JerryvonKramer Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Does anyone actually like Piper after his big heel run? If so, why? Honestly, my whole life, I've just found him to be a massive irritant whether on commentary, doing stupid coked up promos, or doing whatever he does in the ring. So if you're a big Piper fan, talk me round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 At the time, I hated Piper on commentary, at least once he became a typical babyface asskisser--the feisty Piper at SummerSlam '90 I enjoyed a great deal. As a worker, he was better than I remembered, though he wasn't working a full schedule and that probably was a factor. His strikes weren't that good-looking but his matches were full of energy with almost no downtime. His MSG match with Perfect was the best WWF match of 1990, and it wasn't a fluke because they had a killer match at a house show I saw at around the same time. I won't call myself a big Piper fan, but up until his 1992 departure he generally added to any segment he was in as an interview or a worker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 When I was watching a lot of WWF stuff a while back, the Piper stuff was shockingly good, vastly better than I was expecting. I also think his Portland stuff is good, though working with Buddy helps everyone. Still I think Piper is like Michael Hayes - a guy people called a limited/shit worker who was good on the stick for years because of things people in the business said and/or because they didn't have flawless execution all the time. In general I think both guys were very good workers during their peak years. If I were to ever do a top 100 again, Piper would have a good shot at making it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Parv, go watch Piper vs Perfect MSG from late 90. I'd be curious to hear what you thought about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't want to jump the gun on the Yearbook, but honestly Piper just did my nut in as a kid and I never liked his scrappy style in the ring, so was curious what his rep as a face is currently. I will be going through the 1990 yearbook soonish. My sluggish journey through AWA is almost done. It's possible that Piper may turn out to be a Ron Garvin-style total u-turn from me. We'll see. If anyone has suggestions not on the yearbooks, though, I will check them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrickHithouse Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 It's possible that Piper may turn out to be a Ron Garvin-style total u-turn from me. We'll see. I didn't ever like his stuff on the mic or in the ring as a heel or face in the 80's and 90's. Going back through the 80's WWF stuff the past few years I liked him quite a bit better. Not enough to do a complete u-turn, maybe half - an "r-turn". He's a lot better in the ring than I previously gave him credit for, but I still can't really get into too much of his stuff, aside from the dog collar match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't want to jump the gun on the Yearbook, but honestly Piper just did my nut in as a kid and I never liked his scrappy style in the ring, so was curious what his rep as a face is currently. I will be going through the 1990 yearbook soonish. My sluggish journey through AWA is almost done. It's possible that Piper may turn out to be a Ron Garvin-style total u-turn from me. We'll see. If anyone has suggestions not on the yearbooks, though, I will check them out. There's a Piper/Orton vs Orndorff/Andre tag i like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Piper in the 90s probably won't change your opinion of him at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 I love Piper in the 80s WWF stuff I have seen so far. Also enjoyed him well enough in Portland. When we do the DVDVR redo, Piper will definitely be well represented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 And don't sleep on his JCP run either.....great matches with Flair, Slater, & Valentine will be on the set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted July 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yeah, I figured that 80s Piper is good. This thread was chiefly meant to be for post-86 babyface Piper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 What I like most about post-86 babyface Piper is his "hulk up" comebacks. He does this punch drunk thing that I find to be one of the most effective of the style. It's weirdly believable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruiserBrody Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Growing up watching him from 84 - on, I'm not sure there was ever a point I didn't like/love Piper -- maybe the bitter end when he was broken down in 99 if anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Piper is also probably a guy who comes off a lot better in a Yearbook or random Youtube-watching setting than having to put up with him week after week as most of us did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruiserBrody Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Grammy worthy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alucard Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Piper/Bret from Mania 8 is my favorite match of his. I enjoyed babyface Piper in WWF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvd356 Posted July 11, 2013 Report Share Posted July 11, 2013 His MSG match with Perfect was the best WWF match of 1990 H'mm really? Better than Powers/Rockers from January MSG show. I have the match up on another pager now(12/28/90 I hope). Nothing can beat Hogan/Warrior I for '90 WWE for me personally, since it was MY match as a small child. & Made me a fan for life but I'm always down for some new Piper. I celebrate the guy's whole career(Like Michael Bolton in 'Office Space' type deal). Of course his best stuff is Portland, The JCP stuff & his first WWE run('84-'87) but since we're talking post 'Mania 3 retirement... First off I love Mountie-Piper @ Rumble 92 when Piper takes the IC strap. It was such a special moment for Piper AND the fans more importantly. Back when their were only 2 recognized singles belts and they meant SO much to us marks. 