Rowdy Roddy Piper- The Hot Rod wrestler everyone loved to hate

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper- the story of a wrestling great

It’s hard to believe that Roddy Piper’s first stint with the WWE (then WWF) only lasted from 1984-1987. During those four years, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was an absolute terror. Few could pull emotion from the crowd like Piper could when he had a microphone in his hands.

Piper’s insults and comebacks were legendary, and the master of words proved he could get under just about anybody’s skin.

In the WWE, wrestler-hosted talk shows have always been a fairly predominant segment, and none have been more memorable than Piper’s Pit. Roddy had both heels and faces on his show, and no matter who the guest was, it was almost a guarantee that Piper would do something memorable either with them or to them. From smashing a coconut on “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka’s head to being assaulted by Andre the Giant, a Piper’s Pit segment never passed without something notable happening.

Roddy Piper had the prestigious honour of being in the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania when he teamed with Paul Orndorff to wrestle Mr. T and Hulk Hogan. This match featured Muhammed Ali and Pat Paterson as special guest referees!

The feud from WrestleMania I spilled over into WrestleMania II the following year and saw Piper's main event again against Mr. T- but in a boxing match. Joe Frazier was notably in Mr. T’s corner. Piper lost both WrestleMania matches, but nothing speaks to a performer's popularity quite like being the main event two years in a row for WWE’s biggest event.

Roddy Piper’s Early Life

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on April 17, 1954. Piper was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his father worked as a police officer. Piper had a rocky life during his youth that saw him get expelled from junior high- an act that led to a falling out with his father. 

Roddy’s turbulent home life saw him strike out on his own during his teen years. Piper lived on the streets and stayed in hostels whenever he could find one. 

Roddy Piper’s Start in Wrestling

At age 15, Toombs became aware that wrestling paid. Considering Piper wasn’t making money living on the streets, he took the opportunity to wrestle without looking back. He learned to play the bagpipes when he was a kid, and that talent helped him greatly in his career. Toombs debuted as the bagpipe-playing “Rowdy” Roddy Piper at the start of his career- a rarity for a wrestler to keep the same name and gimmick throughout their career.

Piper wrestled for many different promotions before landing in NWA Hollywood Wrestling in the 1970s. While there, Piper met and was tutored by “Judo” Gene LeBell.

Piper’s ability to rile up the crowd came naturally to him, and he sunk into his heel persona quite early. Piper would use dirty tactics and his gift of gab to get audiences off their feet to boo him.

Piper moved on to Georgia Championship Wrestling, where he both wrestled and did commentary work. Piper had a notable feud with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine that ended in a dog collar match on the first-ever wrestling pay-per-view event in November 1983.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Piper joined the WWE (then WWF) in 1984. He brought his bagpipes and natural charisma with him and quickly became one of the company's top heels. The company created Piper’s Pit, and Roddy was off to the races. It didn’t seem to matter who was opposite Piper during the segments; he would make sure the crowd got their money’s worth.

In late 1984, Piper attacked “Captain” Lou Albano and “kicked” Cyndi Lauper- an incident that shot Piper’s heat with the fans through the roof. In less than a year, Piper was perhaps the most hated wrestler in the company. He had worked his magic, and the fans loved to hate him for it.

This infamous incident led to a match with Hulk Hogan in 1985 at “The War to Settle the Score” on MTV. The uber-popular music network hosted the event, which was a boon for both companies. “The War to Settle the Score” saw the introduction of Mr. T and the start of Piper’s legendary feud with the celebrity. 

Piper was a big player in the main events of both WrestleMania I and WrestleMania II playing opposite Mr. T and increasing his standing with the company. 

Piper has said that Piper’s Pit segments in the ‘80s were completely unscripted. Quite a feat considering how smooth most of them are. Piper’s natural ability to hold the attention of the crowd cannot be understated. He was simply captivating and held that quality throughout his career everywhere he went.

Piper’s Pit - The best of Rowdy Roddy Piper

One of the most notable Piper’s Pit incidents was when Piper assaulted Jimmy Snuka. The segment led to a long-lasting feud between the two. Piper also started a feud with Bruno Sammartino during a Piper’s Pit segment, leading to a feud and a steel cage match that Piper lost.

