A Goodbye Too Soon to Wrestling Icon “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WWE Tribute
By Nick “Red” Conley
On Friday night, I got home from a night out with some friends when I turned on my computer and received some devastating news from a friend on email. At 61 one years old, WWE legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (real name Roderick George Toombs) died suddenly, but peacefully, on August 30 in his sleep from cardiac arrest.
As a young wrestling fan in the 1980s and 90s, I have many memories of Piper, both positive and negative. While I found myself often rooting for his opponent, I can say he was always one of the most entertaining men to watch in the ring, full of energy, charisma, and an attitude unlike any other. He was so good that it was hard to tell when he was in and out of character. What I came to realize is that like his character in the ring, Roderick George Toombs was a charismatic, energetic man that refused to take crap from anyone.
Roddy Piper was never the biggest guy in the ring, but every time he was placed in the ring, you could expect something incredible. Roddy Piper rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s as a brash Scotsman who wore a kilt and was always ready for a fight. He was nicknamed “Rowdy” because of his bad attitude and rage, most memorable in his feuds with Hulk Hogan, Mr. T., Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and Goldust. Piper played a tremendous villain in the 1980s through his rage in the ring, skills on the microphone, unique style of dress, and his ability to energize, and anger, the crowd. Piper was eventually inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Proof that Piper was similar inside and outside the ring, he had a long, and often at times, contentious relationship with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. There were major trust issues between the two, which led many in the business to believe that Piper would be banned from making appearances. The relationship became so problematic at times that an intermediary was needed between Piper and McMahon. This made it even more exciting when Piper would show up unexpectedly or as advertised on Raw, Smackdown, or pay per views. But even McMahon, whose ego is as big as they come, realized that he could not shut out Piper, as the fans loved him and because he played such an integral part in the evolution of wrestling.
People outside of wrestling could also see the Piper’s unique talent. Piper transcended beyond wrestling and into acting in a 1988 sci-fi movie called “They Live,” directed by John Carpenter. Piper played a construction worker who discovered America was ruled by aliens. The movie, while cheesy compared to today’s standards, became a cult classic to some because of Piper’s involvement and memorable lines. Piper has starred in or made appearances in dozens of other movies and TV shows, including “It is Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Walker Texas Ranger.” Arguably what got Piper the job in Hollywood was his ability to deliver lines in the ring with such passion and his over-the-top performances in “Piper’s Pit.”
Piper wrestled regularly until 2008 and made various appearances in the ring and on house shows until 2014. In recent years, Piper took his skills in the ring and frequented comedy clubs mostly in Los Angeles, quickly becoming a favorite. While on stage, Piper shared funny stories about his days as a wrestler, often going in and out of character. As he did in the ring, Piper quickly became a favorite at the comedy clubs. Those in the wrestling world were quick to react on social media to Piper’s death, including Jim Ross, John Layfield, Kevin Nash, the Iron Sheik, Natalia, Lillian Garcia, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, and various others. UFC fighter Ronda Rousey, whose nickname is “Rowdy,” was bestowed on her by Piper. Prior to her match with Bethe Correia, Rousey posted a photo of Piper on her Instagram account and stated that she was dedicating her fight to Piper.
All in all, there is no replacing someone like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. His career and legacy as a superstar spans four decades, and one that has influenced thousands inside and outside of the ring. Even at the age of over 60, Piper’s appearances in the ring or on WWE house shows continued to draw huge reactions from the audience. His passion and attitude that he was most known for seem unchanged. Like so many other WWE Superstars as of late, Piper has left us too soon and sadly, we are forced to say goodbye.