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Roddy Piper
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{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler and actor (1954–2015)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}







factoids
The Machines (professional wrestling)>Piper Machine“Rowdy” Roddy PiperHTTP://WWW.WWE.COM/SUPERSTARS/RODDYPIPER>TITLE=RODDY PIPER WWE HALL OF FAME PROFILEPUBLISHER=WWE, | height = 6 ft 2 in| weight = 230 lbmf=yes04|17}}| family =Saskatoon>Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada20153104|17}}Los Angeles, California, United States>U.S.| death_cause = Cardiac arrest caused by hypertensionKitty Jo Dittrich|1982}}Ariel Teal Toombs>Teal PiperGlasgow>Glasgow, ScotlandGene LeBellLeo GaribaldiTony CondelloJoe FiorinoStu HartLEGENDS OF PRO WRESTLING: 150 YEARS OF HEADLOCKS, BODY SLAMS, AND PILEDRIVERSAUTHOR2=SNUKA, J.PUBLISHER=SKYHORSE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INCORPORATEDURL=HTTPS://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/BOOKS?ID=UUGLDAAAQBAJ&Q=STU+HART&PG=PT568, 14 June 2016, LAST=KELLYDATE=JULY 31, 2015CBS>ACCESS-DATE=SEPTEMBER 12, 2015, | retired = 2011}}Roderick George Toombs (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), better known as ”RowdyRoddy Piper, was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor.In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, Piper was billed as coming from Glasgow and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music; this was because of his Scottish heritage. Piper earned the nicknames “Rowdy” and “Hot Rod” by displaying his trademark “Scottish” short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to The Daily Telegraph, he is “considered by many to be the greatest ‘heel’ (or villain) wrestler ever”.WEB,www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11805888/Rowdy-Roddy-Piper-wrestler-obituary.html,ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11805888/Rowdy-Roddy-Piper-wrestler-obituary.html, January 11, 2022, subscription, live, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, wrestler 2015, The Daily Telegraph, The Telegraph, September 12, 2016, {{cbignore}}One of wrestling’s most recognizable stars,WEB,uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/02/top-50-wrestlers-of-all-time?page=4, Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time, November 2, 2012, IGN, August 2, 2015, Piper headlined multiple PPV events, including the WWF and WCW’s respective premier annual events, WrestleMania and Starrcade. He accumulated 34 championships and hosted the popular WWF/WWE interview segment “Piper’s Pit”, which facilitated numerous kayfabe feuds. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Ric Flair, who dubbed him “the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling”.AV MEDIA, April 2, 2005, WrestleMania 21: WWE Hall of Fame 2005 (bonus feature; Roddy Piper’s induction speech), DVD, Digital Video Disc, WWE Home Video, Outside of wrestling, Piper acted in dozens of films and TV shows. Most notably, he took the lead role of John Nada in the 1988 cult classic They LiveWEB,www.salon.com/2015/08/07/america_is_a_neoliberal_horror_movie_why_they_live_is_the_perfect_film_for_our_depraved_times_partner/, America is a neoliberal horror movie, DeVega, Chauncey, August 7, 2015, Salon (website), Salon, September 12, 2015, and a recurring role as a deranged professional wrestler called Da’ Maniac on the FX comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Early life

Roderick George Toombs was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on April 17, 1954,WEB,www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/roddy-piper.html, Roddy Piper Profile, September 19, 2008, Online World of Wrestling, the son of Eileen (née Anderson) and Stanley Baird Toombs.The Adam Carolla Podcast, January 8, 2010, Interview with Roddy Piper. He was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and attended Windsor Park Collegiate. His father was an officer with the CN Rail Police (Canadian National Railway) while they lived in The Pas, Manitoba. After being expelled from junior high for having a switchblade in schoolNEWS, February 25, 1999, 18, Kokomo Tribune, Newspapers.com, Roddy Piper,www.newspapers.com/image/20010070/, and falling out with his father, Toombs left home and stayed in youth hostels.WEB,www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp, Roddy Piper, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, July 31, 2015, Pantazzi, Michael, dead,www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp," title="web.archive.org/web/20150719134008www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp,">web.archive.org/web/20150719134008www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp, July 19, 2015, mdy-all, Several professional wrestlers hired him to run errands as he picked up odd jobs at nearby gyms. As a young man, he became proficient in playing the bagpipes, though he repeatedly stated that he was unsure exactly where he picked them up.BOOK, In the Pit With Piper, Piper, Roddy, Picarello, Robert, Berkley Publishing, 2002, 978-0-425-18721-0,archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe, His childhood (and lifelong) best friend was ex-NHL player Cam Connor.WEB, Wrestler Piper owes plenty to Cup-winner Connor,www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=643744, Pinchevsky, Tal, National Hockey League, July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015,

Professional wrestling career

Training and early career (1969–1975)

Piper was an amateur wrestler before he started to become a professional wrestler. He claimed to have won the Golden Gloves boxing championship, though their lists of champions do not include any of his names. He was awarded a black belt in Judo from Gene LeBell. He started wrestling under the care of promoter Al Tomko in Canada, his first match involving “midget wrestlers” in front of a lumberjack audience in Churchill, Manitoba. He soon began earning money wrestling while still going to school. His first match in a famous organization was with Larry Hennig in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Friends of his played the bagpipes during his entrance while he was handing out dandelions; meanwhile, the ring announcer had to announce something, but all he knew was that Piper’s name was Roddy. Subsequently, after seeing the pipe band, he announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, here comes Roddy the piper.” This gave birth to the name “Roddy Piper”. From 1973 to 1975, Piper was a jobber in the AWA, NWA Central States territory surrounding Kansas City, and Eastern Sports Association in the Maritimes.BOOK, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels, 98, Greg, Oliver, Steven Johnson, ECW Press, 2007, 978-1-55022-759-8, He also worked in Texas for Paul Boesch’s NWA Houston Wrestling promotion, and in Dallas for Fritz Von Erich’s Big Time Rasslin.

National Wrestling Alliance territories (1975–1983)

California and Portland (1975–1980)

By late 1975 and early 1976, Piper was a top villain for Mike and Gene LeBell’s NWA Hollywood Wrestling. In 1977–78, he also started to work for Roy Shire’s NWA San Francisco Wrestling in addition to remaining with the Los Angeles office, where Piper developed his Rowdy character. During this time, he made continuous insults directed at the area’s Mexican community; he later promised to make up for this by playing the Mexican national anthem on his bagpipes only to anger the fans further by playing “La Cucaracha” instead, which in turn caused a riot.NEWS,findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125,www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125," title="web.archive.org/web/20040824083515www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125,">web.archive.org/web/20040824083515www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125, dead, 2004-08-24, Interview: Rowdy Roddy Piper, Keith Loria, May 12, 2007, February 2003, Piper also managed a stable of wrestlers in California.BOOK, Bert Rudolph, Sugar, George, Napolitano, 0-8317-3912-6, The Pictorial History of Wrestling: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, 1984, Gallery Books, 121, In the Los Angeles area, Piper feuded with Chavo Guerrero Sr.,WEB,www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html, Rowdy Roddy Piper, SLAM! Wrestling, August 1, 2015, Milner, John,www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150923200244www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150923200244www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html, September 23, 2015, dead, mdy-all, and his father Gory Guerrero. Piper and Chavo Guerrero faced each other in several matches for the Jules Strongbow Memorial Scientific Trophy. Piper also defeated Chavo for the Americas Heavyweight Title. During the feud, Piper lost a hair match and had his head shaved.WEB,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150919131215slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150919131215slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html, dead, September 19, 2015, SLAM! Wrestling, Roddy Piper, August 3, 2015, Piper appeared in several loser leave town matches and was forced to leave the territory.NEWS, Roddy Says Bye-Bye, Newspaper.com, August 21, 1977,www.newspapers.com/image/3887653/, He also appeared in the territory as The Masked Canadian. In his first televised match as The Masked Canadian, Piper teamed with Chavo in a match against Black Gordman and Goliath for the Americas Tag Team Championship. Piper and Guerrero lost the match and faced each other two days later, with Piper defeating Guerrero for the Americas Heavyweight Championship. Piper wrestled as The Masked Canadian for several months until he was unmasked by Hector Guerrero.By late 1978-early 1979, Piper left the California promotions for even more fame in Don Owen’s Portland-based Pacific Northwest territory. He teamed with Killer Tim Brooks and Rick Martel to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship. Piper also won the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship with victories over both Lord Jonathan Boyd and “Playboy” Buddy Rose.

