Before we get underway, here are the Top 10 things you should know about “Rowdy” Roddy Piper:

• He’s from Glasgow, Scotland. Don’t forget it.
• He is the unrivaled master of the sleeper hold.
• He has come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And he’s all out of bubblegum.
• He was rowdy before rowdy was cool.
• He enjoys gouging the eyes and biting the foreheads of his opponents.
• He’s the reason that Hulk Hogan lost his hair.
• Just when you think you’ve got the answers, he changes the questions.
• He’s Roddy Piper, and you’re not.
• If he tells you to put on a pair of sunglasses, do it. Trust me on this one.

And, recently…

• He was diagnosed with lymphoma.

God, I wish number ten was a joke, but it’s not. Roddy Piper really has cancer. Before I begin what is to be an unparalleled Piper love fest, I feel that Hot Rod’s positive diagnosis bears mentioning. While on WWE’s tour of Europe, Piper returned home early due to a back injury. He underwent emergency surgery, and a cancerous lymph node was discovered near his spine. The good news is, the cancerous region was discovered early and is very treatable. Piper will undergo 4 weeks of radiation treatment, and with any luck he’ll come out of this relatively unscathed. True, it’s still cancer, but I don’t want anyone reading this to think that Hot Rod is on his deathbed. Far from it. Find out more at www.rowdyroddypiper.com. You can send Roddy any “Get Well” mail at this address:

Roddy Piper
18645 S.W. Farmington Rd.
PMB 312
Aloha, Oregon
97007
USA

Show your support for the Rowdy One any way you can. I’m sure it’ll be much appreciated. Now, on to the spotlight.

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper is an all-time great. How many guys can you say that about, really? Babe Ruth, John Unitas, Michael Jordan…these are the guys that we remember. And even though pro-wrestling isn’t technically a “sport” anymore, wrestlers are competitive athletes just the same. My personal All-Time Top 5 list looks like this:

• Hulk Hogan
• Bret Hart
• Roddy Piper
• Curt Hennig
• Randy Savage

Now, granted, I’m a little biased here. Feel free to disagree with me. But before you do, know that I left Flair out for what he said about Hart and just about everybody else you can think of. I left Sammartino out because, well, I never got a chance to see Bruno wrestle. I did, however, get to see Andre the Giant wrestle, but never a good Andre the Giant. Consequently, I think it would be insulting to include my sad memory of a hobbled, aging Giant. As for Bob Backlund, his heel turn in 1994 made me hate him with literally ZERO chance for forgiveness. These faults notwithstanding, I think it’s a pretty good list. And you know what? I have NO problem putting Roddy Piper on it. Was he the best technical wrestler ever? Nah. But he damn sure was no slouch. Couple that with his endless charisma and red-hot temper, and you’ve got a formula for success. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper belongs not only in pro-wrestling’s hall of fame, but in ours as well. Mr. Piper, welcome to the club.

At the tender age of 15, Piper began what was to become one of the greatest careers in the history of pro-wrestling. Staying in youth hostels for 25 cents a night, Piper credits wrestling with keeping him off the streets. He would go on to win a slew of titles, including:

• NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (2x)
• NWA World TV Championship (2x)
• WCCW World Tag Team Championship (with Bulldog Brower)
• WWF Intercontinental Championship
• WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
• WWE World Tag Team Championship (with Ric Flair)

In addition, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him #17 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the “PWI Years” in 2003. He was also voted “most hated wrestler” in 1984 and 1985, only to win “most popular wrestler” in 1986. Nobody but Roddy Piper could go back-to-back as the most hated guy in all of wrestling and suddenly become the people’s champ. The only guy other guy that could come close would be Jake Roberts. Even so, Piper’s in a league of his own.

Despite this ample list of accomplishments, Piper never won a singles World Championship. I don’t mind saying that this is one of the most disturbing injustices in the history of the world. I mean, give me a break. Flair’s allowed to win 16 championships with his tired “uh-oh-I’m-upside-down-in-the-corner-now-Sting’s-press-slamming-me” routine, but a true innovator like Piper is left out in the cold? I don’t get it.

Outside the ring, Piper is just as entertaining. A veteran of the silver screen, Piper’s filmography is filled to the brim with ass-kicking action. However, Piper’s best-known role is undoubtedly his portrayal of a down-on-his-luck drifter named Nada in John Carpenter’s “They Live.” Piper, not normally known for his impressive physique, is absolutely ripped to shreds in this movie. The stylish combination of badass one-liners and A SIX-MINUTE LONG street fight between Piper and co-star Keith David makes this one of my all-time favorite films, and definitely one of my more prized pieces on my DVD wall.

Before I conclude the spotlight, I’d like to mention a few things that come to mind when I hear the name “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

• Wrestlemania. Without Piper, it wouldn’t exist.
• Bagpipes. I was playing Piper’s entrance music the other day, and my roommate informed me that the song is actually called Scotland The Brave. Go figure.
• Pipers Pit. Honestly, was there a more entertaining talk show on TV?
• Pipers’ Intercontinental Title match with Bret Hart at Wrestlemania VIII. One of my favorite matches ever.
• Honor, integrity, and respect. Every single time I’ve ever heard this man talk outside of character, he’s impressed me. He seems to be an absolute quality individual, a commodity that seems sorely lacking in the world today.
• Boxing Mr. T at Wrestlemania

Roddy Piper has been loved and hated throughout his career, but he will always be remembered as a great wrestler and a great man.

Some Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igZ1DYLVcII&mode=related&search=
Piper challenging the Sheepherders (Bushwackers) by smashing a beer against his skull

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaarFlq36YM
Piper’s controversial interview prior to his match with Bad News Brown at WM VI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kcxvy2jmpc
Low quality clip of Snuka on Piper’s Pit. Crack goes the coconut/skull.

http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=636801152
They Live fight scene. So long.