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| NWA pays tribute to a legend. |
Without question, Randy Savage was my first favorite wrestler. I started watching the WWF regularly after WrestleMania IV because he was champion. Aside from being the single most masculine name in wrestling, Randy Macho Man Savage was the total package in 1988 to me. He was holding the highest honor in the WWF, he was accompanied by the most beautiful girl in the WWF, and he was friends with the most popular wrestler in the WWF.
Earlier this month, I spent money that I didn't readily have on the Macho Madness DVD and yesterday, I finished the last disc. His matches (especially the 1992 match with Shawn Michaels) hold up very well today. I remembered being in awe of him as champion in 1992, since it seemed so improbable at the time to retire at one WrestleMania and then to win the championship at the next one, but watching back yesterday, I realized what a crowning achievement it was for him to regain the WWF championship.
He had four more reigns in WCW, and only Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair ever beat him for the championship; as if a sure indication that those two men were the only ones capable of it.
After I grew out my beard in 2007, I kept referencing pictures of Randy Savage to determine was what acceptable and what was not. This reference point eventually evolved into a Halloween costume in 2008. And I'd put my vocal impressions against anyone. His voice was another trademark that separated Savage from the rest of the roster, which was a secret to his success. He was the only man who had a female manager in the WWF. He had the most outlandish costumes, and he was also the first to rotate and change his attire frequently. Numerous things about Randy Macho Man Savage made him stand out, even to the casual viewers, and once you took notice, he had the talent & proficiency to impress.
My top 5 favorite Randy Savage matches--
5. Randy Macho Man Savage versus Ted DiBiase (March 1988)... A week or two before WrestleMania IV, I looked over the brackets at a friend's house and I said "I want Steamboat or Savage to win, even though I know they won't." The WWF was Hulk Hogan's territory, period. Or so I thought. As it turned out, Hulk Hogan was cheated out of the championship, but he did the next best thing and helped his best friend win the championship. Hulkster's popularity was unquestioned at the time, and the WWF faced a difficult task of transitioning the fans onto a new champion. I thought the way this shift was handled was perfect, albeit most historians consider it a failure. In my opinion, if Randy Savage could not fill Hogan's spot and retain the fans in 1988, then it simply could not be done. The tournament set-up was perfect to launch Savage's reign, and this final match tied all the loose ends together (even if the issues between parties weren't exactly resolved).
4. Ric Flair versus Randy Macho Man Savage (April 1992)... Recently I learned that this program was Randy Savage's idea. It helped Vince McMahon out of a booking stalement, and it was better than the next best option. That really proved Savage's aptitude for the business thoroughly, and it is sad that he left the business when he was an invaluable resource of unlimited knowledge (albeit, as Dusty Rhodes pointed out, he was the only major star of the '80s to walk away). The match itself was tremendous to watch unfold, and Savage's cheating to win (despite being a face) was a great nod to the history of both characters.
3. Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan vs. Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant (August 1988)... As soon as WrestleMania IV ended, this match was obligatory. The build-up for this encounter was handled perfectly, especially with Jesse The Body Ventura as a huge X factor in the equation (albeit, painfully slow by today's standards). The match played out in such a fashion that every question was resolved, suitably bringing an end to the program between Savage and Ted DiBiase.
2. Randy Macho King Savage versus Ultimate Warrior (March 1991)... This match was billed as a retirement match at a time where neither man was ready to retire. The characters of both men were in stark contrast, complete with their own personal baggage to boot. The highlight of the match was the repetition of finishers, first from Savage and then from Warrior which ended the match, but the most memorable moment came in the immediate aftermath when Randy Savage & Ms. Elizabeth reunited.
1. Tito Santana versus Randy Macho Man Savage (February 1986)... This match is my all-time favorite despite its airing prior to my watching wrestling, which is a credit to the storytelling in the match itself. You did not need much knowledge about either man to enjoy the match, albeit it helped. The result was one of the best see-saw match-ups in which both men relied on their own ring smarts to defeat the other. In the end, the dastardly Randy Savage dug deep (and stooped very low) to win his first WWF championship.
