Piper's Pit
Encyclopedia
Piper's Pit was an interview segment featuring Roddy Piper
which was a mainstay of WWF/WWE television from 1984 to 1987, and then returned briefly in 1989. Also, Piper hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions in 2003 - 2011.
Initially, the set consisted simply of a set of five thin walls meeting in a corner with a Scottish plaque on the center wall. The two walls on either side had posters of Piper in action and a chair or two. The colors of the walls were then patterned in Royal Stewart tartan. However, when that was destroyed (see Memorable Moments below) in the fall of 1986, it was rebuilt as an almost permanent set taking on a more Scottish flavor complete with a painted portrait of Piper on the back wall; Guests of this Pit came through an arched entrance way in the center of the set rather than from the side of the set previously.
Piper's Pit returned during Piper's short return to the WWE in 2003. The segment also made a return in 2005 at WrestleMania 21
interviewing Stone Cold Steve Austin
, the night after Rowdy Roddy Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
. Since then, the Piper's Pit segment has continued to make occasional appearances.
Since 2003 and until 2010, WWE programming has contained other Piper's Pit-style interview segments hosted by other WWE superstars. Examples of wrestlers who have hosted their own segments include Chris Jericho
, Edge, Christian, Carlito
, Santino Marella, Montel Vontavious Porter and Abraham Washington.
Roddy Piper
Roderick George Toombs , better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE...
which was a mainstay of WWF/WWE television from 1984 to 1987, and then returned briefly in 1989. Also, Piper hosted similar segments while wrestling for other promotions in 2003 - 2011.
Initially, the set consisted simply of a set of five thin walls meeting in a corner with a Scottish plaque on the center wall. The two walls on either side had posters of Piper in action and a chair or two. The colors of the walls were then patterned in Royal Stewart tartan. However, when that was destroyed (see Memorable Moments below) in the fall of 1986, it was rebuilt as an almost permanent set taking on a more Scottish flavor complete with a painted portrait of Piper on the back wall; Guests of this Pit came through an arched entrance way in the center of the set rather than from the side of the set previously.
Piper's Pit returned during Piper's short return to the WWE in 2003. The segment also made a return in 2005 at WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21
WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It started off with an interpormotional battle royal, for which Booker T...
interviewing Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
, the night after Rowdy Roddy Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
. Since then, the Piper's Pit segment has continued to make occasional appearances.
Since 2003 and until 2010, WWE programming has contained other Piper's Pit-style interview segments hosted by other WWE superstars. Examples of wrestlers who have hosted their own segments include Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
, Edge, Christian, Carlito
Carly Colon
Carlos Edwin "Carly" Colón, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known internationally by his ring name Carlito. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Entertainment , but was released from his contract on May 21, 2010. In his native Puerto Rico, he is known as both...
, Santino Marella, Montel Vontavious Porter and Abraham Washington.
1984-1989
- During one episode of Piper's Pit in the 80's he was interviewing Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson. Before Piper could get going with his insults Tony Atlas starts his on commenting that his wife wears the same skirt he does. Atlas then sniffs Piper and comments his wife wears the same perfume too. Piper walks off the interview, but not before the last shot when he remarks that he is better looking than Atlas's wife.
- On what was arguably the most famous episode of Piper's Pit, Piper interviewed Jimmy Snuka. During the episode, Piper tried to make Snuka "feel at home." On the set, Piper offered bananas and coconuts. After Snuka accused Piper of insulting him, Piper smashed a coconutCoconutThe coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
shell over Jimmy SnukaJimmy SnukaJames William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
's head causing the Fijian to knock down the walls of the Pit. After that, he proceeded to throw him around and shove a banana down his throat before leaving through a back door, escaping a furious Snuka. - Piper and Bob Orton leave an open contract for anyone who can battle Orton in a boxing match. Hulk Hogan appears on the set and signs Mr. T's name to it stating "I pity the fool!"
