Rowdy Roddy Piper dies

[Stopspot]

Wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has died at the age of 61... TMZ Sports has learned.

Piper -- born Roderick George Toombs -- died from cardiac arrest at a home in Hollywood at around noon Friday.

Piper was a wrestling icon -- one of the biggest stars in the WWE back in the '80s, and even wrestled in "Wrestlemania I" back in 1985 ... squaring off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.

Roddy's rep tells us, "I am devastated at this news."

"Rod was a good friend as well as a client and one of the most generous, sincere and authentic people I have ever known. This is a true loss to us all."

Piper had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2006, but last November he said he was cancer free.

Roddy was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame back in 2005 and was one of the top 50 villains in the history of the WWE .

Piper had a long relationship with WWE -- last wrestling back in 2008 ... but appeared on various WWE shows up until 2014.

Roddy is survived by his wife Kitty and their 4 kids -- including 3 daughters and son Colton who's pursuing a career in professional wrestling.



Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2015/07/31/roddy-piper-dead-dies-wwe-wrestler-cancer/#ixzz3hVh9TnxX

Rest in peace, Piper.

 

[Majour]

Very sad news, Piper was incredible.

 

[WarMachine1]

Awful news. So many childhoods getting stomped this year.

RIP Roddy

 

[Lackin]

RIP Roddy. Just read this on facebook, so shocked. Another legend taken from us.

 

[CM Punk]

Was just waiting for my friend and read this. Fuck. Rest in Peace, Rod.

 

[JohnQZ]

I heard--and I never imagined this day coming.

 

[WarMachine1]

How the hell are they gonna do a video package and a network special on Monday that doesn't include Hogan?

 

[Stopspot]

 

[Prince Bálor]

Fuuuck, that's sad news!

RIP Hot Rod

 

[Farooq]

RIP I just sat here waiting for my food and saw this thread. Completely shocked to hear this.

 

[Messiah1]

How the hell are they gonna do a video package and a network special on Monday that doesn't include Hogan?

They can easily work around that. Piper has had many legendary moments that didn't include Hogan.

 

[Jacob Fox]

Wow, just wow. Roddy was the reason I became a wrestling fan at 10 years old. I liked his character on Hulk Hogan's Rock N Wrestling and I began watching WWF because of it. I then saw his NWA feud with Ric Flair. It was because of Roddy that I became a Ric Flair fan.

Like Dusty, Eddie Guerrero and Owen Hart, this is more than just a celebrity dying. This is someone who has meant a lot to me.

I'll miss you, Roddy. At least you can be with your best friend Adrian Adonis again.

 

[Rogue]

Horrible past couple of months for wrestling fans, R.I.P to a true legend and a staple of the industry.

 

[Stopspot]

Piper is one of the biggest wrestling deaths there could have been. He was the main heel for the first Wrestlemania and for the start of the Rock n' Wrestling Connection which saw wrestling go mainstream. There's no telling if it would have taken off as well as it did without Piper for Hogan and the rest of the good guys to play off of.

 

[Jacob Fox]

They can easily work around that. Piper has had many legendary moments that didn't include Hogan.

We'll see him hitting Snuka with that coconut.