View source for Roddy Piper

{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler and actor (1954–2015)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name         = Roddy Piper
| image        = Roddy Piper, August 2009.jpg
| caption      = Piper in 2009
| birth_name   = Roderick George Toombs
| names        = The Masked Canadian<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=mainevent>{{cite book|title=Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s|last=Shields|first=Brian|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria/page/47 47–51]|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4165-3257-6|url=https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria/page/47}}</ref><br />[[The Machines (professional wrestling)|Piper Machine]]<br />”Rowdy” Roddy Piper<ref name="WWEBio">{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/superstars/roddypiper|title=Roddy Piper WWE Hall of Fame Profile|access-date=August 1, 2015|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
| height       = 6 ft 2 in<ref name="WWEBio"/>
| weight       = 230 lb<ref name="WWEBio"/>
| birth_date   = {{birth date|mf=yes|1954|04|17}}
| family       = [[Hart wrestling family|Hart]]<ref name="hart murmurs"/><ref name="smith"/>
| birth_place  = [[Saskatoon|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]], Canada
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2015|07|31|1954|04|17}}
| death_place  = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| death_cause  = [[Cardiac arrest]] caused by [[hypertension]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|Kitty Jo Dittrich|1982}}
| children     = 4, including [[Ariel Teal Toombs|Teal Piper]]
| billed       = [[Glasgow|Glasgow, Scotland]]
| trainer      = [[Gene LeBell]]<br />Leo Garibaldi<br />[[Tony Condello]]<br />Joe Fiorino<br />[[Stu Hart]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|author1=Hornbaker, T.|author2=Snuka, J.|date=2012|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=9781613213148|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ&q=stu+hart&pg=PT568|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>
| debut        = 1969<ref>{{cite web|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/07/31/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-roddy-piper/|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Roddy Piper|last=Kelly|first=Ross|date=July 31, 2015|publisher=[[CBS]]|access-date=September 12, 2015}}</ref>
| retired      = 2011
}}
'''Roderick George Toombs''' (April 17, 1954 – July 31, 2015), known by his [[ring name]] "'''Rowdy'''" '''Roddy Piper''', was a Canadian [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and actor.{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}

In professional wrestling, Piper was best known to international audiences for his work with the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF, now WWE) and [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) between 1984 and 2000. Although he was Canadian, Piper was billed as coming from [[Glasgow|Glasgow, Scotland]] and was known for his signature [[kilt]] and [[Bagpipes|bagpipe]] entrance music, in reference to his Scottish heritage.<ref name="WWEBio"/> Piper earned the nicknames "Rowdy" and "Hot Rod" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" short temper, spontaneity, and quick wit. According to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', he is "considered by many to be the greatest '[[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]]' (or villain) wrestler ever".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11805888/Rowdy-Roddy-Piper-wrestler-obituary.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11805888/Rowdy-Roddy-Piper-wrestler-obituary.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper, wrestler 2015|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=August 16, 2015 |access-date=September 12, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

As one of wrestling's most recognizable stars,<ref name="ign 2012">{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/02/top-50-wrestlers-of-all-time?page=4|title=Top 50 Wrestlers of All Time|date=November 2, 2012|publisher=IGN|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref> Piper headlined multiple [[pay-per-view]] events, including the WWF and WCW's respective premier annual events, [[WrestleMania]] and [[Starrcade]]. He accumulated 34 championships and hosted the popular WWF/WWE interview segment "Piper's Pit", which facilitated numerous [[kayfabe]] feuds. In 2005, Piper was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] by [[Ric Flair]], who dubbed him "the most gifted entertainer in the history of professional wrestling".<ref>{{cite AV media|date=April 2, 2005|title=''WrestleMania 21: WWE Hall of Fame 2005 (bonus feature; Roddy Piper's induction speech)''|medium=[[DVD|Digital Video Disc]]|publisher=[[WWE Home Video]]}}</ref>

Outside of wrestling, Piper acted in dozens of films and TV shows. Most notably, he took the lead role of John Nada in the 1988 cult classic ''[[They Live]],''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/08/07/america_is_a_neoliberal_horror_movie_why_they_live_is_the_perfect_film_for_our_depraved_times_partner/|title=America is a neoliberal horror movie|last=DeVega|first=Chauncey|date=August 7, 2015|website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]]|access-date=September 12, 2015}}</ref> and a recurring role as deranged professional wrestler Da' Maniac on the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] comedy series ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]''.

== Early life ==
Roderick George Toombs was born in [[Saskatoon|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]], on April 17, 1954,<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/roddy-piper.html|title=Roddy Piper Profile|access-date=September 19, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref name=pwhf/> the son of Eileen (''née'' Anderson), a [[Scottish Canadians|Scottish-Canadian]] and Stanley Baird Toombs, an [[English Canadians|Anglo-Canadian]].<ref>The Adam Carolla Podcast, January 8, 2010, ''Interview with Roddy Piper''.</ref> He had family roots in [[British Columbia]] and [[Wisconsin]], and was of partial [[Scottish Canadians|Scottish]] descent on his mother's side.<ref name="WWEBio" /> He was raised in [[Winnipeg|Winnipeg, Manitoba]], and attended [[Windsor Park Collegiate]]. His father was an [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] officer while they lived in [[The Pas, Manitoba]]. 

After being expelled from junior high school for having a [[switchblade]]<ref>{{cite news|date=February 25, 1999|page=18|work=Kokomo Tribune|publisher=Newspapers.com|title=Roddy Piper|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/20010070/}}</ref> and falling out with his father, Toombs left home and stayed in [[youth hostel]]s.<ref name="pwhf">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp|title=Roddy Piper|publisher=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=July 31, 2015|author=Pantazzi, Michael|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719134008/http://www.pwhf.org/halloffamers/bios/roddy_piper.asp|archive-date=July 19, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Several professional wrestlers hired him to run errands as he picked up odd jobs at nearby gyms. As a young man, he became proficient in playing the [[bagpipes]], though he repeatedly stated that he was unsure exactly where he picked them up.<ref name="inthepit">{{cite book|title=In the Pit With Piper|last1=Piper|first1=Roddy|last2=Picarello|first2=Robert|publisher=[[Berkley Publishing]]|year=2002|isbn=978-0-425-18721-0|url=https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe}}</ref> His childhood (and lifelong) best friend was ex-[[National Hockey League|NHL]] player [[Cam Connor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Wrestler Piper owes plenty to Cup-winner Connor |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=643744|author=Pinchevsky, Tal|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=July 31, 2015|date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>

Piper was an amateur boxer before he became a professional wrestler. He sometimes claimed to have won a [[Golden Gloves]] championship, though their lists of champions do not include any of his names. He was awarded a [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[Judo]] from [[Gene LeBell]].<ref name="inthepit" />

== Professional wrestling career ==
=== Training and early career (1969–1975) ===
He started wrestling under the care of promoter [[Al Tomko]] in Canada, his first match involving "midget wrestlers" in front of a lumberjack audience in [[Churchill, Manitoba]].<ref name=inthepit/> He soon began earning money wrestling while still going to school. His first match in a famous organization was with [[Larry Hennig]] in the [[American Wrestling Association]] (AWA).<ref name=inthepit/> Friends of his played the bagpipes during his entrance while he was handing out dandelions.  Meanwhile, the ring announcer had to announce something, but all he knew was that Piper's name was Roddy. Subsequently, after seeing the pipe band, he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, here comes Roddy the piper." This gave birth to the name "Roddy Piper".<ref name=inthepit/> From 1973 to 1975, Piper was a [[Job (professional wrestling)|jobber]] in the AWA, [[Heart of America Sports Attractions|NWA Central States]] territory surrounding Kansas City, and [[Eastern Sports Association]] in the [[Maritimes]].<ref name=heels98>{{cite book|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels|page=98|first=Greg|last=Oliver|author2=Steven Johnson|publisher=ECW Press|year=2007|isbn=978-1-55022-759-8}}</ref> He also worked in [[Texas]] for [[Paul Boesch]]'s NWA [[Houston Wrestling]] promotion,<ref name=heels98/> and in Dallas for [[Fritz Von Erich]]'s [[World Class Championship Wrestling|Big Time Rasslin]].<ref name=pwhf/>

=== National Wrestling Alliance territories (1975–1983) ===
==== California and Portland (1975–1980) ====
By late 1975 and early 1976, Piper was a top villain for Mike and [[Gene LeBell]]'s [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]. In 1977–78, he also started to work for Roy Shire's NWA San Francisco Wrestling in addition to remaining with the Los Angeles office, where Piper developed his Rowdy character. During this time, he made continuous insults directed at the area's Mexican community; he later promised to make up for this by playing the [[Mexican national anthem]] on his bagpipes only to anger the fans further by playing "[[La Cucaracha]]" instead, which in turn caused a riot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824083515/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_4/ai_96307125|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-08-24|title = Interview: Rowdy Roddy Piper|author=Keith Loria|access-date=May 12, 2007|date=February 2003}}</ref> Piper also managed a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#S|stable]] of wrestlers in [[California]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Bert Rudolph|last1=Sugar|first2=George|last2=Napolitano|isbn=0-8317-3912-6|title=The Pictorial History of Wrestling: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly|year=1984|publisher=Gallery Books|page=121}}</ref>

In the Los Angeles area, Piper feuded with [[Chavo Guerrero Sr.]],<ref name=slambio>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html|title=Rowdy Roddy Piper|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=August 1, 2015|author=Milner, John|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200244/http://www.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and his father [[Gory Guerrero]]. Piper and Chavo Guerrero faced each other in several matches for the Jules Strongbow Memorial Scientific Trophy. Piper also defeated Chavo for the Americas Heavyweight Title.<ref name=slambio/> During the feud, Piper lost a [[Professional wrestling match types#Luchas de apuestas|hair match]] and had his head shaved.<ref name=matchhistory>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919131215/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2015|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|title=Roddy Piper|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> Piper appeared in several [[Professional wrestling match types#Loser Leaves Town match|loser leave town match]]es and was forced to leave the territory.<ref name=matchhistory/><ref>{{cite news|title=Roddy Says Bye-Bye|publisher=Newspaper.com|date=August 21, 1977|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/3887653/}}</ref> He also appeared in the territory as The Masked Canadian. In his first televised match as The Masked Canadian, Piper teamed with Chavo in a match against [[Black Gordman]] and Goliath for the Americas Tag Team Championship. Piper and Guerrero lost the match and faced each other two days later, with Piper defeating Guerrero for the Americas Heavyweight Championship.<ref name=matchhistory/> Piper wrestled as The Masked Canadian for several months until he was unmasked by [[Hector Guerrero]].<ref name=matchhistory/>

By late 1978-early 1979, Piper left the California promotions for even more fame in [[Don Owen (wrestling promoter)|Don Owen]]'s Portland-based [[Pacific Northwest Wrestling|Pacific Northwest territory]].<ref name=slambio/> He teamed with [[Killer Tim Brooks]] and [[Rick Martel]] to win the [[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=slambio/> Piper also won the [[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship]] with victories over both Lord [[Jonathan Boyd]] and "Playboy" [[Buddy Rose]].<ref name=slambio/>

==== Georgia and Mid-Atlantic (1980–1983) ====
[[File:Roddy Piper and Harley Race, 1981.png|thumb|218x218px|Piper applying a [[chokehold]] on [[Harley Race]] during a 1981 match|left]]
In the early 1980s, Piper ventured to the [[Mid-Atlantic Wrestling|Mid-Atlantic territory]] where he beat [[Jack Brisco]] for the Mid-Atlantic title.<ref name=slambio/> He also defeated [[Ric Flair]] for the US belt which turned into a feud.<ref name=slambio/> From 1981 to 1982, Piper served as a commentator on [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] (GCW) and feuded with the likes of [[Bob Armstrong]], [[Dick Slater]], and [[Tommy Rich]]. During the summer of 1982, Piper became a fan favorite after knocking out [[Don Muraco]] and [[Ole Anderson]] to save broadcast partner [[Gordon Solie]] from Muraco, who had grown angry at Solie questioning his tactics. In ''Wrestling to Rasslin'', Gerald W. Morton and George M. O'Brien described the transformation: "the drama finally played itself out on television when one of his [Piper's] hired assassins, Don Muraco, suddenly attacked the commentator Gordon Solie. Seeing Solie hurt, Piper unleashed his Scottish fury on Muraco. In the week that followed, like Achilles avenging Patroklas, he slaughtered villain after villain.... In the arenas fans chanted his name throughout his matches."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954 |title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper |author=Patrick Jones |access-date=May 12, 2007 |year=2002 |work=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012182309/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200954 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}</ref>

