Roddy "Hotrod" Rowdy Piper has passed away.

[TakerFoxx]

It just isn't fair.

Only two months after the passing of Dusty Rhodes, and almost immediately after the excommunication of Hulk Hogan, wrestling legend Roddy Piper has passed away. He was found dead in his house, apparently due to cardiac arrest.

http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/0731/598928/breaking-news-rowdy-roddy-piper-dead-at-61/

And...damn it. Out of all the wrestlers from that era, Piper was always my favorite. He was the prototype heel, the loudmouthed asskicker that went on to inspire just about every bad guy in wrestling since. And now he's gone.

RIP Roddy. You will be missed.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

...Damnit, this year just keeps getting better with the notable deaths, doesn't it? I know it had to happen sometime, but it's all so sudden...

 

[LetalisK]

He died at 61. That's actually pretty good for a wrestler, isn't it? And Uganda...

 

[deleted+75193]

DELETED

 

[DeimosMasque]

Probably the greatest wrestler to have never held the world heavyweight championship. He was also great in 'They Live'. Sad to see him go so soon.

Was coming here to say just that. Also his Saint's Row 4 cameo was great.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

He came to chew gum and kick ass. And he was all outta bubblegum.

 

[Artina89]

While I was never really into wrestling, I always enjoyed Rowdy Roddy Piper. It's a shame, and 61 it isn't really all that old, but wrestlers don't really seem to have that great of a lifespan, but after all the trauma they put their bodies through it is hardly surprising.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, the Hot Rod. The man who was the epitome of "anything can happen in the WWE" long before Vince MacMahon coined that phrase. I'm devastated as he was among the wrestlers I admired not just for his skills in the ring, but his attitude and ability to riff off of almost anything he was given. Piper's Pit was one of the greatest non-wrestling segments to grace the squared circle, dare I say THE greatest? Yes, yes I do.
He may never have held that title, but he was there for the first Wrestlemania, he was there for the first Starrcade, and he was a great influence on so many of the modern day wrestlers.
Losing him and The American Dream Dusty Rhodes just over a month apart is a lot to deal with for the hardcore wrestling fan. I've been one since I was a kid in the 80's thanks to my great grandfather who was a huge wrestling fan and I still watch to this day in honor of him. I'm a wrestling geek, I love my rope opera and I'm hurting and sad because our fandom has lost a legend.
They Live was such an excellent film, and he killed in it. I recall the Rock n' Wrestling era, when Cyndi Lauper and Hot Rod had a rivalry, which broke wrestling into the mainstream culture and solidified it there for seemingly all time. He broke a gold record of Lauper's (of course it wasn't a real one) and not too long ago on RAW presented Ms. Lauper with another one to replace the one he broke, which she promptly broke over the head of another modern wrestler who came out to talk smack.
He survived cancer, had a titanium hip, and sustained a slew of injuries but he never let those get him down or prevent him from performing at such a high level you wonder if he was more than human... Well to me he was. Though he played a villain most of his career, he still was and always will be a hero to me.
Rest in Power Roddy, and wherever you are I hope you, Macho Man, Warrior, Dusty and all the other greats are having a "Rowdy" time. We will miss you.
Note: Ronda Rousey is dedicating her fight tonight against Bethe Correa to the man who inspired her to take the moniker "Rowdy" and gave her his blessing to use it. Beat that *****'s ass Ronda, and do Hot Rod proud.

 

[Oly J]

In my opinion, Roddy Piper was one of the few given the title of "Legend" that actually deserved it. He changed the game for everyone, and yet never made it to World Title status, would that even have worked? who knows? I think it would've back in the day, but it doesn't matter because everyone loved Roddy, at least I've never met a single person who didn't. Also something worth mentioning, unless I've been moving in all the wrong circles. You never hear old veterans complain about shit Roddy Piper pulled in his career, like you hear about Hogan or Flair constantly politicking and keeping their spots (more recently Triple H and John Cena and the like) but I never heard anything like that about Roddy Piper, and I think that's worth remembering.

61 is no age to go, I'd say Rest In Peace. but he might find that boring

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I think Piper embodied the "larger than life" style of the WWF better than just about any other major star that came down the pipe back in that era, and you could tell he loved every minute of it. His character was the guilty pleasure of a lot of wrestling fans, the loudmouth braggart and jerk that you just couldn't help but like anyway, because he knew what he was and he embraced it.

I've long since lost interest in pro wrestling, but I've got fond memories of the rollicking fun to be had back in those days, and Piper was a big part of that.

 

[ArcaneGamer]

Probably the greatest wrestler to have never held the world heavyweight championship. He was also great in 'They Live'. Sad to see him go so soon.

He was also good in Saints Row 4.

 

[MetalDooley]

I just played the Saints Row 4 mission with him in it a few hours ago.Sad news he was always one of my favourites

 

[Ogre]

I got chance to meet Roddy. I was working for a video distribution company when Hell Comes to Frogtown came out. He came in to do promotion for the film. His flights got delayed and he made it in at 6:00 P.M. and there were only 7 of us left. I got a chance to spend about 10 to 15 minutes talking to him. I remember telling him that he was a favorite of my wife and I. He said, "Ah, God bless you." He was a very down to earth mellow gentleman, nothing at all like The Rowdy One. Well, God bless you, Mr. Piper. You find Dusty and have some great matches.

Peace

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I'm fucking gutted by the news, even days after I first heard of it.
He's one of my favorite actors even though he's only been in 2 movies I know of in They Live, and Hell comes to frog town.
I grew up watching him not just wrestle, but in the cartoons.
I had a wrestling game or two with him in it, and he was my go to guy.
He absolutely made Saints Row 4 worth it, and his suit's one of my favs to wear as I screw around.
I loved his brief role in Robot Chicken (Hulk Hogan's Heroes).
Of course he's great in the ring, back stage, etc.
It's not often someone passes who's not close to me gets to me. I'm gunna miss'em damnit.

 

[Zen Bard]

I got chance to meet Roddy. I was working for a video distribution company when Hell Comes to Frogtown came out. He came in to do promotion for the film. His flights got delayed and he made it in at 6:00 P.M. and there were only 7 of us left. I got a chance to spend about 10 to 15 minutes talking to him. I remember telling him that he was a favorite of my wife and I. He said, "Ah, God bless you." He was a very down to earth mellow gentleman, nothing at all like The Rowdy One. Well, God bless you, Mr. Piper. You find Dusty and have some great matches.

Peace

Awesome story. He always seemed like a genuinely good human being in any interview I'd seen when he wasn't in character. Glad to know it was true.

My wife and I are going to watch They Live tonight in memorandum.

He came here to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and did both better than anyone!

Rest in Peace, Mr. Toombs