History Beckons the Macho Man
Has anyone tried watching The WWE recently? Is it me or has it slowly mutated into recruitment propaganda for the Marines? It’s amazing that this thing is still going on! Why are they even trying? There’s nothing in the world that could touch the golden era of the WWF (circa 1985-1990) — not movies, not cartoons, music, comic books, NADA. We fell into a bit of a renaissance with The Rock, Goldberg, Triple H, Stone Cold, et al. But man, the spectacle of the golden age was our generation’s Vaudeville. This was EPIC drama with Meth-addled Barbers, Loud mouthed Scotsmen, Weasels, Pimps, Hitmen, Giants, Hacksaws, Hammers, Commies and Snakes! Now that the best is behind us from the House McMahon, it’s evident that one Swatch sunglassed, sequened robe rockin’, feathered haired man stands as the Greatest Wrestler of All Time.
MACHO MAN Randy Savage.
Come join me in this retrospective in OH YEAH!
Early Years – You can see the impetus of a schtick which will eventually explode into the luminous nebula of Macho Madness!
In my pre-teens, I was partial to Hogan and later Ultimate Warrior — the former being a horrible wrestler with inspiring charisma, the latter being just what a young hessian needed. I loathed Macho Man back in the day!!! That sleazy, scary, abusive, arrogant, rude and crude cretin!!! It would be years until I realized that these very same qualities are what add to his legend of the WWF’s G.O.A.T. Savage owned it all! The charisma, the acrobatics, the gimmick, catch phrase, overall steez, and man oh man, could that dude improv in a promo!
I like to fantasize about Macho snorting a huge rail of coke in the Gold’s Gym locker room with Hogan when he came up with his infamous “OH YEAH!” catchphrase. His Intercontinental Champion era was his finest if you ask me. He jumped the shark as the Macho King with Scary Sheri!
A Goldmine of Macho
It’s no revelation to speak of his rivalry with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat yielding the most amazing WWF match in history. Now, if you were like me you were down with Team Steamboat and those Chinese Stars and Tiger Claws stuck in your backyard tree were indicative of that. But looking back, Steamboat is such a herb!
On the flipside, recognize at Macho’s acrobatic acumen! What a titan! That top rope elbow drop is the Kraken of dopeness!
Macho hammering the bell down on Ricky’s neck is one of the most villainous tactics around…and it’s so great to watch over and over again.
I love that Macho wasn’t concerned with morals or sportmanship. He just showed up to smite Steamboat no matter what! No Remorse! No Regret! I love how The Body lambastes Bruno Sammartino for losing his cool and attacking Macho. This is HIGH DRAMA!!! Doctors, Mrs. The Dragon, and I dunno man, did Ricky study with Stanislavski? That cough sounds just like a crushed larynx.
First Appearance of Miss Elizabeth
But aside from the athleticism, histrionics and cavalier bravado, Macho had the strongest pimp hand around, keeping his manager, real life wife, and Bottom Bitch, Miss Elizabeth in check 24-7-365.
Origin of The Mega Powers
What I so much loved about Macho and Elizabeth’s abusive relationship was how hard she rode for Randy no matter the degradation! Girls, take note from the clip above!
One of the highlights of my life was going to a Marlins game with the First Lady of Wrestling with my Dad and his best friend who was dating her! Afterward, I heard that Macho called up my Dad’s friend and threatened to “rub your face in the gravel!!” True story, actual quote, and one of my favorite things in the world to tell my friends. RIP ELIZABETH!
Macho’s greatest promo ever!
So that’s my case. Macho Man Randy Savage is and always be the greatest WWF Wrestler of all time. Yes indeed, Randall Mario Poffo, history beckons you. It’s an absolute crime that you haven’t been inducted into the WWF hall of fame!
