“Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who as a professional wrestler/esteemed alumnus appeared on myriad WWF and WWE TV programs over the decades, died Thursday from cardiac arrest, TMZ reports. He was 61.
To this day, the sound of Bagpipes still brings to mind the image of Piper, his wonderful expressions and his ability to, as he always said, "talk 'em into the building". Piper was not a muscle man, like Hogan or Savage, nor was he a technical master like Bret Hart, or a high flyer like Ricky Steamboat.
What he was, was himself, taken to the Nth degree. In this, he was followed by the likes of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock.
“Roddy Piper was one of the most entertaining, controversial and bombastic performers ever in WWE, beloved my millions of fans around the world,” WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon said in a statement. “I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”