Georgia and Mid-Atlantic (1980–1983)

File:Roddy Piper and Harley Race, 1981.png|thumb|218x218px|Piper applying a chokehold on Harley RaceHarley RaceIn the early 1980s, Piper ventured to the Mid-Atlantic territory where he beat Jack Brisco for the Mid-Atlantic title. He also defeated Ric Flair for the US belt which turned into a feud. From 1981 to 1982, Piper served as a commentator on Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) and feuded with the likes of Bob Armstrong, Dick Slater, and Tommy Rich. During the summer of 1982, Piper became a fan favorite after knocking out Don Muraco and Ole Anderson to save broadcast partner Gordon Solie from Muraco, who had grown angry at Solie questioning his tactics. In Wrestling to Rasslin, Gerald W. Morton and George M. O’Brien described the transformation: “the drama finally played itself out on television when one of his [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.“NEWS,findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Patrick Jones, May 12, 2007, 2002, St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, dead,findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954," title="web.archive.org/web/20071012182309findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954,">web.archive.org/web/20071012182309findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954, October 12, 2007, In 1982, Piper was fired because of showing up late for a match. He went to Puerto Rico for a month and was booked by Jim Barnett shortly thereafter. Piper returned to the Georgia area in the summer of 1983 to aid Tommy Rich during his rivalry with Buzz Sawyer. Eventually, Piper moved back to Jim Crockett Promotions. As a fan favorite, Piper feuded with Sgt. Slaughter, Ric Flair, and Greg Valentine. Piper’s feud with Valentine culminated in a dog collar match at the first Starrcade. Valentine broke Piper’s left eardrum during the match with the collar’s chain, causing Piper to permanently lose 50–75% percent of his hearing. This became known as “The Year of the Ear”.AV MEDIA, Roddy Piper (Actor), 2006, Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story, DVD, WWE, BOOK, In the Pit With Piper, Piper, Roddy, Picarello, Robert, 109, Berkley Publishing, 2002, 978-0-425-18721-0,archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/109,

World Wrestling Federation (1979, 1984–1987)

Early appearances (1979)

Before entering the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) full-time in 1984, Piper wrestled five matchesWEB,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/79.htm, 1979, Thehistoryofwwe.com, 2021-05-07, with the WWF under Vince McMahon Sr. in 1979 at Madison Square Garden. His first match in WWF he defeated jobber Frankie Williams on January 22.Matches « Roddy Piper « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database Before one match, Freddie Blassie stuffed Piper’s bagpipes with toilet paper, so they would not play in front of the Garden crowd.BOOK, In the Pit With Piper, Piper, Roddy, Picarello, Robert, Berkley Publishing, 2002, 978-0-425-18721-0, 56,archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/56, Piper’s Pit (1984–1987)“>

Piper’s Pit (1984–1987)

In 1983, WWF owner Vince McMahon contacted Piper, who insisted on serving out his contract with Jim Crockett before starting his WWF run in 1984. Piper debuted in the WWF as a manager, working with “Dr. D” David Schultz and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, but eventually Piper’s run as a manager quietly ended and he started wrestling full-time.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ask-411-wrestling-wwf-roddy-piper-manager/, 411Mania, Focusing on one of his strengths as a wrestler, the microphone, he was given his own interview segment called Piper’s Pit on Championship Wrestling and Wrestling at the Chase in 1984, starting a run of the segment that ended in 1987. During one Piper’s Pit, Piper insulted Jimmy Snuka’s Polynesian heritage and attacked Snuka by smashing him over the head with a coconut. Piper also insulted Bruno Sammartino during a Piper’s Pit segment, which led to a feud that ended in a steel cage match on February 8, 1986, at the Boston Garden which Piper lost.WEB, Graham, Cawthon, Ring Results: 1985,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/85.htm, The History of WWE, August 2, 2015, WEB, Graham, Cawthon, Ring Results: 1986,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm, The History of WWE, August 2, 2015, File:Mr T at WrestleMania, 1985.jpg|thumb|Mr T. hoists “Rowdy” Roddy Piper up onto his shoulders as Hulk Hogan cheers in the background during the main event of WrestleMania IWrestleMania IPiper’s next major storyline was with Hulk Hogan and also involved pop singer Cyndi Lauper. In 1985, MTV broadcast The War to Settle the Score, which featured a main-event match between Piper and Hogan for the WWF championship. Hogan was accompanied to the ring by Lauper, Captain Lou Albano, and Mr. T. This event set up the first WrestleMania, which pitted Paul Orndorff and his former manager Piper against Hogan and Mr. T. Orndorff was pinned by Hogan when Piper’s bodyguard “Cowboy” Bob Orton interfered and mistakenly struck Orndorff instead of Hogan. In Born to Controversy, Piper recalled how during the match he had to keep Mr. T busy to cover Mr. T’s lack of wrestling ability from being seen by the fans. From this situation, Piper and Mr. T’s real-life relationship became hostile, leading to the inevitable conclusion that they be put into a feud with one another on-screen. Piper faced Mr. T in a boxing match at WrestleMania 2 in 1986, which Piper lost by disqualification after bodyslamming Mr. T.Following a leave of absence from the WWF, Piper returned as a face, during a TV taping of Championship Wrestling on August 23, 1986, against A. J. Petrucci. As part of the storyline, the returning Piper was distressed to find his Piper’s Pit segment replaced by The Flower Shop, a segment hosted by Adrian Adonis, who had also hired Piper’s former bodyguard Orton. Piper spent weeks crashing Adonis’ show and trading insults, leading to a “showdown” between the two segments that ended with Piper being assaulted and humiliated by Adonis, Orton, and Don Muraco and the destruction of the original Piper’s Pit set, resulting in Piper’s face turn and the construction of a more permanent Piper’s Pit set. In response, Piper stormed the set of Adonis’ show and destroyed it with a baseball bat. This led to their Hair vs. Hair match at WrestleMania III, which was billed as Piper’s retirement match from wrestling before he left to become an actor full-time. Piper won the match.In early 1987, Piper’s Pit also served as the backdrop for Andre the Giant’s heel turn and challenging Piper’s old foe, Hulk Hogan, for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania III, and Hogan ultimately accepting the challenge.

Return to WWF (1989–1996)

In 1989, Piper returned from a two-year hiatus. Although WrestleMania V was billed as his return, he actually made his first appearance on March 19 in Denver, CO at a house show when he hosted a live Piper’s Pit and interviewed Brother Love.WEB,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/89.htm, Info, www.thehistoryofwwe.com, 2021-05-07, Two weeks later at WrestleMania V he did make his official return with another live Piper’s Pit, where he hosed down a smoking Morton Downey Jr. with a fire extinguisher.MAGAZINE, Montgomery, James, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Dead at 61,www.rollingstone.com/sports/news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61-20150731, Rolling Stone, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015, He made his return to the ring on May 12, substituting for Jake Roberts and pinning Ted DiBiase on a house show in Los Angeles.NEWS, WWE Legends – Before and Now,prowrestlingnewshub.com/extra/wwe-legends-before-and-now/, 26 January 2024, Pro Wrestling News Hub, 7 January 2024, en, Piper would gain several more victories against DiBiase that month, and also against Randy Savage in June.After this, Piper co-hosted Prime Time Wrestling from July 17, 1989, to December 25, 1989, with Gorilla Monsoon, feuding with Bobby Heenan, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, and Brother Love, he would return to the show in 1991 as well. Piper returned to the ring when he interfered in Rude’s Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship defense against The Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam, costing Rude the title. The feud was heavily promoted on TV and Piper would face Rude in many matches throughout the house show tours, including steel cage and lumberjack matches. The feud was so prominent that a Survivor Series match was built around it which saw both men captain a team and simultaneously be eliminated by countout during their brawl, though Rude’s team would go onto win the match. The feud came to a head shortly thereafter on Prime Time Wrestling during an on-air bet between Heenan and Piper, which Piper won, resulting in Heenan having to dress as Santa Claus during the next episode of Prime Time. The feud continued until March 1990 with Piper winning the majority of their matches throughout 89-90 including a win over Bobby Heenan.WEB,www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=630&page=4&s=300, Matches « Rick Rude « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database, Kreikenbohm, Philip, www.cagematch.net, 2018-01-29, He then feuded with Bad News Brown who was upset at being eliminated by Piper at the 1990 Royal Rumble. Brown would go on to mock Piper for wearing a “skirt”. At WrestleMania VI in April 1990, Piper cut a promo towards his opponent Bad News Brown before the match with half his face and body painted black, and also wrestled Bad News while painted this way. Bad News would take this display of blackface as being offensive behind the scenes.WEB, Shoemaker, David, A (Very) Concise History of Racism in Wrestling, 1980–Present, November 6, 2013,grantland.com/features/excerpt-david-shoemaker-new-book-concise-history-racism-wrestling/, August 1, 2015, Subsequently, the match would end in a Double Count Out, with the issue between the two never being resolved despite plans to the contrary. According to a behind the scenes interview, neither man was willing to lose to the other.{{Citation|last=Wrestling Shoots|title=“Roddy Piper was a Racist” - Bad News Brown|date=2016-04-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxI40lM2Z0| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224164026www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxI40lM2Z0&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-02-24 | url-status=dead|access-date=2018-01-29}}In 1991, he supported Virgil in his feud against “The Million Dollar Man” (Ted DiBiase). Later in 1991 Piper was involved in a motorcycle accident,WEB,rajah.com/archives/flashbacks/wrestlemania7.php, WWE News, Rumors, Results, Spoilers @ Rajah.com, rajah.com, 2017-08-26, but was still present at their matches at WrestleMania VII and SummerSlam. He renewed his feud with Ric Flair and at the 1992 Royal Rumble defeated The Mountie for his first, and only, Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. He lost it soon after to Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII.WEB,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150429201542slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150429201542slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html, dead, April 29, 2015, WrestleMania 8, a two-for-one deal, SLAM! Wrestling, August 2, 2015, Following his title loss to Hart, Piper made a handful of appearances at television tapings for Wrestling Challenge and WWF Superstars. Four Piper’s Pit segments were recorded - two with Steve Lombardi and two with Shawn Michaels.WEB,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/92.htm, Info, www.thehistoryofwwe.com, 2021-05-07, None aired, and Piper disappeared from the WWF. He made his return playing the bagpipes at SummerSlam.WEB,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/92.htm, The History of WWE, Graham, Cawthon, Ring Results: 1992, August 2, 2015, The Bottom Line (1994–1996)“>

Return and The Bottom Line (1994–1996)

He reemerged once again in 1994 at WrestleMania X as guest referee for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship match between Bret Hart and Yokozuna.WEB, WrestleMania Rewind: Hart topples Yokozuna (WM10), SLAM! Sports, Frank, Zicarelli,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20160305011649slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html,">web.archive.org/web/20160305011649slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html, dead, March 5, 2016, February 28, 2004, July 31, 2015, During the match, commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler remarked that he hated Piper and continued to taunt Piper on his King’s Court segment on Monday Night Raw, eventually culminating with Lawler bringing out a young, skinny impersonator in a Piper T-shirt and kilt and forcing him to kiss his feet.WEB,www.wrestlecrap.com/inductions/piper-vs-lawler/, Induction:Piper vs. Lawler, WrestleCrap, August 22, 2013, July 31, 2015, Enraged, Piper agreed to wrestle Lawler at the King of the Ring, where Piper emerged victorious. Piper wrestled as a fan favorite, and adding to the face attitude by donating part of his purse from the fight with Lawler to a children’s hospital in Ontario. In spring 1994, Piper began hosting a regular weekly segment on All-American Wrestling called “The Bottom Line” where he commented on various happenings in the WWF, as well as on his feud with Lawler.EPISODE, WWF Television, Monday Night Raw (taped March 21, 1994), WWE Raw, USA Network, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1994-04-04, Piper’s segment aired regularly until the Summer of 1994, when Piper would disappear again.Leaving the WWF again, he briefly returned in 1995 at WrestleMania XI, once again in a referee capacity, for the submission-only match between Hart and Bob Backlund.WEB, WWE, WrestleMania XI Facts/Stats,www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/11/factsstats, July 31, 2015, After this match Piper became the host for the replay editions of WWF pay-per-views for a brief period of time, commenting on the matches that had just happened, before disappearing again a few months later.