- Piper and bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton kidnap The Haiti KidRaymond KesslerRaymond Kessler was an American professional wrestler, who had dwarfism, wrestled under the name Haiti Kid in the World Wrestling Federation. He appeared in Mr. T's corner at WrestleMania 2 in his match against Rowdy Roddy Piper...
after a match, tie him to a chair, and shave his head Mr. TMr. TMr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
-style on the Pit set. While this is going on, Piper makes the illogical comment, "If we can do this to you, can you imagine what I'm going to do to Mr. T?" - Piper interviews André the Giant, and claims it is amazing that Andre has a "big body and a tiny, weeny brain," and asks Andre if Big John Studd has slammed him before, and after Andre says "never" and makes it clear to Piper that he can never be slammed. Piper then says "If I'm given five minutes, I could slam you myself," to which Andre responds by picking him up by the front of his shirt and throws him of the set before leaving. After André leaves the set, Piper responds and says "André, do you want to fight? You do not throw rocks at a man who's got a machine gun."
- In a Pit emanating from Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, Piper played mind games with his guest Mr. T, showing some rather humorous cartoons of what the star of the A-Team may look like after their main event at WrestleMania, and takes it to higher levels by wearing a Mr. T cap and mocking Mr. T's mohawk hairstyle. - On a special Pit on the May 11, 1985 edition of Saturday Night's Main EventWWE Saturday Night's Main EventSaturday Night's Main Event is a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It aired occasionally from 1985 to 1992, under the World Wrestling Federation banner on NBC in place of Saturday Night Live. It returned to the air on March 18, 2006, in an 8 EST time slot...
, Piper berates and betrays "Mr. Wonderful" Paul OrndorffPaul OrndorffPaul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
in the wake of their recent loss to Mr. T and Hulk Hogan in the main event at the first WrestleMania. Piper then tries to jump Orndorff, but is beat to the punch. Orndorff goes off on both Piper and bodyguard Orton, then attempts to piledrive Piper but is blindsided by Orton and his cast from behind. - For home video only, Piper is on the set interviewing his all-time favorite guest, himself, using the merged-screen technique.
- Special guest '80s pop star Cyndi LauperCyndi LauperCynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
attacks Capt. Lou AlbanoLou AlbanoLouis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995....
and Piper himself after hearing enough insults from Albano. - In late 1985, Piper invites Bruno SammartinoBruno SammartinoBruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation , holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign...
onto his show at Madison Square GardenMadison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
to insult him. Sammartino refuses to participate in the interview until Orton agrees to leave the ring. Piper and Orton eventually attack Sammartino, but the "Living Legend" gets the upper hand. - Piper interviews jobber Frankie Williams, tells him that he's worthless and beats him up. This is where Piper coins one of his famous quotes: "Just when they think they've got the answers, I change the questions."
- Adrian AdonisAdrian AdonisKeith A. Franke was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.-Career:Franke trained under Fred Atkins and debuted in 1974, wrestling under his own name...
changes gimmicks on the spot, foregoing his leather jacket that embodied his bad-boy biker persona for the more flamboyant, borderline homosexual gimmick that he would take on for the remainder of his World Wrestling Federation tenure. - A newly turned face Piper, while engaged in a violent feud with "Adorable" Adrian Adonis, is brutally attacked and knocked unconscious during the infamous "Flower Shop vs. Piper's Pit" showdown by Adonis and former Piper allies Bob Orton, Jr.Bob Orton, Jr.Robert Keith Orton is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Cowboy" Bob Orton. He is the father of wrestler Randy Orton, who is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Don MuracoDon MuracoDonald Muraco , better known by his ring name "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler...
, who then proceed to destroy the set. A crippled yet enraged Piper would gain revenge by destroying Adonis' "Flower Shop" set a week later. (While Piper's Pit would be quickly rebuilt better than ever, the Flower Shop never returned.) - Uninvited guest Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
insults and distracts Piper as Adonis comes out of nowhere to make a surprising return from a previous Piper attack to ambush the Rowdy One, causing a brawl on the set. With Hart's help, Adonis would eventually get the better of Piper, rendering him unconscious with "The Goodnight Irene" sleeper hold. To add insult to injury, he put a flower in Piper's mouth before he and Hart walked off-set. - André the GiantAndré the GiantAndré René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
turns heelHeel (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
on Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, comes onto the set with Bobby HeenanBobby HeenanRaymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
, and challenges him to a match at WrestleMania IIIWrestleMania IIIWrestleMania III was the third annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . The event was held on March 29, 1987 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan....