In 1982, Piper was fired because of showing up late for a match.<ref name=pwhf/> He went to [[Puerto Rico]] for a month and was booked by [[Jim Barnett (wrestling)|Jim Barnett]] shortly thereafter. Piper returned to the Georgia area in the summer of 1983 to aid Tommy Rich during his rivalry with Buzz Sawyer. Eventually, Piper moved back to [[Jim Crockett Promotions]]. As a fan favorite, Piper feuded with [[Sgt. Slaughter]], Ric Flair, and [[Greg Valentine]]. Piper's feud with Valentine culminated in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Strap match|dog collar match]] at the first [[Starrcade '83: A Flare for the Gold|Starrcade]].<ref name=slambio/> Valentine broke Piper's left [[eardrum]] during the match, causing Piper to permanently lose 50–75% percent of his hearing. This became known as "The Year of the Ear".<ref name=slambio/><ref>{{cite AV media|people=Roddy Piper (Actor)|year=2006|title=Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story|medium=DVD|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=In the Pit With Piper|last1=Piper|first1=Roddy|last2=Picarello|first2=Robert|page=[https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/109 109]|publisher=[[Berkley Publishing]]|year=2002|isbn=978-0-425-18721-0|url=https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/109}}</ref>

=== World Wrestling Federation (1979, 1984–1987) ===
==== Early appearances (1979) ====
Before entering the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) full-time in 1984, Piper wrestled five matches<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/79.htm |title=1979 |publisher=Thehistoryofwwe.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-07}}</ref> with the WWF under [[Vincent J. McMahon|Vince McMahon Sr.]] in 1979 at [[Madison Square Garden]].<!-- Footage does exist of this, though it may possibly be hard to find. Based on that footage, this actually took place at a television taping, not Madison Square Garden. --> His first match in WWF he defeated jobber [[Frankie Williams (wrestler)|Frankie Williams]] on January 22.<ref>[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=51&page=4&year=1979&promotion=1 Matches « Roddy Piper « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database]</ref> On an August 11 episode of All-Star Wrestling, Piper was presented as a babyface, wrestling Jose Estrada to a time-limit draw, and featured an appearance outside the ring by Captain Lou Albano who briefly attempted to taunt Piper. Before one match, [[Freddie Blassie]] stuffed Piper's bagpipes with toilet paper, so they would not play in front of the Garden crowd.<ref>{{cite book|title=In the Pit With Piper|last1=Piper|first1=Roddy|last2=Picarello|first2=Robert|publisher=[[Berkley Publishing]]|year=2002|isbn=978-0-425-18721-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/56 56]|url=https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/56}}</ref>

==== ''Piper's Pit'' (1984–1987) ====
In 1983, WWF owner [[Vince McMahon]] contacted Piper, who insisted on serving out his contract with Jim Crockett before starting his WWF run in 1984. Piper debuted in the WWF as a manager, working with [[David Schultz (professional wrestler)|"Dr. D" David Schultz]] and [[Paul Orndorff|"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff]], but eventually Piper's run as a manager quietly ended and he started wrestling full-time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/ask-411-wrestling-wwf-roddy-piper-manager/ | title=411Mania }}</ref> Focusing on one of his strengths as a wrestler, the microphone, he was given his own interview segment called ''Piper's Pit'' on ''[[Championship Wrestling]]'' and ''[[Wrestling at the Chase]]'' in 1984, starting a run of the segment that ended in 1987. During one ''Piper's Pit'', Piper insulted [[Jimmy Snuka]]'s Polynesian heritage and attacked Snuka by smashing him over the head with a [[coconut]].<ref name=slambio/><ref name="rsObit"/> Piper also insulted [[Bruno Sammartino]] during a ''Piper's Pit'' segment,<ref name="rsObit"/> which led to a feud that ended in a [[Steel Cage match|steel cage match]] on February 8, 1986, at the [[Boston Garden]] which Piper lost.<ref>{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|title=Ring Results: 1985|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/85.htm|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|title=Ring Results: 1986|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Mr T at WrestleMania, 1985.jpg|thumb|[[Mr T]]. hoists "Rowdy" Roddy Piper up onto his shoulders as [[Hulk Hogan]] cheers in the background during the main event of [[WrestleMania I]] in 1985]]
Piper's next major storyline was with [[Hulk Hogan]] and also involved pop singer [[Cyndi Lauper]].<ref name=slambio/> In 1985, [[MTV]] broadcast ''[[The War to Settle the Score]]'', which featured a main-event match between Piper and Hogan for the WWF championship. Hogan was accompanied to the ring by Lauper, [[Captain Lou Albano]], and [[Mr. T]].<ref name=slambio/> This event set up the first [[WrestleMania I|WrestleMania]], which pitted Paul Orndorff and his former manager Piper against Hogan and Mr. T.<ref name=slambio/> Orndorff was pinned by Hogan when Piper's bodyguard [[Bob Orton Jr.|"Cowboy" Bob Orton]] interfered and mistakenly struck Orndorff instead of Hogan. In ''Born to Controversy'', Piper recalled how during the match he had to keep Mr. T busy to cover Mr. T's lack of wrestling ability from being seen by the fans. From this situation, Piper and Mr. T's real-life relationship became hostile, leading to the inevitable conclusion that they be put into a feud with one another on-screen. Piper faced Mr. T in a [[professional wrestling match types#Boxing match|boxing match]] at [[WrestleMania 2]] in 1986, which Piper lost by disqualification after bodyslamming Mr. T.<ref name=mainevent/>

Following a leave of absence from the WWF, Piper returned as a face. As part of the storyline, the returning Piper was distressed to find his ''Piper's Pit'' segment replaced by ''The Flower Shop'', a segment hosted by [[Adrian Adonis]], who had also hired Piper's former bodyguard Orton.<ref name=slambio/> During a TV taping of ''Championship Wrestling'' on August 23, 1986, against [[A. J. Petrucci]], he cheered on and given a standing ovation by the crowd.<ref>{{cite web | title=Roddy Piper vs. AJ Petrucci / Flower Shop Interruption (08-23-1986) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=July 21, 2014 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3sL72hYs0 }}</ref> Piper spent weeks crashing Adonis' show and trading insults, leading to a "showdown" between the two segments that ended with Piper being assaulted and humiliated by Adonis, Orton, and [[Don Muraco]] and the destruction of the original Piper's Pit set, resulting in Piper's face turn and the construction of a more permanent Piper's Pit set. In response, Piper stormed the set of Adonis' show and destroyed it with a baseball bat. This led to their [[Professional wrestling match types#Luchas de apuestas|Hair vs. Hair match]] at [[WrestleMania III]], which was billed as Piper's retirement match from wrestling before he left to become an actor full-time.<ref name=slambio/> Piper won the match.<ref name=slambio/>

In early 1987, Piper's Pit also served as the backdrop for [[Andre the Giant]]'s heel turn and challenging Piper's old foe, [[Hulk Hogan]], for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania III, and Hogan ultimately accepting the challenge.

=== Return to WWF (1989–1996) ===
In 1989, Piper returned from a two-year hiatus. Although [[WrestleMania V]] was billed as his return, he actually made his first appearance on March 19 in Denver, CO at a house show when he hosted a live ''Piper's Pit'' and interviewed [[Bruce Prichard|Brother Love]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/89.htm |title=Info |publisher=www.thehistoryofwwe.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-07}}</ref> Two weeks later at WrestleMania V he did make his official return with another live ''Piper's Pit'', where he hosed down a smoking [[Morton Downey Jr.]] with a fire extinguisher.<ref name=rsObit>{{cite magazine|last1=Montgomery|first1=James|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dead at 61|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61-20150731|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> He made his return to the ring on May 12, substituting for Jake Roberts and pinning [[Ted DiBiase]] on a house show in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |title=WWE Legends – Before and Now  |url=https://prowrestlingnewshub.com/extra/wwe-legends-before-and-now/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=Pro Wrestling News Hub |date=7 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Piper would gain several more victories against DiBiase that month, and also against [[Randy Savage]] in June.

After this, Piper co-hosted ''[[Prime Time Wrestling]]'' from July 17, 1989, to December 25, 1989, with [[Gorilla Monsoon]], feuding with [[Bobby Heenan]], [[Rick Rude|"Ravishing" Rick Rude]], and [[Bruce Prichard|Brother Love]], he would return to the show in 1991 as well.<ref name=slambio/> Piper returned to the ring when he interfered in Rude's [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship]] defense against [[The Ultimate Warrior]] at [[SummerSlam (1989)|SummerSlam]], costing Rude the title. The feud was heavily promoted on TV and Piper would face Rude in many matches throughout the house show tours, including steel cage and lumberjack matches. The feud was so prominent that a [[Survivor Series match]] was built around it which saw both men captain a team and simultaneously be eliminated by countout during their brawl, though Rude's team would go onto win the match. The feud came to a head shortly thereafter on ''Prime Time Wrestling'' during an on-air bet between Heenan and Piper, which Piper won, resulting in Heenan having to dress as Santa Claus during the next episode of ''Prime Time''. The feud continued until March 1990 with Piper winning the majority of their matches throughout 89-90 including a win over Bobby Heenan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=630&page=4&s=300|title=Matches « Rick Rude « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>
He then feuded with [[Allen Coage|Bad News Brown]] who was upset at being eliminated by Piper at the 1990 Royal Rumble. Brown would go on to mock Piper for wearing a "skirt". At [[WrestleMania VI]] in April 1990, Piper cut a promo towards his opponent Bad News Brown before the match with half his face and body painted black, and also wrestled Bad News while painted this way. Bad News would take this display of [[blackface]] as being offensive behind the scenes.<ref name="rsObit"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Shoemaker|first1=David|title=A (Very) Concise History of Racism in Wrestling, 1980–Present|date=November 6, 2013|url=http://grantland.com/features/excerpt-david-shoemaker-new-book-concise-history-racism-wrestling/|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> Subsequently, the match would end in a Double Count Out, with the issue between the two never being resolved despite plans to the contrary. According to a behind the scenes interview, neither man was willing to lose to the other.<ref>{{Citation|last=Wrestling Shoots|title="Roddy Piper was a Racist" - Bad News Brown|date=2016-04-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxI40lM2Z0| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224164026/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxI40lM2Z0&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-02-24 | url-status=dead|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>
In 1991, he supported [[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]] in his feud against [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" (Ted DiBiase)]]. Later in 1990 Piper was involved in a [[motorcycle]] accident,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/archives/flashbacks/wrestlemania7.php|title=WWE News, Rumors, Results, Spoilers @ Rajah.com|website=rajah.com|access-date=2017-08-26}}</ref> but was still present at their matches at [[WrestleMania VII]] and [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam]]. He renewed his feud with [[Ric Flair]] and at the [[Royal Rumble (1992)|1992 Royal Rumble]] defeated [[Jacques Rougeau|The Mountie]] for his first, and only, Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship.<ref name=slambio/> He lost it soon after to [[Bret Hart]] at [[WrestleMania VIII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429201542/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/WrestleMania8.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 29, 2015|title=WrestleMania 8, a two-for-one deal|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref> Following his title loss to Hart, Piper made a handful of appearances at television tapings for ''[[Wrestling Challenge]]'' and ''[[WWF Superstars]].'' Four Piper's Pit segments were recorded - two with [[Steve Lombardi]] and two with [[Shawn Michaels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/92.htm |title=Info |publisher=www.thehistoryofwwe.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-07}}</ref> None aired, and Piper disappeared from the WWF. He made his return playing the bagpipes at [[SummerSlam (1992)|SummerSlam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/92.htm|publisher=The History of WWE|first=Graham|last=Cawthon|title=Ring Results: 1992|access-date=August 2, 2015}}</ref>

