Piper faced Hogan in a title match at [[SuperBrawl#SuperBrawl VII|SuperBrawl VII]]. This time, Hogan beat Piper when [[Randy Savage]] interfered and joined the New World Order. Promos showed Piper locking himself in the [[Alcatraz Island|Alcatraz]] prison and vigorously exercising in order to prepare for the highly anticipated match. During the spring of 1997, Piper would join forces with [[Ric Flair]] and [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|The Four Horsemen]] in their battle with the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]]. Shortly there after, Piper and Flair would feud before Piper disappeared from the scene. Piper briefly returned in October 1997 to face Hogan once again in a steel cage match.
Piper faced Hogan in a title match at [[SuperBrawl#SuperBrawl VII|SuperBrawl VII]]. This time, Hogan beat Piper when [[Randy Savage]] interfered and joined the New World Order. Promos showed Piper locking himself in the [[Alcatraz Island|Alcatraz]] prison and vigorously exercising in order to prepare for the highly anticipated match. During the spring of 1997, Piper would join forces with [[Ric Flair]] and [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|The Four Horsemen]] in their battle with the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]]. Shortly there after, Piper and Flair would feud before Piper disappeared from the scene. Piper briefly returned in October 1997 to face Hogan once again in a steel cage match.
In early 1998, Piper once again returned to feud with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, often teaming with The Giant, and also involving himself with [[Bret Hart]]. In early 1999, Piper had a short run as United States Champion, became WCW Commissioner, and resumed his feud with Ric Flair over control of WCW. Piper also had a short feud with [[Buff Bagwell]] in the summer of 1999. In late 1999, Piper would once again be featured on WCW Television, in an angle with [[Vince Russo]], who was now portraying himself as the "Powers That Be" (an un-seen power that was controling WCW). At Starrcade 1999, Piper was the special referee in the WCW title match featuring [[Bill Goldberg]] & Bret Hart. Forced by Russo, Piper called for the bell when Hart locked in the Sharpshooter on Goldberg, when it was apparent that Goldberg hadn't submitted. The feud between Piper and the Powers That Be ended shortly after and Piper disappeared, never to be seen on WCW TV again.
In early 1998, Piper once again returned to feud with Hulk Hogan Randy Savage, and [[Bret Hart]]. In early 1999, Piper had a short run as United States Champion, became WCW Commissioner, and resumed his feud with Ric Flair over control of WCW. Piper also had a short feud with [[Buff Bagwell]] in the summer of 1999. In late 1999, Piper would once again be featured on WCW Television, in an angle with [[Vince Russo]], who was now portraying himself as the "Powers That Be" (an un-seen power that was controling WCW). At Starrcade 1999, Piper was the special referee in the WCW title match featuring [[Bill Goldberg]] & Bret Hart. Forced by Russo, Piper called for the bell when Hart locked in the Sharpshooter on Goldberg, when it was apparent that Goldberg hadn't submitted. The feud between Piper and the Powers That Be ended shortly after and Piper disappeared, never to be seen on WCW TV again.
In the fall of [[2000]], WCW terminated Piper's contract.
In the fall of [[2000]], WCW terminated Piper's contract.
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 was the youngest wrestler in the history of professional wrestling and had his first ever pro wrestling match, with Larry Hennig. He lost the match in ten seconds. He was a boxer and an amateur wrestler before he started to become a pro wrestler. He won the Golden Gloves boxing championship. He was awarded a Black Belt from the world-renowned 'Judo' Gene Lebell. He has held more than 38 professional wrestling titles. He has won more than 7,000 professional matches.
AWA (1973-1975)
From 1973-1975 Piper was a jobber in the AWA, Kansas City, the Maritimes, and Texas working for Paul Boesch's NWA Houston Wrestling promotion and in Dallas working for Fritz Von Erich's Big Time Wrestling. While in Texas Piper impressed many of the guys including Red Bastien who arranged for him to go to Portland. However, what was supposed to be a brief run in California turned out to be a long term stint as booker Leo Garibaldi and publicist Jeff Walton were impressed with Piper and saw the money making possibilities he had as a heel.
