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"Rowdy" Roddy Piper (born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian professional wrestler of Scottish descent. He was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His alter ego hails from Glasgow, Scotland, which included wearing a kilt and walking to the ring to bagpipe music. The Scottish surname Piper refers to one who plays the bagpipes. He earned the nickname "Rowdy" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" rage, spontaneity and quick wit, and is also nicknamed "Hot Rod". He currently makes occasional apperances for World Wrestling Entertainment.

Career

After being expelled from junior high and having a falling out with his father, Toombs hit the road and stayed in youth hostels wherever he could find them. By the age of 15, he started to become a pro wrestler and had his first ever match, with Larry Hennig. He lost the match in ten seconds.

In the early 1970s, Piper was a jobber in Texas working for Paul Boesch's NWA Houston Wrestling promotion and in Dallas working for Fritz Von Erich's Big Time Wrestling. By late 1974 and early 1975 Piper found success working for Mike Lebell's & Gene Lebell's NWA Hollywood Wrestling and Roy Shire's NWA San Francisco Wrestling from the legendary Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles and The Cow Palace in San Francisco. Los Angeles was where Piper developed his Rowdy Character as one of the most hated heels in Los Angeles not seen since the days of Classy Freddy Blassie. Piper also served as manager for several heels in Los Angeles and occasionally work as a referee from time to time. Piper feuded with all the faces in the area and had a long and bloody feud with Chavo Guerrero.

During Piper's California stint, he would go on to win: the legendary Americas (Los Angeles Version) title 5 times, the U.S. title (San Francisco Version) (1), NWA World Light Heavyweight Title (1), Americas Tag Team Title (7) with various partners like Crusher Verdu (2), Adrian Adonis (1), Ron Bass(1), Pak Choo (1), The Hangman (Gene Lebell) (1), and one time with Chavo Guerrero with Piper as The Masked Canadian. Finally in 1978 Piper along with Ed Wiskoski won the prestigious NWA World Tag Team Titles (San Francisco Version).

By 1979, he left the California promotions for even more fame in Don Owens’s Pacific Northwest Territory were he teamed with Killer Tim Brooks, Rick Martel and Mike Popovich to win The NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Title (5) and Piper went on to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title with victories over both Lord Jonathan Boyd and Playboy Buddy Rose.

Piper entered the WWF in 1984 as a manager but soon started wrestling full-time. Later that year, he was given his own interview segment called Piper's Pit, in which he talked to other superstars, and which would frequently end in a fight between Piper and his guest.

The ''Piper's Pit' segments were very popular and helped create the feuds Piper would have with other wrestlers. He even went as far as insulting superstars, such as, André the Giant, Mr. T, and preliminary wrestler Frank Williams.

In one Piper's Pit, Piper had an infamous interview with "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Piper started insulting Snuka's heritage by bringing out pineapples, bananas, and dropping coconuts onto the table. Snuka took offense to this, and Piper then attacked Snuka by hitting him over the head with a coconut, and shoving a banana in his face. He followed this up by whipping Snuka with his belt. Piper then left before Snuka could fight back. This incident led to a long feud between the two.

Another feud, this time between Piper and Hulk Hogan erupted soon after, and became what was at the time the highest-profile feud in wrestling history, thanks to the involvement of pop singer Cyndi Lauper.

In 1985, MTV broadcast "The War To Settle The Score", featuring a main-event matchup between Piper and Hogan. This event set up the very first WrestleMania, which pitted Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff against Hogan and Mr. T. Piper would once again face Mr. T in a boxing match at WrestleMania 2 in 1986. Piper lost the match by disqualification after bodyslamming Mr. T.

Following a leave of absence from the WWF, Piper returned to find his Piper's Pit segment replaced by The Flower Shop, a segment hosted by effeminate wrestler Adrian Adonis. Piper (by now a face) stormed the set of Adonis' show, and destroyed it. This led to their Hair versus Hair match at WrestleMania III, which was billed as Piper's retirement match. Piper won the match, with the assistance of the newly turned face, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.

