October 3, 2005 RAW Homecoming - Randy Orton interrupts Piper's Pit
Oct 3, 2005 was supposed to be a night of merriment; friend and foe alike returned to celebrate RAW’s Homecoming to the USA Network, the place where it all started back in 1993. But what should have been a joyous reunion between old buddies went horribly, horribly wrong, as Randy Orton stormed Piper’s Pit and gave WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper an RKO.
The night began with Piper holding court in his Pit with Mick Foley, but he was interrupted by old friend “Cowboy” Bob Orton and his son the Legend Killer. The younger Orton laid into the host, claiming Piper owed all of his success to his father; he also insinuated that while Piper was off living the sweet life, his dad was still busting his ass for a living. A melee then ensued, which culminated in the Legend Killer laying out the Hot Rod.
WWE.com recently caught up with Piper, who was quick to point out that the boy takes after his old man’s former friend.
“I was the very first man to coin the phrase ‘the legend killer,’” said Piper, who considers himself to have killed the legends of Bruno Sammartino and André the Giant. “He gets a grade A for plagiarism.”
Orton’s not so bad when it comes to his ring skills either, according to the Rowdy Scot.
“In fighting him and being in the ring with him, there is no doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with,” Piper confessed. “He has not only a great amateur background, but he’s also had his father and grandfather teach him the ins and outs of the pro wrestling world since he’s been raised, so he’s got a huge jump on everybody else.”
The Hall of Famer didn’t expect Orton to be such a high caliber opponent and gave him credit for getting one up on him. But he did say the youngster made one critical mistake when killing his legend.
“If I’m still alive, I’m not dead,” he said. “The first rule of fighting is never underestimate your opponent, and the mistake he made was he didn’t finish me off. I will be looming, I’m not out of the ring yet.”