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PUNK & ROSS REMEMBER RODDY PIPER, ESPN COVERS HIS PASSING, A GREAT PIPER'S PIT IN NYC AND MORE

Obviously, the major news of the weekend will be the passing of Roddy Piper. I can't even begin to say how much he meant to me personally. I'm at the Mid-Atlantic Fanfest so first chance I get, I'll be writing about what Roddy meant to me. Dave noted yesterday that without him there wouldn't be a site. Without Piper, I wouldn't have ever become a fan. He was the first wrestler I ever saw and the first I ever loved. I had the chance to meet Roddy a few times and I always thought he was just great in all my dealings with him. I have a lot to write about him because his work is what started me on this crazy adventure and I will always love the guy for it. It's a sad time and my best wishes go out to his family and his friends. He was the best.

As Dave noted, WWE held a ten bell salute at their event last night.

The Mid-Atlantic Legends Fanfest held their Hall of Heroes dinner last night. Jim Cornette opened with some really nice words about Piper and they held a ten bell salute in honor of Roddy and everyone else the industry lost in the last year.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross wrote a piece about Piper's passing FOX Sports at this link.

ESPN covered Piper's passing at this link.

CM Punk, who's career was obviously influenced by Piper's work, wrote the following on Twitter:

When things were simple, he lit my way and gave me purpose. Meeting him was a thrill. His friendship was cherished.His death, heartbreaking.

— Coach (@CMPunk) August 1, 2015

Thanks Hotrod. Rest in Power. pic.twitter.com/OxHDblzMlM

— Coach (@CMPunk) August 1, 2015

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey has dedicated her fight tonight to Piper.

Finally, in November 2013, when my partners and I held the first Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival, we closed the event with Roddy Piper making an unadvertised surprise appearance and doing a Piper's Pit. I'll tell the story of dealing with Piper when I have time to write it, but he was so great to deal with that night and I can't thank Cody Knotts enough for helping us set it up. This was one of my favorite things I've ever been involved with, so if you have the time, I hope you will enjoy it:

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