How big do you think the pop was that Roddy Piper had if/when he saw Brian Pillman looking like a gun-toting bad ass defending his home against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in 1996? Do you think that if he were allowed to go to that level in his 1984 feud with Hulk Hogan that he would've gone there (or somewhere comparably similar)? As well, listen to Pillman's commentary on Shotgun Saturday Night that oftentimes took liberties with the bounds of good taste. Then, play any great number of Roddy Piper's promos in the early 80s WWF against them. They push the exact same boundaries. Of course, add in the fact that Pillman and Piper both claim some Calgary roots in their wrestling development, and it all makes sense.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
