Hardaway def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-09 2012 Kyle Kelly def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-09 2012 The Swamp Men (Amphibian & Reptile) def. The Legion of Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2013 Michael Wolf def. Kidd Krash for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 2013 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Richard Sharpe) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2013 Kidd Krash def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 2019 Double D def. Dexter Hardaway for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 2024 Birdman def. Umbra for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 11-09 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) def. The Grudge (Dr. Corvus & Giganto) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
  • 11-10 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
  • 11-10 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-10 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 1985 Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare def. Wendell Cooley & Al Perez for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2006 Mustafa Sharmoot def. Glen Steel for the AACW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2017 Running Wolf def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 11-11 2022 Koko def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez (subbing for Big Smooth) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
  • 11-12 2022 Andrew Fenix def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 11-12 2022 Elijah Sparks def. San La Muerte for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 1964 Angelo Savoldi def. Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-13 2021 Rebel Hearts (Christian Temple & Justin Gray) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Title
  • 11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
11-08
  • Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th Today!
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  • Kolossus Nov 9th
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  • Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
  • Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
  • Danny Savich Nov 10th
  • Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
  • Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
  • Prince Tapu Nov 10th
  • Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
  • Green Dragon Nov 11th
  • Little Cloud Nov 11th
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  • Ty Thunder Nov 12th
  • Austin Tacious Nov 12th
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  • Brett Taylor Nov 12th
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  • Thud Powell Nov 12th
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  • Big Smooth Nov 13th
  • L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
  • Kirk Castle Nov 14th
  • Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
  • Tiny Bell Nov 14th
  • Shane Sanders Nov 14th
  • Killer Cross Nov 15th
  • Sean Pearl Nov 15th
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  • Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
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  • Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
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  • El Matador Uno Nov 20th
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  • Johnny Rich Nov 21st
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