Rowdy Rod Piper Has Died At 61

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper died on Friday, July 31st, 2015 from an apparent heart attack in his sleep.

The WWE posted several videos on their YouTube channel


A look back @ WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper



Roddy Piper soaks in the Madison Square Garden crowd at WrestleMania I



AND IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE IN LITTLE OLE' ALLENTOWN, PA.!loose cannon: "After taping in Philadelphia at an old arena in North Philly the elder Vincent H Mcmahon decided to move the tapings to Allentown PA... Starting in 1978 thousands crammed into the small Agricultural Hall to see Tony Garea, Ivan Putski, Jay Strongbow, Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino, Tony Atlas, Greg Valentine and countless others...

Wikipedia-- "In its early years, the show was taped at the Philadelphia Arena and later at the Allentown Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA. Typically, three weeks of television were taped in one night. The final taping in Allentown took place on June 19, 1984"
"The following was taped on January 3rd, 1984 at the Agricultural Hall in Allentown, PA and aired on Championship Wrestling on January 7th. Bob Backlund vs. Samu (Samoan #3). Hulk Hogan comes to ringside for Backlund. Hogan had previously returned to the WWF on December 27th, 1983, but this was his first TV appearance on Championship Wrestling after the return."

Video Courtesy jeremywall22

Here's a list of the events in 1980. Such notables as Hulk Hogan, The Wild Samoans, Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant and Sgt. Slaughter among others appeared at Ag Hall in the early days. Although Rowdy Rod Piper didn't land full time with the WWE until 1984 he owes this to all of those who got their early starts in Philadelphia and later on right here in Allentown, Pa. in 1978.




Anyone remember or wish to share a story about the WWF fights once hosted in William Allen High School's 'Little Palestra'? As I recall this venue ended when fans became too rowdy and started tossing chairs :-) 

Click On The Photo--  'The Morning Call'- "Allen's Little Palestra Closed Its Doors"