Customer Reviews

In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a fan of wrestling autobiographies since I first read Mick Foley's book "Have a Nice Day". Since then I've tried to get my hands on every new biography that has been released. I finally got a chance to read Roddy Piper's book. I only saw the tail end of Piper's career in the WWF (back when it was the WWF), missed the WCW era, and was disappointed with his latest brief run with WWE. I knew the Piper was a legend of the ring and had a long standing feud with Hogan back when the WWF was just starting up with Wrestlemania. What I didn't know much about was his prior success.

Roddy Piper takes us on a little trip starting from when he first broke into wrestling as a teenager. We follow young Piper as he rises in the ranks and starts bringing in the crowds in territory after territory until he finally lands in the WWF. Since I have no knowledge of Piper's past, and I do know of his skill on the mic, I can believe it. It was a different era for wrestling. Shortly after Piper writes about Wrestlemania II, he talks about the "sickness" in wrestling that has infected the wrestlers and has influenced their self-destructive lives. I respect the fact that Roddy Piper did not let himself off the hook in being better (morally) than he was, but it also felt like he was puffing himself up quite a bit, too.

Unlike some of the other wrestling biographies, this one did not flow very smoothly. The quality of writing felt lower than in other books. The tone fit Piper very well, but the execution made the book feel a little choppy and this made it somewhat less engaging to read. While I respect the impact that Roddy Piper made on the business, and I remember how entertaining he used to be in the ring and on the mic, I cannot recommend this book. It just wasn't as interesting as it could have been and after such a long wait to get a chance to read it, it was a let down.

If you're a true wrestling fan, ths is a must have. Piper talks about:
*his days on the street, literally homeless
*being stabbed numerous times
*Alot of great funny road stories. REALLY amusing stuff!!
*Wrestling on the indys in Portland, Charolette, and L.A., and overseas
*Talks abot his bad experience with Ole Anderson and Jim Barnett, a promoter while working in Atlanta.
*Being "ribbed" (practical joke) on his first WWF appearance in New York City and returning 10 years thereafter.
*Piper also talks about how he met his wife and talks about his family.
*His dog-collar matches that are still remembered with Greg Valentine.
*Talks about his dislikes and a real shoot with Mr. T. and where Mr. T messed up at WM2.
*The creation of Piper's Pit (and he gets in detail of how the infamous coconcut incident with Jimmy Sunka appeared).
*His WrestleMania 3 farewell match against Adrian Adonis.
*Being stabbed in the back by some of "the boys" (wrestlers).

*Steriod charges on WWF and how the FBI was looking for him.
*Broadcasting with Vince McMahon and doing voice overs.
*From WWF, going hollywood, and later going to WCW --he touches alot of these subjects.
*This and MUCH more.

--When I purchased this book, it seemed as if it was not enough pages to cover the legendary status of a man who's been on top for so many years. However, he was completely honest and he was very accurate w./in detail of the life he led and what made him a superstar. He also talks about the tricks of putting on a memorable interview an segments (especially with Hulk Hogan). Its only [a price], so don't be cheap.. you won't regret it. Also has black n white and color pics in the book of his family and his wrestling years. GREAT READ and a 10++++. Hot Rod, you are a true icon in the sport. Thank you!

There are so many awful books coming out which cater to Vince McMahon and dance around the truth and Roddy Piper does not go that route. He is honest about everything in his career. He doesn't hold back. This is an incredible read that really takes you into the ongoings of every major part of Roddy's career.

He tells it like it is. You really learn all about Piper's life, his career and all the controversy of drug abuse in the wrestling business that Vince McMahon likes to censor from his books. This isn't Jerry Lawler or Hogan's puff piece. This is one of the best wrestling autobiographies to put in your library. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever read and I recommend it to all real wrestling fans, not the casual fans.

Piper's book make for a fast read and educating insight into the wrestling world. It helps seeing the emergence of WWF through the wrestler's eyes rather than through the promoter's as was mostly the case in Shaun Assael's book.

