Celebrating “ The Hot Rod “ Rowdy Roddy Piper

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Piper’s bio:

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is a city that lies next to the Saskatchewan River. Native Americans inhabited it & railroads drove the economy along with other industries. They say people become shaped by their upbringing. Rowdy Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs there on April, 17th, 1954. A famous son emerged from Pas, Manitoba, Canada. Unfortunately, for the future Hall-of-Famer, life turned troubling after facing issues in school. He fell out of approval by his father, which led to his departure from home. Piper embodied a youthful wanderer effectively encountering a homeless lifestyle. He did stay in low-cost housing that was short-lived. Roddy began playing bagpipes ably. Even though he was billed from Glasgow, Scotland. The wrestler realistically is obviously Canadian yet has real Scottish heritage.

His wrestling origins;

By the late 1960s & early 70s, Piper was an amateur wrestler looking to break in professionally. He contended about being a Golden Gloves boxer. According to many of Piper’s biographies & documentaries, Gene LaBell had assigned a black belt in Judo. It remains honorable coming from an innovator like “ Judo “ Gene LaBell, who recently passed away. He was famous for inventing the original MMA. Piper opposed Larry Hennig by competing in Roddy’s inaugural headline matchup at least to more avid viewers of the profession in the AWA.

The territories;

Piper is pictured here with “ Judo “ Gene LaBell

He consistently reinvented his villainous gimmick when wrestling for a different promotion. Piper altered the wrestling scene throughout America’s west coast area & dominated all of the prominent venues circa those classic 1970s territory programs. A mentor affirmed this bad-boy as it concerned the Los Angeles-based promotion called NWA Hollywood for promoters -brothers Mike & Gene LaBell. Notable feuds included Chava Guerrero Sr & father Gory Guerrero. He flourished in San Francisco for Roy Shire & Don Owen’s NWA Pacific Northwest Portland organization.

If you ask several devoted Piper supporters as to when Piper’s distinguished career escelated. Some might respond WWE or the multitudes who grew up with Mid-Atlantic would disagree. It’s hard not be in agreement there. Roddy defeated more legends. He captured the NWA Mid-Atlantic title & Ric Flair. Piper overcame “ The Nature Boy “ respecting that US Championship. Versatility served him well because Piper teamed up with iconic wrestling broadcaster Gordon Solie as the color commentator for Georgia Championship Wrestling per early 80’s! Illustrious confrontations against more lauded names like, Bob Armstrong, Don Tommy Rich. What was unique during all of this; Piper depicted the good-guy after leveling Don Muraco & Ole Anderson to protect Solie from Muraco’s attack. For most eyewitnesses & myself, Piper his return to Mid-Atlantic lauched his actual Hot-Rod strategy correlating Jim Crockett Promotions. Everyone has long-analyzed that historic Dog-Collar Match from Starrcade 1983 featuring two bloody & physically disbursed wrestlers in Piper opposing Greg Valentine. I felt it still holds up today.

The WWF years:

Before arriving via 1984 for Vince McMahon Jr. in the WWF, Roddy wrestled with reference to Vince McMahon Sr. through competing circa 1979 as to WWF. The Rowdy Scotsman would become an intrical part of McMahon’s national expansion. He officially started by managing “Dr. D “ ( David Schultz & “ Mr. Wonderful “ Paul Orndorff). A memorable segment produced compelling television. Roddy Piper came to the WWF as the heelish character again. Piper’s Pit created intense, & spontaneous scenes. Roddy cracking a coconut over Jimmy “ The Superfly’s “ Snuka’s head made immediate controversial impressions upon onlookers.

One of wrestling’s mainstream plots combined MTV’s ground-breaking music video television business cross-over into pro-wrestling. Soon, The infamous Rock N’ Wrestling Connection began as Roddy Piper combatted Hulk Hogan on MTV. The 1985 broadcast was titled, The War to Settle the Score! Pop-artist Cyndi Lauper along with Captain Lou Albano we’re involved. This set-up the inaugural WrestleMania main-event! Piper teamed up with Paul Orndorff to face Hogan & Mr. T. Piper turned hero opposite Adrian Adonis, Don Muraco, & former ally Cowboy Bob Orton. The Hot Rod had struggles in opposition to The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase, Ravishing Rick Rude & Bobby Heenan. His revived program against Ric Flair certainly delivered. At the 1992 Royal Rumble, Piper added another prestigious championship to his collection & that was the Intercontinental Title after beating The Mountie ( Jacques Rougeau) My favorite Roddy Piper match occurred when he defended the IC belt versus Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII! Another fond recollection comprises of Piper returning in the course of SummerSlam 1992 saw him playing those famed bagpipes.

WCW:

He went back down south in 1996 & this time It was not JCP or GCW but WCW. Piper recreated matches challenging Hulk Hogan ( Hollywood Hogan) & Macho Man Randy Savage. Roddy got an opportunity to work with his friend Ric Flair anew.

Orginating in the early 2000s, Piper made his WWE return. He assisted Vince McMahon’s campaign stopping Hulk Hogan. A surprise interference by Roddy solidified a heel side additionally during WrestleMania XIX in Seattle, Washington. Piper attacked Hogan with a steel pipe.

Chris Jericho & Piper had arguments about who’s talk show segment was better, Piper’s Pit or The Highlight Reel. He later showed up in TNA ( Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Second run with WWE ( 2005)

Piper’s Pit featured some more legendary wrestlers like, Stone Cold Steve Austin at ( WrestleMania 21), & on an episode of Raw he interviews Shawn Michaels. His feud against Cowboy Bob Orton & Randy Orton was great. Roddy Piper & Ric Flair would defeat The Spirit Squad via Cyber Sunday (2006) to win the WWE Tag Team Championships This represented his last final title concerning WWE.

Championships:

NWA Hollywood-5 time NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion, 2-time NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion, Big Time Wrestling 1-time NWA United States Champion-San Francisco, NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion twice, & NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion-three times, 1-time WWF Intercontinental Championship, one time WWE World Tag Team Champion with Ric Flair. He also won countless other titles.