==== Return and ''The Bottom Line'' (1994–1996) ====
He reemerged once again in 1994 at [[WrestleMania X]] as [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|guest referee]] for the [[WWE Championship|WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] match between [[Bret Hart]] and [[Yokozuna (wrestler)|Yokozuna]].<ref>{{cite web|title=WrestleMania Rewind: Hart topples Yokozuna (WM10)|publisher=SLAM! Sports|first=Frank|last=Zicarelli|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011649/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Wrestlemania20/2004/02/28/364658.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2016|date=February 28, 2004|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> During the match, commentator [[Jerry Lawler|Jerry "The King" Lawler]] remarked that he hated Piper and continued to taunt Piper on his ''[[WWE Raw#Recurring segments|King's Court]]'' segment on ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'', eventually culminating with Lawler bringing out a young, skinny impersonator in a Piper T-shirt and kilt and forcing him to kiss his feet.<ref name=lawler>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlecrap.com/inductions/piper-vs-lawler/|title=Induction:Piper vs. Lawler|publisher=WrestleCrap|date=August 22, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> Enraged, Piper agreed to wrestle Lawler at the [[King of the Ring (1994)|King of the Ring]], where Piper emerged victorious. Piper wrestled as a fan favorite, and adding to the face attitude by donating part of his purse from the fight with Lawler to a children's hospital in Ontario.<ref name=lawler/> In spring 1994, Piper began hosting a regular weekly segment on ''[[List of former WWE television programming#All American Wrestling|All-American Wrestling]]'' called "The Bottom Line" where he commented on various happenings in the WWF, as well as on his feud with Lawler.<ref>{{cite episode|series=WWF Television | title=Monday Night Raw (taped March 21, 1994)|episode-link=WWE Raw|network=[[USA Network]]| location=[[Poughkeepsie, New York]]|air-date=1994-04-04}}</ref> Piper's segment aired regularly until the Summer of 1994, when Piper would disappear again.

Leaving the WWF again, he briefly returned in 1995 at [[WrestleMania XI]], once again in a referee capacity, for the submission-only match between Hart and [[Bob Backlund]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=WWE|title=WrestleMania XI Facts/Stats|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/11/factsstats|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> After this match Piper became the host for the replay editions of WWF pay-per-views for a brief period of time, commenting on the matches that had just happened, before disappearing again a few months later.

==== President of the WWF (1996) ====
On the January 29, 1996, episode of ''Monday Night RAW'', Piper returned for another regular role:  he was named as interim WWF [[Professional wrestling authority figures#Presidents and commissioners|President]] after [[Gorilla Monsoon]] had to take a leave of absence due to an attack by [[Big Van Vader|Vader]].<ref>{{cite web |title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper Dead: WWE Hall of Famer Dies at 61 |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wwe-hall-of-famer-dies-at-61-2015317 |access-date=July 31, 2015 |date=July 31, 2015 |first=Allison |last=Takeda}}</ref> On February 24, at a house show at [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]], he made his first match appearance in almost two years. As a substitute for Razor Ramon, Piper defeated [[Sean Waltman|The 1-2-3 Kid]] after hitting him with a ring bell. He wrestled twice more against the Kid on house shows that month.<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/96.htm |title=Info |publisher=www.thehistoryofwwe.com |date= |accessdate=2021-05-07}}</ref>

As president, one of Piper's first acts was to reinstate [[The Ultimate Warrior]] back into the WWF after a letter campaign written in by fans. Piper had become the object of affection for [[Dustin Rhodes|Goldust]]. Enraged, Piper claimed he would "make a man" out of Goldust at [[WrestleMania XII]].<ref>{{cite web |title=WWF Monday Night Raw: March 11, 1996 |first=Graham |last=Cawthon |date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Camel Clutch Blog |url=https://camelclutchblog.com/wrestlemania-xii-minds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308080659/http://www.camelclutchblog.com/wrestlemania-xii-minds/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=July 31, 2015 }}</ref> The match, dubbed a "[[Professional wrestling match types#Location-based variations|Hollywood Backlot Brawl]]", began in a pre-taped segment, recorded in an alleyway, but Goldust jumped into his gold Cadillac and ran Piper over, ultimately escaping (allegedly) onto the highways of [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]]. Piper pursued in his white [[Ford Bronco]], the aerial footage shown was actually that of the [[O. J. Simpson]] "low-speed" chase from two years prior. This was made clear by Piper himself, who recalled the event on an episode of ''Pipers Pit the Podcast''. The two eventually arrived at the arena, where Piper disrobed Goldust in the ring, effectively ending the confrontation. With Gorilla Monsoon back in control of the WWF by the end of the night, Piper once again left the company.<ref name="dspy"/> His final appearance came the September 6, 1996, edition of ''Monday Night RAW'', where footage was shown of him participating with other WWF wrestlers at the CNE "Experience" in Toronto.<ref name="thehistoryofwwe.com"/>

=== World Championship Wrestling (1996–2000) ===
==== Feuding with nWo (1996–1998) ====
Piper joined [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) in the fall of 1996. He made his surprise WCW debut as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|fan favorite]] at the [[Halloween Havoc (1996)|Halloween Havoc]] pay-per-view in October to insult the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|nWo]] leader and the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Hulk Hogan|Hollywood Hogan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-halloween-havoc-1996/|title=Ring Crew Reviews – WCW Halloween Havoc 1996|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref>
On the November 18 episode of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Nitro]]'', Piper revealed that [[Eric Bischoff]] was a member of the nWo, which ended with the nWo members attacking him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/19961118.htm|title=WCW Reports - 11/16/96 - 11/18/96|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=DDT Digest}}</ref> on the December 9 episode of ''Nitro'', Piper told Flair that he didn't need the Four Horsemen's help in beating Hogan and he was going to do it on his own. Piper defeated Hogan with his signature [[Professional wrestling holds#Sleeper hold|sleeper hold]] in the non-title [[main event]] of the company's flagship pay-per-view [[Starrcade (1996)|Starrcade]],<ref name=dspy>{{cite web|title= 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper 1954–2015: Look back on the legacy of a WWE icon with these 5 classic bouts|work=Digital Spy|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s216/wwe/feature/a661273/rowdy-roddy-piper-1954-2015-look-back-on-the-legacy-of-a-wwe-icon-with-these-5-classic-bouts.html#~pk5A55kLFqvXbG|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> which earned him a title shot against Hogan for the World Heavyweight Championship at [[SuperBrawl VII]], where Piper was defeated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-superbrawl-vii/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Superbrawl VII|access-date=2017-03-03|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> On the March 10, 1997, episode of Nitro, Piper and his family joined forces with [[Ric Flair]] and [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|The Four Horsemen]] in their battle with the nWo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/19970310.htm|title=WCW Reports - 03/08/97 - 03/10/97|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=DDT Digest}}</ref> At [[Uncensored (1997)|Uncensored]], Piper competed in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|triangle elimination match]] where he captained a team of Horsemen [[Chris Benoit]], [[Steve McMichael]] and [[Jeff Jarrett]] against the nWo and WCW's team of [[Lex Luger]], [[Steiner Brothers]] and [[Big Show|The Giant]]. His team lost the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-uncensored-1997/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Uncensored 1997|access-date=2017-03-03|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> On the March 31 episode of ''Nitro'', Piper and Flair agreed to team up and stand side by side to fight. Piper moved on to feud with other members of nWo. At [[Slamboree (1997)|Slamboree]], Piper, Flair and [[Kevin Greene]] defeated nWo members [[Scott Hall]], [[Kevin Nash]] and [[Sean Waltman|Syxx]] in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Multiple man teamed matches|six-man tag team match]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-slamboree-1997/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Slamboree 1997|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> The following month, at [[The Great American Bash (1997)|The Great American Bash]] pay-per-view, Piper and Flair unsuccessfully challenged [[The Outsiders (professional wrestling)|The Outsiders]] for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-great-american-bash-1997/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Great American Bash 1997|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> on the June 23 episode of Nitro, Flair and the Four Horsemen turned on Piper and attacked him. This led to a match between Piper and Flair at [[Bash at the Beach (1997)|Bash at the Beach]], which Piper won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-bash-at-the-beach-1997/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Bash at the Beach 1997|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref>

Piper took a hiatus from television before making his return to WCW on the September 8 episode of ''Nitro'', where he was appointed the new on-air [[WWF Commissioner|Commissioner]] of WCW, which reduced his in-ring work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/1997092m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - 09/08/97|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=DDT Digest}}</ref> He briefly resumed his feud with Hulk Hogan, beating him in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Steel Cage match|steel cage match]] at [[Halloween Havoc (1997)|Halloween Havoc]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-halloween-havoc-1997/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Halloween Havoc 1997|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> on the March 23, 1998, episode of Nitro, Piper and Randy Savage battled to a no contest. On the March 30 episode of Nitro, Piper defeated Hogan by disqualification. At the [[Spring Stampede (1998)|1998 Spring Stampede]] pay-per-view, Piper teamed with [[Big Show|The Giant]] in a loss to Hogan and Nash in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Object on a Pole match|Baseball Bat on a Pole match]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-spring-stampede-98/|title=The Furious Flashbacks - WCW Spring Stampede '98|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> At [[Slamboree (1998)|Slamboree]], Piper served as the [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]] in a match between [[Randy Savage]] and [[Bret Hart]], which Hart won but the following night on Nitro, Piper changed his decision and declared Savage as the winner by disqualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-slamboree-98/|title=The Furious Flashbacks - WCW Slamboree '98|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> At [[The Great American Bash (1998)|The Great American Bash]], Piper and Savage lost to Hogan and Hart in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types|tag team match]] by submission. After the match, Piper wrestled Savage in the next match, which Piper defeated Savage by submission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-great-american-bash-1998/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Great American Bash 1998|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> On the September 7 episode of ''Nitro'', Piper and Diamond Dallas Page defeated Sting and Lex Luger by disqualification. Piper teamed with [[Diamond Dallas Page]] and [[The Ultimate Warrior|The Warrior]] as Team WCW in a [[WarGames match]] at [[Fall Brawl (1998)|Fall Brawl]] for an opportunity at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at the following month's [[Halloween Havoc (1998)|Halloween Havoc]]. Page won the match for his team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/ring-crew-reviews-wcw-fall-brawl-1998/|title=Ring Crew Reviews: WCW Fall Brawl 1998|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> On the September 14 episode of ''Nitro'', Piper confronted [[Bret Hart]].

