by On this past week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, while sitting in his familiar cross-legged position in the center of the ring, CM Punk pondered the idea of “Piper in Portland.” While pontificating the implications, Punk reaches into a box and pulls out a chain with two dog collars hooked to the end. The crowd erupted as Punk asked his archnemesis, Maxwell Jacob Freidman, “will you be my Valentine?” The question isn’t just a clever remark to coincide with the holiday. It’s an invitation to fill the role in what promises to be a repeat of one of the most violent feuds in pro wrestling history. Roddy Piper and Greg The Hammer Valentine.
Both MJF and Punk have made no secret of their mutual adoration of Roddy Piper. Both men have clearly taken influence from one of pro wrestling’s greatest talkers. Now both have chosen to step into one of their hero’s most violent encounters. Punk, in particular, has a career trajectory that in many ways mirrors Piper. Both were outsiders who, at first glance, didn’t look the role of a pro wrestler. Both men overachieved and became generation-defining stars thanks to a combination of charisma and bad attitude.
Roddy Piper burst onto the scene in the old LaBell territory based in Los Angeles. While feuding with Chavo Guererro Sr. (Chavo Classic for the mid-aughts WWE fans), Piper nearly started a riot playing “La Cucaracha,” calling it the Mexican National Anthem. The young, bagpipe-playing Canadian knew early on that he could inspire raucous reactions from fans in LA and San Francisco. Piper was a huge star in the mid-70s California scene before moving to his home territory of Portland, where he had a much different relationship with fans. In 1981, Piper traveled east and split time between Jim Crockett’s Mid-Atlantic territory and Ole Anderson/Jim Barnett Georgia Championship Wrestling. In Crockett, Piper became linked to Ric Flair, the territory’s top star, sometimes a friend and others as a foe. While in Georgia, Piper became a National-level star (years before joining the WWF) doing commentary with Gordon Solie for the 6:05 World Championship Wrestling show. Piper popularized the role of the heel commentator, paving the way for Jesse Ventura and Bobby Heenan later in the decade.
Piper became so popular in his role with Solie that he became “so bad he’s cool.” In reality, it was hard to boo a character as witty and funny as Piper. Booker Ole Anderson understood, and in the summer of 1982, the crowd was too into Piper to keep him a heel. During an interview segment with Solie, the Magnificent Muraco became enraged with the beloved host and got physical with Solid. Piper did a reasonable thing and protected Solie from danger. Muraco shoves Piper, who attacks in kind. Anderson and his charges, Matt Borne (aka Doing The Clown) and Buzz Sawyer, try to break up the fight, only to take shots from the wild Piper. The babyface turn was complete.
Shortly after, the new attitude Piper permanently moved back to Mid-Atlantic to join Bob Caudle on commentary. Mid-Atlantic was, of course, the home of the heel Ric Flair, the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion. During a November 82 episode, one year prior to Starrcade 83, Flair challenges two preliminary wrestlers to face him in an amateur wrestling exhibition. Though dressed to the nines, Flair quickly dispatches the two but draws the ire of Piper.
Shortly after, the new attitude Piper permanently moved back to Mid-Atlantic to join Bob Caudle on commentary. Mid-Atlantic was, of course, the home of the heel Ric Flair, the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion. During a November 82 episode, one year prior to Starrcade 83, Flair challenges two preliminary wrestlers to face him in an amateur wrestling exhibition. Though dressed to the nines, Flair quickly dispatches the two but draws the ire of Piper.
The champ challenges the commentator to the smash exhibition, and to Flair’s frustration, he’s unable to best Piper. When Piper lines up the amateur down position, awaiting Flair’s cover, the champ kicks Piper in the ribs. The exhibition breaks down, but Piper is still able to defeat Flair in an unofficial match. This leads Flair to attack Piper and grind his face into the concrete floor along with the help of the champ’s long-time partner, Greg Valentine.
Greg Valentine, a second-generation grappler who had already been long associated with United States Championship (the same US Title currently owned by Damian Priest). Valentine debuted for Crockett in 1975, essentially taking his father’s role in the company. Ironically, Johnny Valentine had to retire after being injured in the same plane crash that nearly ended the career of Ric Flair. Valentine almost immediately retired the beloved Johnny Weaver before winning the Mid-Atlantic and NWA World Tag belts with Flair multiple times.
Valentine broke McDaniel’s leg during a feud with Wahoo McDaniel while winning the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title. To fan’s disdain, Valentine wore a shirt reading “I Broke Wahoo’s Leg.” After a few brief stints with the WWWF, Valentine always returned to Crockett and was almost always tied to Ric Flair. It was no surprise to anyone watching that Flair’s issues with Piper would involve The Hammer.
After failing to defeat Flair for the NWA World Title, Piper turned his attention to Valentine. This began a long and bloody feud over the US belt. On April 16th of 1983, Piper beat Valentine and won his second US Title (the first was back in 1981). The two found themselves in a rematch only two weeks later that was stopped via referee’s decision after a cut over Piper’s ear burst. The decision to work ear damage into the story would cost Piper later in the year.
Similar to the previous Dynamite, Piper came onto Mid-Atlantic TV and unveiled his most dangerous creation. In a play on the Russian Chain Match, Piper and Valentine would be bound by the throat instead of being shackled to your opponent’s wrist. What happened was a melee that left both men damaged. Because of the earlier story with Piper’s ear, Valentine worked the ear with the thick chain, a move that left Piper with damage to his eardrum that left him sided for months.
Shockingly, both Piper and Valentine would leave Mid-Atlantic in the winter of 1984 for the greener pastures of the WWF. Much like in California, Portland, Georgia, and the Carolinas, Piper started as one of the top heels, but he’d win the hearts of fans in time. He would eventually become of the WWF’s most loved performers. Similar to how Punk started as a dastardly heel who finally won the crowd’s adoration, unlike Valentine, who would pretty much stay a heel for the entirety of his career.
So will MJF truly be the Greg Valentine to Punk’s Piper? We’ll find out at Revolution.
