Despite being mired in his own personal and legal imbroglio , Hulk Hogan spoke briefly to TMZ late in the day, sharing his feelings on the passing of legendary wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. As reported by Inquisitr , Piper — whose birth name was Roderick George Toombs — passed away earlier today due to a heart attack. He was 61 years old.
“I will forever miss him,” Hogan told TMZ . “He was my best friend. He is a legend… God’s gain is our loss. May his family in this time of need, find peace.”
Hulk Hogan also took to Twitter to express his grief over Roddy Piper’s sudden departure.
Totally lost for words,RIP,Roddy one,and God bless your family,I love you my brother,only love HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) August 1, 2015
Earlier this week, WrestlingINC noted that Piper publicly addressed revelations that Hulk Hogan was recorded uttering a string of racist and homophobic slurs. While comments made by Piper on The Rich Eisen Show were cryptic and markedly offbeat, his subsequent responses in an interview with TMZ were decidedly more straightforward. Piper himself has been frequently regarded as one of the most outspoken and irreverent voices in the world of professional wrestling.
“It was a privacy issue in his own home,” Roddy Piper said of the flap surrounding Hogan’s offensive remarks. “[H]is son was going through a really rough time … He’s trying to take care of his daughter, he’s trying to keep his family together… Do I condone it? No. But I think Hulk Hogan has done a whole lot more toward society than he has negative to our society.”
Hulk Hogan had a number of memorable feuds with Piper during the course of their careers, including a showdown in the main event of the very first WrestleMania in 1985. Hogan and his partner, Mr. T, picked up the win in the legendary bout when Hogan pinned Piper’s tag partner, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.
Over a decade later, the two met again in WCW at Starrcade 1996. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper got the better of The Immortal one in that match, defeating The Hulkster with a sleeper hold. Dusty Rhodes, who passed away earlier this year, provided color commentary for the ’96 bout between Hogan and Piper.
Both Hulk Hogan and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
[Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for TDOSLWH]