Some affirmations by Piper sounded presumptuous but I will leave to the Meltzers of this world the task of critizing the accuracy of the book since I don't have the knowledge to do so.

I enjoyed reading it for that frank and honest look at the world of wrestling and at the changes that happened with the rise of WWF. It is also nice to learn about all the other wrestlers through Piper's account of his interaction with them.

Chapter 12 is particularly interesting since Piper takes head-on what he calls "the sickness": the overwhelming bearing on the life of wrestlers that wrestling has, mainly because of the promoters manipulations and the lifestyle according to him.

It is definatly worth reading.

Even if you have only a cursory exposure to pro wrestling [maybe you have heard of Piper and a few others] I will risk stating that you will find Rowdy Roddy Piper's story an entertaining look behind the scenes of pro wrestling's early years to the marketing monster success it is today.

If I had to compare Piper's 'voice' in this book to anyone else's it would be to John Madden, in his book "One Size Does Not Fit All." It's conversational in tone and pace, and that makes you feel at home listening to Piper tell you himself. I have no doubt that was part of the design when he decided to write this. In some ways, the book is a lot like his Piper's Pit segments on television.

The skinny: You will get a close up look at how 'real' wrestling was in those days; about how a match might be scripted, but the 'loser' would beat the hell out of the 'winner' just to make him earn it. It's one thing to admire a wrestler's athleticism, but Piper tells you how it was [and is] to risk injuries night after night because you wanted to give the fans a great show. That's one of the beautiful things about this book. Piper doesn't pat himself on the back about that, he states it as matter-of-fact, exactly like a professional who actually cares about his fans would state it.

The only times that Piper goes a bit overboard is on his mic-work and character presence. Not that he wasn't great or innovative, -he certainly was, but he almost takes credit for intentionally creating the entire practice of it. Still I can't blame him for shorting Vince McMahon Jr., he clearly still dislikes the guy. But nobody can deny McMahon's genius at gathering wrestling stars under one banner. Without that foresight individual promoters would've run pro-wrestling into the ground a decade ago with their greed and limited vision.

In the Pit with Piper is a very good book. Better than the Rock's book by far; an interesting and real look at Piper as he talks openly about himself, his humble beginnings, the pain and joy [in front of and behind the camera] and the grandeur of pro wrestling then and now.

Buy it and get to know the man they call "Rowdy".

"In the Pit with Piper" is probably one, if not the best wrestling autobiography ever written. In this day and age of "ghost writing", it's hard to find a decent wrestling biography that is actually written by the real wrestlers. Books like "The Rock Says" and "It's True, It's True" are clear examples of ghost writing, in other words, stories that are not written by the wrestlers as indicated on the title page but actually written by authors that may have never even met the wrestlers but just go by a 10 minute voice recording done by the wrestler about his or her life.

That's where this book is set apart from all the others, you can tell that Roddy Piper actually sat down with an author and told the author word by word what to write.

The book is about "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who is a famous pro wrestler from the 1980s(and is still popular today). This book spans his life from age 15 running away from home until the final days of WCW. In this book, he talks all about the "Sickness" that goes on in wrestling when the promoters back in his day used manipulation on wrestlers and how hard business was back then. I strongly suggest this book to any fan of pro wrestling or just a person trying to find a great read

I'm a casual wrestling fan having watched it on and off for the last thirty years. "In the Pit" is a VERY easy read with insight in the world of wrestling but mostly its about him. I have a great deal of respect for Rowdy Piper because its clear he didn't compromise his integrity!!!! His story goes into great detail about the extensive good times, the bond between fellow athletes and quick behind the scenes look (i.e. lack of health benefits and how controlling the promoters are) -- which I wish he would have expanding on. Yet the story is very compelling and revealing, as his stories are positively hysterical. The book is entertaining but it does to jump around a bit. It is indeed written in true in Rowdy fashion, its as if he and I were sitting in bar and him recounting his roller coaster life. After I put I down, I was left with two thoughts -- 1) God Bless His Wife Kitty and 2) I hope he writes another book soon.

