“Macho Man” Randy Savage
RIP 1952-2011
Waking up to see the news that the world has lost “Macho Man” Randy Savage was, admittedly, a bit of a shock. Even in the business of professional wrestling, which has become so inundated with continuous and needless young deaths, learning of Savage’s passing made me take a step back. Now, I haven’t been much of a wrestling fan the past decade or so; it just isn’t really what I grew up with anymore. But “Mach” was part of my childhood. The first WWF show I ever saw (after reading about them in magazines such as PWI) was a tape of Wrestlemania 2 shortly after its release. Throughout the years, Savage was there in some form or fashion all the way up through the time I finally gave up on the biz.
And in a business where every single person on the roster is called a “superstar,” Randy Savage was more. I was never his biggest fan, but good lord was he entertaining. His feuds with George “The Animal” Steele and Ricky Steamboat kept me entertained. The retirement match and reunion with Elizabeth still makes me tear up a tad sometimes when I watch it late at night on Youtube. His feud with Diamond Dallas Page was probably the best thing to come out of the first NWO run.
Randy did things his way all the way through. The persona he developed early on in his father Angelo’s promotion was a unique and classic one that has stood the test of time, and remains an instantly recognizable one. Thanks to his work outside of the ring (a cameo as Bonesaw McGraw in Spider-Man, the Slim Jim ads, countless voice roles in animated shows), his voice and catchphrases are known across the country, if not the world.
It’s funny. Just last night I came across an otherwise incredibly-stupid 2000-era WCW battle royale that I believe served as Savage’s final return and exit from the promotion. Even with just about every major roster member involved, it was Savage’s entrance that popped the crowd, which was otherwise very visibly bored with Hogan, Flair and the rest goofing around in the ring.
Randy never had that moment we were all hoping for, when he would return to the WWE at least long enough to be inducted into their Hall of Fame. It would have been a bit of closure on many fronts, at least in fans’ eyes. Instead, we all sit here wondering why it was the way it was all this time.
Thank you, Randy, for your decades of hard work and for giving us a character that we could cheer on at our loudest or boo with the most venomous seething. You were unique; even in a business that only works because every character is unique, you were light years above many. Thank you for entertaining all of us. You will be missed.