Toombs began wrestling at the age of 15. He was an extremely talented heel in the industry before going face in the World Wrestling Federation around 1987. At the 1992 Royal Rumble, Piper defeated the Mountie for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, but lost it soon after to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania VIII.
Piper was always known for his charismatic attitude and ability to match wits with absolutely anyone, as well as holding a resilience in the ring matched only by a very few. In late 1985-early 1986, he had his own interview segment called "Piper's Pit." It was a segment in WWF where he talked to other superstars. One of his shows featured Jimmy Snuka. On his show, Piper attacked Snuka and nailed him with a coconut.
After the brutal attack, Piper uttered these words, "just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions." Later in 1996, Piper left the WWF for WCW. He appeared at "Halloween Havoc" to "break Hogan's monotony." In the fall of 2000, WCW terminated Piper's contract.
In November 2002, Piper's autobiography, In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy, was released. At Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle, WA, Piper did a run-in during the Hulk Hogan-Vince McMahon bloodbath, and attacked Hogan with a steel pipe.
He brought back "Piper's Pit" on the April 10, 2003 edition of "Smackdown," and smashed a coconut over the head of Rikishi. In June 2003, WWE officially released Piper from his contract.
Piper has acted in several movies through the years. His best-known movie is the 1988 science fiction cult classic They Live.