President of the WWF (1996)

On the January 29, 1996, episode of Monday Night RAW, Piper returned for another regular role, as he was named as interim WWF President after Gorilla Monsoon had to take a leave of absence due to an attack by Vader.WEB, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Dead: WWE Hall of Famer Dies at 61,www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wwe-hall-of-famer-dies-at-61-2015317, July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015, Allison, Takeda, On February 24, at a house show at East Rutherford, New Jersey, he made his first match appearance in almost two years. As a substitute for Razor Ramon, Piper defeated The 1-2-3 Kid after hitting him with a ring bell. He wrestled twice more against the Kid on house shows that month.WEB,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/96.htm, Info, www.thehistoryofwwe.com, 2021-05-07, As president, one of Piper’s first acts was to reinstate The Ultimate Warrior back into the WWF after a letter campaign written in by fans. Piper had become the object of affection for Goldust. Enraged, Piper claimed he would “make a man” out of Goldust at WrestleMania XII.WEB, WWF Monday Night Raw: March 11, 1996, Graham, Cawthon, March 19, 2014, Camel Clutch Blog,camelclutchblog.com/wrestlemania-xii-minds/, July 31, 2015, The match, dubbed a “Hollywood Backlot Brawl”, began in a pre-taped segment, recorded in an alleyway, but Goldust jumped into his gold Cadillac and ran Piper over, ultimately escaping (allegedly) onto the highways of Anaheim. Piper pursued in his white Ford Bronco, the aerial footage shown was actually that of the O. J. Simpson “low-speed” chase from two years prior. This was made clear by Piper himself, who recalled the event on an episode of Pipers Pit the Podcast. The two eventually arrived at the arena, where Piper disrobed Goldust in the ring, effectively ending the confrontation. With Gorilla Monsoon back in control of the WWF by the end of the night, Piper once again left the company. His final appearance came the September 6, 1996, edition of Monday Night RAW, where footage was shown of him participating with other WWF wrestlers at the CNE “Experience” in Toronto.

World Championship Wrestling (1996–2000)

Feuding with nWo (1996–1998)

Piper joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the fall of 1996. He made his surprise WCW debut as a fan favorite at the Halloween Havoc pay-per-view in October to insult the nWo leader and the World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-halloween-havoc-1996/, Ring Crew Reviews – WCW Halloween Havoc 1996, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, On the November 18 episode of Nitro, Piper revealed that Eric Bischoff was a member of the nWo, which ended with the nWo members attacking him.WEB,ddtdigest.com/updates/19961118.htm, WCW Reports - 11/16/96 - 11/18/96, 2017-03-04, DDT Digest, on the December 9 episode of Nitro, Piper told Flair that he didn’t need the Four Horsemen’s help in beating Hogan and he was going to do it on his own. Piper defeated Hogan with his signature sleeper hold in the non-title main event of the company’s flagship pay-per-view Starrcade,WEB, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper 1954–2015: Look back on the legacy of a WWE icon with these 5 classic bouts, Digital Spy,www.digitalspy.com/tv/s216/wwe/feature/a661273/rowdy-roddy-piper-1954-2015-look-back-on-the-legacy-of-a-wwe-icon-with-these-5-classic-bouts.html#~pk5A55kLFqvXbG, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015, which earned him a title shot against Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship at SuperBrawl VII, where Piper was defeated.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-superbrawl-vii/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Superbrawl VII, 2017-03-03, 411Mania, On the March 10, 1997, episode of Nitro, Piper and his family joined forces with Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen in their battle with the nWo.WEB,ddtdigest.com/updates/19970310.htm, WCW Reports - 03/08/97 - 03/10/97, 2017-03-04, DDT Digest, At Uncensored, Piper competed in a triangle elimination match where he captained a team of Horsemen Chris Benoit, Steve McMichael and Jeff Jarrett against the nWo and WCW’s team of Lex Luger, Steiner Brothers and The Giant. His team lost the match.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-uncensored-1997/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Uncensored 1997, 2017-03-03, 411Mania, On the March 31 episode of Nitro, Piper and Flair agreed to team up and stand side by side to fight. Piper moved on to feud with other members of nWo. At Slamboree, Piper, Flair and Kevin Greene defeated nWo members Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Syxx in a six-man tag team match.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-slamboree-1997/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Slamboree 1997, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, The following month, at The Great American Bash pay-per-view, Piper and Flair unsuccessfully challenged The Outsiders for the World Tag Team Championship.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-great-american-bash-1997/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Great American Bash 1997, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, on the June 23 episode of Nitro, Flair and the Four Horsemen turned on Piper and attacked him. This led to a match between Piper and Flair at Bash at the Beach, which Piper won.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-bash-at-the-beach-1997/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Bash at the Beach 1997, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, Piper took a hiatus from television before making his return to WCW on the September 8 episode of Nitro, where he was appointed the new on-air Commissioner of WCW, which reduced his in-ring work.WEB,ddtdigest.com/updates/1997092m.htm, WCW Monday Nitro - 09/08/97, 2017-03-04, DDT Digest, He briefly resumed his feud with Hulk Hogan, beating him in a steel cage match at Halloween Havoc.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-halloween-havoc-1997/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Halloween Havoc 1997, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, on the March 23, 1998, episode of Nitro, Piper and Randy Savage battled to a no contest. On the March 30 episode of Nitro, Piper defeated Hogan by disqualification. At the 1998 Spring Stampede pay-per-view, Piper teamed with The Giant in a loss to Hogan and Nash in a Baseball Bat on a Pole match.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-spring-stampede-98/, The Furious Flashbacks - WCW Spring Stampede ‘98, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, At Slamboree, Piper served as the special guest referee in a match between Randy Savage and Bret Hart, which Hart won but the following night on Nitro, Piper changed his decision and declared Savage as the winner by disqualification.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-slamboree-98/, The Furious Flashbacks - WCW Slamboree ‘98, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, At The Great American Bash, Piper and Savage lost to Hogan and Hart in a tag team match by submission. After the match, Piper wrestled Savage in the next match, which Piper defeated Savage by submission.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-great-american-bash-1998/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Great American Bash 1998, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, On the September 7 episode of Nitro, Piper and Diamond Dallas Page defeated Sting and Lex Luger by disqualification. Piper teamed with Diamond Dallas Page and The Warrior as Team WCW in a WarGames match at Fall Brawl for an opportunity at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at the following month’s Halloween Havoc. Page won the match for his team.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-fall-brawl-1998/, Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Fall Brawl 1998, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, On the September 14 episode of Nitro, Piper confronted Bret Hart.

Various storylines and departure (1999–2000)

On the February 8, 1999, episode of Nitro, Piper defeated Bret Hart to win his third United States Heavyweight Championship; the first two reigns being in JCP.WEB,ddtdigest.com/updates/1999021m.htm, WCW Monday Nitro - 2/8/99, 2017-03-04, DDT Digest, Piper held the title for only two weeks as he lost the title to Scott Hall at SuperBrawl IX.WEB,411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-repost-superbrawl-ix/, The SmarK Retro Repost - SuperBrawl IX, 2017-03-04, 411Mania, At Slamboree, Piper defeated Flair by disqualification after Eric Bischoff reversed Flair’s pinfall win, disqualifying Flair for hitting Piper with a foreign object (which had been ignored by biased referee Charles Robinson). 8 days later on the May 17 episode of Nitro, Piper called out Bischoff for what Bischoff did to him in 1996, before Bischoff apologised to him and WCW fans. Piper and Bischoff were interrupted by Randy Savage and his Team Madness, before Savage and Team Madness attacked him and Bischoff until Kevin Nash saved him and Bischoff. The following month later at The Great American Bash, Flair defeated Piper by disqualification for control of WCW after interference from Buff Bagwell. Upset with Bagwell getting him disqualified, Piper knocked Bagwell out and joined Flair as vice president, turning Piper heel for the first time in WCW. At Bash at the Beach, Piper competed against Bagwell in a boxing match with Mills Lane as special guest referee which he lost. In late 1999, Piper returned to WCW programming as a face, in an angle with Vince Russo, who was now portraying himself as the “Powers That Be” (an unseen power that was controlling WCW). At Starrcade, Piper was the special referee in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match featuring Goldberg and Hart. Forced by Russo, Piper called for the bell when Hart locked in the Sharpshooter on Goldberg, when it was apparent that Goldberg had not submitted.WEB,slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html, Goldberg screwed at Starrcade, John, Powell, December 20, 1999, SLAM! Sports, August 2, 2015, July 22, 2012,slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html," title="archive.today/20120722084502slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html,">archive.today/20120722084502slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html, usurped, The feud between Piper and the Powers That Be ended shortly after. Piper’s last appearance in WCW was at SuperBrawl 2000 in February 2000 where he was a surprise referee in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match between Sid Vicious, Jeff Jarrett and Scott Hall. In July 2000, WCW terminated Piper’s contract.WEB, Alex, Marvez, WCW DIDN’T WANT TO PAY PIPER, SO ‘ROWDY’ ONE SUES, Sun-Sentinel (Broward & Palm Beach), February 23, 2001,articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-02-23/entertainment/0102220497_1_wcw-roddy-piper-johnny-valentine, August 1, 2015,