Piper would return to the WWF with a live Piper's Pit at WrestleMania V. He also wrestled part-time, while serving as an on-air host and commentator.

At the 1992 Royal Rumble, Piper defeated The Mountie for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, but lost it soon after to Bret "The Hitman" Hart at WrestleMania VIII, in what is regarded as one of the best matches in Wrestlemania history. Disappearing from the WWF, he soon re-emerged in 1994 at WrestleMania X as guest referee for the WWF Championship match between Hart and Yokozuna. Notable during the course of the match, was commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler, remarking that he hated Piper. Lawler would continue to taunt Piper on his King's Court segment on Monday Night RAW, eventually culminating with Lawler bringing out a skinny teenager in a Piper T-shirt and kilt and forcing him to kiss his feet. Enraged, Piper agreed to wrestle Lawler at the King of the Ring, where Piper emerged victorious.

Leaving the WWF again, he soon returned in 1995 at WrestleMania XI, once again in a referee capacity, for the submission-only match between Hart and Bob Backlund. The appearance would turn out to be a one-time-only deal.

In 1996, Piper was named as interim WWF President, following Vader's malicious assault of Gorilla Monsoon, following the Royal Rumble. As president, Piper had become the object of affection for Goldust. Enraged, Piper claimed he would "make a man" out of Goldust, and would do so at WrestleMania XII, in a "Hollywood Backlot Brawl." While the contest began in an alleyway behind the Arrowhead Pond, Goldust would jump into his gold Cadillac and run Piper over, ultimately escaping (allegedly) onto the highways of Anaheim. Piper pursued in his white Ford Bronco, which when viewed from aerial footage, looked amazingly similar to the O.J. Simpson "slow-speed" chase from two years prior. (The WWF had attempted to be humourous and recycle the footage with Vince McMahon quipping on commentary, "This footage looks awfully familiar.") The two would eventually return to WrestleMania XII, where Piper disrobed Goldust, effectively ending the confrontation. With Gorilla Monsoon back in control of the WWF by the end of WrestleMania XII, Piper would once again leave the Federation. (Ironically, this match was meant to be Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) vs. Goldust, however, Hall suddenly gave his notice that he was leaving for WCW and he was replaced by Piper.)

Later in 1996, Piper joined WCW. He appeared at Halloween Havoc to "break Hogan's monotony." In his first appearance, Piper famously asked Hogan, "Do you think they would've loved you so much if they hadn't hated me?"

Piper's WCW tenure is best remembered for his long-running feud with Hogan-at the time a heel-over which of them was wrestling's true icon. Piper and Hogan wrestled in a non-title match as the main event of 1996's Starrcade, WCW's biggest pay-per-view event of the year. Piper defeated Hogan with a sleeper hold.

Piper would once again face Hogan in a non-title steel cage match at Halloween Havoc 1997. Promos showed Piper locking himself in the Alcatraz prison and vigorously exercising in order to prepare for the highly anticipated match. Piper was featured prominently in WCW, and eventually received a title shot against Hogan. However, he never held the WCW Championship.

Sporting a T-shirt reading "Reality Check," Piper continued his role as a face, often grabbing the mic to criticize the likes of Ric Flair or Eric Bischoff on their wrong doings. In the fall of 2000, WCW terminated Piper's contract.

In November 2002, Piper's autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, was released. At WrestleMania XIX in Seattle, Piper ran in during the Hulk Hogan-Vince McMahon bloodbath, and turned heel again by attacking Hogan with a steel pipe. He brought back Piper's Pit on the April 10, 2003 edition of "SmackDown!", and after aligning with Sean O'Haire, Piper smashed a coconut over the head of Rikishi, a realtive of Snuka. At the Backlash PPV that month, Rikishi returned the favor to Piper. Around the same time on Monday Night RAW, Chris Jericho started The Highlight Reel a show similar to Piper's Pit. In June 2003, WWE officially released Piper from his contract, after a controversial interview with HBO in which Piper discussed the darker side of the wrestling business.

