I want to pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest ‘artists.’ Randy Savage (real name ‘Randall Mario Poffo’) was a wrestler & not a painter but wrestling is an art form & in this sense Savage was one of the greatest artists to have ever stepped foot in the squared circle.
When my friend phoned me 2 days ago and told me the news, neither of us believed it. Checking the internet wrestling sites we found out it was true, the American wrestler Randy Savage had passed away. The legendary Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage had died following a heart attack while driving his vehicle in Seminole, Florida, he was just 58. Setting aside the heart wrenching news, let me take a moment to remember some of my warmest memories of the man and the wrestler.
Literally one of the most colourful and recognisable figures from the then ‘WWF,’ Savage helped put Vince McMahon’s WWF (now ‘WWE’) on the map during what is now known as the ‘Cartoon Era’ of wrestling in the late 80s and early 90s. The 3 biggest names in the WWF in that era where: Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior & ‘The Macho King’ Randy Savage. His career spanned some 4 decades, debuting in 1973 and although his full time career ended in 1999/2000, in the now defunct WCW, it is his run with the WWF that Savage will most be remembered. Two of the greatest matches I have ever seen on screen, both featured The Macho King vs. The Ultimate Warrior.
The 1st was the ‘retirement’ match between the 2 giants of the squared circle at Wrestlemania VII in 1991. The match drew incredible crowd reaction, with Savage carrying the less technically skilled Warrior to a heated win – a testament to the skill of the Macho Man as a supreme worker. This was an epic duel & after Savage put over the Warrior, fans where treated to the surprise (on screen) reunion of Randy & Miss Elizabeth in the ring. I remember starring in amazement at the TV, watching pictures of people in the audience crying with happiness, wow those 2 where over!
The 2nd encounter was at the momentous Summserlam 1992 at London’s Wembley Stadium. In the first half of the double main event the Macho Man again faced The Warrior. (The second half would feature the late Davey Boy Smith the ‘British Bulldog’ vs. the ‘Hitman’ Bret Hart.) In the electric heat of a warm August night, Wembley Stadium played host to one of the most exciting matches I have ever seen & the crowd went wild for every move. This was a spectacular tour de force by Savage & there was now no doubt in my mind of his supreme athleticism, technical ability & artistry as one of wrestling’s best ever story tellers.
By all accounts in real life Savage was a stand up guy, a bit of a worrier, a thinker and a man who was fiercely protective of his female partners; the on screen ‘paranoia’ he often displayed over Miss Elizabeth (at the time his real life wife) was not that far removed from the real life Savage. Savage was also happy to give his time to younger, up and coming wrestlers & offer them advice about the business.
Savage recently got remarried to his child hood sweet heart and I hope he enjoyed great happiness in the year since they where married. I felt Savage had fallen off the wrestling radar somewhat in the 10 years since he retired, not much was written or spoke about him and it didn’t feel right. I hope now his legacy will be remembered properly and he will finally be revered as one of the all time greats.
My thoughts go to his family & wife during this sad time,
God Bless
Useful Links:
Savage vs. Warrior build up video – Summerslam 1992
Macho Man Randy Savage and what he taught us all
‘Macho Man’ was a true original
Leave a Reply