The tragic passing of WWE and WCW legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper causing great heartache among fans and fellow wrestlers, Daily DDT celebrates his greatest career highlights…
Wrestling lost another icon this year, with the passing of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper on July 31, 2015. The kilt-wearing brawler was a huge star throughout the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, epitomizing the role of the heel across the WWE, WCW and the territories. Piper oozed charisma both in the ring and on the microphone, “Hot Rod” embraced the rock star lifestyle of a professional wrestler, making him a favorite among fans. He also was never frightened of ruffling some feathers, whether behind the scenes or in front of the camera, with his legendary talk show “Piper’s Pit” creating many a classic and controversial moment. As Piper so memorably put it: “Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions”.
In the light of the death of the WWE Hall of Famer and former Intercontinental Champion, we will celebrate the life and work of Roddy Piper by highlighting the greatest moments of his acclaimed career. For a man that transcended wrestling with his magnetic personality, securing roles in film and television alongside his dastardly deeds between the rope, there is a massive collection of highlights to choose from. That is the legacy of a man who was Rowdy in every sense of the word: a rabid fighter, a mischievous wit, and one of the greatest to ever grasp a microphone.
Rest in Peace, Hot Rod.
Face Turn in Georgia Championship Wrestling
For the vast majority of his early career, Roddy Piper was considered one of the most despicable heels in wrestling. As he moved around the territories making a name for himself, his wit and creativity resulted in him riling the fans in a way few had ever achieved before. His work in particular in Los Angeles pushed his “Rowdy” character to its limits, as he engaged in feuds with the Guerrero family that infuriated the largely Mexican fan base in the LA territory.
So, it was a stunning moment in Georgia Championship Wrestling, which would later become WCW, when Piper finally embraced the fans. Hot Rod was part of the commentary team alongside legendary announcer Gordon Solie, when his broadcast partner was assaulted by Don Muraco and Ole Anderson. This brought the crowd to their feet, as Piper defended his helpless friend against the bullies, and rode that wave of momentum into a number of heroic contests against the heels of the territory.
As Gerald Morton and George M. O’Brien so eloquently described this moment: “the drama finally played itself out on television when one of [Piper’s] hired assassins, Don Muraco, suddenly attacked the commentator Gordon Solie. Seeing Solie hurt, Piper unleashed his Scottish fury on Muraco. In the week that followed, like Achilles avenging Patroklas, he slaughtered villain after villain…. In the arenas fans chanted his name throughout his matches.”
Jimmy Snuka & the Coconut
Piper’s Pit was a unique introduction by Roddy Piper, placing the job of interviewing to the wrestlers instead of merely being the interviewees. Piper was the undoubted star of every segment, with his cutting questions and controversial statements setting him apart from the crowd, and making him a pop culture icon in spite of his heel status. It was a trendsetter for many other wrestler-hosted interview segments going forward, including the Highlight Reel, the Cutting Edge or Carlito’s Cabana. But nothing could touch the original.
Piper’s Pit made stars of those that were previously overlooked for not being considered “true” main event players. He made feuds and stories to intrigue WWE fans beyond the main event scene, with Piper not only building himself up but many of his fellow competitors to levels they had previously never experienced. Over the years, it would become a beacon of controversy and captivating television, from a his heated exchange with Talk Show host Morton Downey Jr, to being stunned by Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 21.
However, undoubtedly the most memorable Piper’s Pit came when he interviewed and chastised Jimmy Snuka in 1984. During this remarkable segment, Piper insulted Snuka’s Polynesian heritage by bringing out bananas and pineapples onto the stage. Snuka took offense to this blatant attack on his roots, and Piper in return hit the popular star in the face with a coconut.
Headlining WrestleMania I
As the standout heel in the Rock’n’Roll Era of wrestling, Roddy Piper often found himself at the throat of the WWE’s top babyface, Hulk Hogan, in matches over the WWE Championship. Piper would never capture the coveted belt, but his role as the main antagonist to company’s most celebrated hero. They would engage in a significant rivalry in early 1985 over the belt, including a clash on the Wrestling Classic, which is recognized as WWE’s first ever PPV. And due to their lofty status in both the wrestling world and popular culture in general, they were the ideal pair to headline the event which would bind those two universes together for decades to come.