==== Various storylines and departure (1999–2000) ====
On the February 8, 1999, episode of ''Nitro'', Piper defeated [[Bret Hart]] to win his third [[WWE United States Championship|United States Heavyweight Championship]]; the first two reigns being in JCP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/1999021m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - 2/8/99|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=DDT Digest}}</ref> Piper held the title for only two weeks as he lost the title to Scott Hall at [[SuperBrawl IX]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-repost-superbrawl-ix/|title=The SmarK Retro Repost - SuperBrawl IX|access-date=2017-03-04|publisher=411Mania}}</ref> At [[Slamboree (1999)|Slamboree]], Piper defeated Flair by disqualification after Eric Bischoff reversed Flair's pinfall win, disqualifying Flair for hitting Piper with a foreign object (which had been ignored by biased referee [[Charles Robinson (referee)|Charles Robinson]]). 8 days later on the May 17 episode of ''Nitro'', Piper called out Bischoff for what Bischoff did to him in 1996, before Bischoff apologised to him and WCW fans. Piper and Bischoff were interrupted by Randy Savage and his [[Team Madness]], before Savage and Team Madness attacked him and Bischoff until Kevin Nash saved him and Bischoff. The following month later at [[The Great American Bash (1999)|The Great American Bash]], Flair defeated Piper by disqualification for control of WCW after interference from [[Buff Bagwell]]. Upset with Bagwell getting him disqualified, Piper knocked Bagwell out and joined Flair as vice president, turning Piper heel for the first time in WCW. At [[Bash at the Beach (1999)|Bash at the Beach]], Piper competed against Bagwell in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Boxing match|boxing match]] with [[Mills Lane]] as [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]] which he lost. In late 1999, Piper returned to WCW programming as a face, in an angle with [[Vince Russo]], who was now portraying himself as the "Powers That Be" (an unseen power that was controlling WCW). At [[Starrcade (1999)|Starrcade]], Piper was the special referee in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match featuring [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] and Hart. Forced by Russo, Piper [[Tna screwjob|called for the bell]] when Hart locked in the Sharpshooter on Goldberg, when it was apparent that Goldberg had not submitted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html|title=Goldberg screwed at Starrcade|first=John|last=Powell|date=December 20, 1999|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=August 2, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722084502/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec20_starrcade.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The feud between Piper and the Powers That Be ended shortly after. Piper's last appearance in WCW was at [[SuperBrawl 2000]] in February 2000 where he was a surprise referee in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship match between [[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]], [[Jeff Jarrett]] and Scott Hall. In July 2000, WCW terminated Piper's contract.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Marvez|title=WCW DIDN'T WANT TO PAY PIPER, SO 'ROWDY' ONE SUES|publisher=Sun-Sentinel (Broward & Palm Beach)|date=February 23, 2001|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-02-23/entertainment/0102220497_1_wcw-roddy-piper-johnny-valentine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116094916/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-02-23/entertainment/0102220497_1_wcw-roddy-piper-johnny-valentine|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

===Xcitement Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)===
Before going to the WWE in 2003, Piper served as the commissioner of the [[Xcitement Wrestling Federation]] (XWF).<ref name=slambio/><ref>{{cite web|title=XWF 'In Your Face' PPV Review: A Look Back at the First PPV|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_3340.shtml|first=Doug|last=Brown|date=April 9, 2003|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On November 5, 2002, Piper revealed in his autobiography, ''In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy'', that he was released rather than having left as had previously been thought.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Rowdy Roddy|last1=Piper|first2=Robert|last2=Picarello|title=In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy|publisher=Penguin|year=2002|page=iv}}</ref>

=== Return to WWE (2003) ===
Piper returned to WWE on March 30, 2003, by conducting a surprise [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Run-in|run in]] during the [[Hulk Hogan]]-[[Vince McMahon]] match at [[WrestleMania XIX]] in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]], where he attacked Hogan with a steel pipe to cement his heel status; Hogan nevertheless eventually won the match.<ref>{{cite web|title=WrestleMania XIX review|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/3172|website=f4wonline.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Wade|title=WWE WrestleMania 19 report (3/30/03)|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_24954.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> Piper went on to align with [[Sean O'Haire]]; at [[Backlash (2003)|Backlash]] in April, [[Rikishi (wrestler)|Rikishi]] hit Piper with Piper's own coconut, but this led to O'Haire defeating Rikishi.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Backlash|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/backlash.htm|website=thehistoryofwwe.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

In May, as Hulk Hogan had been banned in storyline from television by Vince McMahon, Hogan returned under a mask as Mr. America, and continued his feud with Piper, O'Haire and McMahon, who tried to reveal Mr. America's true identity. This storyline also saw Piper tear off the fake leg of one-legged wrestler [[Zach Gowen]], who was playing a Hogan fan. At [[Judgment Day (2003)|Judgment Day]], Piper argued with [[Chris Jericho]] if ''Piper's Pit'' was better than Jericho's talk show ''The Highlight Reel''. Later at the event, Piper lost to Mr. America.<ref name=JD03>{{cite web|title=Judgment Day 2003|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jday03review.htm|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

Piper and O'Haire then moved on to challenge Tajiri and Eddie Guerrero for the [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|WWE Tag Team Championship]], but in June 2003, WWE fired Piper after a controversial interview with [[HBO]]'s ''[[Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel]]'' in which Piper discussed the darker side of the wrestling industry.<ref name="ign 2007" /> WWE cited that "Piper stated that he used drugs for many years while working in professional wrestling and that he does not like the person that he becomes when he actively performs as a professional wrestler", and dismissed Piper because of "inability to reach agreement on a contract and to assist Piper from engaging in any self-destructive behavior".<ref name=JD03/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Wade|title=WWE says farewell to Roddy Piper, releases explanation|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_4313.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On his 2006 DVD, Piper claimed that HBO took parts of his interviews out of context to make wrestling look bad.<ref>{{Cite AV media|people=Roddy Piper (Actor), Hulk Hogan (Actor)|title=Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story|medium=Television production|publisher=WWE|location=USA|year=2006}}</ref>

=== Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2005) ===
Piper debuted for [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) promotion on December 4, 2002, at an NWA-TNA pay-per-view and started a feud with [[Vince Russo]], cutting a promo where he blamed Russo for the death of [[Owen Hart]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Wade|title=Sept. 17 in History: Piper delivers infamous rambling promo on TNA PPV 10 years ago, plus Raven shaved bald|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Today_2/article_73400.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> From September to December 2003, Piper gave video-tape messages and on the October 8, 2004, episode of ''[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact!]]'', Piper crashed the Impact Zone and announced his talk segment ''In the Pit with Piper''. In November 2004 at [[Victory Road (2004)|Victory Road]], he hosted ''In the Pit with Piper'' and interviewed Jimmy Snuka, who refused to accede to Piper's demands of hitting Piper with a coconut.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150519042045/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= May 19, 2015|title=Victory Road bombs|last=Clevett|first=Jason|date= November 8, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2008|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> On the December 24 episode of ''Impact'', Piper hosted another ''In The Pit with Piper'' and interviewed [[Hector Garza]] but was interrupted by [[Scott Hall]] and [[Kevin Nash]]. At [[Final Resolution (2005)|Final Resolution]] in January 2005, Piper refereed a match between [[Jeff Hardy]] and Scott Hall, helping Hardy win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629113654/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/17/901070.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=New Resolution needed by TNA|last=Clevett|first=Jason|date=January 17, 2005|access-date=March 2, 2009|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> This was Piper's final appearance for TNA.

=== Second return to WWE (2005–2015) ===
==== WWE Hall of Fame and World Tag Team Champion (2005–2006) ====
On February 21, 2005, it was announced that Piper was to be inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]].<ref name=raw05/> Piper held an episode of ''Piper's Pit'' at [[WrestleMania 21]] where he interviewed [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]].<ref name=slambio/> On the July 11, 2005, episode of ''Raw'', Piper received a superkick from [[Shawn Michaels]], the guest for ''Piper's Pit''.<ref name=raw05/> In October and November 2005, Piper feuded with Cowboy Bob Orton and Randy Orton, after they attacked him during a session of ''Piper's Pit'' with [[Mick Foley]]. While Piper defeated both Ortons in a handicap match and made Bob submit in a six-man tag match, the feud ended with Randy interfering in a singles match between Piper and Bob, disqualifying Bob, but beating down Piper.<ref name=raw05>{{cite web|title=WWE Raw – 2005|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw05.htm|website=thehistoryofwwe.com|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name=smackdown05>{{cite web|title=WWE SmackDown – 2005|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/smackdown05.htm|website=thehistoryofwwe.com|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Roe|first1=Mike|title=11/4 WWE Friday Night Smackdown report: Smackdown Express|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_15309.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref>

Piper returned to ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' on September 11, 2006, for a six-man tag team match win with [[The Highlanders (professional wrestling)|The Highlanders]] against the [[Spirit Squad]]. He also appeared on the ''Raw Family Reunion'', along with [[Money Inc.]] and [[Arn Anderson]] to accompany [[Ric Flair]] ringside for a match against [[Nick Mitchell|Mitch]] of the Spirit Squad. On November 5, Piper would gain what would be his final championship in WWE, winning the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|World Tag Team Championship]] with Flair from The Spirit Squad at [[Cyber Sunday (2006)|Cyber Sunday]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/2006/matches/329344214|title=Ric Flair & Rowdy Roddy Piper def. World Tag Team Champions Spirit Squad|date=November 1, 2006|access-date=August 2, 2015|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the November 13, 2006, episode of ''Raw'', Piper and Flair lost the title to [[Rated-RKO]] ([[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] and Randy Orton).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211|title=World Tag Team Championships – Edge & Randy Orton|publisher=WWE|access-date=August 2, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721201201/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211|archive-date=July 21, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==== Final feuds and retirement (2007–2011) ====
[[File:WWE Legends.jpg|thumb|Piper with [[Ricky Steamboat]] and Jimmy Snuka before their match with Chris Jericho at [[WrestleMania 25]] in 2009]]
In 2007, Piper appeared in February to announce [[Dusty Rhodes]] for the WWE Hall of Fame, and also in June for ''Vince McMahon Appreciation Night''.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Raw – 2007|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw07.htm|website=thehistoryofwwe.com|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, Piper made a surprise appearance in the [[Royal Rumble (2008)|Royal Rumble]] match by attacking Jimmy Snuka, but was eliminated by [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_24339.shtml#.Wm5sc8PQfDc|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S WWE ROYAL RUMBLE REPORT 1/27: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of debut HD PPV|website=www.pwtorch.com|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> Piper then had a series of confrontations with [[Santino Marella]] in 2008, including on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Adam|title=Raw Results – 5/5/08 – Toronto, Ontario (Triple H/Mr. Kennedy team)|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2008/1210043457.shtml|website=wrestleview.com|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WWE's Roddy Piper and Santino Marella appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" with a birthday cake and, well, you know the rest|url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1001448.shtml|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> At [[Cyber Sunday (2008)]], Piper was one of three choices to be Santino Marella's opponent for the Intercontinental Championship, with The Honky Tonk Man being chosen. The match ended by disqualification and after the match Piper and Goldust made their way down to the ring confronting and attacking Marella.

On the February 16, 2009 episode of ''Raw'', after [[Chris Jericho]] insulted WWE legends, Piper interrupted him and was attacked by Jericho for it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/article.php?4556|title=2/16 Powell's WWE Raw Live Coverage: No Way Out fallout, Melina vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Women's Title, Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> The feud culminated in Jericho defeating Piper, Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat at [[WrestleMania 25]] in a handicap elimination match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/article.php?41242|title=Gutteridge's WrestleMania Masters: Chris Jericho - The Big One, The Bad One, The Strange One, and The Hidden Gem|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> Piper later guest hosted ''Raw'' on November 16, 2009, at [[Madison Square Garden]] in New York City. Piper challenged Vince McMahon to a street fight later in the evening, but Randy Orton came out to fight in McMahon's place. [[Kofi Kingston]] came out to stop Randy's assault on Piper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/186725-wwe-raw-results-november-16th-2009/4|title=WWE Raw Results – November 16th, 2009|work=WrestleZone|first=Chris|last=Cash|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Flickr - simononly - WWE Fan Axxess - Roddy Piper.jpg|thumb|left|Piper in 2012]]
He inducted [[Wendi Richter]] into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuiL_NUjJ90 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/CuiL_NUjJ90| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=WrestleMania XXVI: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper inducts Wendi Richter|via=YouTube|date=May 13, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also appeared the next night on ''Raw'' as one of the Legend Lumberjacks in a match that involved [[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]] and [[Ted DiBiase Jr.|Ted DiBiase]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/181169-wwe-raw-results-march-29-2010/2|title=WWE Raw Results – March 29, 2010|work=WrestleZone|first=Richard|last=Trionfo|date=March 29, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref> Two months later, Piper hired DiBiase to capture guest host [[Quinton Jackson]] so he could "gain revenge on BA", but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_41801.shtml#.WFR8AHh3ZAY|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw Results 6/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of three-hour Viewer's Choice edition of Raw |work=ProWrestling Torch|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=June 7, 2010|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref>

At [[WrestleMania XXVII]] on April 3, 2011, Piper made an appearance by hitting [[Zack Ryder]] with a coconut while the latter was being interviewed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Wade|title=Live WWE WrestleMania 27 results 4/2: The Rock, Cena vs. Miz, Triple H vs. Taker – PPV coverage|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wadekellerdotcom/49006.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On the June 13, 2011 episode of ''Raw'', [[The Miz]] and later [[Alex Riley]] were guests on ''Piper's Pit''; this led to Piper defeating Miz in a match (to win $5000) because of help from Riley, the guest referee; this was Piper's last documented WWE match.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stephens|first1=David|title=Raw results – 6/13/11|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/24208|website=wrestleview.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> [[John Cena]] was a guest for ''Piper's Pit'' on the November 28, 2011 episode of ''Raw''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Jason|title=11/28 Powell's WWE Raw Live Coverage: Piper's Pit with John Cena|url=http://www.prowrestling.net/article.php?21867|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

