Orton (right) driving Jimmy Snuka (left) into a turnbuckle in 2009.
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Birth name | Robert Keith Orton Jr. |
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Born |
Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
November 10, 1950
Residence |
Florissant, Missouri, United States |
Spouse(s) | Elaine Orton (m. 1968) |
Children | 3; including Randy Orton |
Family |
Bob Orton Sr. (father) Barry Orton (brother) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) |
Bob Orton Jr. Bob Orton The Invader Young Mr. Wrestling |
Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Billed weight | 242 lb (110 kg) |
Billed from | Kansas City, Kansas |
Trained by |
Hiro Matsuda Eddie Graham Jack Brisco |
Debut | 1972 |
Robert Keith Orton Jr. (born November 10, 1950), better known by the ring name "Cowboy" Bob Orton, is an American professional wrestler. He is the son of professional wrestler Bob Orton Sr., the brother of professional wrestler Barry Orton, and the father of professional wrestler Randy Orton. He is best known for his time in the WWF (World Wrestling Federation, now WWE). He has also wrestled for several promotions in the United States, Japan, and other countries.
Orton was born in Kansas City, Kansas.
Orton trained with Hiro Matsuda, after dropping out of college, and at the age of 22, Orton made his debut in the promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1972 with the ring name of Young Mr Wrestling wrestling in instances with his father Bob Orton Sr. They won the tag team title from the promotion. Orton was one of the first wrestlers to use the Superplex as his final movement. Orton, in his early days in wrestling, used a gimmick of a masked wrestler known as The Invader. He often used this gimmick, until 1976.
After experiencing success in the Florida, Central States, and Mid-South regions, Orton competed in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1980-1981 using a cowboy's gimmick. While he competed in the NWA, he won several matches and earned a reputation as a hard worker and legit tough wrestler. In 1981 he left the NWA to sign a contract with the World Wrestling Federation.
In 1981, Orton competed in the World Wrestling Federation. Competing as a heel and using the dreaded superplex as his finisher, he challenged Bob Backlund for the WWF Heavyweight Championship, winning by count-out (the title can't change of hands by disqualification or count-out), the first match. They had a lumberjack match a month later but was unsuccessful.