Monday, August 3, 2015

Papa-Indigo-Papa-Echo-Romeo

Piper went face to face with Dean Ambrose at the Old School RAW
Photo Credit: WWE.com
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper's final appearance on RAW was around Christmas time last year where he basically served as a setup for a brawl between Rusev and Ryback. It was a decent use of Piper's talents, but man, it was underwhelming based on what he'd shown at the first bookend of the year. It was a halcyon time, when CM Punk still wasn't disillusioned with wrestling, when The Shield was still together, and when the New Age Outlaws still were on televis... you know, I'm gonna redact that last one.

This episode, Old School RAW, was notable for Jake Roberts' return to WWE, but it was also Piper's last real hurrah, his last appearance that he was himself, where he was still able to show he could change the questions. And pinching Roman Reigns' cheek like Piper was his aunt held one last unpredictable flash from a guy who made his career as wrestling's ultimate wild card.