==== Sporadic appearances and departure (2012–2015) ====
On the April 10, 2012 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'', [[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]] and [[AJ Lee]] were guest of ''Piper's Pit''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tedesco|first1=Mike|title=SmackDown results – 4/10/12|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-smackdown-results/31790|website=wrestleview.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On the June 18 episode of ''Raw'', Piper reunited with Cyndi Lauper.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Caldwell|first1=James|title=WWE Raw results 6/18|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_62576.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> At ''[[WWE Raw 1000|Raw 1000]]'', Piper and various other veterans helped [[Lita (wrestler)|Lita]] defeat [[Heath Slater]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Jason|title=7/23 Powell's WWE Raw 1000 Live Coverage|url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWETVreports/article10026403.shtml|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On the August 13, 2012, episode of ''Raw'', Chris Jericho was the guest for ''Piper's Pit'', but [[Dolph Ziggler]] and the Miz interrupted.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Caldwell|first1=James|title=WWE Raw results 8/13|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_64255.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

On the January 6, 2014 episode of ''Raw'', [[The Shield (professional wrestling)|The Shield]] were guests for ''Piper's Pit''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mezzera|first1=Jon|title=1/6 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Old School Raw, Flair/Orton/Cena, Piper's Pit, Daniel Wyatt, Jake "the Snake" Roberts|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/hitsandmisses/article_75579.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> On the March 31, 2014 episode of ''Raw'', Piper hosted ''Piper's Pit'' with superstars who would compete in the André the Giant 31-man memorial battle royal, which ended in a brawl with [[Big Show]] clearing the ring and Piper raising his hand. At [[WrestleMania XXX]], the four men who wrestled in the main event of WrestleMania I—Piper, Paul Orndorff, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T—buried the hatchet in a backstage segment.<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=WrestleMania 30 PPV results: (Hour 4): Complete "virtual-time" coverage of WWE Title main event, Divas Title|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_77522.shtml|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref> On the December 22, 2014 episode of ''Raw'', [[Rusev (wrestler)|Rusev]] and [[Lana (wrestling)|Lana]] were guests for the final edition of ''Piper's Pit''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Jason|title=12/22 Powell's WWE Raw Live Review: Ho-Ho Hogan hosts the holiday week show, Piper's Pit, Miracle on 34th Street Fight|url=http://prowrestling.net/article.php?40234|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania 31]], Piper and other legends appeared in a backstage segment after [[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]] won the Intercontinental Championship.

In early July 2015, Ric Flair said Piper lost his WWE Legends contract with the company because of a public feud with Steve Austin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/94974/roddy-piper-dropped-from-wwe-legends-deal.html|title=Roddy Piper Dropped From WWE Legends Deal|website=Pro Wrestling Insider|date=July 8, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> which resulted in Piper leaving PodcastOne. Piper later apologized to Austin on July 13, only three weeks before his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/95114/roddy-piper-gives-his-side-of-the-steve-austin-controversy.html|title=Roddy Piper Gives His Side of the Steve Austin Controversy|website=Pro Wrestling Insider|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

=== Independent circuit (2005–2012) ===
In February 2005 at [[WrestleReunion]], Piper teamed with [[Jimmy Valiant]] and [[Jimmy Snuka]] against [[Colonel DeBeers]], [[Bob Orton Jr.|"Cowboy" Bob Orton]], and [[Buddy Rose|"Playboy" Buddy Rose]]. On January 29, 2011, Piper made his debut for [[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] (PWG) during the [[WrestleReunion 5]] weekend, defeating nineteen other men, last eliminating [[Terry Funk]], to win the Legends Battle Royal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_47214.shtml|title=1/29 PWG results in Los Angeles: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of PWG Title match, Kaval vs. Davey, Roberts retirement, Legends Battle Royal|last=Massingham|first=Matt|date=January 30, 2011|access-date=January 30, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlingguerrilla.com/results/2011/show0119.html|title=Kurt Russellreunion 2: The Reunioning|access-date=February 2, 2011|work=[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]]}}</ref>

Piper's last documented match occurred on August 12, 2011, at the JCW Legends and Icons event. What was originally a match for Piper against Terry Funk was altered mid-match to a tag match between Piper and Cowboy Bob Orton against Funk and Mick Foley, which Piper's team won.<ref name="8/12 JCW Legends PPV review">{{cite web|title=8/12 JCW Legends PPV review|url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/miscliveevents/article10020142.shtml|website=prowrestling.net|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

In 2012, Piper, along with Don Coss,<ref>{{cite journal |first=Gavin|last=Evans |date=May 30, 2013 |url=http://uk.complex.com/sports/2013/05/where-are-they-now-your-favorite-wwe-stars-of-the-80s/rowdy-roddy-piper |title=Where Are They Now? Your Favorite WWE Stars of the '80s |journal=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |access-date=August 4, 2015 }}</ref> created ''[[Portland Wrestling Uncut]]'', a revival of the original ''[[Portland Wrestling]]'', with new and old wrestlers combined.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kristi |last=Turnquist |date=May 23, 2014 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2014/05/ramblin_rod_and_25_other_thing.html |title=Ramblin' Rod, and 25 other things Portlanders will never see again |work=[[The Oregonian]] |access-date=August 4, 2015 }}</ref> Playing prominently in the show are Piper and Coss as announcers, The Grappler ([[Len Denton]]) as a manager,<ref name=KPTV2012>{{cite news |title=Portland Wrestling making its return to KPTV |url=http://www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv |publisher=[[KPTV]] |date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=August 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815073731/http://www.kptv.com/story/19891826/portland-wrestling-making-its-return-to-kptv |url-status=dead }}</ref> guest appearances by the likes of [[Matt Osborne|Matt Borne]] (among others), rewind segments that show partial matches from the original Portland Wrestling (owned by Don and Barry Owen),<ref>{{cite episode |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDu7NrQ2Ds  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9FDu7NrQ2Ds| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|date=May 20, 2013 |title=Episode 27 |station=KPTV |series-link=Pacific Northwest Wrestling#Portland Wrestling Uncut |series=Portland Wrestling Uncut}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and Piper's son, Colt Toombs.<ref name=KPTV2012/>

== Other media ==
[[File:MCCC 15 - Roddy Piper (17472387653).jpg|thumb|Piper in May 2015, two months before his death]]

=== Music videos ===
In the 1980s, Piper also appeared in singer [[Cyndi Lauper]]'s music video for the song "[[The Goonies 'R' Good Enough]]".<ref>{{cite book|last=Ellison|first=Lillian|title=The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle|year=2003|isbn=978-0-06-001258-8|publisher=ReaganBooks|page=173}}</ref> Piper performed the song, "For Everybody", on ''[[The Wrestling Album]]'' (Columbia Records, 1985), based on the Mike Angelo & the Idols song "Fuck Everybody", but without any of the profanity heard in the original. He also appeared as a guest VJ on MTV in 1988.<ref name=billboard/> In 1992, he released a UK only single and music video for his song, "I'm Your Man".<ref name=billboard>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6649425/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-61-best-music-moments|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2015|first=Colin|last=Stutz|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper Dead at 61: His Best Music Moments|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> The single came with the B-side, "Judy Come Back".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/6588357|title=45cat&nbsp;– Rowdy Roddy Piper&nbsp;– I'm Your Man / Judy Come Back&nbsp;– Epic&nbsp;– UK&nbsp;– 658835 7|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

=== Acting and hosting ===
''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' wrote, "During and after his wrestling days, Piper racked up dozens of film and TV credits, starring in numerous action B-movies and later doing voice work".<ref name=deadlineObit>{{cite web|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|last2=Lincoln|first2=Ross A.|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper Dies: Pro Wrestling Icon & Veteran Actor Was 61|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wrestler-actor-1201488905/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> The most famous of Piper's acting exploits was in the 1988 science fiction film ''[[They Live]]'', directed by [[John Carpenter]],<ref>{{cite news|first=Greg|last=Oliver|title=WWE Legend 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dies|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/31/wwe-legend-rowdy-roddy-piper-dies|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref> which spawned the catchphrase Piper came up with—"I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubble gum."<ref>{{cite web|work=Southern California Public Radio|publisher=89.3KPCC|title=Pro Wrestler 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dead at 61; Watch 7 of His Greatest Moments, See Reactions|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2015|url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/07/31/53504/rowdy-roddy-piper-has-died-at-61/}}</ref>—as well as the long fight scene over sunglasses against [[Keith David]] which took three weeks to rehearse. The line and the fight scene have since been parodied in ''[[Duke Nukem]]'', ''[[South Park]]'' and ''[[Adventure Time]]''.<ref name=deadlineObit/><ref name=ewObit>{{cite magazine|last1=Franich|first1=Darren|title=Remembering Roddy Piper's rowdy film career|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/31/roddy-piper-they-live-dead|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name=avclubObit>{{cite web|last1=Vanderbilt|first1=Mike|title=R.I.P. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/rip-rowdy-roddy-piper-223205|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=August 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote that Piper's role in ''They Live'' made him a "cult icon" and "some kind of legend".<ref name=ewObit/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote that Piper "had a memorable career as a cult actor", citing ''They Live'' and the 1987 film ''[[Hell Comes to Frogtown]]''.<ref name=rsObit/><ref name=ewObit/>

Piper was a guest on a 1985 ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' episode, tormenting hosts [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Mr. T]], and appeared as a special guest on ''[[MADtv]]'' along with [[Bret Hart]]. In the early 1990s, Piper made guest-star appearances on two episodes of ''The New Zorro'' on [[The Family Channel (US TV network)|The Family Channel]]. Piper had a role in a fourth season episode of the ''[[Superboy (TV series)|Superboy]]'' television series as an immortal Alchemist stealing the youth from his gym patrons. In 1991, Piper and [[Jesse "The Body" Ventura]] starred in ''Tag Team'', a television film about two ex-professional wrestlers turned police officers.<ref name=rsObit/> Piper appeared as a wrestler loosely based on himself in an episode called "Crusader" from ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''. Piper also appeared in an episode of ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=45010|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper 1954-2015|access-date=August 4, 2015|date=August 3, 2015|work=Empire|author=Williams, Owen}}</ref>

Piper was the host of ITV's ''[[Celebrity Wrestling]]'' in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/may/10/broadcasting.ITV1|title=Celebrity Wrestling knocked out of peak time|editor-first=Jason|editor-last=Deans|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=May 10, 2005|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> Piper appeared on ''[[RoboCop: The Series]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dead At 61|publisher=[[World Entertainment News Network|WENN]]|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=October 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024153743/http://blog.wenn.com/all-news/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Piper appeared in ''[[It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia]]''<ref name=rsObit/> as professional wrestler named "Da' Maniac" during season 5 and reprised this role in season 9. Although the character was a parody of [[Mickey Rourke]]'s role in ''[[The Wrestler (2008 film)|The Wrestler]]'', Piper had previously endorsed ''The Wrestler'' and Rourke's performance during an appearance with Rourke on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1004245.shtml|title=WWE Hall of Famer makes a surprise appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' during Mickey Rourke's interview|publisher=ProWrestling.net|date=January 15, 2009}}</ref> He appeared as Mr. Thurgood in the low-budget film ''[[The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens]]'' in 2008 and its sequel ''[[Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes]]'' in 2010. On March 14, 2010, Piper appeared in "One Fall", an episode in CBS's ''[[Cold Case]]'', playing a wrestler named Sweet Sil. In September 2010, Piper appeared in a [[FunnyorDie.com]] video, fighting against childhood obesity in a PSA parody. The clip included him using wrestling moves on children eating junk food and the parents who feed junk food to their kids.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7|title=Rowdy Roddy Piper Fights Childhood Obesity|publisher=Funny or Die|access-date=July 31, 2015|date=September 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040411/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/de3008ff0e/rowdy-roddy-piper-fights-childhood-obesity?_cc=__d___&_ccid=x5ydai.nsdpt7|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2012, Piper appeared on a Season 4 episode of ''[[Celebrity Ghost Stories]]'', in which he conveyed a story of being visited by the ghost of [[Adrian Adonis]]. In May 2013, Piper appeared in "Barry's Angels"— episode 12 of the [[Storage Wars (Season 4)|fourth season]] of the [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] reality show, ''[[Storage Wars]] —''in which he appraised a set of Scottish kilts purchased by Barry Weiss. In June 2013, Piper appeared on ''[[Celebrity Wife Swap]]'', where he swapped wives with [[Ric Flair]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61-32816567|title=WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper Dies at 61|work=ABC News|access-date=July 31, 2015|date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

