That's My Story and I'm Sticking to it

Last week, one of the greatest to ever step into a ring, Randy Savage, passed away after he was involved in an automobile accident in Tampa, Florida. The entire wrestling world is still reeling from the tragic news as wrestling lost one of its top level performers. Savage was apart of a wrestling family, as both his father, Angelo Poffo and his brother, Lanny Poffo were both wrestlers. Savage started to make a name for himself in the early 1980s in the Memphis territory, where he was often managed by his father, Angelo and during his time there, Savage had many matches with the territory’s top star, Jerry “The King” Lawler. It was in 1985 during Vince McMahon’s national expansion that Savage would get the chance to apply his skills on a bigger stage as he debuted in the World Wrestling Federation and soon became one of the promotion’s main stars. During the “Rock n Wrestling” era of the 80s, Savage was involved in many memorable moments, including stealing the show in front of 93,000 fans at the Pontiac Silver Dome in Detroit in a match with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, which is still talked about today. Savage’s Wrestlemania success would continue in the years that followed as he won the WWF title at Wrestlemania IV, wrestled Hulk Hogan in the main event of Wrestlemania V, and won the WWF title again at Wrestlemania VIII in a match against Ric Flair. These are just a few of the Wrestlemania highlights for the Macho Man, who also wrestled Dusty Rhodes, The Ultimate Warrior, and George Steele on wrestling’s biggest stage during his time in the WWF.

As his career continued, Savage became a spokesman for Slim Jim and his pitch for the product remains one of the most well known in TV history. Savage was also a color commentator during his run in the WWF and was featured on early episodes of Monday Night Raw. After his departure from the WWF, Savage signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1994 and wrestled for the organization for nearly six years before taking time off from the wrestling industry. Despite stepping away from the wrestling industry, Savage did charity work for several organizations in his hometown of Tampa.

Without a doubt, Savage personified intensity and his outrageous interviews in his trademark raspy voice are among the things that helped create the larger than life persona of a pro wrestler for the general population during the 80s. Even though he spent his final years away from the spotlight, he is on the same level of Hulk, Dusty, Flair etc. On behalf of everyone at the site, sincere condolences go to Randy Savage’s friends and family. Randy Savage has passed away, but legends never die.

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