10 Legendary pro wrestlers who were never WWE World champion

#10 Rowdy Roddy Piper

Rowdy Roddy Piper

Real Name: Richard Toombs

Debut: 1975

Career Accolades: Piper was trained to be a black belt in Judo by Gene Lebell and was a golden gloves boxer before transitioning to pro wrestling. He spent much of his early career in the NWA, where he would capture the United States championship, the world tag team championship, and the Light Heavyweight championship, in addition to dozens of other regional titles.

In the WWE, he is recognized as an Intercontinental champion and a World Tag Team champion with Ric Flair, a reign which occurred after both men were largely retired from active wrestling.

Rowdy Roddy Piper was a pro wrestler, boxer, stuntman, and actor whose charisma and popularity crossed over into mainstream acceptance. He was crucial to the rise of the WWE during the Rock N Wrestling connection era, and possibly made Hulk Hogan a major star by virtue of being so terribly villainous.

Despite his many accolades over his long career, he never wore the WWE's big belt.

Why he never wore the WWE's big belt: Roddy Piper was a heel during a babyface dominated era, and of course, Hogan held the belt for over five years. In addition, Piper's numerous injuries and double hip replacements kept him from a full-time schedule, so he usually wrestled as a special attraction.