NWA Years (1975-1978)
By late 1975 and early 1976 Piper was a top heel for Mike Lebell's & Gene Lebell's NWA Hollywood Wrestling. In 77-78 also started to work for Roy Shire's NWA San Francisco Wrestling in addition to remaining with the LA office. Los Angeles was where Piper developed his Rowdy Character as one of the most hated heels in Los Angeles since the days of Classy Freddy Blassie. Piper also served as manager for several heels in Los Angeles and worked 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 Owen’s Pacific Northwest Territory where he teamed with Killer Tim Brooks, Rick Martel and Mike Popovich to win The NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Title (5). Piper went on to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title with victories over both Lord Jonathan Boyd and "Playboy" Buddy Rose.
The Mid-Atlantic Years (1980-1983)
In late 1980 Piper ventured to the Mid-Atlantic territory where he grew to achieve even bigger fame. He beat Jack Brisco for the Mid-Atlantic title and also Ric Flair for the US belt which turned out to be a huge feud. In 1981 Piper also started with the Georgia territory as an antagonistic heel commentator. This is where he started to get worldwide attention. In 1982 due to showing up late for a match he was fired and reportedly blackballed. Piper maintains this in his book, but others dispute this. He did receive an offer from Gary Hart to go to World Class but the money was not good enough. Instead he went to Puerto Rico for a month or so and was able to get booked again by Jim Crockett shortly thereafter. It was at this time that due to saving a fan's life during a stabbing incident, that Piper was turned face. He feuded with Sgt. Slaughter and more notably Greg Valentine, who busted the eardrum in his left ear, leaving him with permanent hearing loss. This culminated in a dog collar match at the first Starrcade.
The WWF Years (1984-1996)
Around this time WWF owner Vince McMahon contacted Piper, who however insisted on serving out his contract. Piper started in the WWF in late 1983 and at the same time fulfilled dates with Crockett. On his way out he turned heel which set the stage for his WWF run in 1984. He started 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 (aka Jobber) Frank Williams. According to Piper's autobiography, Piper's Pit was completely unscripted, and was in fact so popular that it was taken on the road. In addition to pleasing many of his fans who wanted to see the Pit in person, it accomplished two other things: it gave Piper the opportunity to heal some nagging injuries while still retaining his heat with the fans.
In one Piper's Pit, Piper had an infamous interview with 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 smashing 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.
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 the then 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 from wrestling before becoming an actor fulltime (this was short lived). 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.
He re-emerged in 1994 at WrestleMania X as guest referee for the WWF Championship match between Bret Hart and Yokozuna. Notable during the course of the match, was commentator Jerry 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 humorous 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. This match was meant to be Razor Ramon vs. Goldust, however, Scott Hall was suspended in the weeks before Wrestlemania and was replaced by Piper.
The WCW Years (1996-2000)
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 faced Hogan in a title match at SuperBrawl VII. This time, Hogan beat Piper when Randy Savage interfered and joined the New World Order. Promos showed Piper locking himself in the Alcatraz prison and vigorously exercising in order to prepare for the highly anticipated match. During the spring of 1997, Piper would join forces with Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen in their battle with the nWo. Shortly there after, Piper and Flair would feud before Piper disappeared from the scene. Piper briefly returned in October 1997 to face Hogan once again in a steel cage match.
In early 1998, Piper once again returned to feud with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Bret Hart. In early 1999, Piper had a short run as United States Champion, became WCW Commissioner, and resumed his feud with Ric Flair over control of WCW. Piper also had a short feud with Buff Bagwell in the summer of 1999. In late 1999, Piper would once again be featured on WCW Television, in an angle with Vince Russo, who was now portraying himself as the "Powers That Be" (an un-seen power that was controling WCW). At Starrcade 1999, Piper was the special referee in the WCW title match featuring Bill Goldberg & Bret Hart. Forced by Russo, Piper called for the bell when Hart locked in the Sharpshooter on Goldberg, when it was apparent that Goldberg hadn't submitted. The feud between Piper and the Powers That Be ended shortly after and Piper disappeared, never to be seen on WCW TV again.
In the fall of 2000, WCW terminated Piper's contract.