2nd Bret-Piper from 'Mania 8 is by far his best match. 3rd atcually liked him as a color commentator but as said above his best color performance was Summerslam '90 when he just spoke his mind & didn't kiss ass (which is just what they needed when Ventura took off). I may be alone but I actually liked the brawling portions of the 'Mania 12 Backlot brawl. I always like these 'setting' matches. Of course the OJ Bronco stuff was dumb & was a big MISS. But it was classic Piper brawling & he got a great pop. I know they were going with the 'New Generation' but in '96 Piper was still a draw & he proved that in WCW in December and on into '97. I'm not saying he should have got the WWE strap that year but I think a crazy brawling feud with Mankind & 1 last shot at the WWE title @ Series '96 in MSG vs. Michaels could have drawn some money.(The Shawn feud could have been half jealousy/Gold envy and half to 'toughen' up Shawn and give him an edge). And believe it or not I liked WCW Piper too. Mostly he was just fun to have around but he really held his own in the promo sparring with Hogan(guess that's not suprising but I really liked the feud, too bad the matches were wretched). Also I saw Havoc '97 live in Vegas(my 1st of 2 live shows ever, only WCW show. That match was badd but the cage was a spectacle worth seeing & Savages axe handle from 20 feet was amazing(great all around PPV btw). His best WCW match by far was with Ric Flair @ Bash at the Beach '97. It's a sleeper hit to me. I saw someone in the "Death of Nitro" or whatever marathon review thread give props to Piper-Flair from Slamboree '99 being a fun veteran brawl but the '97 version is vastly superior with all kinds of chops & nutshots and the crowd way into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exposer Posted July 11, 2013 Report Share Posted July 11, 2013 Piper could be outstanding at times in Portland and very good a lot of times in WWF up to his retirement tour in 87. I find him to be one of the best sprint match wrestlers I've ever seen because he was so intense, had incredible charisma, and was a fucking awesome brawler. When he came back, he has a few good moments but he never reached the same level he had during the Rock N Wrestling era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Ok, Piper doing a dropkick vandaminator in 1980 in a hair match with Luke Williams is one of the most surreal things I've seen in forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted August 21, 2013 Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 I liked him growing up, he was fun. 1992 was a stand out period for me, I wish he wrestled more. He should of had a match at Summerslam with Shawn Michaels that year to really get Shawn ready to main event the next PPV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartelFan38 Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Thats a good point. Putting Shawn over at Wembley would have help solidify Shawn's spot. However, does anyone seeing Piper jobbing to Hart at WM8 and then HBK at Summerslam (2 jobs in 2 ppv's) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Piper vs Rip Rogers popped up on youtube this week. I suggest everyone check it out. It's only 7 minutes or so but I think it's great. There's also a Battle Royal with Piper from later in that same night where you can really see what made him special in 1980. The promo in between the two is very solid too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 The boxing match with Mr. T was one of the worst things ever done in a wrestling ring, but Piper's promo on the Coliseum tape is probably one of my favorite-ever promos. I agree that a Roddy/Shawn feud would have been good business in '92. I seem to recall them having a match right before VIII. Kind of sucks that he left right after WM that year, he could have helped things go along more smoothly after Hogan left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 The Piper vs Jesse Barr match from 80 that just popped up on youtube this week is a pretty interesting carry job. Worth seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Watching the Piper vs Wiskowski match from 80 that just popped up (which is, by the way, way better than the Martel vs Wiskowski match from the same year), I really wish we had a decent run of Piper in AWA in the early 80s. It was a style that was so good at using a hold for a base and Piper was just excellent of working up out of holds with hope spots to build up his comeback as a babyface. I think Piper's 1980 might be one of the best babyface years of the 80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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