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Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story
The biggest pro wrestling bio since Bret Hart's Hitman : legendary Rowdy Roddy Piper's unfinished autobiography, re-conceived and completed by his children, actress/musician Ariel Teal Toombs and wrestler Colt Baird Toombs.
In early 2015, Roderick Toombs, aka Rowdy Roddy Piper, began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada. He was re-discovering his youth, a part of his life he never discussed during his 61 years, many spent as one of the greatest talents in the history of pro wrestling. Following his death due to a heart attack that July, two of his children took on the job of telling Roddy's story, separating fact from fiction in the extraordinary life of their father.
Already an accomplished wrestler before Wrestlemania in 1985, Roddy Piper could infuriate a crowd like no "heel" before him. The principal antagonist to all-American champion Hulk Hogan, Piper used his quick wit, explosive ring style and fearless baiting of audiences to push pro wrestling to unprecedented success. Wrestling was suddenly pop culture's main event. An actor with over 50 screen credits, including the lead in John Carpenter's #1 cult classic, They Live , Piper knew how to keep fans hungry, just as he'd kept them wishing for a complete portrait of his most unusual life. He wanted to write this book for his family; now they have written it for him.
In early 2015, Roderick Toombs, aka Rowdy Roddy Piper, began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada. He was re-discovering his youth, a part of his life he never discussed during his 61 years, many spent as one of the greatest talents in the history of pro wrestling. Following his death due to a heart attack that July, two of his children took on the job of telling Roddy's story, separating fact from fiction in the extraordinary life of their father.
Already an accomplished wrestler before Wrestlemania in 1985, Roddy Piper could infuriate a crowd like no "heel" before him. The principal antagonist to all-American champion Hulk Hogan, Piper used his quick wit, explosive ring style and fearless baiting of audiences to push pro wrestling to unprecedented success. Wrestling was suddenly pop culture's main event. An actor with over 50 screen credits, including the lead in John Carpenter's #1 cult classic, They Live , Piper knew how to keep fans hungry, just as he'd kept them wishing for a complete portrait of his most unusual life. He wanted to write this book for his family; now they have written it for him.
396 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2016
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566 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 2, 2018
Rowdy is the story of wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, as told by two of his children.
When I was a kid, taking the first steps into a wrestling fandom that would last decades, one of the first wrestlers I really hated was Roddy Piper. As I got older, I saw what a great entertainer he was. When I had a pile of Amazon points burning a hole in my pocket, I snapped this up.
The book starts with Roddy's birth and rough home life, leading to him being semi-homeless and a criminal during most of his teen years. This part lasted a little longer than I would like. However, it was necessary in order to explain the cloud of sadness that hung over Roddy's head for most of his life.
Once the wrestling bug bit, the book really took hold. Roddy started off in Canada, driving astronomical distances for little money before finally getting his big break in the States, wrestling in Texas, George, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and all the other territories in between before finally getting the opportunity of a lifetime in the WWF. From there, it's Hollywood, WCW, cancer, and death. Yeah, I glossed over a lot.
While his kids, Colt and Ariel, wrote the book, they show a lot of warts, like Roddy's drug and alcohol abuse. They also share a lot of road stories from wrestlers who were close to their father. Some of it I'd read before but most of it was new to me. 61 is a young age to die but considering everything Piper went through once he got into wrestling, he probably should have been dead 20 years sooner.
It's better than I expected but I still wanted more road stories and stories from behind the scenes in the WWF/E and WCW. I'm sure some had to be cut for space reasons but you know guys like The Grappler and Ric Flair could tell Roddy Piper stories for days. That's pretty much my only gripe, though. Rowdy paints a surprisingly sad picture of one of wrestling's greatest personalities. Four out of five stars.
When I was a kid, taking the first steps into a wrestling fandom that would last decades, one of the first wrestlers I really hated was Roddy Piper. As I got older, I saw what a great entertainer he was. When I had a pile of Amazon points burning a hole in my pocket, I snapped this up.
The book starts with Roddy's birth and rough home life, leading to him being semi-homeless and a criminal during most of his teen years. This part lasted a little longer than I would like. However, it was necessary in order to explain the cloud of sadness that hung over Roddy's head for most of his life.
Once the wrestling bug bit, the book really took hold. Roddy started off in Canada, driving astronomical distances for little money before finally getting his big break in the States, wrestling in Texas, George, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and all the other territories in between before finally getting the opportunity of a lifetime in the WWF. From there, it's Hollywood, WCW, cancer, and death. Yeah, I glossed over a lot.
While his kids, Colt and Ariel, wrote the book, they show a lot of warts, like Roddy's drug and alcohol abuse. They also share a lot of road stories from wrestlers who were close to their father. Some of it I'd read before but most of it was new to me. 61 is a young age to die but considering everything Piper went through once he got into wrestling, he probably should have been dead 20 years sooner.
It's better than I expected but I still wanted more road stories and stories from behind the scenes in the WWF/E and WCW. I'm sure some had to be cut for space reasons but you know guys like The Grappler and Ric Flair could tell Roddy Piper stories for days. That's pretty much my only gripe, though. Rowdy paints a surprisingly sad picture of one of wrestling's greatest personalities. Four out of five stars.
February 6, 2017
On July 31st, 2015, Roddy Piper tragically passed away at the age of 61. Prior to his death, Roddy was writing a new book about his early years and subsequent career both in the ring and in Hollywood. As a tribute to their father, daughter, Ariel, and son Colton, picked up where he left off and finished his life’s story.
Although Piper had written a book years ago and had released several documentaries, I believe this is the first time he’s truthfully delved into his troubled childhood. Homeless at fifteen, Piper lived in youth hostels across the country before starting a career in wrestling. Most wrestlers seem to shoehorn their lives before wrestling into their books because they likely feel it’s necessary in telling their story. More often than not, it falls flat due to an unremarkable childhood but Roddy’s pre-wrestling life was absolutely brutal. I think it plays an important part in who he became and how he was able to achieve the level of success that he did.
