The WORST Moment From Every WWE WrestleMania
36. Roddy Piper’s Racist Commentary Misses The Mark (WrestleMania VI)
ARGH!
When looking back at Piper painting half of his body with black paint for WrestleMania VI's match vs. Bad News Brown, you might hear some folks say: 'Ah, but it was a different time'. OK, but even if one stretches to allow for that, then it still doesn't make the idea a good one that should've happened! This was an appalling call from 'Hot Rod', to be honest.
It seems that painting half of his frame was supposed to be some 'it doesn't matter what colour you are - I'll still beat you up' stand from Piper, hence the Michael Jackson glove. Or, at least, that's what people think was going on. At first glance, and when analysing who Roddy was working that night, the whole scheme was bizarre and frankly rather racist. Again, shouldn't have been slapped with a green light.
WWE avoid drawing attention to this in the modern era for a reason. They know it's not a great look for a legend like Piper or for 'Mania history. Brown was reportedly pretty miffed at Roddy anyway, and so going with make up/paint to partially change his skin tone was only going to anger the heel further; not kayfabe anger either.
Side note; Andre The Giant poured out a solution bought in to remove the paint, so Roddy had to walk around half and half for days. He once recalled during an interview clutching a giant Mickey Mouse for his daughter as he strolled through the airport still half-painted.
That had to be alarming for folks in Toronto airport.