10 Most Rebellious Anti-Heroes In WWE History
3. Roddy Piper
Other wrestlers would build-on and perfect the original anti-hero blueprint, but it was “Rowdy” Roddy Piper that brought it to WWE in the first place. Once one of the most universally despised heels in WWE, Piper was an off-kilter personality who marched to the beat of his own drum and made only subtle character tweaks when the time came to turn babyface.
Heel Roddy Piper and face Roddy Piper were almost the exact same person, and that’s what makes him one of wrestling’s greatest anti-heroes. Brash, aggressive and in-your-face, Piper genuinely felt like one of the most dangerous men on the planet. His microphone work remains among the best in the business and, while always an arrogant loudmouth, the fans slowly grew to love him for it.
Hot Rod was a guy willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. He never once compromised his personality to satisfy the higher-ups, and did everything he could to separate himself from the pack. His feud with Hulk Hogan had a hugely transformative effect of Hulkamania as a whole, and Piper is the earliest example of an edgy character who dared fans the challenge their preconceived notions of what a “hero” should be.
Roddy Piper laid the groundwork for every anti-hero that followed.