Once he had enough money to buy a car, he started driving to shows and sleeping in his backseat. He would often change into his gear and stay in the car before he was due to perform as a response to how badly he had been hazed by the boys in the locker room. After getting a few years under his belt as a preliminary performer, Roddy moved on to the East Coast of Canada and performed for Emile Dupres’ International Wrestling promotion (later renamed Grand Prix Wrestling). It was really cool to learn that he wrestled one of his first matches in the old North Sydney Forum - a repurposed airplane hanger close to my hometown on Cape Breton Island.
Following his stint in the Maritimes, Piper’s travels within the territory system of the United States are then explored. From his battles with Chavo Guerrero Sr. in LA, “Playboy” Buddy Rose in Portland and Greg Valentine in North Carolina, there are plenty of hilarious and fascinating stories to sink your teeth into. More than any other time in wrestling, I love reading about this era specifically as the truth about the business was still heavily guarded. This led to the majority of crowds believing that they were watching legitimate contests. As a bad guy (or heel), Piper loved to get the crowd riled up. One of the best stories had me laughing out loud when in order to appease a heavily Mexican crowd in Los Angeles, Piper agreed to play the Mexican national anthem on his signature bagpipes. He then proceeded to play “La Cucaracha” as chairs came flying into the ring in anger from the insulted masses.
I was surprised that he doesn’t get to the WWF until about the halfway mark of the book as that is arguably where he made his biggest impact. All of his big moments are covered from the first Wrestlemania squaring off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T to his first pinfall defeat at the hands of Bret Hart in 1992. In between his landmark achievements in the WWF, his career in Hollywood is discussed. I enjoyed the story behind the ridiculously long fist fight with Keith David in They Live but his struggle to find a meaningful follow-up to that film is heartbreaking. Roddy had such a huge presence and could have been a massive action star if he had had the right guidance.
As far as wrestling biographies go, I thought this one was one of the better ones. Ariel and Colt put a tremendous amount of work in and it shows. My only real complaint would be that his time in WCW and his return to WWE in the early 2000s were kind of glossed over but when you compare the work he did early in his career to his later years, it’s understandable to see where the focus should lie. While it’s not as good as some of the classic wrestling books out there, it’s a worthy read that fans will enjoy.
Although Piper had written a book years ago and had released several documentaries, I believe this is the first time he’s truthfully delved into his troubled childhood. Homeless at fifteen, Piper lived in youth hostels across the country before starting a career in wrestling. Most wrestlers seem to shoehorn their lives before wrestling into their books because they likely feel it’s necessary in telling their story. More often than not, it falls flat due to an unremarkable childhood but Roddy’s pre-wrestling life was absolutely brutal. I think it plays an important part in who he became and how he was able to achieve the level of success that he did.
Once he had enough money to buy a car, he started driving to shows and sleeping in his backseat. He would often change into his gear and stay in the car before he was due to perform as a response to how badly he had been hazed by the boys in the locker room. After getting a few years under his belt as a preliminary performer, Roddy moved on to the East Coast of Canada and performed for Emile Dupres’ International Wrestling promotion (later renamed Grand Prix Wrestling). It was really cool to learn that he wrestled one of his first matches in the old North Sydney Forum - a repurposed airplane hanger close to my hometown on Cape Breton Island.
Following his stint in the Maritimes, Piper’s travels within the territory system of the United States are then explored. From his battles with Chavo Guerrero Sr. in LA, “Playboy” Buddy Rose in Portland and Greg Valentine in North Carolina, there are plenty of hilarious and fascinating stories to sink your teeth into. More than any other time in wrestling, I love reading about this era specifically as the truth about the business was still heavily guarded. This led to the majority of crowds believing that they were watching legitimate contests. As a bad guy (or heel), Piper loved to get the crowd riled up. One of the best stories had me laughing out loud when in order to appease a heavily Mexican crowd in Los Angeles, Piper agreed to play the Mexican national anthem on his signature bagpipes. He then proceeded to play “La Cucaracha” as chairs came flying into the ring in anger from the insulted masses.
I was surprised that he doesn’t get to the WWF until about the halfway mark of the book as that is arguably where he made his biggest impact. All of his big moments are covered from the first Wrestlemania squaring off against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T to his first pinfall defeat at the hands of Bret Hart in 1992. In between his landmark achievements in the WWF, his career in Hollywood is discussed. I enjoyed the story behind the ridiculously long fist fight with Keith David in They Live but his struggle to find a meaningful follow-up to that film is heartbreaking. Roddy had such a huge presence and could have been a massive action star if he had had the right guidance.
As far as wrestling biographies go, I thought this one was one of the better ones. Ariel and Colt put a tremendous amount of work in and it shows. My only real complaint would be that his time in WCW and his return to WWE in the early 2000s were kind of glossed over but when you compare the work he did early in his career to his later years, it’s understandable to see where the focus should lie. While it’s not as good as some of the classic wrestling books out there, it’s a worthy read that fans will enjoy.
March 30, 2022
“I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass. And I’m all outta bubble gum.” – “Rowdy” Roddy Piper from the cult film, They Live
There’s a really good quote out there about misunderstood genius, but I was too lazy to find it. So much for that Mensa membership. Anyway, let’s call the talent Roderick Toombs showed for manipulative psychology for entertainment purposes a version of “creative genius.” He knew exactly what to say, to what crowd, at the right time, in the right situations…for the perfect reasons. Wrestling fans (I surmise) WANT to be angered, WANT to be fired up, and loved to be goaded into a fight – or rather, for some enormous person to be goaded into a fight so they can live vicariously through the violence. (Guess that makes Will Smith a genius, too! Hey! Ho! I’m here all week, try the veal!)
My experience with wrestling is limited to the crossover it made into popular culture in the mid-1980s, when Cyndi Lauper went tumbling to the canvas in some trumped-up atrocity. Of course, the subject of this book was at the center of that situation. I was about eleven or twelve at the time, and you could have easily convinced me that Roddy Piper really was a bad guy. This book showed me that the man absolutely knew his stuff, knew how to rile up a crowd, using his own words, actions and image to gain interest and sell tickets. Yeah, that’s not a bad skill to have.
