'Rowdy' Roddy Piper cause of death: WWE wrestler dies of cardiac arrest

Roddy Piper [photo: Commons Wikimedia/Ming]

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) mourns the loss of another Hall of Famer with the untimely demise of the legendry "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

Piper, who was born Roderick George Toombs, was best known as a heel wrestler who would later on become one of the crowd favorites in the WWE. According to a report by TMZ Sports, Piper died in his Hollywood home last Thursday due to cardiac arrest. He was 61 years old.

The Los Angeles Police Department have yet to verify if Piper did die in his sleep due to cardiac arrest. Other than that, details about wrestling legend's passing have been undisclosed.

Piper was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2006 but underwent therapy to address the said disease. Piper finished therapy in 2008 and announced just last November that he was cancer-free.

At the time of his death, a family source stated to TMZ Sports that Piper did die free of cancer.

The original kilted warrior was best known for his feuds with Hulk Hogan, another WWE Hall of Famer, who was recently given his walking papers on account of a racist rant scandal.

Piper and Hogan were both key figures in the first Wrestlemania that took place at the Madison Square Garden in New York City way back in March 31, 1985.

Piper had Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff as his tag partner while Hogan had actor Mr. T on his corner. Acting as special guest referee at the time was boxing great Muhammad Ali.

Piper had been around the wrestling scene, not only in the WWE but in other wrestling sports bodies such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as well.

Other than being an active wrestler in the WWE scene, Piper also had his own special segment called the Piper's Pit. The segment featured fellow wrestlers whom Piper would berate and at times would end up in a "rowdy" manner.

The Canadian wrestling icon was best known as someone who would not back down from a fight, using his unusual dirty tactics to even the score with more technical opponents.

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