Tomorrow night in Dublin, John Carpenter's cult classic 'They Live' is being screened at Hollywood Babylon at the Lighthouse in Smithfield. It's a rare opportunity for Dubliners to experience the non-wrestling talents of Rodderick Toombs, the deceased wrestler known to the world as 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. In the 1980s, Piper was one of the main figures who brought wrestling into the global mainstream, and was arguably wrestling's greatest ever villain. Sadly he died last year.
And thankfully, through his victories and his defeats, Piper left a lifetime of lessons for future generations. Here are some of them.
Know how to make an entrance
I counted 17 bagpipers and drummers leading Piper, Mr Wonderful and Cowboy Bob Orton to the ring for Wrestlemania 1. Seventeen. He was only one part of three-man tag team.
Amazingly Muhammad Ali was a celebrity ref in that fight.
Never hand a blank contract to a lunatic
Contracts are legally binding, so never, ever, EVER hand a pissed-off Hulk Hogan a contract where he can choose a random opponent. This dumb move set up Piper's Wrestlemania 2 fight with Mr T.
Apologise for your errors
Piper's rivalry with Superfly Jimmy Snuka was one of the greatest and most disturbing wrestling rivalries of the 1980s. Piper famously smashed a coconut over Snuka's head in a Piper's Pit that might be the most offensive skit in the history of pro wrestling (and that is saying something.)
Credit to Piper: in 2004, he would approach Snuka to make a peace of sorts in a surreal TNA appearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhPaeIGpJmk
Here's how weird wrestling is: in 2015, Piper died and Snuka was charged with 3rd degree murder.
A hard man can wear a skirt
Even though he was Canadian, Hot Rod wore that tartan skirt in all his media appearances. Here he and the dearly departed Joan Rivers discuss what a true Scot wears beneath a kilt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAXUMv28NE
Never respect youth
Piper's career spanned multiple wrestling generations. Back in 2014, he was sewing seeds of division between Roman Reigns and The Shield, in defense of his spiritual godson CM Punk.
Respect a bigger man
Piper had a big mouth but he learned the hard way with Andre The Giant that it was worth holding fire when the man in question was 7'4" and 520 pounds.
Nothing beats a good catchphrase
Piper was more than just a wrestler. As mentioned, he was the star of John Carpenter's cult sci-fi masterpiece 'They Live', which among other famous moments, includes the following incredible catchphrase.
Tread lightly
Roddy knew his own limits and he knew the toll that the wrestling life had taken on him. Back in a 2003 interview, he predicted he wouldn't make it past 65. Tragically, he was right. Piper passed away last summer at age 61. RIP.
