Randall Mario Poffo -- November 1952 - May 2011
By now, it's all over the news and internet -- "Macho Man" Randy Savage died from a heart attack while driving with his wife in Florida. According to some reports, he lost consciousness and his Jeep careened through the median, into opposing traffic. Randy's wife, Lynn, took the wheel to avoid hitting a motorcyclist and crashed into a tree. She suffered minor injuries, but Savage was not so fortunate. It was believed that he was already gone before the crash.
There are plenty of articles and stories about what happened, and me just repeating the facts would just sound like second-hand news. No, I'm not here to report on his death. I'm here to remember his accomplishments and his effect on an impressionable young boy growing up in suburban Missouri.
I grew up watching pro wrestling at a young age; my dad watched it, my cousin down the street watched it, even my grandmother watched it. There were many larger than life characters who electrified the ring: Hogan, Piper, Snuka, the Ultimate Warrior. But few superstars were as flashy, outspoken, or hard working as Randy Savage. Inside or outside the ring, he left an impression. When his entrance music, the classic "Pomp and Circumstance" played, you knew you were about to see a great performer. Although he has won the World Wrestling Federation's World Championship Belt, he is more commonly considered the greatest Intercontinental Champion in WWF history.
In a time when wrestlers, such as Hulk Hogan, captured the attention of the fans, Randy Savage still found great success and secured himself as a wrestling legend (Take Wrestlemania III, for instance; while the battle between Hogan and Andre the Giant was extremely hyped, Savage's clash with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat is still considered one of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history). The Macho Man also had some great feuds with other wrestling legends, like Ric Flair, the Ultimate Warrior, and, of course, the Hulkster.
Not only was the Macho Man a consummate performer in the ring, he could cut a promo like few could. With his gravelly voice, outlandish style, and, of course, his machismo, he earned the cheers and jeers of wrestling fans. Whether he played a face or a heel, he made sure you never forgot him. His dynamic personality lit up arenas for many years; so much that he became just as famous as the spokesman for Slim Jim snacks (if you don't know the famous line, by now, I'm not telling you), as well as his roles in TV shows and movies, such as wrestler Bone Saw McGraw in Spider-Man.
Strangely enough, Randy Poffo's original dream wasn't pro wrestling. He tried to get into Major League Baseball. At one time, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the Gulf Coast Minor League. Unfortunately, this dream was broken and his destiny of a second generation wrestler was revealed (his father, Angelo Poffo, was a pro wrestler and a situp record holder). The rest is pro wrestling history.
After his 30-year career, he withdrew from pro wrestling, but he kept his macho persona. Recently, he seemed to be making a new life for himself, marrying Barbara Lynn Payne last year. They celebrated their first anniversary only a few weeks ago on May 10, which makes Randy's death all the more tragic.
Randy and his new wife, Lynn, at their wedding in 2010.
Since his death, many great wrestlers have spoken out about the legacy that the Macho Man left in professional wrestling, including Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and Roddy Piper. One of the most touching was a poem from former TNA wrestler Jay Lethal (Savage was one of his idols who he imitated with his "Black Machismo" persona).
This Monday, I watched Monday Night Raw, hoping they would show some sort of tribute for the man who gave so much to help make the WWE the greatest wrestling promotion in the 1980s. While there has been said to be some rancor between Vince McMahon and Randy Savage, the 2009 release of the Macho Madness DVD has shown that the company recognizes the legacy of this amazing performer. And, indeed, the live broadcast of Raw did air a tribute to Randy Savage, which, afterward, the crowd was chanting "one more match" and I did tear up a bit.
I wish the best for Randy's family, his brother, and his wife. The world has lost one of the greatest, most crowd pleasing pro wrestlers in history. Rest in peace, Mr. Poffo. As you used to say, "Space is the place and the sky's the limit."
Video courtesy of WWEFanNation on YouTube.
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