Kevin Marshall's America
Savage at Wrestlemania 7, April 1991.
TMZ is reporting that Randy Savage has died.
They confirmed the news with Lanny Poffo, his younger brother who was better known to WWF fans as wrestler and manager “The Genius.” He told TMZ that Savage, real name Randy Poffo, was driving his car at around 10:00am when he suffered a heart ailment and lost control of his vehicle.
Early reports indicate that Savage was driving with his wife Lynn when he crossed a concrete median and crept into oncoming traffic. The car then collided head-on with a nearby tree. Savage sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he died. His wife escaped with what are only described as minor injuries.
He was born Randy Poffo, the eldest of two sons to Judy and Angelo Poffo. Angelo himself was a professional wrestler who gained notoriety in several territories throughout the fifties and sixties. His son Randy followed his father’s footsteps into the industry, though it became wildly different – and far more dangerous – under an expansive effort undertaken by WWF (now WWE) owner Vince McMahon in the 1980s.
He first gained prominence in Memphis, competing for Jerry Lawler’s Continental Wrestling Association before being culled by the expanding WWF in 1985. He quickly became a star for his flashy ring garb, aggressive personality, and trademark strained growl. Along with real-life wife Elizabeth Hulette, who passed away from a drug overdose in 2003, he became the biggest name in wrestling that wasn’t Hulk Hogan throughout the late eighties and well into the nineties.
Savage retired from professional wrestling while in his 40s, only making occasional appearances at autograph signings and for smaller promotions not affiliated with WWE. He had been recently used by WWE for an ad promoting their “legends” action figure line, where he pitched the “Macho Man” figure and poked fun at his own aging features and gray beard.
I grew up a fan of professional wrestling and especially Randy Savage. He was a personal favorite amongst me and my friends, who didn’t take as much to the Hulk Hogan character that demanded we say our prayers and take our vitamins. Perhaps it was that buck of authoritarian figures that led us to the Macho Man, whose only commandment was that we “dig it.”
Sad news.
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18 Responses to Randy “Macho Man” Savage dead at 58
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that’s really unfortunate. definitely the most entertaining wrestler of all time.
that sucks, ill never be the same eating a slim jim now…
So crazy.
Always sad when someone you spent so much time watching as a youngster dies. Very sad.
You should change part of the story, Elizabeth was his ex wife who died from drugs/alcohol when she was living with Lex Luger.
ALso should ad he was the wrestler in Spiderman, the first movie
Norm – that is correct. She was his wife at the time of his WWF stay, but they got a divorce.
I’m taking this worse than I took Hennig. Very sad day…
How good was Randy Savage? He had the same feud with Ric Flair in both the WWF and the WCW – based around Ric Flair having an affair with Elizabeth – and both times that feud seemed as fresh and as exciting as anything. And it’s a crying shame that the WWE never felt fit to put him in the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. Do the right thing, Vince McMahon. Do the right thing.
Chuck - I heard rumblings last month that the idea was to induct him next year as the requisite “hometown” inductee, since Wrestlemania (and concordantly the HoF ceremony) would be in Florida. Either way it’ll definitely happen now.
You’re totally right, by the way. Both those feuds were freaking great. Savage was one of those rare performers that gave bookers very little work to do. He’d go out, give a couple interviews, and no matter what the circumstances the program would be red hot. He even made the goofy “King” gimmick, which had always been a bit of a mid-card joke, into a money program.
One of my favorite entrance themes. I mean, it takes a special dude to make Pomp and Circumstance sound bad-ass. Ooohhhh Yeeeaaahhh!
The WWE often times treats their wrestlers like they can just be traded in and forgotten after a certain point. These men destroy their bodies and often die too young with little to no thanks from the industry. It’s sad because the fans really do get attached and to see them go the way they do often times breaks my heart.
WOW, no effin way what a sad day
Chuck/Kev – I hope Kevin’s right. Recent developments, mainly Savage’s involvement with the release of the WWE All Stars Video Game at least establish that a relationship is there between he and Vince. But (I’m sure Kevin has heard this) the reason he has been kept out of the Hall of Fame has become a tale of internet/literary ridiculousness. The story is that Savage took Stephanie’s virginity, and has been published in a couple of the wrestler autobiographies.
You ask me…that shouldn’t have kept him out of the hall of fame this long, but a posthumous induction would be appropriate ASAP.
re: the Steph thing. That’s an urban legend that’s unfortunately been propagated by others in the industry. I don’t buy it for a second. It also doesn’t jive with his WWF timeline: he was with them until ’95 and only left because he got more money from Ted Turner to go to WCW.
Perplexes me that this is such a big “sports” story. You’d think he was a Kardashian for gosh sake.
Relating to actual sport, I think the irony would be that all of Lance Armstrong’s former teammates are now calling him out. Hincapie has also recently come forward about Lance doping.
Sorry, WWF’ers all remind me of the juice.
P.S. If you’re a grown adult, and you’re wearing a WWF T-Shirt, you should have a hat on that states “I’m a douche”.
deadspin has a regular feature on deceased wrestlers. Its really depressing to see how tough their lives are, especially once their abilities fade and they can no longer bring in the crowds. Watching Hulk Hogan and Macho Man turn from best friends into heated rivals was a cornerstone of my childhood.
u2, seems as if you should be the person wearing the Summers Eve headwear.
I really don’t watch WWE much anymore. I watched it a bit when The Rock came back. And I watch it from time to time on those sleepless nights. But during highschool, WWF and WCW were the shows to watch on TV. I still get giddy just thinking about all those late nights switching back and forth between Monday Night Raw on USA and WCW Nitro on TNT.
Kev – in response to comment 14 – Maybe Macho Man came back at a house show to do the deed. Kidding…I am with you, and even implied the points you clarified by adding “internet/literary ridiculousness” to my orig comment.