The Rod

It’s a guarantee that in my life whenever I hear ‘Scotland the Brave’ being played I’ll always remember the man Roddy Piper born Roderick Toombs. At just 61 years old this wrestling legend and amazing person passed away due to heart failure July 31^st in the AM. I personally have many, many fond memories of Roddy. Many people who aren’t aware the life of a wrestler think everything shown in the movie “The Wrestler” with Micky Rourke is as close as it can be represented which to those who in the industry who defended it and said it was as close as it could be are only doing what wrestlers have always done. The truth in wrestling is a lot more than any 2 hour movie. Hot Rod literally opened the door to so many wrestlers that took the spotlight and shined. Just like Roddy they too had to pass the torch. Over the years Roddy always stayed active in the industry from guest spots to conventions to indie bookings, the love for the sport had never died.

Some wrestlers make retirement announcements usually a work for a forthcoming story line and some just ride off into the sunset, Roddy did and had always knew when it was time….it was time. It’s strange in life that when someone you meet, worked with, watched on TV passes because you can’t help but reflect on the many things going on in your mind. The passing of Roddy can almost be looked upon as the passing of a whole generation. The King Kong Bundy’s, Hulk Hogan’s, Iron Sheik’s, Rick Martel’s and so on. Of course in the turning of time we come to the next generation; Bret Harts, Shawn Michael’s, Undertaker and so on. With every turning there’s always a new beginning, this doesn’t make it easier to deal with but it does make us appreciate those who passed and those who luckily are still with us. I believe people who don’t understand what the wrestling business was back in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s need to understand like today it was a self-destructing, promoter demanding, drug induced, alcohol fueled, ego ruling era. Many people who wrestled during this time are dead, washed up, surviving on pain med’s or they are owners of promotions. It is a sad truth but a truth none the less. Of course in the 90’s the life-style of a wrestler changed dramatically. Fame played and is playing a bigger part of the destruction of many more talents.