At times I laughed out loud, marveled at the inner workings of the sport. Too bad about his hard living, the life lived of most wrestlers, as this book seemed to indicate. I have more of an appreciation for what they do, even though I was greatly impressed with wrestlers’ generosity and openness when I worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation: they were always the most accommodating, most gracious celebrities.
The book could have used a good editor, a seasoned writer to help it along. There wasn’t a real narrative, not a clear voice. The chapter names didn’t really correlate to anything, and the stories didn’t have a coherence. There was just anecdote after anecdote, although that’s perhaps how Roddy wanted it, how his children wanted it. I thought perhaps just turning on the recorder, letting the man talk and allowing a writer to put it all together might have been a strategy, but I suppose they either tried that, or ran out of time to do it that way when he passed away. Either way, a non-wrestling fan might become frustrated with the pacing, the organization of the story.
I came across this in the library, waiting for my account to be fixed, something of an impulse read. So, in that sense, it was a success: I was entertained enough to ignore the writing’s shortcomings. Like a slice of pizza once in a while, give it a go, but maybe not all the time.
RIP, Hot Rod.
There’s a really good quote out there about misunderstood genius, but I was too lazy to find it. So much for that Mensa membership. Anyway, let’s call the talent Roderick Toombs showed for manipulative psychology for entertainment purposes a version of “creative genius.” He knew exactly what to say, to what crowd, at the right time, in the right situations…for the perfect reasons. Wrestling fans (I surmise) WANT to be angered, WANT to be fired up, and loved to be goaded into a fight – or rather, for some enormous person to be goaded into a fight so they can live vicariously through the violence. (Guess that makes Will Smith a genius, too! Hey! Ho! I’m here all week, try the veal!)
My experience with wrestling is limited to the crossover it made into popular culture in the mid-1980s, when Cyndi Lauper went tumbling to the canvas in some trumped-up atrocity. Of course, the subject of this book was at the center of that situation. I was about eleven or twelve at the time, and you could have easily convinced me that Roddy Piper really was a bad guy. This book showed me that the man absolutely knew his stuff, knew how to rile up a crowd, using his own words, actions and image to gain interest and sell tickets. Yeah, that’s not a bad skill to have.
At times I laughed out loud, marveled at the inner workings of the sport. Too bad about his hard living, the life lived of most wrestlers, as this book seemed to indicate. I have more of an appreciation for what they do, even though I was greatly impressed with wrestlers’ generosity and openness when I worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation: they were always the most accommodating, most gracious celebrities.
The book could have used a good editor, a seasoned writer to help it along. There wasn’t a real narrative, not a clear voice. The chapter names didn’t really correlate to anything, and the stories didn’t have a coherence. There was just anecdote after anecdote, although that’s perhaps how Roddy wanted it, how his children wanted it. I thought perhaps just turning on the recorder, letting the man talk and allowing a writer to put it all together might have been a strategy, but I suppose they either tried that, or ran out of time to do it that way when he passed away. Either way, a non-wrestling fan might become frustrated with the pacing, the organization of the story.
I came across this in the library, waiting for my account to be fixed, something of an impulse read. So, in that sense, it was a success: I was entertained enough to ignore the writing’s shortcomings. Like a slice of pizza once in a while, give it a go, but maybe not all the time.
RIP, Hot Rod.
March 11, 2022
A perfect tribute
Any true wrestling fan worth their salt will want to read this. I was lucky enough to go to see Roddy's 2005 Hall Of Fame Induction. I don't like flying but flew 9 hours both ways from England to see it such is my love and respect for the man
Any true wrestling fan worth their salt will want to read this. I was lucky enough to go to see Roddy's 2005 Hall Of Fame Induction. I don't like flying but flew 9 hours both ways from England to see it such is my love and respect for the man
August 20, 2021
Truly Great Biography
Wow, an excellent and fun wrestling biography of one of the true wrestling icons. The book began as an autobiography but sadly was unfinished with Roddy's untimely passing at age 61 in 2015. Fortunately for wrestling fans, two of his children finished the book by personally interviewing dozens of Roddy's friends, business partners, and fellow wrestlers. The result in an incredibly well written biography. Details are abundant and much appreciated. Documentation is outstanding, on par with the best history books. I highly recommend this book to all pro wrestling fans.
Wow, an excellent and fun wrestling biography of one of the true wrestling icons. The book began as an autobiography but sadly was unfinished with Roddy's untimely passing at age 61 in 2015. Fortunately for wrestling fans, two of his children finished the book by personally interviewing dozens of Roddy's friends, business partners, and fellow wrestlers. The result in an incredibly well written biography. Details are abundant and much appreciated. Documentation is outstanding, on par with the best history books. I highly recommend this book to all pro wrestling fans.
November 2, 2016
Written with love and care with an insider's perspective rarely displayed in most bios, this book made me see "Rowdy" Roddy in a whole new way. His spirit and character shows through, not only in the revealing stories but the telling of it by his own children Ariel and Colt who have displayed great bravery in sharing a side of their father many never knew. As I read this book it struck me just how big a loss we've all suffered with his demise, as no doubt, there were more stories we'll never know, that he would've shared had his time not been cut short. I so wish I could have seen what the future held for this multi-talented, charismatic, courageous soul and am grateful for the window this book provides into a man so many of us were honored to know.
November 21, 2025
“You do not throw rocks at a man who’s got a machine gun!!!” One of my favorite quotes from possibly the greatest wrestling heel of all time “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. I’ve always been intrigued by him as a kid from his classic matches with Bret Hart, Mr T., Greg “The Hammer” Valentine to his roles in the movie They Live and the show It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and reading about how he got into the business and his life outside the ring and after made me love him even more.
