Perhaps one of the most “despised” wrestlers of all time made a rare appearance in Knoxville this past weekend to put a few dreadful headlocks on some adoring fans.
Born Roderick George Toombs [April 17, 1954] in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Piper now resides in Hillsboro, Oregon. This wrestling icon started his career at the rare young age of 16 after being expelled from junior high school and having an unfortunate falling out with his father.
Even though he lost his first match (to Larry Hennig, in 10 quick seconds), that didn’t stop this former Golden Gloves boxing champion from succeeding in the ring. With 38 professional wrestling titles and more than 7,000 professional matches won in his 39-year career, this bully has finally decided to hang up his boots for good.
“I can definitely say it has been a rewarding lifestyle. I recall some of those days back in the 1980’s when Ted Turner turned us loose on those Saturday mornings with the great announcer Gordon Sulley. That was one hot show. It actually led all ratings that Ted was responsible for,” Piper said.
After the TBS days, Piper decided to start a new trend that has taken America by storm. “I did the very first pay-per-view in Greenesboro, NC called Stargate. It was a ‘dog-collar match’ against Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine. I lost half of my hearing in that tilt. Then I went on to Wrestlemania, and of course that really took off.
In 1988, Piper took his one good ear and his 6’2”, 234-pound frame to Hollywood to put his acting career into overdrive. The fighting scene in the movie “They Live” made history.
“I remember fighting the actor Keith David in that now-famous scene. He was fantastic. It was long and tough. It actually made the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest fight in movie history. That footage is now used as a training module for new up and coming stunt guys,” Piper continued.
“I told him half way through, ‘hey lets get this over with.’ He would hit me at times and clip me with his thumb. It was then that I told him to go ahead and hit me for real so we could get this over with. They actually took five minutes of that footage out,” Piper joked. “Who knows - that fight could still be going on.”
As for Piper’s own idols, “Jimmy ‘Super-Fly’ Snuka was one of my idols and fighting partners. Before Jimmy started torturing people in the ring, he was a cliff diver and a fire dancer. I was a bag-pipist. What a combo huh? Then you put that famous kilt on me and you got some pretty good entertainment,” Piper added.
These days for Piper are much more relaxed. He resides in Hillsboro, Oregon with his wife Kitty. “You add four children and now a grandchild and you have all you need for a successful career and life. I would do it all over again,” Piper concluded.
