Roddy Piper’s Greatest Career Highlights

Intercontinental Champion

Roddy Piper had already established himself as one of WWE’s most captivating superstars as either a heel or a babyface, and competed in numerous main event title matches for the company’s most prestigious championship. However, despite his pivotal position in the 1980’s boom in professional wrestling, Piper had been bereft of gold in his time with WWE. However, that changed at the 1992 Royal Rumble. On this night, he competed against the Mountie, and following a clash of heads with his manager Jimmy Hart, Piper caught his opponent in the dreaded Sleeper Hold, forcing him to pass out and capturing the Intercontinental Championship.

Whilst his reign would be short, Piper ensured that it was memorable. He would take on numerous challenges, but none greater than at WrestleMania 8, where he was paired with Bret “The Hitman” Hart. Two technically astute competitors that had no qualms about getting into a physical brawl, they produced one of the standout bouts on the entire card over the belt. They perfectly demonstrated why many consider the Intercontinental title the “Workhorse Championship”, with Hart bleeding out by the conclusion. Piper refused to cheat to win as he so often turned to throughout his career, but would end up relinquishing the belt to the Hitman, albeit in awesome style.