Here we take a look back at "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's best WWE rivalries.
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There has been no bigger heel than “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in the 80s. He was the definition of what a real heel is. As such, he would do anything to make the crowd go all crazy. Also, the audience just loved Piper. Even though he was a heel, his presence and wrestling persona was respected and loved by everyone. No, heel till today has been able to do things like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. He was one of the most unique and gifted wrestlers of all time. So, here we look back at some of his greatest rivalries and remember the legend.
While the “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was more renowned for his brawling exploits, he was able to put up one of the best wrestling fights in WrestleMania history. After replacing Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble to defeat The Mountie for the IC Title, he would attempt to defend it at The Show Of Shows against the former champion, Bret Hart. The build-up to the match had both guys almost attacking each other and claiming they would have had the other. Piper nearly had Bret by using the ring bell at WrestleMania VIII, but he elected to toss it away rather than take the easy way out. Bret would recover the Intercontinental Title by reversing the Sleeper into a pinning combination.
READ MORE: Dusty Rhodes vs Ric Flair and other rivalries in WWE
Piper finds himself as WWE’s interim president on the path to WrestleMania XII. But Goldust was also attempting to get a rise out of The Hot Rod. ‘Dust would appear in a handmade kilt, attempting to replicate Piper’s Pit. The two competed in The Hollywood Backlot Brawl, WrestleMania’s first-ever cinematic bout. They fought briefly in a Hollywood Backlot until Goldust fled in a gold caddy, with Piper hard on his tail. It culminated when both men returned to the arena just before the main event, where Piper continued to pound Goldust.
For years, the industry’s ongoing conflict was between Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan. The conflict is responsible for the success of The War To Settle The Score, the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling link, and, of course, the first WrestleMania. Years later, Piper comes to WCW to try to stop Hogan and the nWo, with our Bischoff serving as the NWO’s brains. Hot Rod even made an unexpected comeback to WWE at WrestleMania XIX to assist Vince McMahon in eliminating Hulk Hogan.