WrestleMania is considered the professional wrestling equivalent of the Superbowl, and the grandest stage’s first outing was a glorious occasion that propelled the WWE to its greatest heights. And Piper would occupy one of the spots in the first main event of this global phenomenon. Teaming with Paul Ornforff and supported at ringside by Cowboy Bob Orton, Piper would suffer defeat at the hands of Hogan, Mr. T and Jimmy Snuka. With Mr. T in the ring, Muhammed Ali a guest referee and Liberace as ring announcer, it was an outstanding moment that has endured the passage of time.
They Live
Outside of the squared circle, Roddy Piper was bitten by the acting bug quickly, and found himself appearing in numerous films and television shows throughout his career. His intense, colorful personality, blended with his great look and distinctive voice, made him an excellent choice for directors to take on lead roles in their feature films. This was especially true in the 1980’s, as his reputation in the wrestling world reached an all-time high, many superstars found themselves in blockbuster movies. Whilst most of those roles found their way to Hulk Hogan, Piper found his way into numerous B-Movies.
Indisputably, his most memorable movie work was in the 1988 science fiction movie They Live. Piper played the main character, an unemployed drifter John Nada, in a cast that included Keith David and Meg Foster. Nada finds a pair of special sunglasses that allow him to see the world in black and white, and look beyond the subliminal messages found in advertising around the city by humanoid alien authoritarians. Despite its bizarre plot, the movie was a commercial success and has become a cult favorite. And, it spawned a famed line in cinema history from Piper himself: “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.”
Putting his Hair on the Line in the Silverdome
WrestleMania III was one of professional wrestling’s most memorable shows in its extensive history, with over 90,000 people packing into the Pontiac Silverdome to witness the biggest stars in WWE collide. Obviously, the night is best remembered for Hulk Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant in the main event, and the epic technical contest between Ricky Steamboat and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, which is considered by many purists as arguably the greatest match ever. But Roddy Piper also took his bow on this grand occasion, in a match which was billed as his retirement match before transitioning to acting full-time.
The intrigue surrounding his retirement was added to a heated feud between Piper and Adrian Adonis, an effeminate superstar who had usurped Piper’s Pit with his own talk show, “The Flower Shop”. Adonis recruited the support of Bob Orton and Don Muraco to assault Hot Rod, and leave him lying in the tattered remnants of his former segment. Piper would therefore put his hair on the line in pursuit of revenge against Adonis, as they collided at WrestleMania III. Whilst the match itself was not especially amazing, the story leading up to it and the belief it was Piper’s final time in a wrestling ring was all the interest it required to make it a renowned part of the Scot’s career.
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.
Hollywood Back Lot Brawl
As a recognized movie star, Roddy Piper was no stranger to Hollywood by the time WrestleMania 12 came around. Due to an injury to Gorilla Monsoon at the monstrous hands of Vader, Piper was named the interim President of WWE. But that position caught the eye of the roster’s resident critic, the bizarre Goldust, who saw Hot Rod as an object of affection. A man’s man in every sense of the word, Piper claimed that he would make a man out of Goldust when the two clashed at WrestleMania 12 in one of the most visually unique contests in history.
Clips of the battle would take place throughout the night, rather than being a standard bell-to-bell affair. Beginning in the parking lot of the Arrowhead Pond arena, the cinematic camera angles and variety of stunts made this feel in many ways like a movie fights scene rather than a match. Goldust ran over Piper in his golden Cadillac, only for Piper to take up pursuit in his white Ford Bronco. The cars engaged in a low-speed chase along the Anaheim highway, in a scene very similar to the OJ Simpson car chase two years prior. Eventually concluding the brawl in the ring, Piper kissed Goldust following an intriguing beatdown, before disrobing him in front of the thousands in attendance. Certainly one of the most unique scenes in WWE history.
Beating Hulk Hogan in WCW
Despite becoming a household name in WWE, and winning numerous accolades for his tremendous performances in the ring and on the microphone, Roddy Piper would eventually leave to take up a big money offer to join their deadly rivals in WCW. In his first appearance, Piper’s motives were made plainly clear – he would break Hollywood Hogan’s monotony and finally defeat the man that Hot Rod could not see his way past in the 1980’s. Piper in a typically shoot-style promo stated that Hogan was only so popular because Piper was so reviled, but in this feud the roles were reversed, with Hollywood Hogan now the leader of the nefarious nWo.