December 11, 2020
Rowdy Roddy Piper's life is so fascinating and unique, he certainly needed a biography. It is unfortunate that he did not live long enough to complete this book himself, for I believe that book could have been a best-seller.
It is great that his children decided to finish the book in his honour, however their limitations as writers were obvious throughout the biography. Their sentences were short and to-the-point. They lacked the personal connection to the people within the book to build up their personalities and give the book that personal flair.
That being said, that left the book to feast on its strongest aspect - Rowdy's incredibly interesting life. The details of all of Rowdy's adventures are often faded but the bases of the stories are wildly entertaining. If you are a fan of wrestling (of the tables and chairs variety) this book is a must despite the limited writing style.
It is great that his children decided to finish the book in his honour, however their limitations as writers were obvious throughout the biography. Their sentences were short and to-the-point. They lacked the personal connection to the people within the book to build up their personalities and give the book that personal flair.
That being said, that left the book to feast on its strongest aspect - Rowdy's incredibly interesting life. The details of all of Rowdy's adventures are often faded but the bases of the stories are wildly entertaining. If you are a fan of wrestling (of the tables and chairs variety) this book is a must despite the limited writing style.
November 12, 2021
Rowdy Roddy Piper was one of the great villains in professional wrestling; the best, according to the WWE itself. He was one of the all-time best performers in the ring, and like pretty much every wrestler who scaled the heights of this particular world, he paid a terrible price.
Written by two of his children, Rowdy is an often surprisingly sweet story of a frequently very ugly pseudo-sport. According to his kids, Rowdy was simply a wonderful man, loved by everyone in the wrestling business. And while you might think his kids would be inclined to elevate their father's reputation, the quotes from his friends and associates certainly back up their view. Wrestling history is fascinating, and if you're a fan of the game, Rowdy is essential reading.
Written by two of his children, Rowdy is an often surprisingly sweet story of a frequently very ugly pseudo-sport. According to his kids, Rowdy was simply a wonderful man, loved by everyone in the wrestling business. And while you might think his kids would be inclined to elevate their father's reputation, the quotes from his friends and associates certainly back up their view. Wrestling history is fascinating, and if you're a fan of the game, Rowdy is essential reading.
May 2, 2021
One of my favorites wrestling "villains" growing up in the 80's, this is an intimate look at the real man behind the myth & legend that Roddy built up for himself. Written by two of his four children, this book looks at his upbringing, his crazy and nomadic youth, his break into the business of wrestling, his big break with the WWF, and his post-wrestling career.
This is such a fascinating look into a true character of wrestling, as well as the stars of the cult classic movie "They Live." Behind the schtick, though, is the honest story of what made Roddy tick, what he was really like without the camera rolling, and what motivated him in life.
This is such a fascinating look into a true character of wrestling, as well as the stars of the cult classic movie "They Live." Behind the schtick, though, is the honest story of what made Roddy tick, what he was really like without the camera rolling, and what motivated him in life.
December 29, 2016
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper was my favorite, back in the day. He also starred in one of my favorite cult classics, "They Live." It was a shock, yet still somewhat expected, when we lost him last year.
He was working on a book before his death and his children decided to finish it. However, it seems that it was more written by the kids rather than Piper.
It was interesting, with a good look at his early career. Lots of names to keep straight, lots of stories that make you wonder were they real or were they part of his persona.
A good read for a fan of Piper or a fan of professional wrestling.
He was working on a book before his death and his children decided to finish it. However, it seems that it was more written by the kids rather than Piper.
It was interesting, with a good look at his early career. Lots of names to keep straight, lots of stories that make you wonder were they real or were they part of his persona.
A good read for a fan of Piper or a fan of professional wrestling.
November 3, 2016
The best Wrestling biography I have ever read.Respect.
October 3, 2020
THIS IS A REVIEW FOR ROWDY: THE RODDY PIPER STORY (2015) as well as IN THE PIT WITH PIPER (2002).THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES, SOME REPETITIONS OF STORIES, BUT ALSO SOME QUESTIONABLE INFORMATION from the first book. That's up for you to decide...
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper--one of the biggest names in pro-wrestling--wasn't even named Roddy Piper--it was Roderick George Toombs. He also didn't "hail" from Scotland, but Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. But, while living in an Indian reservation called La Pas in Manitoba when he was very young, he was taught how to play the bagpipes. Heading out on his own at age 13, he hitchhiked and played the bagpipe for loose change so he could pay to spend the night in a youth hostel. One of the youth hostels had an amateur league coach and Piper excelled.
In early 2015, mostly retired from wrestling and going by his birth name, Roderick Toombs, Roddy began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada where he had been born. He was re-discovering his youth, a part of his life he had never discussed, sometimes even with his wife, during his 61 years.
Needless to say, Roddy's life had been a difficult one, but a memorable one and he became quite the legion: "the man people loved to hate" since he was good in the ring, but even better on the microphone-adlibbing his lines and getting everyone worked up. This, of course, led to "Piper's Pit"--a brief "talk show" where he "interviewed" other wrestlers using his sharp wit and rapid-fire banter without letting them get a word in edgewise, and then often getting violent. But the audience loved it!
In the book, he talks about his life wrestling, about his family--his wife, Kitty, and his four children--and how difficult it was to balance the two--family and work. He also delved into some very dark places (altho not as deeply as the first book) about how many untimely deaths of so many dear friends and other wrestlers he had lived through.
Roddy's body was physically and emotionally taking its toll as the wrestling and his constant pain was getting to him--as was the death of his friends and colleagues ("Frat Brothers" they called themselves), and he was running out of steam. Even taking some time off to so do a few movies like "Hell Comes to Frog Comes to Frogtown" and John Carpenter's "They Live", he was always drawn back to wrestling. But so much had changed since he'd been gone and now he was seen as "the good guy" while the now all-in-black "Hollywood Hogan", leader of the NWO--the New World Order had gone "to the dark side". And Roddy--now the hero--was expected to saunter in like the new sheriff in town and take control.