Piper appeared as himself in the video game ''[[Saints Row IV]]''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-wrestler-actor-1201488905/|first1=Erik|last1=Pedersen|first2=Ross A.|last2=Lincoln|access-date=August 2, 2015|date=July 31, 2015|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper Dies: Pro Wrestling Icon & Veteran Actor Was 61}}</ref> He also played himself as the protagonist in the 2013 film ''Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/03/pro_wrestlers_vs_zombies_grapp.html|title='Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies' grapplers to attend local screenings of the forthcoming horror comedy|publisher=The Times-Picayune|author=Scott, Mike|access-date=July 31, 2015|date=March 26, 2014}}</ref> In April 2014, Piper appeared as a regular cast member on the [[WWE Network]] original reality show [[WWE Legends' House|''Legends' House'']]. He also started a podcast; ''Piper's Pit with Roddy Piper'', in association with PodcastOne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://podcastone.com/program?action=viewProgram&programID=642|title=PodcastOne: PIPER'S PIT with Roddy Piper|first=Roddy|last=Piper|website=podcastone.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://podbay.fm/show/855752234|title=Listen to episodes of Piper's Pit on podbay|work=podbay|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

=== Voice acting ===
In 2006, Roddy Piper ventured into the realm of voice acting, providing the voice of himself in "Metal Militia"<ref>{{cite episode|title=Metal Militia|url=https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Militia/dp/B00AEU5PHO|series=[[Robot Chicken]]|network=[[Cartoon Network]] ([[Adult Swim]])|season=2|number=13}}</ref>—an episode of [[Cartoon Network]]'s animated series ''[[Robot Chicken]]''<ref>{{cite news|first=Ross|last=Kelly|date=July 31, 2015|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Roddy Piper |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/07/31/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-roddy-piper/|website=[[WBZ-TV]] (CBS)|location=Boston|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref>—and the voice of The Pyro Messiah in the ''[[Night Traveler]]'' multimedia adventure series produced by Lunar Moth Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://horrornews.net/81223/new-website-r-e-asburys-night-traveler-now-online/ |title=New Website for R.E. Asbury's NIGHT TRAVELER Now Online |last=Stryker |first=Jonathan |date=January 29, 2014 |website=HorrorNews.net |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> He provided the voice of [[Bolphunga]] in ''[[Green Lantern: Emerald Knights]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2011/05/17/%25e2%2580%259crowdy%25e2%2580%259d-roddy-piper-makes-his-animation-debut-in-green-lantern-emerald-knights|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper Makes His Animation Debut in ''Green Lantern: Emerald Knights''|website=[[DC Comics]]|date=May 17, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> and the voice of Don John in the ''[[Adventure Time]]'' episode "[[The Red Throne]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3529740/|title=Adventure Time - The Red Throne|website=[[IMDb]]|date=Dec 23, 2015|access-date=Dec 23, 2015}}</ref> He also voiced his own likeness in the 2013 video game ''[[Saints Row IV]]''.

=== Toys ===
Piper is one of several real people to be immortalized with a  {{convert|3.75|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' [[action figure]] of himself, as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, the [[Iron Grenadier]] Trainer. The figure was released as an exclusive for the 2007 International G.I. Joe Convention from the Official G.I. Joe Collectors' Club. Piper appeared at the convention to sign autographs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yojoe.com/action/07/rowdyroddypiper.shtml|title=Rowdy Roddy Piper (v1) G.I. Joe Action Figure - YoJoe Archive|website=www.yojoe.com|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>

===Video games===
Piper appears as a playable character in 14 [[List of professional wrestling video games|wrestling video games]]. He made his first appearance in ''[[WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge]]''. He later appeared in ''[[WCW/nWo Revenge]]'', ''[[WCW/nWo Thunder]]'', ''[[Legends of Wrestling II]]'',  ''[[WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain]]'', ''[[Showdown: Legends of Wrestling]]'', ''[[WWE Day of Reckoning]]'', ''[[WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw]]'', ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007]]'', ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008]]'' and ''[[WWE All Stars]]'' as a ''legend''. He also appeared in ''[[WWE 2K14]]'' as a hidden character in the ''Superstar Head Creation'' mode. He was later included in ''[[WWE 2K16]]'' as [[Downloadable content|DLC]]. He also appears in ''[[WWE 2K19]]'' as DLC in the game's [[Ric Flair]]-themed "Wooooo!" Edition,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ign.com/articles/2018/07/25/wwe-2k19-wooooo-edition-announced|title=WWE 2K19 WOOOOO! EDITION ANNOUNCED|last=Bankhurst|first=Adam|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|publisher=IGN}}</ref> as well as in ''[[WWE 2K20]]'', ''[[WWE 2K Battlegrounds]]'', ''[[WWE 2K22]]'', ''[[WWE 2K23]]'', ''[[WWE 2K24]]'', and ''[[WWE 2K25]]''.

Outside of wrestling games, Piper voices a fictionalized version of himself in 2013's ''[[Saints Row IV]]''. In the story, Piper helps the player rescue [[Keith David]] from a simulation by recreating their fight scene from ''They Live'', and can be recruited as an ally during missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/the-new-saints-row-rings-the-death-knell-for-silly-game-1847571588|title=The New Saints Row Rings The Death Knell For Silly Games|last=Walker|first=John|website=[[Kotaku]]|date=August 27, 2021|access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref> Piper also made a cameo appearance in ''[[Abobo's Big Adventure]]''.

==Personal life==
[[File:NTF 2015 SE - Roddy Piper (16182300180) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Piper in 2015]]
Toombs was a Christian.<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/R_Roddy_Piper/status/241973288694321152?lang=en |title=@EuanJ I'm a Christian! |user=R_Roddy_Piper |last=Piper |first=Rowdy Roddy |number=241973288694321152 |date=September 1, 2012 |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> Toombs' last film that was released in his lifetime, ''[[The Masked Saint]]'', was a biopic of wrestler-turned-Christian minister [[Chris Whaley]]. Toombs and his wife Kitty Jo Dittrich were married from 1982 until his death in 2015. They had four children.<ref>{{cite episode|series=Celebrity Wife Swap|title=Rick Flair; 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper|air-date=June 19, 2013|network=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|season=2|number=5}}</ref> His daughter [[Teal Piper]] made her professional wrestling debut for [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) in August 2019 at the [[All Out (2019)|All Out]] pay-per-view.<ref name="FemaleCasinoBattleRoyale">{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5_bODS2130 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/H5_bODS2130| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Road to AEW All Out - Episode 04|author=[[All Elite Wrestling]]|publisher=[[YouTube]]|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=August 7, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Shortly after that announcement, it was revealed that she had signed a contract with [[Women of Wrestling]] (WOW).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/teal-piper-signs-women-wrestling|title=Teal Piper Signs With Women Of Wrestling &#124; Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com |date=August 17, 2019 }}</ref>

On November 27, 2006, it was announced on WWE.com that Toombs had [[Hodgkin's lymphoma]]; he finished radiation therapy on January 15, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate |title=Emotional Piper speaks out, will receive treatment |access-date=May 12, 2007 |date=December 4, 2006 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501021742/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/pipertreatmentupdate |archive-date=May 1, 2007 }}</ref> This was also confirmed on Toombs' official website, where he posted messages of thanks to all his fans and stated that, had the fans not chosen him as [[Ric Flair]]'s partner at [[Cyber Sunday (2006)|Cyber Sunday]], he would not have been taken to the hospital and diagnosed as having his disease in time.<ref name="ign 2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/03/roddy-piper-interview|title=Roddy Piper Interview|publisher=IGN|last=Robinson |first=Jon|access-date=August 2, 2015|date=January 3, 2007}}</ref>

In November 2008, a video spread around the internet showing Toombs smoking [[marijuana]] and taking a hit from a bong in front of a cheering crowd at the annual [[Gathering of the Juggalos]], although he later acknowledged his use of medicinal marijuana "to alleviate the symptoms associated with cancer".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2008/11/19/rowdy-roddy-pipe-smoker/|title=Rowdy Roddy Pipe Smoker|access-date=November 19, 2008|date=November 19, 2008|publisher=TMZ}}</ref> This was reiterated on a blog from [[Jim Ross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson|title=JR's BBQ Blog|access-date=November 21, 2008|date=November 20, 2008|publisher=Jim Ross|archive-date=December 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209023022/http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/talent-cutsdouble-smackdown-tapingspotjericho-scornedtravis-hafnernascars-jimmy-johnson|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In his autobiography, Toombs claimed to be a cousin of [[Bret Hart]], which would make him a relative of the [[Hart wrestling family]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Roddy |last=Piper|title=In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy|publisher=[[Berkley Books]]|year=2002|isbn=0-425-18721-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/231 231 pp]|url=https://archive.org/details/inpitwithpiper00pipe/page/231}}</ref> This fact was once used as a trivia question on ''Raw''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lita Turns 40 Today, Madusa Praises The NXT Divas, Trivia/RAW|publisher=prowrestling.com|url=http://www.prowrestling.com/lita-turns-40-today-madusa-praises-the-nxt-divas-triviaraw}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Edits Orton & Cesaro Crowd Reaction on Raw, New Trivia Feature Debuts, WWE at Facebook HQ (Video)|date=April 14, 2015|publisher=wrestlezone.com|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/571223-wwe-edits-orton-cesaro-reaction}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Questions Fans On Kane & His Mask, WWE Trivia Segment On RAW|work=PWMania - Wrestling News - WWE News, Elimination Chamber, Spoilers, Results, Rumors, AEW |date=April 14, 2015|publisher=pwmania.com|url=http://www.pwmania.com/wwe-questions-fans-on-kane-his-mask-wwe-trivia-segment-on-raw}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Paige Written Off TV On Tonight's RAW?, WWE On Kane And His Mask, WWE Trivia Segment On RAW|date=April 13, 2015 |publisher=wrestlinginc.com|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0413/592412/paige-written-off-tv-on-tonight-raw}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|certain=y|date=May 2017}} Hart also revealed that Toombs was the only wrestler to visit him in the hospital after his [[stroke]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hart|first=Bret|author-link=Bret Hart|title=Hitman: My real life in the cartoon world of wrestling|publisher=Ebury Press|year=2007|isbn=9780091932862|page=541 pp}}</ref> [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]] has stated that they were second cousins.<ref name="hart murmurs">{{cite web|title="Hart Murmurs" Edition #7 – Condolences for the Fallen in 2015|website=PWPNation.com|publisher=Pro Wrestling Powerhouse|author=Hart, Bruce|date=December 26, 2015|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180131213654/http://www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/|url=http://www.pwpnation.com/hart-murmurs-edition-7-condolences-for-the-fallen-in-2015/|access-date=2018-02-02|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="smith">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/smith.hart.5/posts/861207953962413?__tn__=-R|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180914121513/https://www.facebook.com/smith.hart.5/posts/861207953962413?__tn__=-R|url-status=dead|title=(1) Smith Hart - I am at a complete loss for words and distraught ove…|date=September 14, 2018|archive-date=September 14, 2018|website=facebook.com}}</ref>

== Death ==
[[File:Roddy Piper's Grave 2021.jpg|thumb|Roddy Piper's grave in 2021]]
On July 24, 2015, Piper appeared as a guest on ''The [[Rich Eisen]] Show''.  He had trouble collecting his thoughts and staying focused, often rambling and not answering Eisen's questions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5FZCkyTq0Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/K5FZCkyTq0Y| archive-date=2021-12-12|title=Roddy Piper on The Rich Eisen Show on July 24, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

One week later on July 31, 2015, Piper died in his sleep at the age of 61 at his summer residence in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Death certificate|url=http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf|website=tmz.vo.llnwd.net|access-date=September 1, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906032300/http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/roddy-piper-death-certificate-TMZ-01.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> His death certificate cites a [[cardiopulmonary arrest]] caused by [[hypertension]], listing a [[pulmonary embolism]] as a contributing factor; ''[[TMZ]]'' reported this as a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] caused by the embolism.<ref name=apObit>{{cite news|last1=Gelston|first1=Dan|title=WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper dies at 61|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=August 1, 2015|archive-date=August 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803091410/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bfaf8a22e11d4736ae988cfd1733eaad/wwe-hall-famer-roddy-piper-dies-61|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Variety Death"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2015/08/19/rowdy-roddy-piper-cause-of-death-heart-attack-blood-clot/|title=Rowdy Roddy Piper Cause of Death Heart Attack from Blood Clot|date=August 19, 2015|access-date=August 19, 2015|work=[[TMZ]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]}}</ref> Piper's long-time friend [[Bruce Prichard]] revealed on his podcast that he received a voicemail from Piper the night of his death.