Xcitement Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)

Before going to the WWE in 2003, Piper served as the commissioner of the Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF).WEB, XWF ‘In Your Face’ PPV Review: A Look Back at the First PPV, Pro Wrestling Torch,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_3340.shtml, Doug, Brown, April 9, 2003, August 1, 2015, On November 5, 2002, revealed in Piper’s autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, was released instead of leaving like what was previously thought.BOOK, Rowdy Roddy, Piper, Robert, Picarello, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, Penguin, 2002, iv,

Return to WWE (2003)

Piper returned to WWE on March 30, 2003, by conducting a surprise run in during the Hulk Hogan-Vince McMahon match at WrestleMania XIX in Seattle, Washington, where he attacked Hogan with a steel pipe to cement his heel status; Hogan nevertheless eventually won the match.WEB, WrestleMania XIX review,www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/3172, f4wonline.com, August 1, 2015, WEB, Keller, Wade, WWE WrestleMania 19 report (3/30/03),www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_24954.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, Piper went on to align with Sean O’Haire; at Backlash in April, Rikishi hit Piper with Piper’s own coconut, but this led to O’Haire defeating Rikishi.WEB, WWE Backlash,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/backlash.htm, thehistoryofwwe.com, August 1, 2015, In May, as Hulk Hogan had been banned in storyline from television by Vince McMahon, Hogan returned under a mask as Mr. America, and continued his feud with Piper, O’Haire and McMahon, who tried to reveal Mr. America’s true identity. This storyline also saw Piper tear off the fake leg of one-legged wrestler Zach Gowen, who was playing a Hogan fan. At Judgment Day, Piper argued with Chris Jericho if Piper’s Pit was better than Jericho’s talk show The Highlight Reel. Later at the event, Piper lost to Mr. America.WEB, Judgment Day 2003,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jday03review.htm, The History of WWE, August 1, 2015, Piper and O’Haire then moved on to challenge Tajiri and Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but in June 2003, WWE fired Piper after a controversial interview with HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in which Piper discussed the darker side of the wrestling industry. WWE cited that “Piper stated that he used drugs for many years while working in professional wrestling and that he does not like the person that he becomes when he actively performs as a professional wrestler”, and dismissed Piper because of “inability to reach agreement on a contract and to assist Piper from engaging in any self-destructive behavior”.WEB, Keller, Wade, WWE says farewell to Roddy Piper, releases explanation,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_4313.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, On his 2006 DVD, Piper claimed that HBO took parts of his interviews out of context to make wrestling look bad.AV MEDIA, Roddy Piper (Actor), Hulk Hogan (Actor), Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story, Television production, WWE, USA, 2006,

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2005)

Piper debuted for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotion on December 4, 2002, at an NWA-TNA pay-per-view and started a feud with Vince Russo, cutting a promo where he blamed Russo for the death of Owen Hart.WEB, Keller, Wade, Sept. 17 in History: Piper delivers infamous rambling promo on TNA PPV 10 years ago, plus Raven shaved bald,www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Today_2/article_73400.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, From September to December 2003, Piper gave video-tape messages and on the October 8, 2004, episode of Impact!, Piper crashed the Impact Zone and announced his talk segment In the Pit with Piper. In November 2004 at Victory Road, he hosted In the Pit with Piper and interviewed Jimmy Snuka, who refused to accede to Piper’s demands of hitting Piper with a coconut.WEB,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html,slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150519042045slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150519042045slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html, dead, May 19, 2015, Victory Road bombs, Clevett, Jason, November 8, 2008, November 21, 2008, Canadian Online Explorer, On the December 24 episode of Impact, Piper hosted another In The Pit with Piper and interviewed Hector Garza but was interrupted by Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. At Final Resolution in January 2005, Piper refereed a match between Jeff Hardy and Scott Hall, helping Hardy win.WEB,slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html,slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html," title="archive.today/20120629113654slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html,">archive.today/20120629113654slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html, usurped, June 29, 2012, New Resolution needed by TNA, Clevett, Jason, January 17, 2005, March 2, 2009, Canadian Online Explorer, This was Piper’s final appearance for TNA.

Second return to WWE (2005–2015)

WWE Hall of Fame and World Tag Team Champion (2005–2006)

On February 21, 2005, it was announced that Piper was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Piper held an episode of Piper’s Pit at WrestleMania 21 where he interviewed Stone Cold Steve Austin. On the July 11, 2005, episode of Raw, Piper received a superkick from Shawn Michaels, the guest for Piper’s Pit. In October and November 2005, Piper feuded with Cowboy Bob Orton and Randy Orton, after they attacked him during a session of Piper’s Pit with Mick Foley. While Piper defeated both Ortons in a handicap match and made Bob submit in a six-man tag match, the feud ended with Randy interfering in a singles match between Piper and Bob, disqualifying Bob, but beating down Piper.WEB, WWE Raw – 2005,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw05.htm, thehistoryofwwe.com, August 3, 2015, WEB, WWE SmackDown – 2005,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/smackdown05.htm, thehistoryofwwe.com, August 3, 2015, WEB, Roe, Mike, 11/4 WWE Friday Night Smackdown report: Smackdown Express,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_15309.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 3, 2015, Piper returned to Raw on September 11, 2006, for a six-man tag team match win with The Highlanders against the Spirit Squad. He also appeared on the Raw Family Reunion, along with Money Inc. and Arn Anderson to accompany Ric Flair ringside for a match against Mitch of the Spirit Squad. On November 5, Piper would gain what would be his final championship in WWE, winning the World Tag Team Championship with Flair from The Spirit Squad at Cyber Sunday.WEB,www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/2006/matches/329344214, Ric Flair & Rowdy Roddy Piper def. World Tag Team Champions Spirit Squad, November 1, 2006, August 2, 2015, WWE, On the November 13, 2006, episode of Raw, Piper and Flair lost the title to Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton).WEB,www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211, World Tag Team Championships – Edge & Randy Orton, WWE, August 2, 2015, dead,www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211," title="web.archive.org/web/20150721201201www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211,">web.archive.org/web/20150721201201www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211, July 21, 2015, mdy-all,

Final feuds and retirement (2007–2011)

File:WWE Legends.jpg|thumb|Piper with Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Snuka before their match with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 25WrestleMania 25In 2007, Piper appeared in February to announce Dusty Rhodes for the WWE Hall of Fame, and also in June for Vince McMahon Appreciation Night.WEB, WWE Raw – 2007,www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw07.htm, thehistoryofwwe.com, August 3, 2015, In 2008, Piper made a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble match by attacking Jimmy Snuka, but was eliminated by Kane.WEB,www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_24339.shtml#.Wm5sc8PQfDc, PWTorch.com - CALDWELL’S WWE ROYAL RUMBLE REPORT 1/27: Ongoing “virtual time” coverage of debut HD PPV, www.pwtorch.com, 2018-01-29, Piper then had a series of confrontations with Santino Marella in 2008, including on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.WEB, Martin, Adam, Raw Results – 5/5/08 – Toronto, Ontario (Triple H/Mr. Kennedy team),www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2008/1210043457.shtml, wrestleview.com, August 3, 2015, WEB, WWE’s Roddy Piper and Santino Marella appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” with a birthday cake and, well, you know the rest,www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1001448.shtml, prowrestling.net, August 3, 2015, At Cyber Sunday (2008), Piper was one of three choices to be Santino Marella’s opponent for the Intercontinental Championship, with The Honky Tonk Man being chosen. The match ended by disqualification and after the match Piper and Goldust made their way down to the ring confronting and attacking Marella.On the February 16, 2009 episode of Raw, after Chris Jericho insulted WWE legends, Piper interrupted him and was attacked by Jericho for it.WEB,prowrestling.net/article.php?4556, 2/16 Powell’s WWE Raw Live Coverage: No Way Out fallout, Melina vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Women’s Title, Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox, prowrestling.net, 2018-02-01, The feud culminated in Jericho defeating Piper, Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania 25 in a handicap elimination match.WEB,prowrestling.net/article.php?41242, Gutteridge’s WrestleMania Masters: Chris Jericho - The Big One, The Bad One, The Strange One, and The Hidden Gem, prowrestling.net, 2018-02-01, Piper later guest hosted Raw on November 16, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Piper challenged Vince McMahon to a street fight later in the evening, but Randy Orton came out to fight in McMahon’s place. Kofi Kingston came out to stop Randy’s assault on Piper.WEB,www.wrestlezone.com/news/186725-wwe-raw-results-november-16th-2009/4, WWE Raw Results – November 16th, 2009, WrestleZone, Chris, Cash, November 16, 2009, December 16, 2016, (File:Flickr - simononly - WWE Fan Axxess - Roddy Piper.jpg|thumb|left|Piper in 2012)He inducted Wendi Richter into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010.WEB,www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuiL_NUjJ90,ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/CuiL_NUjJ90, 2021-12-12, live, WrestleMania XXVI: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper inducts Wendi Richter, YouTube, May 13, 2010, December 16, 2016, {{cbignore}} He also appeared the next night on Raw as one of the Legend Lumberjacks in a match that involved Christian and Ted DiBiase.WEB,www.wrestlezone.com/news/181169-wwe-raw-results-march-29-2010/2, WWE Raw Results – March 29, 2010, WrestleZone, Richard, Trionfo, March 29, 2010, December 16, 2016, Two months later, Piper hired DiBiase to capture guest host Quinton Jackson so he could “gain revenge on BA”, but was unsuccessful.WEB,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_41801.shtml#.WFR8AHh3ZAY, Caldwell’s WWE Raw Results 6/7: Ongoing “virtual time” coverage of three-hour Viewer’s Choice edition of Raw, ProWrestling Torch, James, Caldwell, June 7, 2010, December 16, 2016, At WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, 2011, Piper made an appearance by hitting Zack Ryder with a coconut while the latter was being interviewed.WEB, Keller, Wade, Live WWE WrestleMania 27 results 4/2: The Rock, Cena vs. Miz, Triple H vs. Taker – PPV coverage,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wadekellerdotcom/49006.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, On the June 13, 2011 episode of Raw, The Miz and later Alex Riley were guests on Piper’s Pit; this led to Piper defeating Miz in a match (to win $5000) because of help from Riley, the guest referee; this was Piper’s last documented WWE match.WEB, Stephens, David, Raw results – 6/13/11,www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/24208, wrestleview.com, August 1, 2015, John Cena was a guest for Piper’s Pit on the November 28, 2011 episode of Raw.WEB, Powell, Jason, 11/28 Powell’s WWE Raw Live Coverage: Piper’s Pit with John Cena,www.prowrestling.net/article.php?21867, prowrestling.net, August 1, 2015,

