Oh YEAH! Macho Man Randy Savage: A Transcendent Star
“Macho Man” Randy Savage: Wrestling Enigma
The “Macho Man” Randy Savage was an enigma in the wrestling world. He was an enigma outside of it, too. “Oh Yeah!”
Randy Savage was that rare breed that eclipsed the area that gave him his fame and notoriety. Savage’s unique and gruff voice was something that people took notice of.
“Macho Man” Was a Household Name
His ability to captivate a crowd with his often off-the-wall promos and interviews was unparalleled. No one could do it quite like Randy Savage could.
At times, he would spout paragraphs and not even really say anything, but you couldn’t help but be entranced by his presence.
Savage rose to fame in the ring, but it was his sponsorship and commercials for the meat snack Slim Jim that truly catapulted him into a household name.
In the 90s, it was impossible to turn on your TV and not see Randy Savage, or even turn on your radio and not hear the Macho Man say:
“Snap into a Slim Jim.”
Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage appearing in ‘Baywatch’.
Randy Savage’s Early Life
Randy Savage was born Randall Mario Poffo on November 15, 1952, in Columbus, Ohio.
His father, Angelo Poffo was also a pro wrestler and an accomplished one at that. Savage was always athletic and played several sports growing up—notably baseball in which he attempted to pursue a pro career.
Savage signed with the St. Louis Cardinals MLB organization right out of high school, but an injury to his throwing arm—he played catcher—eventually ended his pro baseball hopes.
The Macho Man’s Start in Wrestling
The Macho Man debuted in 1973 as “The Spider,” a name that attempted to capitalize on his savage in-ring style.
The moniker was suggested to him by legendary Ole Anderson when Randy Savage was in Georgia Championship Wrestling.
When he later dubbed himself the “Macho Man” the name came from his mother, and his signature gritty voice was a suggestion from his brother, Lanny Poffo, who recommended that Savage imitate the snarl of pro wrestler Pampero Firpo.
In the ‘70s, Randy Savage teamed with his father and brother to launch their promotion in Lexington, Kentucky called International Championship Wrestling.
The promotion struggled and failed to find the success of the larger promotions in the territory, but Randy Savage garnered attention due to his striking in-ring style and over-the-top persona.
By the time the 80s rolled around, Savage had made a name for himself in the southeastern territories. He was widely considered one of the best in the area.
Macho Man in the World Wrestling Federation
The 1980’s
In 1985, Randy Savage joined the World Wrestling Federation. Already a known figure in the southeast, Savage was intent on expanding his reach—and the WWF was the best way to do that.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Jimmy Hart initially competed for the rights to manage Savage, but that ended when Randy brought in Miss Elizabeth to be his manager.
Savage quickly became one of the top heels in the company. “Pomp and Circumstance” blasted through every arena that he entered.
Fans hated to see his controlling and jealous ways with Miss Elizabeth, and Savage would mouth off to and challenge nearly anyone in his light of sight.
He made no qualms about who he had to fight, and his in-ring style captivated the audience.
They loved to boo him but couldn’t resist showing a smile when he belted his patented “Oh yeah!”
Before his first year had come to a close in the WWF, Savage had claimed the Intercontinental Championship. He was a force to be reckoned with and a persona that could not be denied.
Savage held the IC title until 1987 when he lost in a classic match against Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
WrestleMania IV saw Savage claim the top prize in the company and become the WWF World Heavyweight Champion. For a brief period, Macho Man and Hulk Hogan formed the tag team the Mega Powers.
The duo was at the height of their popularity and it was a dream come true for fans all over each time they had a tag team match.
The what-ifs disappeared as Savage and Hogan took town opponents and quickly turned to chatter about which superstar was the better man.
Heading into the 1990s
In 1989, Macho Man returned to his villainous roots when he defeated “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan to become King of the Ring.
He brought in Sensational Sherri to be his manager and even changed his moniker to the “Macho King” to present an extra air of superiority over those around him.
The pairing with Sherri was short-lived. Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunited at WrestleMania VII, and in the summer of 1991 at SummerSlam, the pair were “married” in a ceremony called the “Match Made in Heaven.”
The early 90s saw Savage become a colour commentator for the WWF. He had a short stint in 92’ back in the ring—in which he defeated WWF Champion Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII.
Macho Man was put to ringside duties again until he departed from the company in 1993.
World Championship Wrestling
The Macho Man wrestled for WCW from 1993 to 2000. In 1995, Savage won the first-ever WCW three-ring battle royal to become the WCW Champion.