I USED to have all the respect in the world for Roddy Piper. That is, until I read this book. Whether or not the various anecdotes to be found within are true, false, honest or embellished upon is immaterial when you consider the sheer egotism of the man behind the pen.

If 'In The Pit With Piper' is taken seriously, then it must be wholly believed that Roddy Piper - and not Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, nor any other number of wrestling luminaries - was solely responsible for the wrestling boom in the eighties, and that he's the only man in the business with enough clout and experience to save it today.

Roddy Piper is perhaps the last of the true old-school veterans; the ones who refused to move with the times. This book exposes Piper as a selfish anachronism of a man; trying to make waves in a pool that's outgrown him beyond his own scope and expectations.

Perhaps Piper could be viewed in a more sympathetic light if someone else had dug up the dirt and splayed Piper's attitudes and opinions all over the pages of this book. But as the words, revelations and ego all belong to Piper himself, it's hard to feel sorry for what he has become.

The actual content is interesting enough, with Piper's life covered in close detail from his childhood streetlife to the professional void that he was trapped in at the time of the book's completion - some time before his failed attempt at a WWE revival. Naturally, he'll blame Vince McMahon for that, too.

Overall? A fair read with some interesting stories spoiled only by the arrogance of the man telling the tale, and not a patch on Mick Foley's fair and honest account of how pro wrestling really is. Piper's mistrust and paranoid point of view sours what could have been a memorable reading experience

Whether on the side of good or evil, Roderick Toombs's professional persona always had the reputation of saying exactly what was on his mind.

Roddy Piper's autobiography demonstrates that this persona was very much based on his real personality. But to the extent that he intended this book as another "tell-all" about the business of professional wrestling, he only partly succeeds.

The book has three focal points. One is the evil and exploitative nature of the wrestling promoters, including Vince McMahon. Once you see that Bret "Hitman" Hart has written the forward to this book, you can guess that "Junior" is going to take a beating. Piper compares wrestling promoters to houseflies, and it's not clear whom he prefers at his dinner table.

Another focal point is the "sickness" that drives wrestlers to push their bodies and their psyches past the limits of normal endurance just to stay on top in their professions. It's a sickness that apparently is responsible for a mortality rate and a morbidity rate greatly in excess of the average profession or of the average entertainment field - or so Piper would have us believe. He dedicates the book towards those wrestlers who died recently, and the list is a long one. This actually ties in with the first point - promoters incite and exploit that "sickness" in a way that makes one think of cockfighting.

And the third focal point that comes in very clearly is the bonding that takes place among the wrestling talent, though this is obviously not without conflict and ego clash. Nevertheless, the reverence with which Piper often blesses his older colleagues as his fathers and his contemporaries as his frat brothers is moving. The bonding is clearly all the more real and all the more poignant because of the unique risks associated with the profession and with the "sickness" that it is responsible for.

Still, this is Piper's chosen profession, and he admits that it beat playing his bagpipes for change on a street corner. It's an entertainment profession, and he doesn't talk enough about the entertainment. He does talk about some of the famous events that he participated in, such as Wrestlemania I (McMahon and Hulk Hogan, the "good guy" and the winner, attended a publicity-saturated victory banquet; Piper and Paul Orndorff who worked just as hard in their roles as heel losers were abandoned and not even provided with transportation back to their hotel) and the famous "coconut" incident involving Jimmy Snuka (it was real!).

But what was it like to work with and feign intense hostility towards "enemies" who were his good friends in real life - Rick Rude, Ric Flair, and Adrian Adonis (Keith Franke), at whose funeral Piper delivered the eulogy?

What happened on the set when that first WWF album was cut - the one in which Piper's tirade breaks up the wrestlers' version of "Land of a Thousand Dances" and in which he sings an insane solo called "For Everybody"?

What was the story behind the creation of "Monday Night RAW" and the WWF/WCW Raw/Nitro ratings battles? Behind the creation of the New World Order (NWO), which caused Hulk Hogan to turn heel (!!!) and which led to a rematch of the Piper/Hogan wars from the 1980's with the "good guy"/"bad guy" roles reversed?