- Cornbluth
February 25th, 2010 at 10:55 am
You have your own resident Mishka fan/ WWE Video producer right here. I’ve been working for the WWE for more than 3 years now, and let me tell you, THIS SHIT STILL MAKES A TON OF MONEY. No matter HOW BAD it gets, even when I dont think I can shake my head anymore, the dollars KEEP rolling in. From DVD’s, to one of the biggest video game franchises in history, to PPV’s, 3 weekly television shows, clothing, live events – the list never ends. you have parents buying their kids all kinds of swag at the shows, and picking up an equal amount of shit for themselves! next time WWE rolls thru MSG go take a look, cuz the place will be sold to the rafters.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I too hated Macho Man as a kid into wrestling. While almost all wrestlers were cocky and arrogant, something about the Macho Man’s shtick just rubbed me the wrong way. But as I got older and especially well after I stopped following wrestling i began to discover the true awesomeness that was the Macho Man (I think it started when he began schilling Slim Jims). I agree, he is the WWF’s G.O.A.T.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:07 am
He hasn’t been inducted into the WWF hall of fame because he’s currently feuding with Vince McMahon.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Actually, it’s because McMahon caught him didling Stephanie McMahon, truthfully-
February 25th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Ultimate Warrior
February 25th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
OH YEAH! Macho Man indeed!
February 25th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
You CANNOT forget about his Debut rap album
February 25th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Man, The Macho Man and Rowdy Roddy Piper were my fave’s back then…. agreed Macho Man vs. Ricky the Dragon was THE greatest match ever!
A good friend of mine used to work at a hotel in downtown Vancouver…… He got the call to go up to a room to deliver room service and who answered the door? Rowdy Roddy Piper! My friend was STOKED! After he brought the food in, and my friend fanned out for a minute, Rowdy asks my friend if he can score him some “nose candy”. In the end he didn’t get him any… even though he could have…… just thought I needed to share that.
Remember Piper’s Pit? My fave is when Rowdy beats the shit out of Super Fly Snuka with coconuts!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Oh yeah the Nose Candy incident happened about 10 years ago.
OOOOOOh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 25th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
his younger brother Leaping Lanny had a way with words too. Savage was a better wrestler than Lanny but Lanny was more of a poet.
There was decent documentary on wrestling with Jake The Snake/Terry Funk/Mankind called Beyond The Mat. Worth a viewing if you come across it.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Awesome post.
rn: Thanks for the heads up on Lanny. Never knew about him – did some quick googling and found this excellent picture of a young Macho Man and his brother.
“In 1978, the Macho Man Randy Savage was the main villain and I was the main babyface,” said Poffo. “We told nobody that we were brothers. Of course, word got out anyway. We were in denial because things were more kayfabe back then.”
With things being as secretive as they were, the Poffo brothers were forbidden from travelling together and if a heel and face were caught in public together, they risked being fired outright.
Every night when the two got back into the ring together, the brotherly bond was definitely there.
“[Randy's] great,” Poffo said. “I just followed along, did everything he wanted and he knew how to make me look good. We had complete cooperation, which you don’t always get everywhere you go.”
February 25th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Macho Man was the answer to a trivia question on an am radio station I use to listen to.l I guessed the it and my brother called in, we won a dual cassette player, we were so excited. I was familiar with all of the WWF hype but without cable vision I was limited to Stampede Wrestling out of Calgary which was really good. The Heart Brothers, The British Bull Dogs, Mukin Singh, all so entertaining.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I always thought his bro Lanny was common knowledge? I just want to add the addendum that Mr. Perfect is a solid 2nd place to Macho. The Perfect Plex is the best finishing move around…better than Jake’s DDT and Sheik’s Camel Clutch!
February 25th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Words cannot express my love for Macho Man Randy Savage. I’m watching my Savage DVDs tonight. Thanks fells.
P.S. – Watch Ring Of Honor. Look em up on Youtube. They carry on the silly goosery that the WWF left behind when Mr. Poffo left for good.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
You beat me to it Cornbluth i was just about to show some love to Mr. Perfect and the perfectplex (indeed the greatest finishing move).
I remember growing up hating macho man too, now i realize it was cuz he wanted me to hate him. AMAZING Promo’s.
I’m on the younger side, so my golden age included: Mr Perfect, Million Dollar Man, Razor Ramone, Jake the Snake, Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, Rick Rude, British Bulldog, Legion of Doom, Tatanka, IRS, The Undertaker and
the GOAT in my opinion…..
Bret ‘ The Hitman’ Hart!