He won the title again in 1996 after defeating Ric Flair.
When the NWO shook up the wrestling landscape in 1997, Savage was on the receiving end of a beatdown during the initial forming of the group.
Savage would oppose the NWO acting as one of their main rivals. He challenged Hogan for the WCW Championship at Halloween Havoc 96’ but lost when The Giant interfered to help Hogan and join the NWO.
Savage left the company for a short period following the Halloween Havoc.
Savage and the top brass couldn’t reach a new contract agreement. He returned in 1997 and paired with Sting as opposition to the NWO.
They would interrupt shows for the next several weeks until Savage shockingly helped Hogan defeat Roddy Piper and joined the NWO.
Donning black and white, Savage looked to be a main player in the NWO. Savage challenged Sting for the WCW Title after Hogan failed to recapture it. Despite Hogan trying to betray Savage, Kevin Nash helped the Macho Man win his third WCW Title.
Hogan and Savage squared off the next night on Nitro. Hogan seemed to have Savage beaten, but Nash came to Savage’s aid again. Despite having help from Nash, Savage still couldn’t overcome Hogan after Bret Hart interfered to seal the victory for “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.
Macho Man and Nash split from the NWO and formed the NWO Wolfpac. Savage stuck around for a bit longer until he was forced to take time off to recover from injuries and surgeries.
Macho Man returned in late 99 and formed Team Madness. He would go on to win his fourth WCW Championship but lose it the next night to a returning Hulk Hogan.
Savage feuded with Hall and Nash and then Dennis Rodman before exiting the company.
Randy Savage’s most Famous Matches
Boston 1985: Randy Savage vs. Tito Santana
A highly anticipated contest as fans was sure the two would deliver a classic—and they did.
Santana held the advantage for a long duration and seemed to have the Macho Man’s number, but Savage would use an unidentified object, pulled from his trunks, to halt Santana.
Savage would go on to win the match by pinfall and begin his long tenure as Intercontinental Champion.
Halloween Havoc 1997: Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Near the end of his career, a 45-year-old Randy Savage delivered one of his finest performances against fan-favourite DDP.
The two clashed in a Last Man Standing match that cemented DDP as a star with a won’t-quit-heart.
Savage got the victory, and the two succeeded in delivering a great match while propelling DDP to star status.
WrestleMania 1992 VIII: Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair
A match that wasn’t even on the original card, Savage vs. ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair, was intended to be Flair vs. Hogan for the WWF Title. Due to a string of incidents out of the ring, Savage vs. Flair was born.
The two gave the crowd the match of the night, and one of the best matches of either man’s career. Savage would defeat Flair to capture his first WWF World Heavyweight Title.
Macho Man’s Wrestling Style
Savage was a bit of a chameleon, capable of adapting to the style of his opponent to deliver fantastic matches.
At his peak, Savage was as technically sound as they came while mixing in a bit of brawling and high flying into his arsenal.
His matches were never boring, always filled with showboating, and showcased the nitty-gritty wrestling that matches should be.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage: A Transcendent Star
Macho Man’s run in the WWF wasn’t a long one, only wrestling for the company from 1985 to 1993 and being a commentator for the better part of his last few years.
Regardless, the Macho Man cemented himself in the minds of fans.
His time with WCW was almost the same in length, 8 years in WWF as opposed to 7 in WCW, but Macho Man was the Macho Man. People loved to watch him, and he couldn’t be denied.
Despite his age and declining body, Savage never failed to entertain the crowd.
Randy Savage elevated his name and career beyond wrestling. At the time, he was perhaps the most notable performer not named Hulk Hogan, and a lot of it had nothing to do with his actual in-ring ability.
The Macho Man acted in movies and TV shows, most notably the massive blockbuster hit Spider-Man where he played a villainous wrestler named Bone Saw.
Appearances on TV and on the big screen
He had appearances on Baywatch, Mad About You, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Dexter’s Laboratory, Walker, Texas Ranger, King of the Hill, the wrestling-inspired love letter film Ready to Rumble, and many others.
If you were aware of pop culture in the late 80s and throughout the 90s, you knew who “Macho Man” Randy Savage was—even if you didn’t watch wrestling at all.
The true mark of brilliance that Randy Savage had was his distinct persona and personality.
People didn’t have to see him in the ring to know who he was and how he was going to act, but those who did see him in the ring were treated to one of the finest wrestlers the product has ever seen.
