Roddy Piper’s Relationship With Ronda Rousey, Explained
In the UFC, Ronda Rousey was a potent force. She transitioned into the realm of sports entertainment and WWE with ease thanks to her fame. She brought the moniker “Rowdy,” made famous by Roddy Piper, which she was initially reluctant to use but has since come to define her persona.
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s Wrestling Legacy
Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart are just a few wrestlers who had the distinction of being well-known stars in both the 1980s and 1990s. These individuals were all world champions. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was another well-known athlete during those years who, however, never won a world championship.
It’s unfortunate that Piper never won a world championship. To be honest, he was already defeated and didn’t need a belt. Piper gained popularity among the audience regardless of whether he competed as a heel or a face because of his outstanding character, not because of how many championships he won or how well he performed in the ring.
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper was one of the few people who could rule the mike. His Piper’s Pit segments, which still feature the well-known chat show format employed by wrestlers like The Miz today, are among the best in the history of the WWE. Piper was more of a brawler but was unbeatable in advertisements. It makes sense why MJF is such a fan. Who else would be regarded as the baddest man in the arena if they entered the ring playing bagpipes while dressed in a kilt?
Why Ronda Rousey Adopted The “Rowdy” Moniker
Regarding the baddest, Ronda Rousey may be referred to as “The Baddest Woman on the Planet,” but that title is not merely a marketing ploy. Rousey experienced it. That started out as a judoka who won an Olympic medal, then made the switch to a very successful mixed martial arts career.
Many people pointed out the alliteration of “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey’s nickname when she was first trying to come up with one early in her career. When Roddy Piper was already so well renowned for being a thief, the idea made Rousey uneasy because it felt like stealing.
Rousey eventually met Piper though. In A&E’s Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Rousey remarked, “I happened to see the ‘Rowdy’ one and received his blessing and he was extremely lovely about it. Sure, kid, no problem, he said. Do your name proud, or something similar.
Ronda Rousey Has Finally Become Rowdy Like Roddy Piper
When Rousey moved from the UFC to the WWE, it was a monumental event. Love her or hate her, no one can forget the moment she imitated her fallen idol by appearing in a WWE arena at the conclusion of the Royal Rumble 2018 while wearing a leather jacket and a white “Hot Ronda” shirt. The jacket, which Rousey received from his son, belonged to Piper in reality.
She rose fast to the top of the WWE women’s division, challenging Becky Lynch and Charlotte for the Raw Women’s Championship, and becoming the first female trio to compete in the main event of a WrestleMania at WrestleMania 35.
Fans, however, had a serious complaint. Rousey didn’t seem as “rowdy” anymore. Although she had some impressive mixed martial arts abilities in the ring, her character lacked depth. She had a babyface and was pleased just to be there. There was hardly little of the ominous, commanding attitude we saw in the UFC.
That has finally changed over the last few months, and Rousey’s heel turn has actually increased the crowd’s enthusiasm for her. In addition to physically assaulting opponents like Adam Pearce, Rousey has channelled her inner “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, as evidenced by the verbal abuse she heaps on Pearce and everyone else in her path. She is now at last free to behave as raucously she pleases. The best way she could ever pay tribute to “the boisterous one” is to be herself, just as Roddy Piper was always able to be himself.