, and rips off his shirt and crucifix before walking off the set with Heenan as well. In the process of ripping the shirt and crucifix, Andre's fingernail penetrated Hogan's skin, accidentally causing him to bleed, which Piper noticed and said to Hogan, "You're bleeding". Piper shocked many fans by actually comforting Hogan and leading him offstage. About a week later, Hogan returned to the pit to give his answer to whether or not he'll take Andre's challenge; "YEEEEEEEEEEESSS!" - In a highly-emotional Pit, Piper announced his "retirement" because he couldn't bear to hear his children begging him to stay home. He stood on a table to get a better look at the cheering fans, thanked them for supporting him, then took the photo and painting of himself off the back wall of the set and quietly left.
- At WrestleMania VWrestleMania VWrestleMania V was the fifth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 2, 1989 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
, Roddy shot Morton Downey, Jr.Morton Downey, Jr.Morton Downey, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and later a television talk show host of the 1980s who pioneered the "trash TV" format on his program The Morton Downey Jr. Show....
with a fire extinguisher to counter Morton blowing second hand smoke in his face (April 2, 1989)
Since 2003
- Piper and Sean O' Haire invite a fan from the audience in the ring who was a fan of Mr. AmericaHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
then proceeded to attack him, which lead to his artificial leg being ripped off, thus introducing the world to Zach GowenZach GowenZach Gowen is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
(Smackdown: June 3, 2003) - The Pit makes a return to WrestleManiaWrestleMania 21WrestleMania 21 was the twenty-first annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on April 3, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It started off with an interpormotional battle royal, for which Booker T...
in 2005 with Stone Cold Steve AustinStone Cold Steve AustinSteve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
. This is the first time the Pit appeared at the pay-per-view show since WrestleMania V (April 3, 2005) - Shawn MichaelsShawn MichaelsMichael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
superkicked Piper on the set of the pit a week after he attacked Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
following a tag team match. (Raw: July 11, 2005) - The BoogeymanMarty WrightMartin "Marty" Wright is an American professional wrestler and actor best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name The Boogeyman.-Tough Enough:...
chews off the moleMelanocytic nevusA melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells .Some sources equate the term mole with "melanocytic nevus". Other sources reserve the term "mole" for other purposes....
on Jillian HallJillian HallJillian Faye Fletcher is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Women Superstars Uncensored. She is also known for her tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Jillian Hall or simply Jillian...
's face during a segment in the Pit where Piper was interviewing Hall's client, John "Bradshaw" LayfieldJohn LayfieldJohn Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
(Smackdown: January 13, 2006) - Jimmy KimmelJimmy KimmelJames Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
's cousin Sal was taught how to wrestle by Piper in a match against Santino Marella. - Chris JerichoChris JerichoChristopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
impersonates Piper and assaults Jimmy SnukaJimmy SnukaJames William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
. - Piper interviews actor Luis GuzmanLuis GuzmánLuis Guzmán is an actor from Puerto Rico. He is known for his character work. For much of his career, he has played roles largely as sidekicks, thugs, or policemen....
along with a confused Iron Sheik in Madison Square Garden. - WWE Old School Night on Monday Night RAW (November 15, 2010) featured John CenaJohn CenaJohn Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
and Wade BarrettWade BarrettWade Barrett is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach at Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo-College:... - WWE All-Star Night on Monday Night RAW (June 13, 2011) featured The Miz and Alex RileyAlex RileyAlex Riley is a TV and radio presenter.Born and brought up in Sheffield, Riley started performing with the city's Crucible Youth Theatre during which time he originated, and appeared in, dozens of sketches and devised pieces, as well as appearing in a number of plays and farces at the Library...
- WWE Monday Night RAW SuperShow (November 28, 2011) featured John CenaJohn CenaJohn Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....