The pair would meet at Starrcade, the WCW’s premier event, in similar fashion to their battle at the first WrestleMania. Whilst Hogan was the WCW Champion at the time, this contest was for some reason determined to be a non-title match. The contest itself was certainly not the same as in 1985, as both had become slower and more deliberate in the decade in between, hampering their performance. It was also troubled by unwanted crowd interference when a fan jumped the barricade in an attempt to interfere. However, the end result saw Piper finally stand with his hand raised over his fallen foe Hogan, after years of attempts across their storied rivalry. It might not have been for the world title, but it was a milestone for Hot Rod, and Hogan’s first clean loss since WrestleMania VI.
The rest of Piper’s tenure was a mixture of controversy and unspectacular feuds, and although briefly held the United States Championship, he wasn’t able to recapture the magic and swagger of his previous years.
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.
WWE Hall of Fame
Nevertheless, these problems did not keep him out of WWE’s good books for long, and after a short forgettable stint with TNA, Roddy Piper was back in the spotlight when it was announced he would be inducted into the 2005 WWE Hall of Fame. This class of Hall of Famers was arguably the most star-studded since the shows have been taking place the night before WrestleMania, as Piper was among other legends such as Hulk Hogan, the Iron Shiek, Bob Orton and Jimmy Hart in being added into the illustrious hall. Piper’s acceptance speech was typically full of passion and gratitude, after been given a great introduction by one of his greatest opponents and allies Ric Flair.
Piper talked about his upbringing in the world of professional wrestling, progressing from a skinny Canadian kid who could play the bagpipes into a wrestling icon, which was lighthearted and deeply moving in equal measure. Piper would go on to make an appearance at WrestleMania 21, hosting a Piper’s Pit segment and interviewing another man whose career was steeped in controversy, Stone Cold Steve Austin. These two experts on the microphone delighted the Los Angeles crowd, before they dispatched of the loudmouth Carlito, and Piper ate a stunner for good measure.
Tag Team Gold with Ric Flair
At the age of 52, it would have appeared Roddy Piper’s days of championship glories were long since over. The last time he had won a title was in February 1999, when he captured the United States Championship in WCW. But, in 2006, Piper was given one more opportunity to claim gold, when the WWE fans voted for him to team with Ric Flair against the Spirit Squad, at the time the World Tag Team Champions. Despite being well past his prime and competing with opponents three decades younger, Piper still had his wily cunning and veteran instincts.
Piper and Flair, former longtime rivals turned close friends, would win the titles thanks to a Figure-Four Leglock, making them the combined oldest tag champions in WWE history. It was a memorable moment for fans to see these two icons ascend to the top of the mountain again, and earn Piper his 34th and final title of his illustrious career. Their reign would prove a short one, as they dropped the belts just over a week later against Edge and Randy Orton, but it was a glorious sight while it lasted.
Legends Face Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25
One of the final times Roddy Piper would compete inside of a WWE ring would be a memorable one, as the man who headlined the very first WrestleMania would be there to fight when the Grandest Stage reached it’s quarter-century. This was the culmination of a lengthy feud, in which Chris Jericho had grown tired of the elder generation of “has-been” legends were continuing to take up airtime that was owed to the current superstars, especially himself as the Best in the World. Obviously, a number of legends took offence to this blatant disrespect, leading into a handicap match of the present against the past.
Jericho would compete against Piper and his teammates of fellow Hall of Famers Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat, with Ric Flair in their corner following his retirement the previous WrestleMania. Whilst this contest is best remembered for the high-flying antics of Steamboat, who turned back the clock to have a competitive clash with Jericho, Piper gave his own exuberant performance. Despite only the prior year beaten Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hot Rod gave his all against the former World Champion, but would end up eliminated on the back off a running enziguri to the back of the head.
Next: Power Ranking Every SummerSlam
More from Daily DDT
- It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
- Tom Lawlor talks MLW return, AEW opportunity, CM Punk’s WWE return and more
- Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
- Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline