Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > WrestleReunion: Bob Orton Casts A Legacy

Home
News

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.

Supplemental Information

Upcoming Events

Complete Calendar

Spotlight in History

2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion

06-22

Athena Jun 23rd
Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
Don Kent Jun 24th
Kody Lane Jun 25th
X-Storms Jun 25th
Jax Samuel Jun 26th
D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
Kuda Jun 27th
Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
Jason Kirby Jun 27th
Reckless Jun 27th
Ignition Jun 27th
Malico Jun 28th
Kenny Mack Jun 28th
Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
J. J. Blake Jun 28th
John Tidwell Jun 28th
Doc Hearon Jun 28th
Claire Jun 28th
Boris Malenko Jun 28th
Bill Dromo Jun 28th
Barbara Galento Jun 29th
Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
Ed Lewis Jun 30th
Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
Terry Funk Jun 30th
Li'l Joe Jul 1st
Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
Jake Hollister Jul 1st
Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
Bree Ann Jul 4th
Blake Wilson Jul 4th
Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
Barry Windham Jul 4th
Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
Richard Pierce Jul 5th
Little Tokyo Jul 5th
Terry Kage Jul 5th

2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Red Dirt Wrestling

Iron Man Champion
Oklahoma Strangler

Openweight Champion: T2G
Tag Team Champions: Tigre Dos & Malik Mayfield
Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Champion: Jacob Edwards