In 2004 Piper appeared for the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, hosting several "In the Pit with Piper" interview segments. He interviewed former rival Jimmy Snuka at the company's first three-hour pay-per-vew, Victory Road, where he dared Snuka to get revenge by hitting him with a coconut. Instead, TNA wrestler Kid Kash eventually used the coconut on Sonjay Dutt. Piper also served as one of their NWA Championship Committee members, culminating in refereeing a match at their Final Resolution pay-per-view event.

On February 21, 2005, it was announced that Piper was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Piper held an edition of Piper's Pit] at Wrestlemania 21 where he interviewed "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The interview was interrupted by Carlito, who was promptly beaten up by both Piper and Stone Cold. In April 2005, Piper co-presented Celebrity Wrestling in the United Kingdom on ITV. This Saturday evening reality show saw celebrities learn wrestling and compete in challenge matches. After a few weeks the programme was to be cancelled, due to a huge drop in TV ratings but instead was moved to Sunday mornings to finish its final episodes.

Piper continues to make periodic appearances on WWE TV, occasionally wrestling but usually hosting Piper's Pit segments.

He is currently married with four children. On April 4, 2006 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Piper was issued an award by the Mayor, Sam Katz. Roddy Piper is currently on the road for a spoken word tour based upon his autobiography. He will be starring in the motion picture Sin-Jin Smyth as U.S. Marshal, Trent Polly. The film is due for release in October of 2006.

The WWE plans to release a DVD called, "Born To Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story," on November 7, 2006

In wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

Wrestlers managed by Piper

Previous managers

Quotes

  • "Just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions."
  • "Real men wear kilts."
  • "You don't throw rocks at a man with a machine gun!"
  • "I am your reality check!"
  • "Ric Flair, the Slim Whitman of Pro-Wrestling."
  • "I'm the reason Hulk Hogan lost his hair!"
  • "Russia gives us Nikolai Volkoff, and we give them MTV and 2 Live Crew. Fair trade, huh?"
  • "Nature Boy, what's that? Do you run around the forest like Euell Gibbons, eating bark or something?"
  • "Jerry Lawler walks in here with his crown - DA DA DUM - Imperial Margerine - and talks about what he's going to do to me. Lawler, if you think you're going to beat me, if you think you can do ANYTHING to me, than you really are the king. King of FOOLS, jack!!"
  • "Rowdy Roddy cut his locks; but don't worry women, he's still a fox."
  • "I'm so quick, I could spit in the wind, duck, and let it hit the old lady behind me."
  • "I don't need to know how tough I am to know how tough I am."
  • "Ric Flair, you once called me a woman. Well how does it feel to get beat by a woman?"
  • "I walk so fast, I talk so fast, I could turn the light off and be in bed before the room's dark!"
  • "When you were young did your mommy and daddy place the swing too close to the wall?"
  • "Your stupidity is something you're born with."
  • "The boss is back."
  • "My name is Rowdy Roddy Piper and you ain't seen nothing yet!"
  • "I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all outta bubblegum."
  • Put it in your hand, brother!"
  • "I WAS ROWDY BEFORE ROWDY WAS COOL! HAA!!"

Piper's Pit

Piper's Pit was an interview segment featuring Rowdy Roddy Piper which was mainstay on WWE (then WWF) television from 1984 to 1987, although Piper also hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions.

Piper's Pit returned during Piper's short return to the WWE in 2003, and also in 2005 at Wrestlemania 21 and in a 2006 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, interviewing John Layfield and The Boogeyman. Roddy Piper was scheduled to interview one of his most legendary guests, The Undertaker on the June 2, 2006 edition of Smackdown! about his loss to The Great Khali. However, The Undertaker declined the invitation a few days before. Instead, Piper had Daivari and The Great Khali as his guests. He insulted Khali's Indian background, and ended up being knocked out by him.

