Before Ronda Rousey was “Rowdy,” the word was synonymous with another dominant force in the world of sports-entertainment: The late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
A longtime WWE fan, Rousey found inspiration from the WWE Hall of Famer, who would later become her friend and mentor when she took the MMA world by storm. She was trained by the same man who honed Piper’s grappling skills, Gene LeBell, and she even sought and received Hot Rod’s blessing in carrying on his “Rowdy” moniker. When she made her WWE debut at this year’s Royal Rumble event, The Baddest Woman on the Planet wore the iconic leather jacket of The Rowdy One, given to her by Piper’s son.
Today, Rousey continued to honor the man who helped shape her career with a touching Instagram post.
“Happy Birthday to the Legend, my Hero and Inspiration, Rowdy Roddy Piper,” she wrote. “You are sorely missed and always remembered.”
Article source: WWE.com