And, although he wrestled several more years, time catches up with everyone and the enormous damage done to his body (numerous broken bones, spinal fractures, uncounted--and some undiagnosed--concussions, a plane crash, burns, knife wounds, car accidents, titanium hip replacement, busted eardrum... and so much more...) although his heart wanted to continue, his body finally had to call it quits.
Roddy started writing a second book in Feb 2015-- called "Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story", although he had stopped using "Rowdy" and had given the namesake of "Rowdy" to UFC star Ronda Rousey. The first book he had written had a lot of "cover story" in it--the things you're not supposed to say about your "character" or what goes on behind the scenes--and he wanted to set things straight, promoters be damned.
And even without wrestling, he still kept busy with the book, but also doing podcasts, even some standup comedy, and charity work involving hospitalized children that he had been doing for decades. And he had been enjoying spending time with his wife and 4 children on their farm in Oregon.
Unfortunately, Roddy never got to finish the book. On Friday, July 31, he died of a heart attack in his sleep in his home in Orgeon. It was then that two of his children, Colt--a professional wrestler--and Ariel--a wrestler, actress and singer--decided to complete the book in his honor. As it says on the back cover: "Piper knew how to keep fans hungry, just as he'd kept them wishing for a complete portrait of his most unusual life. He wanted to write this book for his family, now they have written it for him."
I have loved Roddy Piper whether he was "bad", "good", wrestling, acting, or doing his ad-lib promos. He was truly a "bad guy you loved to hate" and an even better good guy to love. Although most of his movies aren't easy (or impossible)to find except for "They Live", I think he does a pretty good job as a wrestler turned actor. (Not to say he's anything like Dwayne Johnson...) but he did well considering the movies they kind of strapped him with. (Hell Comes to Frogtown comes to mind... what was he thinking?)
Whatever the case, I started watching wrestling, and Piper, in the '80s when I was just in my t'weens but I loved his fearlessness, his attitude, his... his everything. And over the past few years, having read his books, and seeing the DVDs about his life, they make me love him even more to know what a gentle man he really was, considering the life he had to live. May you rest in peace now, Roddy. Blessed be.
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper--one of the biggest names in pro-wrestling--wasn't even named Roddy Piper--it was Roderick George Toombs. He also didn't "hail" from Scotland, but Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. But, while living in an Indian reservation called La Pas in Manitoba when he was very young, he was taught how to play the bagpipes. Heading out on his own at age 13, he hitchhiked and played the bagpipe for loose change so he could pay to spend the night in a youth hostel. One of the youth hostels had an amateur league coach and Piper excelled.
In early 2015, mostly retired from wrestling and going by his birth name, Roderick Toombs, Roddy began researching his own autobiography with a trip through Western Canada where he had been born. He was re-discovering his youth, a part of his life he had never discussed, sometimes even with his wife, during his 61 years.
Needless to say, Roddy's life had been a difficult one, but a memorable one and he became quite the legion: "the man people loved to hate" since he was good in the ring, but even better on the microphone-adlibbing his lines and getting everyone worked up. This, of course, led to "Piper's Pit"--a brief "talk show" where he "interviewed" other wrestlers using his sharp wit and rapid-fire banter without letting them get a word in edgewise, and then often getting violent. But the audience loved it!
In the book, he talks about his life wrestling, about his family--his wife, Kitty, and his four children--and how difficult it was to balance the two--family and work. He also delved into some very dark places (altho not as deeply as the first book) about how many untimely deaths of so many dear friends and other wrestlers he had lived through.
Roddy's body was physically and emotionally taking its toll as the wrestling and his constant pain was getting to him--as was the death of his friends and colleagues ("Frat Brothers" they called themselves), and he was running out of steam. Even taking some time off to so do a few movies like "Hell Comes to Frog Comes to Frogtown" and John Carpenter's "They Live", he was always drawn back to wrestling. But so much had changed since he'd been gone and now he was seen as "the good guy" while the now all-in-black "Hollywood Hogan", leader of the NWO--the New World Order had gone "to the dark side". And Roddy--now the hero--was expected to saunter in like the new sheriff in town and take control.
And, although he wrestled several more years, time catches up with everyone and the enormous damage done to his body (numerous broken bones, spinal fractures, uncounted--and some undiagnosed--concussions, a plane crash, burns, knife wounds, car accidents, titanium hip replacement, busted eardrum... and so much more...) although his heart wanted to continue, his body finally had to call it quits.
Roddy started writing a second book in Feb 2015-- called "Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story", although he had stopped using "Rowdy" and had given the namesake of "Rowdy" to UFC star Ronda Rousey. The first book he had written had a lot of "cover story" in it--the things you're not supposed to say about your "character" or what goes on behind the scenes--and he wanted to set things straight, promoters be damned.
And even without wrestling, he still kept busy with the book, but also doing podcasts, even some standup comedy, and charity work involving hospitalized children that he had been doing for decades. And he had been enjoying spending time with his wife and 4 children on their farm in Oregon.
Unfortunately, Roddy never got to finish the book. On Friday, July 31, he died of a heart attack in his sleep in his home in Orgeon. It was then that two of his children, Colt--a professional wrestler--and Ariel--a wrestler, actress and singer--decided to complete the book in his honor. As it says on the back cover: "Piper knew how to keep fans hungry, just as he'd kept them wishing for a complete portrait of his most unusual life. He wanted to write this book for his family, now they have written it for him."
I have loved Roddy Piper whether he was "bad", "good", wrestling, acting, or doing his ad-lib promos. He was truly a "bad guy you loved to hate" and an even better good guy to love. Although most of his movies aren't easy (or impossible)to find except for "They Live", I think he does a pretty good job as a wrestler turned actor. (Not to say he's anything like Dwayne Johnson...) but he did well considering the movies they kind of strapped him with. (Hell Comes to Frogtown comes to mind... what was he thinking?)
