– WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper recently spoke with The Baltimore Sun. Here are some highlights:
Are you going to be involved at all with Wrestlemania Weekend?
I’m going to be there. You know, that’s a good question. I have a lot of thoughts about it. I don’t know any other entertainment sport where 30 years later you could give the fans the opportunity to see the two guys who started it at the War to Settle The Score. Personally, I think that if you don’t hit the bagpipes, there’s 30 years and I don’t know how many millions of fans that you’re cheating of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s not about money, it’s not about hearing your name get chanted either. It’s about saying thank you I think. You want to give the fans what they deserve and you want to do it with class. So am I going to be part of it? I don’t know. I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind inducting T into the Hall of Fame, I guarantee you would never forget that induction. I doubt they’ll do that one but they may. I don’t know what they’re going to do. Tell me when I get there.
Speaking of Mr. T, what do you think of him being inducted into the Hall of Fame?
I’m glad he’s being inducted into the Celebrity wing. At the time, at the first Wrestlemania, Mr. T was probably the most famous television celebrity in the world. So I think the guy deserves to be inducted into the Celebrity Hall of Fame. Personally, what I’ve got with him or against him I think it’s time to grow up. Just don’t mention my name. Leave me out of your speech, T.
When you were on that show back in January, you really put over CM Punk. What do you think of his situation now with him apparently walking out?
I don’t know the reasons. I’m glad you asked that question because I have no bias. I don’t know why, and I don’t know what was going on, but I know this. CM Punk is a very talented man, and I’m a big fan of his. He’s got a lot of great talent to share with the fans all over the world for a number of years. When you have one regime and something is going wrong, you have no other choice but to fall back and catch your breath and see where am I standing and where are they standing and where are we going. Back in the day, when you’re going 330 days a year, it’s hard to have that much sense. I think that for one, CM Punk has a whole lot more great stuff to come out and I believe that the WWE will want that. They’ve put a lot of money into him, and they need to get over whatever their problem is. Sometimes going It seems like between WWE Network and Wrestlemania, you really want to get back out there with them, but is there some pushback from them? What’s going on there?
It seems like between WWE Network and Wrestlemania, you really want to get back out there with them, but is there some pushback from them? What’s going on there?
Yeah, I think there is some pushback. Why? Without putting words in anybody’s mouth, I think that Roddy has a reputation for being a rebel. I don’t think that’s a big secret. Not just to be a jerk, but to be a rebel, but at the time I was feuding with Mr. T, and I had young children to feed. I had to do what I had to do. I still think there’s some resentment on some people’s part with that. Nothing I can do about that. If you want me, I’ll be more than happy to come and do that. If you don’t want me, I’ll do it on someone else’s network and make them the money. It’s a strange one. It’s one I need you guys to figure out, because I’m tired of fighting with them.
When you say you’d do something on another network, are you talking about TNA, or do you mean something outside of wrestling?
I’ve had talks about another wrestling organization. Quite a few people also want to do a reality show with me. So, with the WWE Network, it’s such an obvious fit, it’s so obvious, that not to do it would be a sign to me that they’re not interested, for whatever reason, in doing business with me. Wouldn’t you agree?
Hard to disagree, and is that why you want to get involved with Wrestlemania so much? For them to show that there is some interest in doing business?
Yeah, I think that if they choose not to have me come out with Hogan … I’m not looking to get applause, I’m way past that in my career, though I’m very grateful for it. I think this one, in all sincerity, is us thanking you. I don’t care if it’s us two guys coming out and just thanking you, which they won’t do. Hogan and Piper looking at each other in the ring 30 years later, and you have two or three generations of dads and sons or daughters, that’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. If you’re the WWE, why would you not want to exploit that and give them that treatment? If I don’t do anything … well then probably you won’t see me again. That’s my guess. Never say never but I think I’d go elsewhere, or maybe go do movies, be a dad, hang it up.
You would just hang it up, or just not work with the WWE anymore?
If they don’t use me, then I don’t know what the message is, but it would tell me that I’m not welcome. And I don’t go any place that I’m not welcome. So I’m not sure what I’d do, but it’s hard to see me coming back if they don’t want me.
The full interview can be read at this link.