In the Pit with Piper was introduced to TNA Wrestling after leaving the WWE.

Several memorable Pit moments:

  • Piper smashes a coconut shell over Jimmy Snuka's head.
  • Piper and bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton kidnap The Haiti Kid after a match and shave his head Mr. T-style on the Pit set.
  • In a Pit emanating from Madison Square Garden, Piper playing mind games with his guest Mr. T, showing some rather humorous cartoons of what the star of the A-Team may look like after their boxing match at WrestleMania 2.
  • On a special Pit on Saturday Night's Main Event, Piper berates and betrays "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the wake of their recent loss to Mr. T and Hulk Hogan in the main event at the first Wrestlemania. Piper then tries to jump Orndorff, but is beat to the punch. Orndorff goes off on both Piper and bodyguard Orton, then attempts to piledrive Piper but is blindsided by Orton and his cast from behind.
  • For home video only, Piper is on the set interviewing his all-time favorite guest, himself, using the merged-screen technique.
  • Adrian Adonis changes gimmicks on the spot, foregoing his leather jacket for trades his bad-boy biker personna for the more flamboyant, borderline homosexual gimmick that he would take on for the remainder of his World Wrestling Entertainment tenure.
  • Special guest '80s pop star Cyndi Lauper attacks Capt.Lou Albano and Piper himself after hearing enough insults from Albano. Funny note: Piper kept calling Albano, "Albino" throughout, and this completely goes over Albano's head.
  • Piper interviews jobber Frankie Williams, tells him that he's worthless and beats him up. This is where Piper coins one of his famous quotes: "Just when you think they've got the answers, I change the questions."
  • A newly turned face Piper, while engaged in a violent feud with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis, is brutally attacked and knocked unconscious during the infamous "Flower Shop vs. Piper's Pit" showdown by Adonis and former Piper allies Bob Orton Jr., and Don Muraco who then proceed to destroy the set. A crippled yet enraged Piper would gain revenge by destroying Adonis' "Flower Shop" set a week later.
  • Uninvited guest Jimmy Hart insults and distracts Piper as Adonis comes out of nowhere to make a surprising return from a previous Piper attack to ambush the Rowdy One, causing a brawl on the set. With Hart's help, Adonis would eventually get the better of Piper, rendering him unconscious with "The Goodnight Irene" sleeper hold. To add insult to injury, he put a flower in Piper's mouth before he and Hart walked off-set.
  • André the Giant turns heel on Hulk Hogan and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania III.
  • Piper "extinguishes" Morton Downey, Jr.'s cigarette with a blast from a fire extinguisher at WrestleMania V.
  • At WrestleMania 21, Piper spit on Carlito using an apple after Carlito interrupted the Piper's Pit segment interview (which featured Stone Cold Steve Austin)
  • Piper and Sean O' Haire invite a fan from the audience in the ring who was a fan of Mr. America then proceded to attack him, which lead to his artificial leg being ripped off, thus introducing the world to Zach Gowen

Movies

Championships and accomplishments

  • Other Titles
  • Manitoba Amateur Wrestling Championship (167lb)
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 17 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
  • Piper has won several PWI Awards over the years. He won Most Inspirational in 1982, Most Hated Wrestler in 1984 and 1985, and Most Popular Wrestler in 1986. He was also involved in the Match of the Year in 1985 (Piper & Paul Orndorff vs. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T).

WWF Intercontinental Championship Preceded by:
The Mountie First Succeeded by:
Bret Hart

Trivia

External links

1954 births | Canadian professional wrestlers | Dungeon graduates | Film actors | Highlander actors | Living people | Professional wrestling executives | Professional wrestling managers and valets | Saskatonians | Scottish Canadians | Saskatchewan sportspeople

Roddy Piper | ロディ・パイパー | Roddy Piper

 

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