Whatever the case, I started watching wrestling, and Piper, in the '80s when I was just in my t'weens but I loved his fearlessness, his attitude, his... his everything. And over the past few years, having read his books, and seeing the DVDs about his life, they make me love him even more to know what a gentle man he really was, considering the life he had to live. May you rest in peace now, Roddy. Blessed be.
April 4, 2025
When I was a kid back in the mid eighties, Roddy Piper was the coolest guy on my tv screen. I hadn’t really seen anything of American professional wrestling back then, and then cable television came along and brought it to us. Roddy Piper was billed as being from Glasgow, Scotland, he came to the ring wearing a kit, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes and he was the bad guy. He fought Hulk Hogan, beat up Cyndi Laupers boyfriend, body slammed Mr T and was very funny whilst doing it all. As a 12 year old, what is not to love about that, I knew a little bit about him so I picked this book up to learn a bit more. Now the first thing to say is that this book has been written by two of his kids. It’s obvious that they loved their father and he comes across as a pretty decent guy, but it’s also quickly apparent that they are not particularly good writers. The book just doesn’t seem to flow that well. It feels disjointed. It also seems to have a bit of a liking for violence and views people who are good at handing it out with a certain amount of hero worship. It’s one thing to pretend to beat someone up in the world of professional wrestling, it’s another thing entirely when you do it for real. Piper could obviously look after himself physically, which is just as well because back in the early seventies when he was starting out, wrestling could attract a pretty rough crowd both inside and outside the ring but he seemed more likely to talk a situation down rather than escalate it. Something that can’t be said for a few of his friends. The book also conveys how hard a way professional wrestling was to make a living back then and the terrible physical and mental toll it took on the top performers. Hundreds of days a year away from their families, constant pain from untreated and unhealed injuries and substance abuse to while away the boredom of being on the road and to try and numb the pain of their bodies. It’s no surprise that so many of his peers died young. Those who say that wrestling is fake should read this book to get an understanding of the damage it did to Piper’s body. It’s not a bad book just not as good as I wanted it to be.
March 24, 2025
Roddy Piper was professional wrestler and actor. He was born in Saskatoon, SK, in 1954 (I didn't know he was Canadian). He was the youngest of three children and his family moved around a lot because his father worked for the CN Rail Police. His father was a strict disciplinarian and Roddy left home at an early age and fell into wrestling. Starting out, he did the circuits across Canada and the States before becoming the mouthy heel "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He was in the process of researching and writing this book when he passed away in suddenly in 2015 and two of his children took up the job of finishing his story.
I was a fan of wrestling in the late 1980s and early 1990s (I even attended Wrestlemania VI in April 1990 at the SkyDome here in Toronto). I knew wrestling was fake but it was fun. I like reading bios and have had this on my to-be-read list for years so finally read it. Despite his persona of being a heal, Roddy sounds like a nice fella who was loved and respected by all. It was interesting to read the behind-the-scenes stories of the wrestling world and the wrestlers who were villans and enemies but actually good friends of Roddy's. I found it was written at a high level with just enough detail. I found myself Googling the names of wrestlers I haven't thought about in years to see what they are up to today (alas, many had passed away young). It's an interesting book if you are/were a wrestling fan. As a head's up, there is swearing and descriptions of drug and alcohol use.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2025/03...
I was a fan of wrestling in the late 1980s and early 1990s (I even attended Wrestlemania VI in April 1990 at the SkyDome here in Toronto). I knew wrestling was fake but it was fun. I like reading bios and have had this on my to-be-read list for years so finally read it. Despite his persona of being a heal, Roddy sounds like a nice fella who was loved and respected by all. It was interesting to read the behind-the-scenes stories of the wrestling world and the wrestlers who were villans and enemies but actually good friends of Roddy's. I found it was written at a high level with just enough detail. I found myself Googling the names of wrestlers I haven't thought about in years to see what they are up to today (alas, many had passed away young). It's an interesting book if you are/were a wrestling fan. As a head's up, there is swearing and descriptions of drug and alcohol use.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2025/03...
August 21, 2017
Roddy was my favourite wrestler growing up. Sure, when I first got into wrestling in the mid-80's, Hulk Hogan was the best, but as I followed the story, Hot Rod stuck out to me. His gimmick was that he was Scottish, but some wrestling magazine broke kayfabe and said he was Canadian. Like me! From then on, he was the best. How many times I watched that tribute video from Saturday Night's Main Event, when it appeared that he would be forced to retire from a broken leg injury, with highlights of his career played slo-mo while Frank Sinatra crooned "My Way"... the ridiculous schtick we believe as kids, and long for again as adults, when life isn't so simple... But I digress.
The book was written lovingly by two of Roddy's children. It included Roddy's drug and alcohol abuse, and his disregard for authority, so it's not all glossy. He was a good man, flawed, but fierce in his live for family, torn between a life on the road and his loved ones at home.
At times the writing seemed choppy and lacking some necessary but relevant detail, but in part that could be attributed to the research done to write it: some of it gathered by Roddy himself, some gathered by the authors, some recollected from memory.
I read a lot of wrestling biographies and autobiographies, and this is a memorable one.
The book was written lovingly by two of Roddy's children. It included Roddy's drug and alcohol abuse, and his disregard for authority, so it's not all glossy. He was a good man, flawed, but fierce in his live for family, torn between a life on the road and his loved ones at home.
At times the writing seemed choppy and lacking some necessary but relevant detail, but in part that could be attributed to the research done to write it: some of it gathered by Roddy himself, some gathered by the authors, some recollected from memory.
I read a lot of wrestling biographies and autobiographies, and this is a memorable one.
August 20, 2022
Not perfect, but there are some seriously entertaining, funny and heartfelt stories included. It painted a picture of a man who loved his family and I'm sure his children left out some of the drug use and hellraising, I wouldn't really want to hear all the gory details anyway.
All the highlights are here, Jimmy Snuka, his Wrestlemania bouts with Hulk Hogan. His fued with Mr. T. and the making of They Live. I think even the casual Hot Rod fan would enjoy this for what it is, a touching tribute by loving children. I really had my reservations that they would clean up his image, but they didn't really pull any punches. The Rowdyness is on the pages and the ending will leave you choked up if you have a heart.