Sporadic appearances and departure (2012–2015)

On the April 10, 2012 episode of SmackDown, Daniel Bryan and AJ Lee were guest of Piper’s Pit.WEB, Tedesco, Mike, SmackDown results – 4/10/12,www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-smackdown-results/31790, wrestleview.com, August 1, 2015, On the June 18 episode of Raw, Piper reunited with Cyndi Lauper.WEB, Caldwell, James, WWE Raw results 6/18,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_62576.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, At Raw 1000, Piper and various other veterans helped Lita defeat Heath Slater.WEB, Powell, Jason, 7/23 Powell’s WWE Raw 1000 Live Coverage,www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWETVreports/article10026403.shtml, prowrestling.net, August 1, 2015, On the August 13, 2012, episode of Raw, Chris Jericho was the guest for Piper’s Pit, but Dolph Ziggler and the Miz interrupted.WEB, Caldwell, James, WWE Raw results 8/13,www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_64255.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, On the January 6, 2014 episode of Raw, The Shield were guests for Piper’s Pit.WEB, Mezzera, Jon, 1/6 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Old School Raw, Flair/Orton/Cena, Piper’s Pit, Daniel Wyatt, Jake “the Snake” Roberts,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/hitsandmisses/article_75579.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, On the March 31, 2014 episode of Raw, Piper hosted Piper’s Pit with superstars who would compete in the André the Giant 31-man memorial battle royal, which ended in a brawl with Big Show clearing the ring and Piper raising his hand. At WrestleMania XXX, the four men who wrestled in the main event of WrestleMania I—Piper, Paul Orndorff, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T—buried the hatchet in a backstage segment.WEB, Caldwell, James, WrestleMania 30 PPV results: (Hour 4): Complete “virtual-time” coverage of WWE Title main event, Divas Title,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_77522.shtml, Pro Wrestling Torch, April 9, 2014, On the December 22, 2014 episode of Raw, Rusev and Lana were guests for the final edition of Piper’s Pit.WEB, Powell, Jason, 12/22 Powell’s WWE Raw Live Review: Ho-Ho Hogan hosts the holiday week show, Piper’s Pit, Miracle on 34th Street Fight,prowrestling.net/article.php?40234, prowrestling.net, August 1, 2015, At WrestleMania 31, Piper and other legends appeared in a backstage segment after Daniel Bryan won the Intercontinental Championship.In early July 2015, Ric Flair said Piper lost his WWE Legends contract with the company because of a public feud with Steve Austin,WEB,www.pwinsider.com/article/94974/roddy-piper-dropped-from-wwe-legends-deal.html, Roddy Piper Dropped From WWE Legends Deal, Pro Wrestling Insider, July 8, 2015, August 1, 2015, which resulted in Piper leaving PodcastOne. Piper later apologized to Austin on July 13, only three weeks before his death.WEB,pwinsider.com/article/95114/roddy-piper-gives-his-side-of-the-steve-austin-controversy.html, Roddy Piper Gives His Side of the Steve Austin Controversy, Pro Wrestling Insider, July 13, 2015, August 1, 2015,

Independent circuit (2005–2012)

In February 2005 at WrestleReunion, Piper teamed with Jimmy Valiant and Jimmy Snuka against Colonel DeBeers, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, and “Playboy” Buddy Rose. On January 29, 2011, Piper made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) during the WrestleReunion 5 weekend, defeating nineteen other men, last eliminating Terry Funk, to win the Legends Battle Royal.WEB,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_47214.shtml, 1/29 PWG results in Los Angeles: Complete “virtual-time” coverage of PWG Title match, Kaval vs. Davey, Roberts retirement, Legends Battle Royal, Massingham, Matt, January 30, 2011, January 30, 2011, Pro Wrestling Torch, WEB,www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/results/2011/show0119.html, Kurt Russellreunion 2: The Reunioning, February 2, 2011, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Piper’s last documented match occurred on August 12, 2011, at the JCW Legends and Icons event. What was originally a match for Piper against Terry Funk was altered mid-match to a tag match between Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton against Funk and Mick Foley, which Piper’s team won.WEB, 8/12 JCW Legends PPV review,www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/miscliveevents/article10020142.shtml, prowrestling.net, August 1, 2015, In 2012, Piper, along with Don Coss,JOURNAL, Gavin, Evans, May 30, 2013,uk.complex.com/sports/2013/05/where-are-they-now-your-favorite-wwe-stars-of-the-80s/rowdy-roddy-piper, Where Are They Now? Your Favorite WWE Stars of the ‘80s, Complex (magazine), Complex, August 4, 2015, created Portland Wrestling Uncut, a revival of the original Portland Wrestling, with new and old wrestlers combined.NEWS, Kristi, Turnquist, May 23, 2014,www.oregonlive.com/movies/2014/05/ramblin_rod_and_25_other_thing.html, Ramblin’ Rod, and 25 other things Portlanders will never see again, The Oregonian, August 4, 2015, Playing prominently in the show are Piper and Coss as announcers, The Grappler (Len Denton) as a manager,NEWS, Portland Wrestling making its return to KPTV,www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv, KPTV, October 23, 2012, August 4, 2015, August 15, 2015,www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv," title="web.archive.org/web/20150815073731www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv,">web.archive.org/web/20150815073731www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv, dead, guest appearances by the likes of Matt Borne (among others), rewind segments that show partial matches from the original Portland Wrestling (owned by Don and Barry Owen),EPISODE,www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDu7NrQ2Ds,ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9FDu7NrQ2Ds, 2021-12-12, live, May 20, 2013, Episode 27, KPTV, Pacific Northwest Wrestling#Portland Wrestling Uncut, Portland Wrestling Uncut, {{cbignore}} and Piper’s son, Colt Toombs.

Other media

(File:MCCC 15 - Roddy Piper (17472387653).jpg|thumb|Piper in May 2015, two months before his death)

Music videos

In the 1980s, Piper also appeared in singer Cyndi Lauper’s music video for the song “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough”.BOOK, Ellison, Lillian, The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle, 2003, 978-0-06-001258-8, ReaganBooks, 173, Piper performed the song, “For Everybody”, on The Wrestling Album (Columbia Records, 1985), based on the Mike Angelo & the Idols song “Fuck Everybody”, but without any of the profanity heard in the original. He also appeared as a guest VJ on MTV in 1988. In 1992, he released a UK only single and music video for his song, “I’m Your Man”.MAGAZINE,www.billboard.com/articles/news/6649425/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-61-best-music-moments, July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015, Colin, Stutz, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Dead at 61: His Best Music Moments, Billboard (magazine), Billboard, The single came with the B-side, “Judy Come Back”.WEB,www.45cat.com/record/6588357, 45cat â€“ Rowdy Roddy Piper â€“ I’m Your Man / Judy Come Back â€“ Epic â€“ UK â€“ 658835 7, August 1, 2015,

