FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RODDY PIPER ADDRESSES TONIGHTS APPEARANCE ON NWA-TNA AND NEGATIVE REACTION TOWARDS OWEN HART COMMENTS
December 4, 2002: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper wants to set the record straight regarding his appearance tonight on the NWA-TNA Pay-Per-View. Piper, in Nashville returning his tour bus as the first part of "The Tour The Fans Demanded" comes to a close, made an agreement Tuesday with an NWA Official to appear on the show. Roddy, after hearing the fans comments over the last month regarding the state of Pro Wrestling, and after seeing a copy of last weeks NWA-TNA Show, given to him by a fan, wanted a National Forum to try and get the Wrestling Business back on track.
The only stipulations that Roddy Piper had were that nobody knew he was coming and that nobody in the NWA Organization had any say in the interviews content. Piper, who refused payment for the appearance, wanted to speak from the heart and wasn't even sure when he got to the ring, what exactly he was going to say.
In addition, nobody in the NWA Organization authorized Vince Russo to come to the ring. This was not scripted and as you can see by Russo's demeanor in the ring, a total 100% shoot. Apparently, Russo listening while getting ready for his segment of the show, couldn't resist coming to the ring. As seen live, he wouldn't speak unless he was given the mic and when he wasn't (Piper's Pit Rile #1-Never surrender the microphone), they were forced to send The Harris Brothers to the ring to get the situation under control. This further complicated the planned storyline of The Harris' aligning with Russo 10 minutes later as if it were scripted, why wouldn't they have turned on Piper.
Regardless, Roddy Piper holds absolutely no ill will toward the NWA-TNA or any of their officials as they acted completely professionally in the face of Vince Russo's lack of professionalism. Piper, however, regrets that his message was interrupted by Russo's egotistical antics.
Roddy Piper also wants to stress that his comments regarding Owen Hart were 100% from the heart. He does not forget that there are children that have to grow up without a father and that nobody was ever held accountable. Although the way it played out, it looked like an angle, Roddy Piper for no amount of money would base an angle, payoff, or promotional venture including his book, which has been unbeliebably successful with major National Media, around an incident that to this day, still brings a tear to his eye. Case Closed.
