The Man, the Myth, the Legend Vol. 3: Rowdy Roddy Piper

"Just when they think they know all the answers, I start changing the questions!"

Roddy Piper said that once after delivering a beatdown on his famous "Piper's Pit" segment from the WWE's classic era. It's a fitting quote indeed from a man who was equal parts mercurial warrior and passionate family man.

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In many ways, Roddy was a study in contradictions. Born Roderick Toombs in Canada and raised in a rough part of town, he had to carry a switchblade for protection from the local gangs. When he was caught with the weapon at his high school, Roddy was expelled, and his father kicked him out to the streets.

Roddy managed to finish school and even attended college while living in youth hostels. In order to make extra money, he worked at several local gyms and started running errands for the gym members, some of whom were professional wrestlers.

In his spare time, what little there was, he taught himself to play the bagpipes to celebrate his Scottish heritage. This whim would eventually pay off dividends in the pro wrestling world.

Once Roddy started pro wrestling, everyone knew he would be a star. Here are ten of the most legendary –some might say rowdy–moments from Rowdy Roddy Piper's life and career.

1. Golden Gloves boxer

Roddy engages in a worked shoot boxing match against

Mr.

T at Wrestlemania II

Roddy Piper had a reputation as a legitimate tough man and for good reason. Before he became a pro wrestler, he was a skilled amateur boxer. He was even able to win the prestigious Golden Gloves tournament.

His skills were put to good use, and not just in the wrestling ring. Piper's acting career was given a boost by his ability to perform his own fighting and stunts, and he was able to carry Mr. T to a worked boxing match at Wrestlemania.

2. Trained in Judo by a fighting legend

Roddy Piper and "Judo" Gene Lebell

If you're a fan of martial arts films or MMA, you've probably heard of the legendary Judo Gene Lebell. The actor, stuntman, pro wrestler, and martial arts master is notorious for putting Steven Seagal to sleep with a rear naked choke hold and defeating Bruce Lee in a sparring bout.

He also trained Roddy Piper in Judo, and the Rowdy One managed to ascend to first Dan black belt. Piper's Judo skills were evident in his stunt work, but he usually relied more on brawling during his matches.

3. Bagpipes nearly cause a riot in California

While Roddy's skill at playing the bagpipes have mostly helped him and his career, there was one incident where they nearly led to disaster.

While working the California NWA territories, Piper developed his heel persona. He often mocked the large Latino segment of the audience, getting a lot of heat in the process. Finally, he said he would make it up to the Mexican people by playing their national anthem on the bagpipes before a show.

However, Piper started playing La Cucaracha instead. The incensed audience nearly broke out into a full-scale riot before Piper was quickly ushered backstage.

4. First taste of wrestling gold

In professional wrestling, there's no such thing as bad press, and Piper's stunt with the bagpipes catapulted him up the card. He feuded with the legendary Playboy Buddy Rose and won the NWA Pacific Northwest championship from him, capturing his first wrestling title.

5. Playing the hero in the Southern promotions

Piper's gift of gab served him so well, he was invited to assist legendary Gordon Solie with announcing duties. They were the first 'odd couple' pair of announce teams, with Solie mostly questioning Piper and other heels' cheating while Roddy would rip on the babyfaces.

However, despite their adversarial relationship, Piper had respect for Solie. When Don Muraco attacked Gordon Solie, it was Piper who came to the rescue. After that, Roddy became one of the most over faces in Georgia Championship wrestling's history.

6. The Legendary Dog Collar Match series

The Rowdy One wound up in JC Productions territory after a falling out with GCW. Once there he continued to work as a babyface, feuding with all the top heels. However, it was his feud with Greg Valentine that probably made his career--though with a cost.

With pro wrestling growing more competitive, the various territories started trying out new match types, like the Bunkhouse Stampede (something akin to the modern Royal Rumble), cage matches, and Texas Death matches (last man standing.)

Piper and Valentine both claim to have come up with the idea for the dog collar match. As Piper put it, the two of them 'beat the holy hell' out of each other for months, performing the brutal match in front of different crowds as they traveled.

The fans loved the brutality, and the toughness both men displayed. Unfortunately, at one of their matches, Valentine wrapped the chain around his fist and pounded Piper in the head a little too hard. Piper's eardrum ruptured, and he would lose nearly half of his hearing in that ear.

7. The Rock N Wrestling Connection

In the early days of MTV, there was a lot of speculation that the music-only channel would be unable to compete. The early VJs themselves would often wonder if they would have a job after the next commercial break, so things looked pretty bleak.

However, the cable station took off and was rising in popularity when they partnered up with the WWE for an event called "the War to Settle the Score." It was the first time wrestling had appeared on MTV and featured a titanic clash between Hogan and Piper.

Hogan was accompanied by Cyndi Lauper--the Billboard chart queen of the 1980s--and Mr. T, who was enjoying fame as part of the A-Team cast. The match ended in a double disqualification, setting up the very first Wrestlemania.

8. The Coconut incident

If you Google Piper's Pit, the segment that's most likely to be at the top is the famous Coconut incident with Jimmy Snuka.

Piper, playing the heel to the hilt, invited Snuka onto Piper's Pit and proceeded to insult the man's Island heritage. When Snuka refused to be baited by Piper's insults, the Rowdy One decided to employ a weapon sure to get Snuka's goat-a coconut.

Unfortunately, Piper got a little carried away and bashed Snuka for real with the tropical fruit. Snuka would up with a concussion, but the segment led to a red-hot feud and subsequent match series and is fondly remembered by all Piper fans.

9. Piper the movie star

While his most famous role is probably as Nada from John Carpenter's legendary Class warfare allegory They Live, Piper racked up over fifty film roles and at least that many television appearances.

Because of his Judo training and wrestling, he was able to perform most of his own stunts on screen. Most consider his fight scene in They Live to be one of the greatest ever captured on film.

10. Piper stands for the silent

While Piper may have had a troubled youth, he grew to be a dedicated family man and had one of the biggest hearts in wrestling.

In contrast to his heel persona, Piper was often warm with fans, particularly children. In his later years, he worked as the public face of the Stand for the Silent anti-bullying organization. With bullying victims nearly ten times more likely to commit suicide, the organization has its work cut out for it. Piper was a believer for the cause and worked not for profit for them.

Rowdy Roddy Piper; Truly a man who is both Myth and Legend.

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Rowdy Roddy Piper left this world, but not before giving a lifetime worth of memories. What's your fondest memory of the Rowdy One? Sound off in the comments below...