Piper entered a feud with Hulk Hogan, and the two created what was the most talked-about feud at the time. Their war would be remembered as one of the most notable feuds in the history of WWE (WWF) and all professional wrestling.

Piper and Hogan wrestled at MTV’s “The War to Settle the Score” and then again at WrestleMania I. Arguably, the two biggest wrestling events in 1985, and both featured “Rowdy” Roddy Piper front and centre. 

After his feud with the Hulkster, Piper hosted many Piper’s Pit segments and featured appearances from Andre the Giant, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and Jesse “The Body” Ventura.

Piper’s Pit was replaced with The Flower Shop hosted by Adrian Adonis. Piper was irritated by the replacement and started a feud with Adonis over it. Piper crashed Adonis’ show for weeks, culminating in a showdown of sorts between the two segments. Adonis got the upper hand with the help of Piper’s former bodyguards Bob Orton and Don Muraco. The trio destroyed Piper’s Pit and beat Roddy down.

Piper and Adonis eventually met in a Hair vs. Hair match at WrestleMania III. Piper won the match after Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake interfered to help him out, Brutus had issues with Adonis after The Flower Shop host sheered Beefcake’s hair.

Taking a break from the WWE - Then getting back together

Piper took a hiatus from the WWE in 1987 until 1989. He returned with a Piper’s Pit segment at WrestleMania V and embarrassed Morton Downey Jr. and Brother Love. 

Piper feuded with Bobby Heenan and Rick Rude throughout 1989 and into part of 1990. The duo had many matches during their long and brutal feud, including lumberjack matches and cage matches. Piper won most of their matches, but the feud never had a true ending on TV.

Piper won the Intercontinental Championship from The Mountie at the 1992 Royal Rumble. However, Piper lost the title soon after to Bret Hart. Piper disappeared until 1994 when he returned to guest referee at WrestleMania X. Piper defeated Jerry “The King” Lawler at King of the Ring the left again until WrestleMania XI in 1995, where he returned once again as a guest referee.

Piper wrestled Goldust in an infamous Backstage Brawl at WrestleMania XII in 1996. The match was famously brutal and featured an O.J. Simpson-like Bronco car chase. Piper won the match.

Piper went to WCW from 1996-2000. He reignited his feud with Hulk Hogan for a series of matches, notable headlining StarCade- WCW’s premier event- in 1996. Piper guest-refereed a few times and became the on-air “Commissioner” of WCW for a time. His tenure was ultimately a letdown in WCW, as it was for many wrestlers there in the late ‘90s.

Piper would return to the WWE many times between 2000-2015 and was even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Roddy Pipers most Famous Matches

WrestleMania VII – Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart

Piper entered this match as the Intercontinental Champion. The two put on what many consider Piper’s career-best match and one of Bret Hart’s best. Hart was the master of technical wrestling, and Piper held his own fine with the Excellence of Execution. Piper lost the match, but he proved that he could go with the best of them once again.

Starrcade 1983 – Roddy Piper vs. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine

The first-ever pay-per-view in wrestling was Starrcade 1983. Piper and Valentine wrestled in what many consider the best match on the card in a Dog Collar match that was quite violent for its time. Piper and Valentine were about ten years ahead of their time in a match filled with blood and brutal manoeuvres. 

WrestleMania I - Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff Vs Hulk Hogan & Mr. T 

The first WrestleMania saw Piper up his villain game to the max to battle Hulk Hogan, and Mr. T. Piper and Orndorff lost the match, but Piper cemented himself as the top bad guy in the WWE. Wrestling was catching fire something fierce in the mainstream, and Piper did not disappoint the audience that tuned in.

Rowdy Roddy Piper’s wrestling Style

Piper was a brawler that could exchange punches with the best of them. No stranger to the technical side of wrestling, Piper was a skilled mat worker as well. But the bread and butter of Piper’s offense was an all-out brawl. Like Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, he had to sacrifice his technical ability for the sake of his character.

Roddy Piper – Greatness in many forms.

Roddy Piper’s legacy is undeniable. He wasn’t the first to ever use the microphone or host a wrestling talk show, but he was absolutely one of the best to do either. Piper kept audiences on the edge of their seats whether he was a heel or a face, and he proved that it was something to pay attention to whenever he was around.