KARRION KROSS |
Other Thoughts:
JOHN CENA |
GOLDBERG |
WWE Monday Night Raw pulled out all the stops. WWE is pushing towards Summerslam and with John Cena and Goldberg, they really want to give fans their money's worth.
THE PROFESSOR
KARRION KROSS |
Other Thoughts:
JOHN CENA |
GOLDBERG |
WWE Monday Night Raw pulled out all the stops. WWE is pushing towards Summerslam and with John Cena and Goldberg, they really want to give fans their money's worth.
THE PROFESSOR
Orndorff started his career in 1979, and for over 20 years he was one of the best wrestlers in the world. He worked in many different territories including Memphis, Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Georgia, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Paul Orndorff wrestled some of the best superstars of the 70's and 80's including Jerry Lawler, Ted Dibiase, Buzz Sawyer, Ernie Ladd, The Junkyard Dog, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair. By the time he signed with the WWE (then the World Wrestling Federation at the time) in 1983, Orndorff was a hot commodity in pro wrestling.
On January 23,1984, Orndorff debuted for the WWE on the same night that Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWE World Championship. Orndorff and Hogan's career would intertwine from 1985 through 1986. Orndorff or Mr. Wonderful, as he would be known, would team with Rowdy Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T at the inaugural Wrestlemania in 1985. By 1986, Orndorff was one of Hogan's biggest challengers for the WWE World title. Their feud lasted for half a year and culminated in a cage match on NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event. The Hogan-Orndorff feud is one of the most notable and profitable feuds in WWE history.
Orndorff would leave the WWE in 1988 and move on to other territories such as the UWF (Universal Wrestling Federation) and WCW (World Championship Wrestling) but his career would never reach the same heights. By 1995, Paul Orndorff would retire due to injuries sustained throughout his career. He became an agent and trainer at WCW.
Paul Orndorff was one of the toughest men in professional wrestling. His feuds with Jerry Lawler, Ted Dibiase, and Dusty Rhodes made him a star. His feud with Hulk Hogan in 1986, made him a superstar. Thank you Mr. Orndorff. You've created a legacy that will never be forgotten.
THE PROFESSOR
CHRISTOPHER REEVE AND RICHARD DONNER |
Richard Donner, the prolific director of the Lethal Weapon franchise, and The Goonies passed away on Monday July 5th. He was 91 years old. Richard Donner was important to me because he directed one of my favorite movies, Superman: The Movie. As a child, who wore glasses and was awkward, I could relate to Clark Kent. But I could also fantasize about having the powers of Superman. Mr. Donner had a long history in Hollywood before he made Superman.
Before he directed the Superman movie, Mr. Donner worked in television. During the 1960's and 1970's he directed some of the best TV shows of the era including, Route 66, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island, Perry Mason, and The Wild Wild West.
In 1961, Donner's debut feature, X-15 starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore. He followed it up with Salt and Pepper with Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1976, Donner directed, The Omen, a supernatural film and he transferred to films full time. The Omen would be the film that caught the attention of Ilya and Richard Salkind, the father-son producing team that were working on a live-action Superman film.
In December of 1978, Superman:The Movie debuted in theatres starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Marlon Brando. The film had a budget of 55 million and grossed over 300 million at the global box office. It won a special Oscar for its visual effects and was nominated for three Academy Awards. Superman: The Movie would be the beginning of the modern superhero cinematic universes we see today from Marvel and DC.
After a dispute with the producers, Richard Donner left the sequel to Superman II and Richard Lester took over as director. Donner moved on to direct other projects that have become pop culture classics like The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and The Lethal Weapon franchise with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
Richard Donner was one of the most prolific and amazing directors of the 20th century. Thank you Mr. Donner, you've created a legacy that will never be forgotten.