Return to the WWE (2003)
In November 2002, Piper's autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, was released. At WrestleMania XIX in Seattle, Washington, 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 relative 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. The two even verbally sparred on TV, with Jericho calling Piper fat and telling him to "call him when he lost some weight", and Piper's famously retorting, "I have seen Chris Jericho wrestle. I have heard Chris Jericho talk. I have even heard Chris Jericho sing. So I'll make you a deal: I promise you that when I lose some weight, I'll call you. And when you get some talent, you call me." At the 2003 Judgment Day pay-per-view, the two met again, with Jericho telling Piper he made a wrong turn and missed the senior's home and alluding to the incident where Piper ripped off a fan's (later revealed to be Zach Gowen) leg and used it as a weapon, mentioning there were some midgets and lepers he could thrash. Piper responded by blasting him for ripping off the Piper's Pit idea and drilling it into the ground and called Jericho's birth an "accident". In June 2003, WWE officially released Piper from his contract, after a controversial interview with HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in which Piper discussed the darker side of the wrestling business. On his 2006 DVD, Piper claimed that HBO took parts of his interviews out of context to make wrestling look worse.
TNA Stints (2004)
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-view, 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.
WWE Hall of Fame
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 Austin. 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.
Second return to WWE (2005-)
Piper continues to make periodic appearances on WWE TV, occasionally wrestling but usually hosting Piper's Pit segments. He makes appearances for both the RAW brand and the Smackdown! brand.
On July 11, 2005 episode of RAW, Piper returned to host Piper's Pit with guest Shawn Michaels. At the end of the show, Piper was superkicked by Michaels.
Piper once again appeared on RAW on October 3, 2005 for RAW Homecoming. He hosted Piper's Pit with guest Mick Foley, later in the segement, Randy Orton and Bob Orton Jr. appeared and attacked both Foley and Piper. This event sparked a mini-feud between Piper and the Ortons.
The Smackdown! after RAW Homecoming featured Piper taking on Randy Orton and Bob Orton in a handicapped match. Piper won with a roll-up on Bob Orton after a distraction by The Undertaker.
On November 5, 2006, Piper won the World Tag Team Championship with Ric Flair from The Spirit Squad at Cyber Sunday. This is his first ever tag team championship in the WWF/E, and only his second title in the WWF/E ever. This is also his first time winning a championship since he won the United States Championship in WCW. On the November 13 edition of WWE Raw, Piper and Flair lost the titles to Rated-RKO. Piper never made it to the ring, as he was attacked outside it by Edge with a con-chair-to before the match.
On November 17, WWE announced on their website that Piper was flown from the UK to his home state of Oregon and had surgery for what was originally believed to be kidney stones, but was speculated to be a disc problem in his back. As a result of the procedure, it was announced that he was withdrawing from the Survivor Series match which would have pitted himself (as a co-captain), along with Flair, Anderson, Sgt. Slaughter and Dusty Rhodes against the Spirit Squad, and was replaced with Ron Simmons.
Piper's Pit was an interview segment featuring Rowdy Roddy Piper which was mainstay on WWF television from 1984 to 1987, although Piper also hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions. Some notable moments include:
For home video only, Piper is on the set interviewing his all-time favorite guest, himself, using the merged-screen technique.
Piper and then-bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton kidnap The Haiti Kid after a match and shave his head Mr. T-style.
In a Piper's Pit segment featuring jobber Frankie Williams, Piper assaulted Williams and coined his trademark phrase, "Just when you think they've got the answers, I change the questions."
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 2006.
On November 27, 2006, it was announced on WWE.com that Piper has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and is to undergo radiation therapy [1]. This was also confirmed on Piper's official web site where he posted messages of thanks to all his fans and supporters.
Other media
The WWE released a DVD called, "Born To Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story," on November 14, 2006. Circuit City retailers have an exclusive fourth disc with some extra Piper's Pit segments.
In the 51 worst offenders in WWE history magazine, WWE considered him the Number 1 worst offender.
NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (7 times) - with Crusher Verdu (2), Adrian Adonis (1), Chavo Guerrero (1), Kengo Kimura (1), Ron Bass (1), and The Hangman (1)
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rick Martel
In 2006, Roddy Piper ventured into the realm of voice acting appearing on the Cartoon Network's animated series Robot Chicken, as well as providing the voice of The Pyro Messiah in the Night Traveler multimedia adventure series produced by Lunar Moth Entertainment.
Trivia
Piper never lost by pinfall in the WWF until he dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII.
One of Piper's Themes is a FirstCom Production entitled "Green Hills Of Tyrol"
Guest starred in a music video for independent rock band, The Screamin' DeVilles in the song Drive Drive 105
Piper ad-libbed the often quoted line "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass ...and I'm all out of bubblegum" In John Carpenter's cult classic sci-fi flick "They Live". However, the Roddy Piper DVD states that although Piper did invent the phrase, it was Carpenter who wanted the line in the film.