Roddy was one of my childhood heroes, he touched so many lives, but I did come away feeling like I still didn't know the real him, and I think that might be contributed to him having passed away before the book was finished and that he had personal demons he probably wasn't comfortable or capable of sharing. But, his was truly a rags to riches story and only by his sure magnetic personality did he make it in an industry of men much larger in physical stature. I bought an autographed Hot Rod shirt from his website 20 years ago and he inscribed it to me "Stay Strong" and sometimes I think of that when life gets me down.
All the highlights are here, Jimmy Snuka, his Wrestlemania bouts with Hulk Hogan. His fued with Mr. T. and the making of They Live. I think even the casual Hot Rod fan would enjoy this for what it is, a touching tribute by loving children. I really had my reservations that they would clean up his image, but they didn't really pull any punches. The Rowdyness is on the pages and the ending will leave you choked up if you have a heart.
Roddy was one of my childhood heroes, he touched so many lives, but I did come away feeling like I still didn't know the real him, and I think that might be contributed to him having passed away before the book was finished and that he had personal demons he probably wasn't comfortable or capable of sharing. But, his was truly a rags to riches story and only by his sure magnetic personality did he make it in an industry of men much larger in physical stature. I bought an autographed Hot Rod shirt from his website 20 years ago and he inscribed it to me "Stay Strong" and sometimes I think of that when life gets me down.
February 27, 2024
Just finished "Rowdy," the biography of wrestling icon Rowdy Roddy Piper by Ariel Teal Toombs & Colt Baird Toombs, his children.
One of my favorite Piper's Pit quotes of all times is "Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions." In "Rowdy," the authors leave no questions unanswered.
"Rowdy" is a knockout!! —a gripping, emotional, behind the scenes, rollercoaster ride filled with nostalgia and gritty determination. It offers an intimate glimpse into the true journey of Piper's life, from his rebellious youth in Western Canada to his memorable feuds with Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon. "Rowdy" captures the electrifying energy he brought to every match and the magnetic charm that made him a phenomenon.
What truly sets "Rowdy" apart is a personal touch, as his children peel back the layers of their father's character to reveal the man behind the mythical persona. Through poignant anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, they paint a portrait of a loving father, a devoted friend, and a flawed but fiercely passionate human being.
A fun biography for the wrestling aficionado and the casual fan alike. Check it out!
One of my favorite Piper's Pit quotes of all times is "Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions." In "Rowdy," the authors leave no questions unanswered.
"Rowdy" is a knockout!! —a gripping, emotional, behind the scenes, rollercoaster ride filled with nostalgia and gritty determination. It offers an intimate glimpse into the true journey of Piper's life, from his rebellious youth in Western Canada to his memorable feuds with Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon. "Rowdy" captures the electrifying energy he brought to every match and the magnetic charm that made him a phenomenon.
What truly sets "Rowdy" apart is a personal touch, as his children peel back the layers of their father's character to reveal the man behind the mythical persona. Through poignant anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, they paint a portrait of a loving father, a devoted friend, and a flawed but fiercely passionate human being.
A fun biography for the wrestling aficionado and the casual fan alike. Check it out!
October 23, 2023
It’s been a while since I read a book that I had to force myself to put down. Rowdy is a labor of love by Roddy’s kids and it shows. They don’t shy away from their father’s flaws, but they contrast those flaws with the attributes that make him a great friend, dad, and mentor. The challenges of unravelling the history of a man who spent his life growing stories about himself were pretty evident, and even harder was deciding on what stories to keep.
Learning about the challenges that he dealt with growing up, and his struggles breaking into the business, it’s a wonder that he reached the heights that he did. But his instincts and natural talent led him to live life on his terms. But what I loved the most about this book was as tough as Roddy was, the book never skimped on showing his humanity and depth of emotion.
If you are a fan of pro wrestling or just Hot Rod himself, I recommend this book. It was a quick but engrossing read. It was an emotional journey that I plan on traveling again.
Learning about the challenges that he dealt with growing up, and his struggles breaking into the business, it’s a wonder that he reached the heights that he did. But his instincts and natural talent led him to live life on his terms. But what I loved the most about this book was as tough as Roddy was, the book never skimped on showing his humanity and depth of emotion.
If you are a fan of pro wrestling or just Hot Rod himself, I recommend this book. It was a quick but engrossing read. It was an emotional journey that I plan on traveling again.
August 22, 2023
Written with love by his children. So well done.
Rowdy Roddy Piper was my preteen childhood crush and favorite wrestler of all time, and this book is a great reminder of why. Roderick Toombs was so many things to so many people; complex, a fascinating person, a true fighter, no nonsense, a family man, a hands-on dad, and a genius all wrapped up in one. I applaud his son and daughter for taking the initiative and finishing this comprehensive story of his life for him that he started. While I’m sure that the process was cathartic for Colt and Ariel, it must have also been super tough to get through. Personally, I’ll always regret never meeting him at a fan event to tell him how special he was to me as a kid (and still is). Such a great biography that could only be written by the subject’s children as the love they had for their father was evident in every word printed on every page. 5 stars.
Rowdy Roddy Piper was my preteen childhood crush and favorite wrestler of all time, and this book is a great reminder of why. Roderick Toombs was so many things to so many people; complex, a fascinating person, a true fighter, no nonsense, a family man, a hands-on dad, and a genius all wrapped up in one. I applaud his son and daughter for taking the initiative and finishing this comprehensive story of his life for him that he started. While I’m sure that the process was cathartic for Colt and Ariel, it must have also been super tough to get through. Personally, I’ll always regret never meeting him at a fan event to tell him how special he was to me as a kid (and still is). Such a great biography that could only be written by the subject’s children as the love they had for their father was evident in every word printed on every page. 5 stars.