Acting and hosting

Deadline Hollywood wrote, “During and after his wrestling days, Piper racked up dozens of film and TV credits, starring in numerous action B-movies and later doing voice work”.WEB, Pedersen, Erik, Lincoln, Ross A., “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Dies: Pro Wrestling Icon & Veteran Actor Was 61,deadline.com/2015/07/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wrestler-actor-1201488905/, Deadline Hollywood, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015, The most famous of Piper’s acting exploits was in the 1988 science fiction film They Live, directed by John Carpenter,NEWS, Greg, Oliver, WWE Legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Dies,www.torontosun.com/2015/07/31/wwe-legend-rowdy-roddy-piper-dies, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015, Toronto Sun, which spawned the catchphrase Piper came up with—“I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all out of bubble gum.“WEB, Southern California Public Radio, 89.3KPCC, Pro Wrestler ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Dead at 61; Watch 7 of His Greatest Moments, See Reactions, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015,www.scpr.org/news/2015/07/31/53504/rowdy-roddy-piper-has-died-at-61/, —as well as the long fight scene over sunglasses against Keith David which took three weeks to rehearse. The line and the fight scene have since been parodied in Duke Nukem, South Park and Adventure Time.MAGAZINE, Franich, Darren, Remembering Roddy Piper’s rowdy film career,www.ew.com/article/2015/07/31/roddy-piper-they-live-dead, Entertainment Weekly, August 1, 2015, WEB, Vanderbilt, Mike, R.I.P. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper,www.avclub.com/article/rip-rowdy-roddy-piper-223205, The A.V. Club, August 2015, August 1, 2015, Entertainment Weekly wrote that Piper’s role in They Live made him a “cult icon” and “some kind of legend”. Rolling Stone wrote that Piper “had a memorable career as a cult actor”, citing They Live and the 1987 film Hell Comes to Frogtown.Piper was a guest on a 1985 Saturday Night Live episode, tormenting hosts Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, and appeared as a special guest on MADtv along with Bret Hart. In the early 1990s, Piper made guest-star appearances on two episodes of The New Zorro on The Family Channel. Piper had a role in a fourth season episode of the Superboy television series as an immortal Alchemist stealing the youth from his gym patrons. In 1991, Piper and Jesse “The Body” Ventura starred in Tag Team, a television film about two ex-professional wrestlers turned police officers. Piper appeared as a wrestler loosely based on himself in an episode called “Crusader” from Walker, Texas Ranger. Piper also appeared in an episode of The Outer Limits series.WEB,www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=45010, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper 1954-2015, August 4, 2015, August 3, 2015, Empire, Williams, Owen, Piper was the host of ITV’s Celebrity Wrestling in the United Kingdom.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/media/2005/may/10/broadcasting.ITV1, Celebrity Wrestling knocked out of peak time, Jason, Deans, The Guardian, May 10, 2005, August 4, 2015, Piper appeared on (RoboCop: The Series).WEB,blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Dead At 61, World Entertainment News Network, WENN, July 31, 2015, August 4, 2015, October 24, 2016,blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/," title="web.archive.org/web/20161024153743blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/,">web.archive.org/web/20161024153743blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/, dead, Piper appeared in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia as professional wrestler named “Da’ Maniac” during season 5 and reprised this role in season 9. Although the character was a parody of Mickey Rourke’s role in The Wrestler, Piper had previously endorsed The Wrestler and Rourke’s performance during an appearance with Rourke on Jimmy Kimmel Live.WEB,www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1004245.shtml, WWE Hall of Famer makes a surprise appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ during Mickey Rourke’s interview, ProWrestling.net, January 15, 2009, He appeared as Mr. Thurgood in the low-budget film The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens in 2008 and its sequel Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes in 2010. On March 14, 2010, Piper appeared in “One Fall”, an episode in CBS’s Cold Case, playing a wrestler named Sweet Sil. In September 2010, Piper appeared in a FunnyorDie.com video, fighting against childhood obesity in a PSA parody. The clip included him using wrestling moves on children eating junk food and the parents who feed junk food to their kids.WEB,www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7, Rowdy Roddy Piper Fights Childhood Obesity, Funny or Die, July 31, 2015, September 26, 2010,www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7," title="web.archive.org/web/20150924040411www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7,">web.archive.org/web/20150924040411www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7, September 24, 2015, dead, mdy-all, In 2012, Piper appeared on a Season 4 episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories, in which he conveyed a story of being visited by the ghost of Adrian Adonis. In May 2013, Piper appeared in “Barry’s Angels“— episode 12 of the fourth season of the A&E reality show, Storage Wars —in which he appraised a set of Scottish kilts purchased by Barry Weiss. In June 2013, Piper appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap, where he swapped wives with Ric Flair.WEB,abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61-32816567, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper Dies at 61, ABC News, July 31, 2015, August 1, 2015, Piper appeared as himself in the video game Saints Row IV.WEB, Deadline,deadline.com/2015/07/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wrestler-actor-1201488905/, Erik, Pedersen, Ross A., Lincoln, August 2, 2015, July 31, 2015, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper Dies: Pro Wrestling Icon & Veteran Actor Was 61, He also played himself as the protagonist in the 2013 film Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies.WEB,www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/03/pro_wrestlers_vs_zombies_grapp.html, ‘Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies’ grapplers to attend local screenings of the forthcoming horror comedy, The Times-Picayune, Scott, Mike, July 31, 2015, March 26, 2014, In April 2014, Piper appeared as a regular cast member on the WWE Network original reality show Legends’ House. He also started a podcast; Piper’s Pit with Roddy Piper, in association with PodcastOne.WEB,podcastone.com/program?action=viewProgram&programID=642, PodcastOne: PIPER’S PIT with Roddy Piper, Roddy, Piper, podcastone.com, WEB,podbay.fm/show/855752234, Listen to episodes of Piper’s Pit on podbay, podbay, August 1, 2015,

Voice acting

In 2006, Roddy Piper ventured into the realm of voice acting, providing the voice of himself in “Metal Militia“EPISODE, Metal Militia,www.amazon.com/Metal-Militia/dp/B00AEU5PHO, Robot Chicken, Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), 2, 13, —an episode of Cartoon Network’s animated series Robot ChickenNEWS, Ross, Kelly, July 31, 2015, 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Roddy Piper,boston.cbslocal.com/2015/07/31/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-roddy-piper/, WBZ-TV (CBS), Boston, August 4, 2015, —and the voice of The Pyro Messiah in the Night Traveler multimedia adventure series produced by Lunar Moth Entertainment.WEB,horrornews.net/81223/new-website-r-e-asburys-night-traveler-now-online/, New Website for R.E. Asbury’s NIGHT TRAVELER Now Online, Stryker, Jonathan, January 29, 2014, HorrorNews.net, He provided the voice of Bolphunga in (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights),WEB,www.dccomics.com/blog/2011/05/17/%25e2%2580%259crowdy%25e2%2580%259d-roddy-piper-makes-his-animation-debut-in-green-lantern-emerald-knights, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Makes His Animation Debut in Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, DC Comics, May 17, 2011, August 4, 2015, and the voice of Don John in the Adventure Time episode “The Red Throne”.WEB,www.imdb.com/title/tt3529740/, Adventure Time - The Red Throne, IMDb, Dec 23, 2015, Dec 23, 2015, He also voiced his own likeness in the 2013 video game Saints Row IV.

Toys

Piper is one of several real people to be immortalized with a {{convert|3.75|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} G.I. Joe action figure of himself, as “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, the Iron Grenadier Trainer. The figure was released as an exclusive for the 2007 International G.I. Joe Convention from the Official G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club. Piper appeared at the convention to sign autographs.WEB,www.yojoe.com/action/07/rowdyroddypiper.shtml, Rowdy Roddy Piper (v1) G.I. Joe Action Figure - YoJoe Archive, www.yojoe.com, 2018-01-29,

Video games

Piper is a playable character in 14 wrestling video games. He made his first appearance in (WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge). He later appeared in WCW/nWo Revenge, WCW/nWo Thunder, Legends of Wrestling II, WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, (Showdown: Legends of Wrestling), WWE Day of Reckoning, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 and WWE All Stars as a legend. He also appeared in WWE 2K14 as a hidden character in the Superstar Head Creation mode. He was later included in WWE 2K16 as DLC. He also appears in WWE 2K19 as DLC in the game’s Ric Flair-themed “Wooooo!” Edition,WEB,ign.com/articles/2018/07/25/wwe-2k19-wooooo-edition-announced, WWE 2K19 WOOOOO! EDITION ANNOUNCED, Bankhurst, Adam, July 25, 2018, July 27, 2018, IGN, as well as in WWE 2K20, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, and WWE 2K24.Outside of wrestling games, Piper voices a fictionalized version of himself in 2013’s Saints Row IV. In the story, Piper helps the player rescue Keith David from a simulation by recreating their fight scene from They Live, and can be recruited as an ally during missions.WEB,kotaku.com/the-new-saints-row-rings-the-death-knell-for-silly-game-1847571588, The New Saints Row Rings The Death Knell For Silly Games, Walker, John, Kotaku, August 27, 2021, December 27, 2021, Piper also made a cameo appearance in Abobo’s Big Adventure.

Personal life

Toombs was a Christian.TWEET,twitter.com/R_Roddy_Piper/status/241973288694321152?lang=en, @EuanJ I’m a Christian!, R_Roddy_Piper, Piper, Rowdy Roddy, 241973288694321152, September 1, 2012, August 11, 2023, Toombs’ last film that was released in his lifetime, The Masked Saint, was a Christian film. Toombs and his wife Kitty Jo Dittrich were married from 1982 until his death in 2015. They had four children.EPISODE, Celebrity Wife Swap, Rick Flair; ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, June 19, 2013, American Broadcasting Company, ABC, 2, 5, His daughter Teal Piper made her professional wrestling debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in August 2019 at the All Out pay-per-view.AV MEDIA,www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5_bODS2130,ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/H5_bODS2130, 2021-12-12, live, The Road to AEW All Out - Episode 04, All Elite Wrestling, YouTube, August 7, 2019, August 7, 2019, {{cbignore}} Shortly after that announcement, it was revealed that she had signed a contract with Women of Wrestling (WOW).WEB,www.fightful.com/wrestling/teal-piper-signs-women-wrestling, Teal Piper Signs With Women Of Wrestling | Fightful Wrestling, www.fightful.com, On November 27, 2006, it was announced on WWE.com that Toombs had Hodgkin’s lymphoma; he finished radiation therapy on January 15, 2007.WEB,www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate, Emotional Piper speaks out, will receive treatment, May 12, 2007, December 4, 2006, WWE, dead,www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate," title="web.archive.org/web/20070501021742www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate,">web.archive.org/web/20070501021742www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate, May 1, 2007, This was also confirmed on Toombs’ official website, where he posted messages of thanks to all his fans and stated that, had the fans not chosen him as Ric Flair’s partner at Cyber Sunday, he would not have been taken to the hospital and diagnosed as having his disease in time.WEB,www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/03/roddy-piper-interview, Roddy Piper Interview, IGN, Robinson, Jon, August 2, 2015, January 3, 2007, In November 2008, a video spread around the internet showing Toombs smoking marijuana and taking a hit from a bong in front of a cheering crowd at the annual Gathering of the Juggalos, although he later acknowledged his use of medicinal marijuana “to alleviate the symptoms associated with cancer”.WEB,www.tmz.com/2008/11/19/rowdy-roddy-pipe-smoker/, Rowdy Roddy Pipe Smoker, November 19, 2008, November 19, 2008, TMZ, This was reiterated on a blog from Jim Ross.WEB,www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson, JR’s BBQ Blog, November 21, 2008, November 20, 2008, Jim Ross, December 9, 2008,www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson," title="web.archive.org/web/20081209023022www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson,">web.archive.org/web/20081209023022www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson, dead, In his autobiography, Toombs claimed to be a cousin of Bret Hart, which would make him a relative of the Hart wrestling family.BOOK, Roddy, Piper, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, Berkley Books, 2002, 0-425-18721-7, 231 pp,archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/231, This fact was once used as a trivia question on Raw.WEB, Lita Turns 40 Today, Madusa Praises The NXT Divas, Trivia/RAW, prowrestling.com,www.prowrestling.com/lita-turns-40-today-madusa-praises-the-nxt-divas-triviaraw, WEB, WWE Edits Orton & Cesaro Crowd Reaction on Raw, New Trivia Feature Debuts, WWE at Facebook HQ (Video), April 14, 2015, wrestlezone.com,www.wrestlezone.com/news/571223-wwe-edits-orton-cesaro-reaction, WEB, WWE Questions Fans On Kane & His Mask, WWE Trivia Segment On RAW, April 14, 2015, pwmania.com,www.pwmania.com/wwe-questions-fans-on-kane-his-mask-wwe-trivia-segment-on-raw, WEB, Paige Written Off TV On Tonight’s RAW?, WWE On Kane And His Mask, WWE Trivia Segment On RAW, April 13, 2015, wrestlinginc.com,www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0413/592412/paige-written-off-tv-on-tonight-raw, {{unreliable source?|certain=y|date=May 2017}} Hart also revealed that Toombs was the only wrestler to visit him in the hospital after his stroke.BOOK, Hart, Bret, Bret Hart, Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling, Ebury Press, 2007, 9780091932862, 541 pp, Bruce Hart has stated that they were second cousins.WEB, “Hart Murmurs” Edition #7 – Condolences for the Fallen in 2015, PWPNation.com, Pro Wrestling Powerhouse, Hart, Bruce, December 26, 2015, January 31, 2018,www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/," title="archive.today/20180131213654www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/,">archive.today/20180131213654www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/,www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/, 2018-02-02, dead, mdy-all, WEB,www.facebook.com/smith.hart.5/posts/861207953962413?__tn__=-R,archive.today/20180914121513/https://www.facebook.com/smith.hart.5/posts/861207953962413?__tn__=-R, dead, (1) Smith Hart - I am at a complete loss for words and distraught ove…, September 14, 2018, September 14, 2018, facebook.com,

