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10 Years Later: Looking Back at Roddy Piper and Zach Gowen's WWE Feud

Posted: Oct 18th 2013 By: CMBurnham

Roddy Piper is such a professional wrestling legend that he still occasionally appears on WWE programming after all these years.

Usually, Piper shows up as a babyface to conduct a Piper's Pit segment to promote a big, upcoming WWE pay-per-view match. But in 2003, Roddy Piper returned to the WWE in the role that made him famous in the mid-1980s; as a heel. In the twilight of the WWE Attitude Era, Piper was a hard-drinking, villainous mentor to Sean O'Haire. Although most wrestling fans remember this WWE storyline as one final program between Piper and "Mr. America" Hulk Hogan, a 20-year-old wrestler with an amazing backstory was also a participant.

Zach Gowen

For any young wrestler to get an opportunity to work with legends such as Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan in the WWE is a dream come true. But for Zach Gowen, it had to mean so much more. 12 years earlier, Gowen was diagnosed with cancer. As a result, doctors were forced to amputate his left leg. However, this obstacle never stopped Gowen from chasing his dream. On May 15, 2003, Zach Gowen found himself in a wrestling ring on WWE Smackdown.

While Roddy Piper and Sean O'Haire were double-teaming Mr. America, Zach Gowen ran into the ring with an American flag to defend Hulk Hogan. However, Piper and O'Haire easily subdued Gowen, who looked like a fan from the crowd. As WWE security tried to pull him from the ring, Piper pulled the other way and tore off Gowen's prosthetic leg. As a lifelong wrestling fan, this is still one of the most shocking moments I've ever witnessed.

Zach Gowen worked in the WWE for most of 2003. He was in Hogan's corner when he defeated Piper at a pay-per-view. Eventually, Gowen even wrestled in the WWE. He earned a WWE contract by defeating Big Show with his patented one-legged moonsault. Besides working with Roddy Piper, Zach Gowen also had memorable WWE feuds with Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar. I was in attendance the night Lesnar (kayfabe) threw Gowen down a flight of stairs in the New Orleans Arena.

TCW

After Zach Gowen left the WWE late in 2003, some casual wrestling fans may have lost track of his career. However, his WWE departure did not end his dream of being a pro wrestler. In the last 10 years, Gowen has worked for a number of top wrestling promotions, such as TNA and ROH. And just recently, I saw him on cable television in New Orleans, as part of a rapidly growing wrestling promotion known as TCW.

Traditional Championship Wrestling is a hot wrestling promotion, primarily running shows in the south. However, TCW is expanding its reach throughout the United States and now appears on the Pursuit Channel, as well as local television in 29 different states. Its weekly television show can be seen on its website, tcwwrestling.com. As a diehard wrestling fan, TCW is on my list of must-see TV.

Zach Gowen is only 30 years old and he looked great in TCW. Gowen has had a rivalry with Greg Anthony in TCW that has spanned two years. The highlight of this angle saw Gowen hit Anthony with his prosthetic leg when the referee wasn't looking to pick up a win. Eventually, Anthony got revenge on Gowen, but it took three men to do so. This only helped the legend of Zach Gowen grow in the eyes of most TCW wrestling fans.

Whether appearing under the bright lights of the WWE or working for other promotions, Zach Gowen continues to be an inspiration for wrestling fans all around the world. And I'm sure Roddy Piper enjoyed putting over someone like Gowen instead of Hulk Hogan for a change.

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Spotlight in History

1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion

06-23

Athena Jun 23rd Today!
Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
Don Kent Jun 24th
Kody Lane Jun 25th
X-Storms Jun 25th
Jax Samuel Jun 26th
D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
Kuda Jun 27th
Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
Jason Kirby Jun 27th
Reckless Jun 27th
Ignition Jun 27th
Malico Jun 28th
Kenny Mack Jun 28th
Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
J. J. Blake Jun 28th
John Tidwell Jun 28th
Doc Hearon Jun 28th
Claire Jun 28th
Boris Malenko Jun 28th
Bill Dromo Jun 28th
Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
Barbara Galento Jun 29th
Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
Ed Lewis Jun 30th
Terry Funk Jun 30th
Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Li'l Joe Jul 1st
Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
Jake Hollister Jul 1st
Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
Blake Wilson Jul 4th
Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
Barry Windham Jul 4th
Bree Ann Jul 4th
Little Tokyo Jul 5th
Terry Kage Jul 5th
Roland Kirchmeyer Jul 5th
Richard Pierce Jul 5th
Dalton Bragg Jul 6th

1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title

More Look Back In History