News of his death broke minutes before the Hall of Heroes dinner to cap off the [[Mid-Atlantic Wrestling]] Legends FanFest in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], where about 600 current and former wrestling personalities and fans had gathered. He received a [[ten-bell salute]] after the planned salute to fellow former professional wrestler [[Dusty Rhodes]], who had died the previous month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article29721016.html|title='Bad guy' professional wrestler 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper dies at 61|first=David|last=Perlmutt|work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|date=July 31, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref> Another ten-bell salute was given at the beginning of the August 3, 2015, episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screengrabber.deadspin.com/watch-wwes-salute-to-rowdy-roddy-piper-1721891195|title=Watch WWE's Salute To "Rowdy" Roddy Piper|work=screengrabber.deadspin.com|access-date=August 4, 2015|first=Timothy|last=Burke|date=August 3, 2015}}</ref>

WWE CEO [[Vince McMahon]] said, "Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved by millions of fans around the world. I extend my deepest condolences to his family."<ref name="Variety Death">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/ |title=WWE Legend 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper Dies at 61 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 31, 2015 |access-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731234510/http://variety.com/2015/biz/obituaries-people-news/roddy-piper-dies-dead-wwe-wrestler-1201554513/ |archive-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> Film director [[John Carpenter]] said, "Devastated to hear the news of my friend Roddy Piper's passing today. He was a great wrestler, a masterful entertainer and a good friend."<ref name="Variety Death"/>

In an [[HBO]] ''[[Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel|Real Sports]]'' interview conducted by Piper in 2003, he had predicted that he was "not going to make 65" because of his poor health, and that he made his 2003 return to WWE because he could not access his pension fund until reaching the age of 65.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Wade|title=KELLER: McMahon freaks out during HBO interview on drug deaths - 1 Yr Ago|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_8761.shtml|website=pwtorch.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

Piper was cremated and his ashes interred at Crescent Grove Cemetery in [[Tigard, Oregon]].

== Legacy ==
[[File:Roddy Piper Axxes Statue.jpg|thumb|upright|Piper was posthumously awarded a [[WrestleMania Axxess#WWE Hall of Fame statue|bronze statue]] in his likeness by WWE in April 2019 for his contributions to wrestling]]
Piper is considered one of the greatest talkers and [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heels]] in wrestling history. ''[[Piper's Pit]]'' interview segments were considered innovative, especially in an atmosphere where only the people like the [[Professional wrestling world championship|world champion]] got to talk, and the wrestlers were the interviewees—never the interviewers. According to [[Bobby Heenan|Bobby "The Brain" Heenan]], he could just leave Piper in a room and return twenty minutes later with Piper having done a class-A promo.<ref>{{YouTube|id=0teGiDxiblE}}</ref> WWE named him the greatest villain in wrestling history.<ref name=50villains>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/top-50-wrestling-villains/page-51|title=Top 50 villains in wrestling history #1 "Rowdy" Roddy Piper|publisher=WWE|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref><ref name=villain>{{cite web|title='Rowdy' Roddy Piper: Tributes pour in as wrestling legend dies aged 61|publisher=ScotlandNow|url=http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731|access-date=2015-10-23|date=2015-08-03|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919202001/http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/rowdy-roddy-piper-tributes-pour-6184731|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=villain2>{{cite web|title=Cardiac Arrest Takes Life Of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper|publisher=Detroit Sports 105.1|access-date=2015-10-23|date=2015-07-31|url=http://detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/|archive-date=February 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208002438/http://detroitsports1051.com/2015/07/31/cardiac-arrest-takes-life-rowdy-roddy-piper/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Dave Meltzer]] of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' described Piper as "one of the key figures in the growth of WWF. In particular, he helped power the success of the first WrestleMania: the most important show in company history".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meltzer|first1=Dave|title=Wrestling legend Roddy Piper passes away at 61, WWE & Vince McMahon statement (updated)|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe-news/43860|website=f4wonline.com|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

Piper was one of the first wrestlers to have his entrance music played by a live band. At the War to Settle the Score in February 1985 before his WWF Title match with [[Hulk Hogan]] at [[Madison Square Garden]], Piper's theme was played by the [[NYPD Pipes and Drums]] out to the ring.

[[Mixed martial arts|Mixed martial artist]] [[Ronda Rousey]] was nicknamed "Rowdy" by her friends. She initially rejected using it professionally, feeling it might disrespect Piper. After being introduced to him through [[Gene LeBell]], Piper gave her his approval to use the nickname. On the day of his death, she dedicated her next day's [[UFC 190]] title match with [[Bethe Correia]] to him. After quickly winning it, she noted him first in her post-fight interview.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/rousey-dedicates-win-to-piper|publisher=WWE|title=Forever Rowdy: Ronda Rousey dedicates win to Roddy Piper|access-date=August 2, 2015|date=August 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2015/08/02/ronda-rousey-rowdy-roddy-piper-tribute-ufc-190/|title=Ronda Rousey pays tribute to 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper following UFC 190 win|first=Nick|last=Romano|date=August 2, 2015|website=EW.com}}</ref> In 2018, when Rousey made her full-time WWE debut, she wore the jacket that Piper wore, which was given to her by his son.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2018/01/28/ronda-rousey-roddy-pipers-jacket-points-future-wwe/|title=Ronda Rousey, In Roddy Piper's Jacket, Points To Future With WWE|date=January 29, 2018|website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> She also used a move called ''[[Professional wrestling throws|Piper's Pit]],'' a reference to the talkshow he held during the WWF.

In April 2019, Piper was honored with a statue as part of [[WrestleMania Axxess]] in [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/rowdy-roddy-piper-statue-revealed-at-wrestlemania-axxess|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess|website=WWE}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| 1978
| data-sort-value="One and Only, The" | ''[[The One and Only (1978 film)|The One and Only]]''
| Joe 'Leatherneck Joe' Grady
| Uncredited
|
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Body Slam (film)|Body Slam]]''
| Rick 'Quick Rick' Roberts
| Supporting role
| <ref name="TV.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/people/roddy-piper/|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=August 1, 2015|title=Roddy Piper|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308064349/http://www.tv.com/people/roddy-piper/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988
| ''[[Hell Comes to Frogtown]]''
| Sam Hell
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''[[They Live]]''
| John Nada
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Buy & Cell]]''
| Cowboy
| Supporting role
|
|-
| 1991
| ''Tagteam''
| Rick McDonald
| Lead role
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''[[Back In Action (1994 film)|Back in Action]]''
| Frank Rossi
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Immortal Combat (film)|Immortal Combat]]''
| John Keller
| Lead Role
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995
| ''[[No Contest (film)|No Contest]]''
| 'Ice'
| Supporting role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''Tough & Deadly''
| Elmo Freech
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Jungleground]]''
| Lt. Jacob Cornell
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| ''Terminal Rush''
| Bartel
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''Marked Man''
| Frank Gibson
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Sci-Fighters]]''
| Detective Cameron Grayson
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1997
| ''First Encounter''
| Lieutenant Ed Ganz
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''Dead Tides''
| Mick Leddy
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| data-sort-value="Bad Pack, The" | ''[[The Bad Pack]]''
| Dash Simms
| Lead role
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| ''[[Hard Time (film)|Hard Time]]''
| Randy
| Supporting role
|
|-
| ''[[Last to Surrender]]''
| Nick Ford
| Lead role
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| ''Legless Larry & the Lipstick Lady''
| Larry 'Legless Larry'
| Lead role
|
|-
| data-sort-value="Shepherd, The" | ''The Shepherd''
| Miles
| Also known as ''Cyber City''
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Jack of Hearts''
| Detective Deeks
| Supporting role
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| ''[[Three Wise Guys]]''
| Pastor Roberts
| Supporting role
|
|-
| ''Honor''
| LT Tyrell
| 3rd lead
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2006
| ''Domestic Import''
| Bill 'Bronco Bill'
| Also known as ''Nanny Insanity''
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''Costa Chica: Confession of an Exorcist''
| Lucas McMurter
| Also known as ''Legion: The Final Exorcism''
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''Shut Up and Shoot!''
| Yokum the Bartender
| Supporting role
|
|-
| ''[[Night Traveler]]''
| The Pyro Messiah
| Voice, supporting role
|
|-
| ''Blind Eye''
| Fred Mears
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| ''[[Ghosts of Goldfield]]''
| Jackson Smith
|
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''Super Sweet 16: The Movie''
| Mitch
|
|
|-
| 2008
| ''Legion: The Final Exorcism''
| Unknown
|
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2009
| data-sort-value="Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens, The" | ''[[The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens]]''
| William Thurgood
| Lead role
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| data-sort-value="Gothic Tale, A" | ''A Gothic Tale''
| Narrator
|
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2010
| data-sort-value="Portal, The" | ''The Portal''
| George 'Homeless George'
|
|
|-
| ''Lights Out''
| Detective Callahan
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes]]''
| William Thurgood
|
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''[[Alien Opponent]]''
| Father Melluzzo
| Lead role
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2011
| ''Clear Lake''
| Wayne
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Pizza Man (2011 film)|Pizza Man]]''
| Roderick
|
|
|-
| ''[[Fancypants]]''
| Smiley
| Lead role
|
|-
| ''[[Green Lantern: Emerald Knights]]''
| Bolphunga
| Voice, direct-to-video
|<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Roddy Piper (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Roddy-Piper/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| ''[[Black Dynamite#Online parody series|Black Dynamite Teaches a Hard Way!]]''
| Himself
| Guest role
|
|-
| ''[[Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies]]''
| Himself
| Lead role
| <ref>{{cite web|last=Lussier|first=Germain|title='Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies' Movie Trailer: Rowdy Roddy Piper Battles the Undead|date=March 14, 2014|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/pro-wrestlers-vs-zombies-movie-trailer/|publisher=Slash Film|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Woods|first=Kevin|title=This trailer for Pro-Wrestlers vs. Zombies may be the craziest thing you'll see all day|date=April 5, 2013|url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/this-trailer-for-pro-wrestlers-vs-zombies-may-be-the-craziest-thing-youll-see-all-day|publisher=JoBlo|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| ''Don't Look Back''
| Grandfather
| Eddie Starks
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamdickersonfilmmaker.com/dont-look-back-television-premiere/|title=Don't Look Back: Television Premiere|work=williamdickersonfilmmaker.com|date=October 5, 2014|access-date=August 12, 2015|first=William|last=Dickerson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3683398/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm|title=Don't Look Back (2014) Full Cast & Crew|work=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]|access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|data-sort-value="Reconciler, The" | ''The Reconciler''
|Russ
|
|<ref>{{Citation |title=The Reconciler (2015) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3919716/fullcredits |access-date=2023-02-02}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| ''Portal to Hell''
| Jack
| Lead role
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/festivals/festival15/shortcuts/portal-to-hell |title=TIFF.net &#124; Portal to Hell!!! |access-date=2015-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141516/http://tiff.net/festivals/festival15/shortcuts/portal-to-hell |archive-date=December 8, 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| data-sort-value="Masked Saint, The" | ''[[The Masked Saint]]''
| Nicky Stone
|
|
|-
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Bet, The" | ''[[The Bet (2016 film)|The Bet]]''
| Mr. Jablonski
| Posthumous release
|
|-
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Chair, The" | ''The Chair''
| Murphy
| Posthumous release
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| 1987
| data-sort-value="Highwayman, The" | ''[[The Highwayman (TV series)|The Highwayman]]''
| Preacher
| Episode: "[[Television pilot|Pilot]]"
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/pages/bios/rpiper.html|title=Roddy Piper|work=theofficialjohncarpenter.com|access-date=August 14, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804120804/http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/pages/bios/rpiper.html|archive-date=August 4, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-highwayman/cast/|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|title=The Highwayman Cast|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309072249/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-highwayman/cast/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1989
| data-sort-value="Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, The" | ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]''
| Himself
| Guest appearance
|<ref>{{cite book|title=Bowker's Complete Video Directory, Volume 1: Entertainment|page=991|publisher=R. R. Bowker Publishing|year=1993}}</ref>
|-
| 1990
| data-sort-value="Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage, The" | ''[[The Love Boat#Sequels, spin-offs and crossovers|The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage]]''
| Maurice Steiger
| Television film
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-love-boat/a-valentine-voyage-139026/|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|title=A Valentine Voyager|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309092552/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-love-boat/a-valentine-voyage-139026/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Silk Stalkings]]''
| Jimmy Snow
| Episode: "Wild Card"
|
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Highlander: The Series|Highlander]]''
| Anthony Gallen, Immortal
| Episode: "Epitaph for Tommy"
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/highlander/epitaph-for-tommy-55149/|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|title=Epitaph for Tommy|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308104013/http://www.tv.com/shows/highlander/epitaph-for-tommy-55149/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1994
| ''[[RoboCop (Canadian TV series)|RoboCop]]''
| Tex Jones/Faked Commander Cash
| Episode: "Robocop vs. Commander Cash"
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[TNT MonsterVision (TV variety series)|Joe Bob's MonsterVision Summer School]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "They Live/Immortal Combat"
| [[MonsterVision]]
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''
| Cody 'The Crusader' Conway
| Episode: "Crusader"
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1999
| data-sort-value="Outer Limits, The" | ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Marlon
| Episode: "[[Small Friends (The Outer Limits)|Small Friends]]"
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-outer-limits/small-friends-21511/|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|title=Small Friends|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307115842/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-outer-limits/small-friends-21511/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Wrestling"
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| ''[[Mentors (TV series)|Mentors]]''
| Daniel Boone
| Episode: "The Rescue"
|
|-
| 2003
| data-sort-value="Man Show, The" | ''[[The Man Show]]''
| Himself
| Episode: Apologizing
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Robot Chicken]]''
| Himself
| Voice, episode: "Metal Militia"
|
|-
| 2009–2013
| ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]''
| Da' Maniac
| 2 episodes
| <ref name=rsObit/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N5N5NE |title=It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season Five (2009) |website=Amazon |access-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-season-5/dp/6107780 |title=It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 5 (DVD) |publisher=EzyDVD.com.au |access-date=August 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041325/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-season-5/dp/6107780 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Cold Case]]''
| "Sweet" Sil Tavern
| Episode: "One Fall"
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Fantasy Factory]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Kid Lightning"
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Breaking In (TV series)|Breaking In]]''
| Mr. Weller
| Episode: "The Contra Club"
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Contra-Club/dp/B007HYNR9S|title=Breaking In 2 Seasons 2012|work=[[Amazon.com]]|access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Storage Wars]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Barry's Angels"
| <ref name="TV.com"/>
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Celebrity Wife Swap]]''
| Himself
| 1 episode
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Adventure Time]]''
| Don John
| Voice; episode: "[[The Red Throne]]"
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2014
| ''[[WWE Legends' House]]''
| Himself
| 10 episodes - Season 1
|
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Food Factory USA]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "No Snout About It"
|
|}

