Roderick Toombs

Roderick George Toombs (born on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), best known by his stage name of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian professional wrestler of Scottish descent. His alter ego hails from Glasgow, Scotland, which included wearing a kilt and walking to the ring to bagpipe music. The Scottish surname Piper refers to one who plays the bagpipes. He earned the nickname "Rowdy" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" rage, spontaneity and quick wit, and is also called the "Rowdy Scot."

Career

Toombs began wrestling at the age of 15. He was an extremely talented heel in the industry before going face in the World Wrestling Federation around 1987. At the 1992 Royal Rumble, Piper defeated the Mountie for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, but lost it soon after to Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII.

Piper was always known for his charismatic attitude and ability to match wits with absolutely anyone, as well as holding a resilience in the ring matched only by a very few. In 1994 he had his own interview segment called "Piper's Pit." It was a segment in WWF where he talked to other superstars. One of his shows featured Jimmy Snuka. On his show, Piper attacked Snuka and hit him over the head with a coconut.

After the brutal attack, Piper uttered these words, "just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions." Later in 1996, Piper left the WWF for WCW. He appeared at "Halloween Havoc" to "break Hogan's monotony." In the fall of 2000, WCW terminated Piper's contract.

In November 2002, Piper's autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, was released. At WrestleMania XIX in Seattle, WA, Piper ran in during the Hulk Hogan-Vince McMahon bloodbath, and attacked Hogan with a steel pipe.

He brought back "Piper's Pit" on the April 10, 2003 edition of SmackDown!, and smashed a coconut over the head of Rikishi. Around the same time on RAW, Chris Jericho started "The Highlight Reel" a show similar to "Piper's Pit." In June 2003, WWE officially released Piper from his contract, after a controversial interview with HBO in which Piper discussed the darker side of the wrestling business.

In 2004 Piper appeared for the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, hosting several "In the Pit with Piper" interview segments. He also served as one of their NWA Championship Committee members, culminating in refereeing a match at their Final Resolution PPV.

On February 21, 2005, it was announced that Roddy Piper was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania 21, along with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff, Jimmy Hart, and Hulk Hogan.

Piper also recently held an edition of "Piper's Pit" at Wrestlemania 21 where he interviewed Stone Cold Steve Austin. The interview was interrupted by Carlito Caribbean Cool, who was promptly beaten up by both Piper and Stone Cold.

Piper has acted in several movies through the years. His best-known movie is the 1988 science fiction cult classic They Live. Notable in his movie appearances is his refusal to doff his wedding band for a role, despite the character he is portraying.

Piper co-presents "Celebrity Wrestling", a Saturday evening reality show where celebrities will learn professional wrestling and compete in matches, in the UK on ITV in April 2005.

Finishing/Signature Moves

• Sleeper Hold
• Eye Poke
• Kick to Groin
• Piledriver

Previous Managers

• "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr.

Quotes

• "Just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions!"
• "Real men wear kilts."
• "You ain't seen nothing yet!"
• "I came to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all outta bubblegum!"

Piper's Pit

Piper's Pit was an interview segment featuring Rowdy Roddy Piper which was mainstay on WWE (when WWF) television from 1984 to 1987, although Piper also hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions.

Piper's Pit returned during Piper's short return to the WWE in 2003.

In the Pit with Piper was introduced to TNA Wrestling after eaving the WWE.

Several memorable Pit moments:

• Piper smashes a coconut shell over Jimmy Snuka's head.
• Piper interviews jobber Frankie Williams, tells him that he's worthless and beats him up.
• André the Giant turns heel on Hulk Hogan and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania III.

Movies

• The One and Only (1978)
• Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987)
• Body Slam (1987)
• The Highwayman (1987)
• They Live (1988)
• Buy and Cell (1989)
• The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage (1990)

• Tag Team (1991)
• No Contest (1994)
• Immortal Combat (1994)
• Back in Action (1994)
• Tough and Deadly (1995)
• Terminal Rush (1995)
• Marked Man (1995)
• Jungleground (1995)
• Sci-fighters (1996)
• First Encounter (1997)
• Dead Tides (1997)
• Last to Surrender (1998)
• The Bad Pack (1998)
• Hard Time (1998)
• Shepherd (1999)
• Legless Larry and the Lipstick Lady (1999)
• Jack of Hearts (2000)
• Shut Up and Shoot! (2005)
• Code Black (2005),
• Cyber Meltdown (2005)

Championships/Accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance

• 2-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
• 5-time NWA Tag Team Champion (3-time with Ed Wiskoski, 1-time with Keith Franks, 1-time with Ron Bass)
• 3-time NWA Americas Champion
• 6-time NWA Americas Tag Team Champion (2-time with Crusher Verdu, 1-time with Adrian Adonis, 1-time with Chavo Guerrero, 1-time with Kengo Kimura, 1-time with The Hangman)
• 1-time NWA Canadian Tag Team Champion (with Rick Martel)
• 3-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time NWA Mid-Atlantic United States Heavyweight Champion (with Big John Studd)
• 2-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Television champion
• 2-time NWA Pacific Northwest Champion
• 4-time NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (1-time with Killer Brooks, 3-time with Rick Martel)

World Wrestling Entertainment

• 1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
• 3-time WWE United States Champion
• WWE Hall of Famer (Class of 2005)

Other Amateur Titles

• Manitoba Amateur Wrestling Championship (167lb)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 17 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

• Piper has won several PWI Awards over the years. He won Most Inspirational in 1982, Most Hated Wrestler in 1984 and 1985, and Most Popular Wrestler in 1986. He was also involved in the Match of the Year in 1985 (Piper & Paul Orndorff vs. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T).

External links

Official Site