Bill Olive/Getty Images Former professional wrestlers Ric Flair watches from outside the ring as WWE Superstar Chris Jericho gets pummeled on the ropes by Piper in 2009. “I’ll walk down that Raw ramp again, or I’ll be dead”, Piper said at the time, according to the WWE.
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Piper’s agent Jay Schacter confirmed the death to ET, saying that the wrestler “passed peacefully in his sleep” on Thursday night.
“I am devastated at this news”.
Carpenter mourned his friend on Facebook.
“He was one of the most generous, honest and authentic people I have ever known”, Schachter added.
And current WWE star John Cena tweeted: “One of the true greats of all time”.
Piper had a wife and four children.
Piper rose to the level of Intercontinental Champion in 1992, briefly served as the interim president of the WWE in 1996 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2005. Retired Iranian-American wrestler Iron Sheik said, “RODDY PIPER”. Although he was Canadian, Piper played up on his supposed Scottish heritage by often wearing kilts outside of the ring and playing the bagpipes. An antagonist at heart, let’s just say Piper and fire extinguishers were two peas in a pod.
Piper’s key gimmick was “Piper’s Pit“, a mock talk show in which Piper would sit down with fellow wrestlers to talk out the issues of the day. He later starred in the movie “They Live“. Piper was cast as the villain, and his disqualification led to Hogan claiming the WWF championship. Quickly following his shocking death on July 31, Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, and many more celebs paid their respects to the wrestling legend. I love you forever.
Piper, a native of Canada, rose to fame in the 1980s as a brash Scotsman who was always ready for a fight.
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Piper started his wrestling career back in 1984. Although he hadn’t wrestled since, in recent years Piper appeared in several special shows about the sport, including with other organizations.
