“Macho Man” Randy Savage: 1952-2011
“Macho Man” Randy Savage, one of pro wrestling’s biggest stars in the 80’s and 90’s, has passed away. Savage, born Randall Poffo in Columbus, OH, was born into a wrestling family as the son of wrestler Angelo Poffo and brother of “The Genius” Lanny Poffo. He was 58.
Savage was a two-time WWF World Heavyweight champion, defeating “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase for the vacant title in the main event of WrestleMania IV in 1988, and defeating “Nature Boy” Ric Flair at 1992’s WrestleMania VIII. He was also a four-time WCW World Heavyweight champion, winning the title for the first time in 1995’s World War 3 main event, and subsequent reigns against Flair, Sting, and Kevin Nash. Savage was also a former WWF Intercontinental champion, defeating Tito Santana in Boston in 1986. Savage’s Intercontinental title loss to Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat at Wrestlemania III, the culmination of a six-month feud, is considered one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time.
Savage also engaged in a high-profile feud with The Honky Tonk Man, one that turned the villainous “Macho Man” into a fan favorite and launched an alliance with Hulk Hogan. During Savage’s first WWF World title reign, he and Hogan competed as a tag team in the main event of the inaugural Summerslam event in 1988, defeating DiBiase and Andre The Giant, the Megabucks. Savage turned on Hogan on NBC’s The Main Event in 1989, leading to Savage’s loss to Hogan at Wrestlemania V.
After leaving the WWF in 1994, Savage resurfaced in WCW, where he competed for five years. Apart from his four WCW World title reigns, Savage was also a member of the nWo, the company’s all-encompassing stable of villains. Savage engaged in feuds with Flair, Hogan, Nash, Lex Luger, and Diamond Dallas Page before leaving the company in 1999. Apart from a brief appearance in TNA in 2004, Savage never wrestled again after leaving WCW.
Savage is also remembered for a cameo appearance in 2002’s Spider-Man, playing wrestler Bonesaw McGraw.
In addition to his brother, Savage is survived by his second wife, Barbara. Savage’s first wife was his long-time manager “Miss Elizabeth” Hulette, who Savage divorced in 1992. Hulette passed away in 2003.
Rest in peace, Macho Man.
