Roddy Piper “Didn’t Want To Wrestle Bret Hart” At Wrestlemania 8

Hamish Woodward

While he was billed from Scotland, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper is actually one of Canada’s greatest wrestler.

Gaining the moniker due to his bag pipe playing, he was portrayed as a Scot most of his career. This was unlike Bret Hart, who was a hero to the Canadian people during his run as WWE Champion.

Roddy Piper was one of the top heels in the WWE during the 1980s, although never won the WWE Championship. The title was held by Hulk Hogan for most of that period, with Piper refusing to lose to the champion.

For that reason, Vince McMahon was hesitant to put the belt on him. However, he still but him in huge matches that showcased his abilities as a big star.

One of these was the main event of WrestleMania 1, where he teamed with Paul Orndorf to take on Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. Another one of these was at WrestleMania VIII, when Piper battled Bret Hart in a match for the Intercontinental Championship.

The match is regarded as one of the best of Piper’s career. He lost an incredible bout the Bret Hart at Wrestlemania VIII, after coming back from filming a slew of movies including They Live.

For a match between two babyfaces, it had a great deal of intensity and intrigue behind it thanks to two performers at the top of their games.

Simply put, it was one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history and one of the finest intercontinental title bouts of all-time. Piper put on a technical classic nobody knew he was capable of, and Bret Hart did what everybody expected him to.

However, Roddy Piper later revealed that he never wanted to face Bret Hart at Wrestlemania VIII. Bret Hart vs Roddy Piper was the match of the night at WrestlemMania VIII, but Piper never wanted it to happen.

He revealed in an interview with Slam Sports that, while he was very close with Bret Hart, he did not want to wrestle against Bret Hart and pass the torch to his fellow Canadian.

Roddy Piper from Slam Sports:

“I like Bret. I didn’t want to wrestle Bret. Bret Hart and I have a much closer relationship than people realize.

I fell in love with his mother first time I saw her. So I needed to make a career decision, and I was taught also to pass the torch.

So with the match with Bret, I made sure that I put the belt around him, and raised his hand myself, to propel him up. Because he was the one that deserved it the most. But I’m the most popular wrestler to ever come out of Canada. Don’t forget that Bret.”

While this match was incredible, their future bout would be anything but. Bret Hart vs “Rowdy” Roddy Piper happened again in WCW in a much more disappointing encounter.

Bret Hart also commented on his match with Roddy Piper, speaking in an interview with Kayfabe Commentaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMaDw178Hk

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