Whether you knew him as "The Hot Rod" or "The Rowdy Scot" there is no denying that "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was a larger than life character in and out of the wrestling ring. That is why it was such a shock when I read that he had passed away at the age of 61 due to cardiac arrest.
When I became a wrestling fan in 1991 I had missed the hey day of Piper in the early to mid 1980's (I have caught up through the DVD's of his legendary career). During that time he had memorable feuds with Ric Flair, Jack Brisco and Greg Valentine in the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance). It would be his feud with Hulk Hogan in WWE in 1985 which would put wrestling in the national spotlight. Piper would go on to team with Paul Orndorff against Hogan and Mr. T at WrestleMania I and help WWE become the global corporation it is today.
Piper also found success in the mainstream world starring in many movies including the cult classic "They Live" with Keith David. Their fight scene in that movie is regarded as one of the best of all time.
In the late 90's during wrestling's last boom period Piper appeared in WCW and fought Hulk Hogan at Starrcade '96 in a match to determine who was the true icon of the sport. After Piper left WCW he made sporadic appearances for WWE and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
No one will ever forget the contributions that Rowdy Roddy Piper made to the sport of pro wrestling and to the entertainment industry itself. He was a villain, an anti-hero, a rebel, and a true legend. We will never see his type again.
THE PROFESSOR
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