10 Wrestlers That Would've Been WWE Champion Without Hulk Hogan
4. Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff, circa 1985, had one of the most impressive bodies you'll ever see in professional wrestling.
Considering the copious amounts of supplements and steroids that were being used at the time without the backlash that would come later, that's saying something. It's one thing to have the best-looking physique during the drug-free era, but to do it when nearly everyone in the company is gassed to the gills, that's...something else.
It took dedication, sacrifice and commitment, but Mr. Wonderful's body alone was enough for Vince McMahon to have considered pushing Orndorff as the World Wrestling Federation Champion in the mid-80s. Like a few others on this list, he almost accomplished the feat even with Hogan in his way. With a clear path, there's no doubt Orndorff would've been carrying the company's torch, most likely as a babyface.
Unfortunately, while working as a top heel, Orndorff suffered permanent damage of his right arm when he elected to forego a crucial surgery, not wanting to jeopardise the most profitable run of his entire life, working against a white-hot Hulk Hogan.
Vince obviously liked what he saw in Orndorff and the on-screen dig of being called "Hulk Jr." couldn't have been more accurate in terms of what could have been, had there not been a "Hulk Sr".