Roddy Piper’s Greatest Career Highlights

WrestleMania 19 Return

Roddy Piper left WCW in 2000, and for a few years stayed away from the major wrestling organizations. But, when he did reemerge, he made sure to leave a noticeable impression on the fans. This would take place at WrestleMania 19, during the deeply personal Street Fight between Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon. With both men down in a bloody heap, Piper strode into the ring, berating both men as the crowd went wild. Adorning his famous white t-shirt and tartan kilt, he approached a lead pipe that had been dropped in the center of this carnage. Picking it up, Piper feigned to hit McMahon with the weapon, before turning round and striking his old adversary Hogan, attempting to cost him the match.

Piper would return as part of the SmackDown brand, and found a young protege in Sean O’Haire, who he supported in defeating Rikishi at Backlash, with ties to Jimmy Snuka and the coconut two decades prior. Hot Rod would lace up his boots again on a number of occasions, facing Mr. America (Hogan) at Judgement Day in a losing effort, and alongside O’Haire attempting to win the WWE Tag Team Championships from Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri. However, his return to WWE would prove a brief one, as he was fired due to exposing some dark secrets about himself and the wrestling business in a controversial HBO interview.