“Just when they think they have all the answers, I change all the questions” is the perfect way to describe “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as arguably the best ever as This Day in Wrestling History Remembers him .
When we look at wrestlers today, it’s impossible not to compare them to those that came before, and while there are plenty that may look more the part than Piper did, none have his charisma.
It takes a special talent to be able to rant and rave and keep our attention throughout, and it’s a testament to his hard work and skill at being the one that was responsible for helping so many become huge.
Lasting legacy
His work ethic and toughness was among the best if not the best, and he helped put superstars like Hulk Hogan over to the point even Hogan has admitted he and the WWE wouldn’t have been so huge without Piper.
Piper helped numerous wrestlers rise in the business, including Bret Hart.
Special thanks t0 @awrestlinghistorian for the excerpt.
“I would be a footnote in this business without Roddy Piper. Roddy took a shine to me and took me under his wing. Maybe it was because I was a Canadian kid like he was, but he protected and looked out for me right from the start from the first time I met him.
“Roddy’s last name was Toombs, and I told him my dad had family with the same name on his side of the family. Roddy was from around the Saskatoon area, and my dad was from Saskatoon, so we toyed with the idea that we might be blood-related.
“As it turned out, when Roddy and my dad got to compare notes when he came to Calgary, we determined there were two different spellings—Toombs and Tombs. So we weren’t related, but from the very first day that we always wondered about it, Roddy always called me, ‘Cuz.’ We never called each other Roddy or Bret, we always called each other ‘Cuz’ right up until he died. Along with my brother Owen and Jim Neidhart, the closest guy to me in the business was Roddy.
“Piper passed the torch to me at WrestleMania. He was one of the first guys to help make me into a main attraction. When I think back about my career, with the exception of Mr. Perfect, Roddy Piper was the only guy who said ‘I’m going to help make one of these new guys into a star for the next generation.’ I’ll never forget that. Roddy was always about business and trying to help the young guys, and he did that for me.” – Bret Hart, Sports Illustrated interview August 3, 2015
Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and worked with the company under a legends contract before embarking on a standup comedy routine.
His passing on July 31, 2015 was one that hurt more than most as he was a childhood favorite and makes This Day in Wrestling History special to us.
But he left wrestling a better place for those of us that got to enjoy his antics and his legacy will never be forgotten.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!
