When I first saw Ronda Rousey sporting the trademark shirt of the late WWE legend Roddy Piper I can't help thinking if they are related. They even look somewhat similar. I first thought maybe they where Father and Daughter but after some googling and research, I found out that the two met and became good friends in a Judo Class it seems they both trained under one sensei and at 17 she became the youngest judoka that competed in the 2004 Olympic games in Atlanta. Both Piper and Rousey where trained by Judo legend Gene Lebell. A day before her WWE debut her friend Roddy Piper died and as a tribute she wore Piper's leather jacket and shirt.Similar Bodybuilding Threads: Ronda Rousey is managing a boxer Ronda Rousey to WWE? Ronda Rousey debuts in the WWE ring Ronda Rousey to WWE Ronda Rousey, the most popular female fighter
I am not sure he was related to Rhonda Rousey, but I see that "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was related to another pro wrestler called Bret "The Hitman" Hart and maybe some other wrestler's from the Hart family as well. I always thought Piper was a Scottish wrestler and sometimes wore a kilt, but he is from Canada.
Thanks for the anecdote of Ronda. I didn't know that she was an expert judoka that she even participated in the Olympics. Maybe that's the origin of her trade mark take down and arm bar that won her many fights. It's just sad that Ronda is now in the world of WWE which is a fantasy compared to the UFC which is a reality. Perhaps Ronda was frustrated with her consecutive losses that she decided to quit MMA for good.
Those two names can be really tricky. I didn't een know Piper was dead. RIP.
I actually thought she was her daughter as a result of the name answering that was related but it's obvious that I was wrong. Anyways, thanks for the clarification.
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