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Piper Thrilled To Be Back At Another WrestleMania; Rourke Disappoints

Piper Thrilled To Be Back At Another WrestleMania; Rourke Disappoints

Posted: Apr 6th 2009 By: CMBurnham

HOUSTON -- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper never thought he'd see WrestleMania XXV. He never thought a hyped-up wresting card that he was headlining along with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in 1985 would live on nearly a quarter century later. Then again, there were times he didn't think he'd be around that long either.

But here he is, walking around the Reliant Center, once again ready to step inside the ring at WrestleMania for a match. The mere thought of it nearly causes him to well up.

"I didn't believe it would last this long," said Piper, who wrestled Chris Jericho on Sunday along with fellow WWE Hall of Famers Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and Ric Flair. "Even the first WrestleMania wasn't pretty. Hogan and I didn't get along and T and I didn't get along. [Paul] Orndorf and I didn't get along."

Back then, WWE chairman Vince McMahon hired any celebrity he could, from Billy Martin to Cyndi Lauper, to promote the event. That approach created the kind of back-stage commotion that is largely missing in today's WWE. Every aspect of Sunday's show was scripted down to the final minute, when WWE champion Triple H finished the four-hour pay-per-view on time by defeating Randy Orton in the main event.

"I got towed into this room for a meet-and-greet before the first WrestleMania and I was trying to get to my dressing room," Piper recalled. "Liberace and the Rockettes are doing the can-can in this side of the hallway and someone pulls me in to meet this little gangly guy with a weird voice and he's taking pictures of my boot and I said, "Hey, I got to go and wrestle." On the way back, I asked who that guy was. It was Andy Warhol. I didn't know who Andy Warhol was but he had a great interest in my feet."

That Piper, 54, is even able to lace up his boots one more time seems like a minor miracle after everything he's been through since the first WrestleMania, including overcoming cancer two years ago. Listening to Piper talk about his need to step into the ring one last time almost sounds like a cross between Rocky Balboa and Randy "The Ram" Robinson. Mickey Rourke, who befriended Piper during the filming of The Wrestler, was actually ringside in Houston for the match and got into the ring himself, punching Jericho at the end of the bout after he had won.

"No matter how I feel, its time for me to go out there and let people know why I'm Roddy Piper, to let it go," Piper said before the match. "This WrestleMania XXV is really important because this is the last one for me. It's so big. I'm going to give you my heart no matter how I feel, I'm going to give everything I got, I don't care if I get hurt. This one is worth it.

"I remember being in Houston when I was 15. [Former wrestler] Johnny Valentine was mad at me and he grabbed me and put me up against the wall and he said, 'I can't make you believe that wrestling is for real, but I sure the [heck] can make you believe I am.' I based half my career on the philosophy. If nothing else, I'm a real-deal professional wrestler and proud to be."

King's Moment
Jerry "The King" Lawler has been in pro wrestling for 40 years, including the past 16 in the WWE, but there is one thing he hasn't done -- wrestle at WrestleMania.

"Two years ago, I had a meeting with Vince [McMahon] close to WrestleMania and I said, 'Vince, I've been here since 1993 and I've never even wrestled on a WrestleMania,' " Lawler said. "He looked at me surprised and said, 'That's a travesty.' He said, 'We could rush something this year, but this is something big, the King having his first match ever at WrestleMania. Next year, I promise we're going to do something big.' Well, that was two years ago."

Lawler figured he would have been in the Jericho match with so many legends being wedged into that angle, but he was once again left out. Lawler is beginning to doubt that he'll ever be given a chance to experience WrestleMania from anywhere besides the broadcast table.

"I keep thinking any minute, boy, one of these nights we're going to be announcing what kind of big match we're going to be in," Lawler said. "And the next thing you know, WrestleMania comes and goes again and no match for me."

Oh, Mickey
One of the worst-executed appearances in WrestleMania history may have been Rourke's in Houston. Not only were WWE staffers fretting over Rourke's availability, unsure if he'd actually be doing anything until Saturday night, but when he did actually step in the ring, most in attendance wished he had simply stayed home.

After Jericho had beaten up Piper, Snuka, Steamboat and Flair, Rourke came into the ring and grazed Jericho with an awkward left hook that "knocked out" Jericho.

Afterward, the "Mouth of the South," Jimmy Hart, who has never pulled any punches in his career, shook his head and said, "That's it? That's like going to a movie and it breaks at the end."

 

Tags: Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, Paul Orndorff, WWE, Jerry Lawler

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Supplemental Information

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Spotlight in History

  • 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title

Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25

  • 04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Nathan Sensation for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Erica def. Miss Diss Lexia for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
  • 04-19 2024 Kari Wright def. Tommy Prince for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2025 Rook Tyler def. Auzzy for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
  • 04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2019 B. M. F. (Kareem Sadat & Maniac Mike) became the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-20 2019 Double D became the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2024 Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-20 2024 Kevin James Sanchez def. Montego Seeka for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
04-23
  • Moose Apr 23rd Today!
  • Tony Atlas Apr 23rd Today!
  • Blade [2nd] Apr 23rd Today!
  • Terry Gordy Apr 23rd Today!
  • Ethan Price Apr 24th
  • Lou Thesz Apr 24th
  • Lance Von Erich Apr 24th
  • Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th
  • Walker Stewart Apr 25th
  • Zack Zilla Apr 25th
  • Max Mercer Apr 25th
  • Brett Stopp Apr 25th
  • Crash Davis Apr 25th
  • Eric Roberts Apr 25th
  • Carl Fergie Apr 25th
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
  • Havoc Apr 26th
  • Karl Kox Apr 26th
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
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  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th

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