Arash Markazi of Sports Illustrated spoke to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Jerry “The King” Lawler over the weekend and both men had some interesting things to say about WrestleMania. You can read the entire piece here. Some highlights:
— “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who wrestled in the main event of the very first WrestleMania, is amazed that WWE’s showcase event is still going strong. “I didn’t believe it would last this long. Even the first WrestleMania wasn’t pretty. Hogan and I didn’t get along and T and I didn’t get along. [Paul] Orndorf and I didn’t get along.” Piper goes on to say that last night was his final WrestleMania match. “No matter how I feel, its time for me to go out there and let people know why I’m Roddy Piper, to let it go,” Piper said before the match. “This WrestleMania XXV is really important because this is the last one for me. It’s so big. I’m going to give you my heart no matter how I feel, I’m going to give everything I got, I don’t care if I get hurt. This one is worth it.
— Jerry “The King” Lawler, who has been with WWE for 16 years, spoke about never getting the chance to wrestle at WrestleMania. “Two years ago, I had a meeting with Vince close to WrestleMania and I said, ‘Vince, I’ve been here since 1993 and I’ve never even wrestled on a WrestleMania.’ He looked at me surprised and said, ‘That’s a travesty.’ He said, ‘We could rush something this year, but this is something big, the King having his first match ever at WrestleMania. Next year, I promise we’re going to do something big.’ Well, that was two years ago.” Lawler was hoping to be a part of the Chris Jericho vs. WWE Legends match, but he was never asked. “I keep thinking any minute, boy, one of these nights we’re going to be announcing what kind of big match we’re going to be in,” Lawler said. “And the next thing you know, WrestleMania comes and goes again and no match for me.”
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