And, most of all, with his big mouth and his brashness and his bratty mannerisms, Piper was born to be a heel. So why did he waste almost the last fifteen years of his career as a babyface? Roddy Piper as a "good guy" was about as convincing as Michael Dukakis in an army tank.

It's not even clear from this book how much is "real" and how much is "fake" in the industry. The outcome of a match is determined in advance, Roddy tells us, but the blows that are delivered in the match and some of the shots delivered in the promos (such as the attack on Snuka) are real.

Yet, the mutual contempt between Piper and Mr. T, before the boxing match at Wrestlemania II, was real and there was apparently no predetermined outcome - the other wrestlers bet on the result. And yet Piper also claims to have pulled his punches. Was this truly a "shoot", and are "shoots" commonplace? I have a hard time believing that he intentionally took an honest-to-God piledriver onto a solid surface from the Undertaker without losing his life or the ability to move below his neck.

Piper is too busy giving us the lowdown on the "dark" side of the profession to talk about the fun side.

And for a streetwise guy, he's remarkably naïve. Having been willing, by his own admission, to do almost anything to anybody in order to promote himself, does he realize how silly it sounds for him to say that he objected to a particular staged segment of "Piper's Pit" as being offensive to his sensibilities as a Christian?

He's also naïve about the world outside his own. For all of the unique risks and sacrifices undergone by professional wrestlers, they are not EXTREMELY different from those undergone by others, even in (maybe ESPECIALLY in) the white and blue-collar worlds that Piper has never seen. The corporate CEOs, the corner-cutting entrepreneurs, and the pink-collar dominatrices that run so much of our lives are no less pernicious than the wrestling promoters that Piper swats.

And for every wrestler who died or suffered disability from a dangerous stunt or an overdose of painkillers in a frantic attempt to feed his family, there are thousands of workers with families who died or suffered disabilities from industrial accidents, coronaries, ulcers, and their own form of substance abuse - many of whom paid money to watch Piper perform.

Having drawn heat from the fans for over a quarter century, Piper spends too much time now asking for our sympathy - and not enough time applauding us for a change.

Let me start off by saying that I was HUGE fan of Rowdy Roddy Piper in the 1980s. He truly is one of the greatest characters in the history of wrestling.

That being said, I was pretty disappointed in this book. Wrestling is obviously not "real". I've always looked at wrestling as a performance art, where the actors and the stunt-men are the same people. When wrestlers perform for audiences they're "in character", just like a movie actor would be when the camera's rolling. When this Autobiography came out, I assummed it would be a Non-Fiction piece, like other wrestling biographies. However, this wasn't really the case.

In this book, I believe Piper mixes reality with Fiction. I'm sure many of the stories written in this book really did happen, but Piper throws his own "wrestling character" into the mix often. The reader can't help but think that many of the stories were embellished to make them more interesting, and to make Piper, himself, seem more rebellious.

A couple of examples:

One of Piper's most memorable wrestling moments was when he hit wrestler Jimmy Snuka in the head with an actual coconut, splitting it (the coconut) wide-open. I was expecting to read about how the idea arose. Instead, I was fed the story that the incident wasn't planned and that Piper just happenned to see a coconut next to his chair. He decided, in impromptu fashion, to hit Snuka in the head with it. Come on!

I also didn't care for Piper's account of his meeting with "They Live" directory John Carpenter. It was obviously fabricated and was designed to make Piper look cooler than Fonzy from Happy Days.

There were a lot of contradictions in the book as well. Piper often referred to his fellow wrestlers as "frat brothers", and that he would do anything for them. Then, he would talk about how he only looked out for himself, refusing to lose matches, even to his friends. I don't think Piper was lying here. I just think he's a hypocrite, and many of the stories he tells convey this.

On the plus side, there were some stories I found entertaining, including his thoughts on Rick Martel and a few others.

Again, I felt there was a lot of embellishment in the book, which really shouldn't be the case in a Biography.

Unfortunately, I don't think die-hard Piper fans will even enjoy this book as much as they're probably hoping.