Death

(File:Roddy Piper’s Grave 2021.jpg|thumb|Roddy Piper’s grave in 2021)On July 24, 2015, Piper appeared as a guest on The Rich Eisen Show. He had trouble collecting his thoughts and staying focused, often rambling and not answering Eisen’s questions.NEWS,www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5FZCkyTq0Y,ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/K5FZCkyTq0Y, 2021-12-12, Roddy Piper on The Rich Eisen Show on July 24, 2015, May 8, 2021, live, {{cbignore}}One week later on July 31, 2015, Piper died in his sleep at the age of 61 at his summer residence in Los Angeles, California.WEB, Death certificate,tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf, tmz.vo.llnwd.net, September 1, 2015, September 6, 2015,tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20150906032300tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20150906032300tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf, dead, His death certificate cites a cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension, listing a pulmonary embolism as a contributing factor; TMZ reported this as a heart attack caused by the embolism.NEWS, Gelston, Dan, WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper dies at 61,bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61, Associated Press, August 1, 2015, August 3, 2015,bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61," title="web.archive.org/web/20150803091410bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61,">web.archive.org/web/20150803091410bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61, dead, WEB,www.tmz.com/2015/08/19/rowdy-roddy-piper-cause-of-death-heart-attack-blood-clot/, Rowdy Roddy Piper Cause of Death Heart Attack from Blood Clot, August 19, 2015, August 19, 2015, TMZ, Time Warner, Piper’s long-time friend Bruce Prichard revealed on his podcast that he received a voicemail from Piper the night of his death. In the message, Piper indicated that he had not been feeling well and that he would be going to sleep it off. Hulk Hogan later revealed that Piper had left him a voice mail that he discovered following his death in which Piper said that he was “walking with Jesus”.WEB, Jenkins, Eric E., 2021-04-29, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – A&E Biography: What We Learned,lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2021/04/29/ae-biography-rowdy-roddy-piper/, 2021-05-01, Last Word on Pro Wrestling, en-US, TWEET, Hulk Hogan, hulkhogan, 986446943583916033, Happy bday Roddy,I read all of your text messages u sent me every day the last few months u were here and listened over and over to ur voice mail when u sang to me “just walking with Jesus today,lovin and praying for u,just walking with Jesus ”. Miss u my brother love u HH, 2021-05-01, News of his death broke minutes before the Hall of Heroes dinner to cap off the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends FanFest in Charlotte, North Carolina, where about 600 current and former wrestling personalities and fans had gathered. He received a ten-bell salute after the planned salute to fellow former professional wrestler Dusty Rhodes, who had died the previous month.WEB,www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article29721016.html, ‘Bad guy’ professional wrestler ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper dies at 61, David, Perlmutt, The Charlotte Observer, July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015, Another ten-bell salute was given at the beginning of the August 3, 2015, episode of Raw.WEB,screengrabber.deadspin.com/watch-wwes-salute-to-rowdy-roddy-piper-1721891195, Watch WWE’s Salute To “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, screengrabber.deadspin.com, August 4, 2015, Timothy, Burke, August 3, 2015, WWE CEO Vince McMahon said, “Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world. I extend my deepest condolences to his family.“WEB,variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/, WWE Legend ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper Dies at 61, Variety (magazine), Variety, July 31, 2015, July 31, 2015,variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/," title="web.archive.org/web/20150731234510variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/,">web.archive.org/web/20150731234510variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/, July 31, 2015, dead, mdy, Film director John Carpenter said, “Devastated to hear the news of my friend Roddy Piper’s passing today. He was a great wrestler, a masterful entertainer and a good friend.” In a later interview, Carpenter said Piper had confessed that he was suffering from brain damage due to the many concussions he had experienced throughout his career, and said Piper accurately predicted he wouldn’t be alive by the end of 2015.WEB, John Carpenter Interview,www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVvn5PQHSF8&t=97s&ab_channel=LeedsFilm, YouTube, In an HBO Real Sports interview conducted by Piper in 2003, he had predicted that he was “not going to make 65” because of his poor health, and that he made his 2003 return to WWE because he could not access his pension fund until reaching the age of 65.WEB, Keller, Wade, McMahon freaks out during HBO interview on drug deaths â€“ 1 Yr Ago,pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_8761.shtml, pwtorch.com, August 1, 2015, Piper was cremated and his ashes laid to rest at Crescent Grove Cemetery in Tigard, Oregon.

Legacy

File:Roddy Piper Axxes Statue.jpg|thumb|upright|Piper was posthumously awarded a bronze statue in his likeness by WWE in April 2019 for his contributions to wrestling]]Piper is considered one of the greatest talkers and heels in wrestling history. Piper’s Pit interview segments were considered innovative, especially in an atmosphere where only the people like the world champion got to talk, and the wrestlers were the interviewees—never the interviewers. According to Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, he could just leave Piper in a room and return twenty minutes later with Piper having done a class-A promo.{{YouTube|id=0teGiDxiblE}} WWE named him the greatest villain in wrestling history.WEB,www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/top-50-wrestling-villains/page-51, Top 50 villains in wrestling history #1 “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, WWE, July 31, 2015, WEB, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper: Tributes pour in as wrestling legend dies aged 61, ScotlandNow,www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731, 2015-10-23, 2015-08-03, September 19, 2015,www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731," title="web.archive.org/web/20150919202001www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731,">web.archive.org/web/20150919202001www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731, dead, WEB, Cardiac Arrest Takes Life Of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Detroit Sports 105.1, 2015-10-23, 2015-07-31,detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/, February 8, 2016,detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/," title="web.archive.org/web/20160208002438detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/,">web.archive.org/web/20160208002438detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/, dead, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter described Piper as “one of the key figures in the growth of WWF. In particular, he helped power the success of the first WrestleMania: the most important show in company history”.WEB, Meltzer, Dave, Wrestling legend Roddy Piper passes away at 61, WWE & Vince McMahon statement (updated),www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe-news/43860, f4wonline.com, August 1, 2015, Piper was one of the first wrestlers to have his entrance music played by a live band. At the War to Settle the Score in February 1985 before his WWF Title match with Hulk Hogan at Madison Square Garden, Piper’s theme was played by the NYPD Pipes and Drums out to the ring.Mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey was nicknamed “Rowdy” by her friends. She initially rejected using it professionally, feeling it might disrespect Piper. After being introduced to him through Gene LeBell, Piper gave her his approval to use the nickname. On the day of his death, she dedicated her next day’s UFC 190 title match with Bethe Correia to him. After quickly winning it, she noted him first in her post-fight interview.WEB,www.wwe.com/rousey-dedicates-win-to-piper, WWE, Forever Rowdy: Ronda Rousey dedicates win to Roddy Piper, August 2, 2015, August 2, 2015, WEB,ew.com/article/2015/08/02/ronda-rousey-rowdy-roddy-piper-tribute-ufc-190/, Ronda Rousey pays tribute to ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper following UFC 190 win, Nick, Romano, August 2, 2015, EW.com, In 2018, when Rousey made her full-time WWE debut, she wore the jacket that Piper wore, which was given to her by his son.WEB,www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/28/ronda-rousey-roddy-pipers-jacket-points-future-wwe/, Ronda Rousey, In Roddy Piper’s Jacket, Points To Future With WWE, January 29, 2018, Bleeding Cool News And Rumors, January 10, 2020, She also used a move called Piper’s Pit, a reference to the talkshow he held during the WWF.In April 2019, Piper was honored with a statue as part of WrestleMania Axxess in Brooklyn, New York.WEB,www.wwe.com/article/rowdy-roddy-piper-statue-revealed-at-wrestlemania-axxess, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess, WWE,