September 12, 2023
There's much here that is invaluable in sorting out fact from fiction and many people who have never otherwise been heard from. The prose is a bit spare, as you might expect from non-writers, but it's very readable. What kept me from rating the book higher (and I had sort of planned to rate it one lower before the last chapter) was that the narrative voice can be quite stilted and that makes some stories which should be hilarious or exciting fall kinda flat. The other problem being that you really get the cliffs notes version of the big moments without a lot of context, many things are abrupt or unexplained. I would have liked it to be more fleshed out as a piece of writing with more sense of the joy and colour that was clearly there.
But mostly a huge recommend. We need to reclaim history's most Canadian action hero and celebrate him as one of ours.
But mostly a huge recommend. We need to reclaim history's most Canadian action hero and celebrate him as one of ours.
April 29, 2024
Rowdy Roddy Piper has always been one of my favorite performers to have ever done anything. This book has long been on my list of "want to reads" since I learned about it. One day, when I needed to round out my Amazon shopping cart, I finally decided to give myself a treat and added this book.
The book had been started by the Hot Rod himself, but he unfortunately passed during it's writing. A few of his children picked up where he left off to round out the tomb of Toombs. It's a great collection of stories that frame out a behind the scenes look into one of my personal favorite icons.
On the downside, sometimes it feels like the stories meander away from their respective chapter topics. On the plus side, it didn't matter where they went, as Roddy Piper stories are almost always interesting. If you're even remotely a fan of the man... this book is worth a read.
The book had been started by the Hot Rod himself, but he unfortunately passed during it's writing. A few of his children picked up where he left off to round out the tomb of Toombs. It's a great collection of stories that frame out a behind the scenes look into one of my personal favorite icons.
On the downside, sometimes it feels like the stories meander away from their respective chapter topics. On the plus side, it didn't matter where they went, as Roddy Piper stories are almost always interesting. If you're even remotely a fan of the man... this book is worth a read.
July 2, 2025
Of course this is only of interest if you watched wrestling when you were younger. Or, you are a fan of They Live 😀
I remember Roddy Piper from his stints in the WWF and the WCW, as well as his starring role in the aforementioned 'cult' film.
I always enjoyed his participation as it added a little zing. I did not know anything about what came before or, after the wrestling so, this did have a lot of stuff I didn't know. Started by Roddy, he sadly died before completing it, and it is finished by his son and daughter.
This is a well-written, informative, [auto]biography that contains a lot of detail and is a really enjoyable read. It is easily on a par with his friend Bret Hart's excellent autobiography, and is a welcome addition to the library.
I remember Roddy Piper from his stints in the WWF and the WCW, as well as his starring role in the aforementioned 'cult' film.
I always enjoyed his participation as it added a little zing. I did not know anything about what came before or, after the wrestling so, this did have a lot of stuff I didn't know. Started by Roddy, he sadly died before completing it, and it is finished by his son and daughter.
This is a well-written, informative, [auto]biography that contains a lot of detail and is a really enjoyable read. It is easily on a par with his friend Bret Hart's excellent autobiography, and is a welcome addition to the library.
July 1, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Roddy had started writing the book but didn't finish before he passed away so his children finished it for him. It is full of great wrestling stories and stories about Roddy's personal life. I wasn't able to follow Roddy from the beginning of his career but I did follow it from Wrestlemania 1 onward through WCW and then back to WWE. I didn't realize how much he got hurt and how many injuries he had. I also didn't realize what a great man he apparently was off camera (albeit with demons of alcohol and drugs which he worked hard to overcome). If you're a wrestling fan this is a must read.
August 22, 2020
Well done
Good read. Had just enough back story with actual facts and remembered history by family and friends without producing one sided story telling and bs that never happened as in other wrestlers books. Funny and heartfelt. Roddy would be proud of his kids for picking up the slack writing a very entertaining read. If the kids do decide to write another book I would read it. Also had a good mixture of wrestlers telling stories about the Hot Rod from 3 different decades.
Good read. Had just enough back story with actual facts and remembered history by family and friends without producing one sided story telling and bs that never happened as in other wrestlers books. Funny and heartfelt. Roddy would be proud of his kids for picking up the slack writing a very entertaining read. If the kids do decide to write another book I would read it. Also had a good mixture of wrestlers telling stories about the Hot Rod from 3 different decades.
May 17, 2017
An amazing story of a life fully lived. Really blown away, I had no idea about so many things about Piper’s life, and what a inspirational figure he really was, and I loved him. He really was the greatest. Really glad to say I was the Light of Day Parkinson’s fundraiser he was at in Niagara Falls that he performed at in the book. A total class act, and such an interesting, in depth read with a lot of laughs and not a few tears.
August 15, 2021
A chronological biography completed by his children including quotes & interviews from people throughout his entire life in some ways feels more personal than an autobiography, like a life tribute to a legend’s career.
Although some at points the book felt a bit lengthy and dry, admittedly some of the material comes directly from Roddy’s podcast. But overall an insight to one of wrestling’s greatest from the people who knew him best.
Although some at points the book felt a bit lengthy and dry, admittedly some of the material comes directly from Roddy’s podcast. But overall an insight to one of wrestling’s greatest from the people who knew him best.
June 28, 2022
Loved every page of it .I followed rowdy roddy piper in the early 1980s . I just loved roddy cause he was different, pipers pit was a real was hilarious. I also wondered what had happened to him after the wwf 80s. This book is well written and good insight to who roddy piper was after he was out of the wrestling ring .
January 13, 2025
Roddy's kids have delivered an excellent biography that does justice to their dad's legacy. I appreciate their efforts to separate fact from the myth Piper created for his gimmick, as the truth is always a more compelling story. Certain aspects of Piper's career get glossed over, but that is more than made up with the stories of Piper's upbringing and early career.
March 14, 2021
Loving tribute to a pop culture icon. Had the pleasure of meeting Hot Rod at a Comic Con appearance and that brief interaction was confirmed by this book. Piper was a humble, graceful man that went through great lengths for his fans and his craft. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
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