6. Piper versus Morton Downey Jr.
Morton Downey Jr. was, in his own way, a performer before his time and a pioneer in so-called “trash television” when he made his way into Piper’s Pit at WrestleMania V. Downey, a “smokers’ rights” activist at the time, thought it wise to blow cigarette smoke into the face of Piper during that segment. That proved to be a mistake, as “Hot Rod” put the cigarette and Downey out with the help of a fire extinguisher. The sad irony here is that Downey would eventually speak out against the dangers of using tobacco products after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Downey passed away from that illness in March 2001.
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