=== Online streaming ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2014–2015
| ''[[Piper's Pit]]''
| Himself
| [[Podcast]], with PodcastOne from April 2014 to July 2015, two last episodes on [[SoundCloud]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://podbay.fm/show/855752234|title=Piper's Pit podcast|work=Podbay.fm|access-date=August 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| ''[[WWE Talking Smack|Table for 3]]''
| Himself
| {{Plainlist |
* Three WWE personalities share stories over dinner.
* Last appearance in WWE.
* Aired posthumously on August 6, 2015.
}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0806/599150/wwe-network-announces-roddy-piper-marathon-for-today/|title=Roddy Piper Marathon On WWE Network Today, New WWE Series Debuting Tonight|work=wrestlinginc.com|access-date=August 7, 2015|date=August 6, 2015|first=Marc|last=Middleton}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|certain=y|date=May 2017}}
|}

=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Saints Row IV]]''
| Himself<ref name="btva" />
|-
|}

== Championships and accomplishments ==
* '''[[Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)|Big Time Wrestling ''(San Francisco)'']]'''
** [[NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (''San Francisco version'')]] ([[NWA San Francisco United States Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=mid/>
** [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship (''San Francisco version'')]] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version)#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Colonel DeBeers|Ed Wiskoski]]<ref name=slambio/>
* '''Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame'''
** Class of 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cpwhof.cwnonline.ca/2022-class/|title=2022 Class|work=Canadian Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame|access-date=November 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601212617/http://cpwhof.cwnonline.ca/2022-class/|archive-date=June 1, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
** Reel Member Inductee ([[Cauliflower Alley Club#2001|2001]])<ref>{{cite web|title=List of CAC Award Winners|publisher=Cauliflower Alley Club|url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/list-of-cac-award-winners/|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140413080042/http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/list-of-cac-award-winners/|archive-date=April 13, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* '''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/06/20/5935861.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723203235/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/06/20/5935861.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2017|title=Flood won't stop Tragos/Thesz HOF 'Super Weekend'|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|last=Klingman|first=Kyle|date=June 20, 2008|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
* '''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]/[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name=mid/>
** [[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref name=mid>{{cite web|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper Match Results|publisher=Mid-Atlantic Gateway|editor=Dick Bourne & David Chappell|url=http://www.midatlanticwrestling.net/resourcecenter/results/pages/results_piper.htm|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref>
** [[WWE United States Championship|NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|3 times]])<ref>{{cite web|title=United States Championship|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates|publisher=WWE|access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref>
* '''[[NWA All-Star Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)|NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (''Vancouver version'')]] ([[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Rick Martel]]<ref name=mid/>
* '''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates|NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|5 times]])<ref name=mid/>
** [[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#Title history|5 times]]) – with Crusher Verdu (1), [[Adrian Adonis|Keith Franks]] (1), [[Kengo Kimura|Pak Choo]] (1), [[Ron Bass (wrestler)|Ron Bass]] (1), and [[Neil Guay|The Hangman]] (1)<ref name=mid/>
** [[NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of NWA World Light Heavyweight Champions|1 time]]){{efn|The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is no longer recognized or sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance.<ref name=matchhistory/>}}
* '''[[Pacific Northwest Wrestling]]'''
** [[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])<ref name=matchhistory/>
** [[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship#Title history|5 times]]) – with Killer Tim Brooks (1), Rick Martel (3),<ref name=F4WMarch21>{{cite web |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0322-dutch-mantel-wins-southern-title-jerry-lawler | title=Daily pro wrestling history (03/21): Flair vs. Fujinami at WCW/NJPW Supershow | date=March 21, 2020 | access-date=March 22, 2020 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref> and Mike Popovich (1){{efn|Martel vacated the title after losing a loser-leaves-town match, and Piper chose Popovich as a replacement partner.<ref name=matchhistory/><ref name=mid/>}}
* '''[[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]]'''
** Legends Battle Royal (2011)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=58982|title=PWG Kurt Russellreunion 2: The Reunioning « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref>
* '''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
** [[PWI Inspirational Wrestler of the Year|Inspirational Wrestler of the Year]] (1982)<ref name="PWI Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|title=PWI Awards|work=[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]|publisher=[[Kappa Publishing Group]]|access-date=July 8, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002155906/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/PWIawards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** [[PWI Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (1985) <small>with [[Paul Orndorff]] vs. [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Mr. T]] at [[WrestleMania I]]</small><ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** [[PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year|Most Hated Wrestler of the Year]] (1984, 1985)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** [[PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year|Most Popular Wrestler of the Year]] (1986)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** [[PWI Stanley Weston Award|Stanley Weston Award]] (2015)<ref name="PWI Awards"/>
** Ranked No. 45 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''[[PWI 500]]'' in 1992<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profightdb.com/pwi-500/1992.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1992|publisher=The Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref>
** Ranked No. 17 of the 500 singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm|title=PWI 500 of the PWI Years|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>
* '''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
** Class of 2007<ref name=pwhf/>
*'''[[Sports Illustrated]]'''
**Ranked No. 13 of the 20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Pullar III |first1=Sid |title=20 Greatest WWE Wrestlers Of All Time |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/features/10-greatest-wwe-wrestlers-of-all-time |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref>
* '''[[World Class Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[WCWA World Tag Team Championship|NWA American Tag Team Championship]] ([[WCWA World Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with Bulldog Brower<ref name=mid/><ref name=WCCWAmTag>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich] |  publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-9698161-5-7}}</ref><ref name="NWAAmericanTag">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/wccw/am-t.html |title=N.W.A. American Tag Team Title | access-date=January 19, 2020 |work=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref>
* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE]]'''
** [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/intercontinental|publisher=WWE|access-date=August 1, 2015|title=Intercontinental Championship}}</ref>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) – with [[Ric Flair]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldtagteam|title=World Tag Team Championships|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>
** [[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2005)|Class of 2005]])<ref name="WWEBio"/>
** [[WrestleMania Axxess#Hall of Fame statue|WWE Bronze Statue]] (2019)<ref name="2019statue">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/rowdy-roddy-piper-statue-revealed-at-wrestlemania-axxess|title="Rowdy" Roddy Piper statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess|publisher=WWE|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>
** [[Slammy Award]] (1 time)
*** Best Personality in "[[Land of a Thousand Dances]]" ([[1986 Slammy Awards|1986]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Slammy Awards: A Look Back|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11242008/articles/8743232|date=November 26, 2008|access-date=July 31, 2015}}</ref>
* '''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Heel|Best Heel]] (1984, 1985)<ref name="won">{{cite journal|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=January 26, 2011|title=Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue|periodical=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]|location=Campbell, CA|pages=1–40|issn=1083-9593}}</ref>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best on Interviews|Best on Interviews]] (1981–1983){{efn|1981 award shared with [[Lou Albano]].}}<ref name="won"/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Match of the Year|Worst Worked Match of the Year]] (1986) {{small|vs. Mr. T in a boxing match at [[WrestleMania 2]]}}<ref name="won"/>
** Worst Worked Match of the Year (1997) {{small|vs. Hollywood Hogan at [[SuperBrawl VII]]}}<ref name="won"/>
** [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1996]])<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Pro Wrestling Illustrated|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|access-date=2015-08-04|title=Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame|archive-date=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112104543/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Luchas de Apuestas record ==
{{see also|Lucha libre#Luchas de Apuestas|l1=Luchas de Apuestas}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="width:100%; text-align:center;"
|-
!Winner (wager)
!Loser (wager)
!Location
!Event
!Date
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|Roddy Piper (hair) || [[Luke Williams (wrestler)|Luke Williams]] (hair) || [[Portland, Oregon]] || Live Event || {{dts|1980|3|01}} ||
|-
|Roddy Piper (hair) || [[Adrian Adonis]] (hair) || [[Pontiac, Michigan]] || [[WrestleMania III]] || {{dts|1987|03|29}} ||
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|d=Q59630|c=Category:Roddy Piper|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name|0684929}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
* {{usurped|1=[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050421132127/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/piper.html Roddy Piper in Slam! Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130101002034/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/piper-roddy.html Roddy Piper Slam! Wrestling Career Archive]}}

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