"Rowdy" Roddy Piper's debut in WCW at Halloween Havoc 1996 set up a monumental showdown between he and Hulk Hogan at that year's Starrcade. It was a brilliant promotional decision by Eric Bischoff, who understood the star power that Piper possessed and realized that Vince McMahon failed to ever promote a definitive match between he and Hogan. Thus, the match ten years in the making finally materialized at the biggest show of the year. The build to get there was absolutely outstanding. Piper cut seething promos in which he reminded Hogan, repeatedly, that he had never defeated the Hot Scot. Add to that Bischoff's on-screen heel turn and allegiance with the nWo and suddenly, the match had all the heat it needed. Piper used a sleeper to defeat Hogan, providing fans with a brief reprieve from the dominance of Hogan, Bischoff and the New World Order. Piper would do the favor for Hogan over the next few years, all the while feuding with the likes of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Syxx and even Buff Bagwell. After that initial year with the company, however, it became more and more apparent that the company had run out of ways to effectively use him. He became an authority on several occasions, then had his weaknesses and age exposed in front of millions of fans. It was a humiliating use of someone who had been so good to WCW and was such an integral part in the early success of the nWo angle. Still, it is difficult to ignore the importance of Piper to the overall success of WCW during his time with the company.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