Filmography

Film {| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role! class=“unsortable” | Notes! class=“unsortable” | Ref.| 1978 The One and Only| Joe ‘Leatherneck Joe’ Grady| Uncredited|| 1986Body Slam (film)>Body Slam| Rick ‘Quick Rick’ Roberts| Supporting roleTV.COM>ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 1, 2015PUBLISHER=CBS INTERACTIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160308064349/HTTP://WWW.TV.COM/PEOPLE/RODDY-PIPER/, dead, 1988| Hell Comes to Frogtown| Sam Hell| Lead role| | They Live| John Nada| Lead role| | 1989| Buy & Cell| Cowboy| Supporting role|| 1991| Tagteam| Rick McDonald| Lead role|| 1992Immortal Combat (film)>Immortal Combat| John Keller| Lead role|| 1993Back In Action (1994 film)>Back in Action| Frank Rossi| Lead role| 1994No Contest (film)>No Contest| ‘Ice’| Supporting role| | Tough & Deadly| Elmo Freech| Lead role|| 1995| Jungleground| Lt. Jacob Cornell| Lead role| 1996| Terminal Rush| Bartel| Lead role| | Marked Man| Frank Gibson| Lead role|| Sci-Fighters| Detective Cameron Grayson| Lead role| 1997| First Encounter| Lieutenant Ed Ganz| Lead role|| Dead Tides| Mick Leddy| Lead role| The Bad Pack| Dash Simms| Lead role| 1998Hard Time (film)>Hard Time| Randy| Supporting role|| Last to Surrender| Nick Ford| Lead role| 1999| Legless Larry & the Lipstick Lady| Larry ‘Legless Larry’| Lead role| The Shepherd| Miles| Also known as Cyber City|| 2000| Jack of Hearts| Detective Deeks| Supporting role| 2005| Three Wise Guys| Pastor Roberts| Supporting role|| Honor| LT Tyrell| 3rd lead| 2006| Domestic Import| Bill ‘Bronco Bill’| Also known as Nanny Insanity| | Costa Chica: Confession of an Exorcist| Lucas McMurter| Also known as Legion: The Final Exorcism| | Shut Up and Shoot!| Yokum the Bartender| Supporting role|| Night Traveler| The Pyro Messiah| Voice, supporting role|| Blind Eye| Fred Mears| Lead role| 2007| Ghosts of Goldfield| Jackson Smith|| | Super Sweet 16: The Movie| Mitch||| 2008| Legion: The Final Exorcism| Unknown|| 2009 The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens| William Thurgood| Lead role| A Gothic Tale| Narrator|| 2010 The Portal| George ‘Homeless George’||| Lights Out| Detective Callahan| Lead role|| Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes| William Thurgood|| | Alien Opponent| Father Melluzzo| Lead role| 2011| Clear Lake| Wayne| Lead role|Pizza Man (2011 film)>Pizza Man| Roderick||| Fancypants| Smiley| Lead role|| (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights)| Bolphunga| Voice| 2013Black Dynamite#Online parody series>Black Dynamite Teaches a Hard Way!| Himself| Guest role|| Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies| Himself| Lead roleTITLE=’PRO WRESTLERS VS ZOMBIES’ MOVIE TRAILER: ROWDY RODDY PIPER BATTLES THE UNDEADURL=HTTPS://WWW.SLASHFILM.COM/PRO-WRESTLERS-VS-ZOMBIES-MOVIE-TRAILER/ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 1, 2015, WOODS>FIRST=KEVINDATE=APRIL 5, 2013PUBLISHER=JOBLO, August 1, 2015, | 2014| Don’t Look Back| Grandfather| Eddie StarksWORK=WILLIAMDICKERSONFILMMAKER.COMACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 12, 2015LAST=DICKERSON, HTTPS://WWW.IMDB.COM/TITLE/TT3683398/FULLCREDITS?REF_=TT_OV_ST_SM>TITLE=DON’T LOOK BACK (2014) FULL CAST & CREWINTERNET MOVIE DATABASE>IMDB, August 14, 2015, |2015 The Reconciler|Russ|title=The Reconciler (2015) - IMDb access-date=2023-02-02}}| 2015| Portal to Hell| Jack| Lead roleACCESS-DATE=2015-11-29 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20151208141516/HTTP://TIFF.NET/FESTIVALS/FESTIVAL15/SHORTCUTS/PORTAL-TO-HELL, December 8, 2015, | 2015 The Masked Saint| Nicky Stone||| 2016 The Bet| Mr. Jablonski| Posthumous release|| 2016 The Chair| Murphy| Posthumous release|“>

Television {| class“wikitable sortable”

! Year! Title! Role! class=“unsortable” | Notes! class=“unsortable” | Ref.| 1987 The Highwayman| PreacherTelevision pilot>Pilot”WORK=THEOFFICIALJOHNCARPENTER.COMURL-STATUS=DEADARCHIVE-DATE=AUGUST 4, 2015TV.COM>ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 14, 2015PUBLISHER=CBS INTERACTIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160309072249/HTTP://WWW.TV.COM/SHOWS/THE-HIGHWAYMAN/CAST/, dead, | 1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!| Himself| Guest appearancePUBLISHER=R. R. BOWKER PUBLISHING, 1993, | 1990 (The Love Boat#Sequels, spin-offs and crossovers|The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage)| Maurice Steiger| TV Reunion MovieTV.COM>ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 14, 2015PUBLISHER=CBS INTERACTIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160309092552/HTTP://WWW.TV.COM/SHOWS/THE-LOVE-BOAT/A-VALENTINE-VOYAGE-139026/, dead, | 1992| Silk Stalkings| Jimmy Snow| Episode: “Wild Card” (S 2:Ep 4)|| 1993(Highlander: The Series>Highlander)| Anthony Gallen, Immortal| Episode: “Epitaph for Tommy” (S 2:Ep 10)TV.COM>ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 14, 2015PUBLISHER=CBS INTERACTIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160308104013/HTTP://WWW.TV.COM/SHOWS/HIGHLANDER/EPITAPH-FOR-TOMMY-55149/, dead, | 1994RoboCop (Canadian TV series)>RoboCop| Tex Jones/Faked Commander Cash| Episode: “Robocop vs. Commander Cash“|| 1998| Walker, Texas Ranger| Cody ‘The Crusader’ Conway| Episode: “Crusader“| 1999 The Outer Limits| MarlonSmall Friends (The Outer Limits)>Small Friends” (S 5:Ep 3)TV.COM>ACCESS-DATE=AUGUST 14, 2015PUBLISHER=CBS INTERACTIVEARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20160307115842/HTTP://WWW.TV.COM/SHOWS/THE-OUTER-LIMITS/SMALL-FRIENDS-21511/, dead, | Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends| Himself| Episode: “Wrestling” (S 2:Ep 6)| Mentors (TV series)>Mentors| Daniel Boone| Episode: “The Rescue” (S 1:Ep 13)|| 2003 The Man Show| Himself| Episode: Apologizing|| 2006| Robot Chicken| Himself| Voice, episode: “Metal Militia” (S 2:Ep 9)|| 2009–2013| It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia| Da’ Maniac| 2 episodesWEBSITE=AMAZON PUBLISHER=EZYDVD.COM.AU URL-STATUS=DEAD ARCHIVE-DATE=SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, mdy-all, | 2010| Cold Case| “Sweet” Sil Tavern| Episode: “One Fall” (S 7:Ep 16)| | 2011| Fantasy Factory| Himself| Episode: “Kid Lightning” (S 4:Ep 7)| | 2012Breaking In (TV series)>Breaking In| Mr. Weller| Episode: “The Contra Club” (S 2:Ep 1)WORK=AMAZON.COM, August 14, 2015, | 2013| Storage Wars| Himself| Episode: “Barry’s Angels” (S 4:Ep 11)| | 2014| Adventure Time| Don John| Voice; episode: “The Red Throne” (S 5:Ep 47)||2014WWE Legends’ House>WWE Legends’ House|Himself|10 episodes - Season 1|| 2015| Food Factory USA| Himself| Episode: “No Snout About It” (S 2:Ep 4)|“>

Online streaming {| class“wikitable”

! Year! Title! Role! Notes| 2014–2015| Piper’s Pit| HimselfPodcast, with PodcastOne from April 2014 to July 2015, two last episodes on SoundCloudHTTP://PODBAY.FM/SHOW/855752234WORK=PODBAY.FM, August 21, 2015, | 2015WWE Talking Smack>Table for 3| Himself
  • Three WWE personalities share stories over dinner.
  • Last appearance in WWE.
  • Aired posthumously on August 6, 2015.
}}WEB,www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0806/599150/wwe-network-announces-roddy-piper-marathon-for-today/, Roddy Piper Marathon On WWE Network Today, New WWE Series Debuting Tonight, wrestlinginc.com, August 7, 2015, August 6, 2015, Marc, Middleton, {{unreliable source?|certain=y|date=May 2017}}“>

Games {| class“wikitable”

! Year! Title! Role| 2013| Saints Row IV| Himself

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

{{see also|Lucha libre#Luchas de Apuestas|l1=Luchas de Apuestas}}{| class=“wikitable sortable” style="width:100%; text-align:center;”!Winner (wager)!Loser (wager)!Location!Event!Date!class=“unsortable“|NotesLuke Williams (wrestler)>Luke Williams (hair) Portland, Oregon Live Event {{dts3|Adrian Adonis (hair) >Pontiac, Michigan >WrestleMania III >198729}}

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Sister project links|d=Q59630|c=Category:Roddy Piper|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}} {{Navboxes||list1={{Hart family}}{{NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship}}{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (San Francisco version)}}{{WCW World Television Championship}}{{WWE Hall of Fame}}{{WWE Intercontinental Championship}}{{WWE United States Championship}}{{World Tag Team Championship (WWE)}}}}{{Authority control}}

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