THAT Episode of Piper's Pit

An iconic if edgy moment in WWE history
Photo Credit: WWE.com

Piper's Pit may not have ever been the Piper's Pit that it became known as today if not for one seminal episode featuring "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. It launched Roddy Piper into supervillain status, turned Snuka into an instant sympathetic hero, and it was crucial in the early stages of setting up the first WrestleMania main event. Piper wrestled in the match, while Snuka was a second for Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. In short, the reasons why this segment is remembered so vividly are numerous and valid.

The clip that WWE has hosted on its YouTube page is not solely from the All-Star Wrestling episode on March 24, 1984 when it happened, but from a later episode of Tuesday Night Titans, where hosts Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes recap the incident with Piper live. McMahon and Hayes get really indignant with Piper, and that in turn antagonizes Piper further to some delicious results.

Another thing about the actual Pit itself is that it's way more, shall I say, risque than I remember. The tropical fruit array and "tree-climbing" comments are bad, but at one point, Piper is whipping Snuka with his belt and calling him "boy," which would never, ever fly today. Again, these warts aren't necessarily excusable, but at least in that WWF, Piper was the heel being a shit of a character.