Teal Piper is the Daughter of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and she is currently signed with WOW. But there is more to her than wrestling as she also produces music as well. I got the chance to interview Teal Piper as we break down her passion for music, along with wrestling in this exclusive interview!
Your father (Roddy Piper) is one of my all time favorites when it comes to ring presence, microphone skills, and wrestling. What was it like for you to grow up knowing that your father is an icon?
TP: “I don’t feel I comprehended the scale of his presence. To me, he was just dad. It wasn’t until I was around 15 years old that I realized just how big and unique his career was. I guess it was just my norm growing up. I certainly appreciate it now more than ever. He always had that big personality. I don’t remember a time people weren’t drawn to him. I feel he taught me a lot I can’t really put into words.”
When you were middle school and high school, how many of your classmates came to you to ask you stories about you and your dad?
TP: “I was lucky enough to have a small group of friends I grew up with since pre school. They and their families never treated me any different than the other kids. I was lucky. However with just about everyone else, it seemed like every day. Still does now that I think about it. I’d often get the “is wrestling fake?” from students and teachers alike and pre my dads preprogrammed response he gave us I’d say, “ONLY WHEN MY DAD LOSES!” A lot of kids, parents and teachers would ask about the previous weeks matches, be mad about them or see if I could be manipulated into spilling something about the following week. Even as a kid I always thought that was funny.. Like my dad would sit his 10 year old down and discuss his work week. That was just the norm for us though. I was used to it. I do think these types of encounters made me realize at a very young age that adults were just people like everyone else”.
I want to know more about you, did you always wanted to become a wrestler? If not, what would you have done if you did not become a wrestler?
TP: “I’ve been in Los Angeles acting for years. I’m also a singer/singer writer with my second single Anonymity being released on iTunes this month. Wrestling however is a newer thing for me. I grew up with martial arts and wrestling mats in the house but it wasn’t until my dad passed that I felt that calling to be in the squared circle. My brother and I wrote a book, ROWDY: The Roddy Piper Story and in doing research I became more and more curious about dad’s early days in wrestling. He had SUCH a love for it and I wanted to get in the ring and connect with him through it. Once I did, I realized how much I absolutely LOVED it. Takes a lot of self hatred to like getting beat up as much as I do, but hey it’s therapy for me!.”
You are also a songwriter and singer and I would like to know what inspired you to also get in the music industry?
TP: “Music has always been a part of my life. I started playing guitar at 10 and taught myself piano as a teen. I remember writing just TERRIBLE songs by 11 on my guitar. At the time though I felt they were VERY deep. A lot of people don’t know this but my dad had a huge passion for music. He could pick up almost any instrument and play by ear. He loved to sing and even has a music video out on YouTube still. We would play together and sing as far back as I remember. Also my mom singing Cindy Lauper songs with me while we cleaned the house growing up are some of my most nostalgic memories.”
What songs have you written and produced means the most to you? And of the selected songs, do you have a backstory on them?
TP: “I have written and produced every song on my album with the help of my team. I have a great team though. Ringo Maestro co-writes and produces everything with me from day 1. Timothy Zerkle has jumped on the project the last year and been a great asset for me as well. Most the songs I write have a lot of significance to me. I’ve always written music instead of dealing with my feelings. The single, “Amber Eyes” which is currently the only single on iTunes I wrote about one of my sisters actually. First time I said who that sings about! It’s special because the harmonica on it I sampled from my dad playing. Anonymity is very clearly a break up song. My ice queen anthem. I sort of combined several break ups over the years for that. One song from the upcoming album was very difficult. After my dad passed, I couldn’t sing for months. I was too sad. “Stay Strong “was the first song I worked on after that. I wrote it about mourning a loved one as well as about my father. I hope someone out there re-finds solace in it when they lose someone that means the world to them someday. It took me almost 3 years to sing it through one time with out breaking down. I still struggle to listen to it.”
To the surprise of everyone, you signed a contract with WOW and you will appear in the current season (Season 2). What made you decide to sign with WOW and who will we see you have matches with?
TP: “I was thrilled to sign with them! David McClane and Selena Majors have done an incredible amount for women in wrestling LONG before it was cool to do so. I started training with them to feel it out and fell in love with their show on AXS Tv and the style they train in. I’m an old school girl and I love that old school energy their show brings. I just felt it was a super unique product out there right now and knew I wanted to be involved. I would LOVE to tell you all about my upcoming matches but nice try! People will have to tune in and see! I had a lot of fun shooting with them in September and am beyond excited for more.”
When I watch you and your dad side by side, you two are similar, but very different. Do you think that there was added pressure for you since you are a second generation wrestler? Or do you not let any kind of pressure get to you at all and you go out in the arena and prove it to those people that you are more than just the daughter of Roddy Piper?
TP: “As much as I’ve always been a daddy’s girl, we are different people. I think the similarities people see are natural as we all take on traits of our parents and personality quirks. Dad and I both loved being loud and having some fun! However, no one is more disappointed than me to say there will never be another Roddy Piper. There is a lot of pressure as a legacy kid. Many wrestlers spend YEARS perfecting themself. Having small matches, improving, making mistakes and learning. Unfortunately, second generations don’t get that luxury. If I make a mistake, the fans will know. I think I was able to keep it quiet all of a MONTH once I decided to pursue training. It’s a blessing and a curse but hey, I’ve always thrived under pressure. At the end of the day, I’ve always just done what I want when I want to. People have always found me weird so I’m used to judgement. You can’t worry about what people will compare you to! My goal has never been to fill my dads shoes. I hope a year from now i’ve made some of my own footprints in the industry and I hope people start to identify me as my own thing. I’m just going to have some fun with it regardless.”
What do you like to do on your spare time outside of wrestling and singing?
TP: “I’m a military wife and have an obnoxious passion for animals. I have volunteered for years BunnyLuv Rabbit Resource Center here in North North Hollywood. If you visit them sometime you will likely find me there dressed like a hobo feeding the orphan bunnies. Between that, training in ring daily, acting and singing I’m pretty full! I like to keep busy.”
Within the next few years, where would you like to see yourself?
TP: “I spend a lot of time avoiding thinking about past and future. It gives me anxiety. I just want to find happiness and keep it like anyone else. In a few years, I hope to have title under my belt. I hope to have made an impact and to still be working like I am now. I think my main goal is to still be in one piece!”
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