10 Fascinating WWE WrestleMania 21 Facts
8. Roddy Piper Prepared His Hall Of Fame Speech With The Help Of A Comedy Club Owner
A few years before his rightful induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, "The Rowdy One" had taken an interest in doing stand-up comedy. He was put in touch with a Portland-based comedy club owner named Barry Kolin, who gave Piper a shot to take the stage. What made Piper endearing to Kolin's audience was the way he would wax humorous about his incredible life as a wrestler and performer.
When Piper found out that WWE would be inducting him, the irascible wrestler reached out to Kolin, who had been more than valuable in fostering Piper's comic chops, helping him polish his delivery and stage presence.
Piper wanted to deliver mightily in the high-profile spot, and Kolin helped him prepare his soliloquy for the big night. If you've seen the speech, you know that "Hot Rod" left 'em laughing.