Randy "Macho Man" Savage Dies

[filkertom]

Shock and sadness. Randall Poffo, who became one of wrestling's biggest stars as "The Macho Man", Randy Savage, has been killed in an auto wreck apparently caused by a heart attack. He was 58. His wife Lynn was in the car as well, but only suffered minor injuries.

Savage was one of those who revolutionized pro wrestling in the 1980s. He was a phenomenal talent, like Flair, Piper, Jericho, The Rock, and Hennig -- he could do it all in the ring (with considerably more speed and athleticism than most), he was great on the mic, and he had a fantastic gimmick, which was really sold by the presence of his wife, the lovely Miss Elizabeth.

There was a story just the other day at Pro Wrestling Torch, discussing an interview with Randy's brother "Leapin'" Lanny Poffo, wherein Lanny said he didn't think Randy would ever get in the ring again. Certainly he never envisioned this.

Farewell, Macho Man. You were truly one of the all-time greats. Thank you for the years of entertainment, and may your troubled soul finally be at peace.

ETA: A small smile, thanks to the editorial standards of the New York Times. A photo caption reads:

Mr. Savage put Hulk Hogan in a headlock in 1989.

Just love that -- "Mr. Savage". And I recall a few more headlocks before and after that one. But anyway.

Comments

[jenrose]

Heads up... this was kind of buried.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/05/19/conaway.coma/

Zack, from Bab 5, is in a coma from an overdose.

[bonnie-rocks.livejournal.com]

Sadness :( He was one of my *favorite* wrestlers when I was a kid.

Now I have to dig up the Space Ghost Coast to Coast episode where he interviews the Macho Man.

~*::Meow::*~

[kshandra]

D'you suppose, for all their relationship had been long since over, Elizabeth met him at the Gates of Beyond, arms crossed and tapping her foot? (Both of them gone before their time....)

[tcgtrf.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a surprise and a shame. The entire promo with Hulk and him fighting over Miss Elizabeth was one of my favorites from that period.

It's a tough business. We saw Lex Lugar at one of his very rare appearances and he couldn't even climb the steps to the ring--he had a huge bodyguard, I guess to keep aggressive drunks away from him before they hurt him. Sad, really, although he was funny and friendly.

Terry Funk, on the other hand, seemed to be in quite good shape and much taller in person than he looked in the ring.

Mick Foley's talked a lot about the amount of damage that wrestlers do to themselves and each other in order to entertain. They deserve a lot of respect and kudos for putting themselves out there so that we can watch them fly, punch, and grapple.

I'll miss you, Randy. Say hi to my dad--he was a big, big fan.

Tom Trumpinski

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

I saw this elsewhere just a bit ago & was really sad. I grew up with the larger than life guys like him & Hulk entertaining me. A piece of my youth is gone.

I'm gonna snap in to a Slim Jim for you, Randy.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Just saw this, and though you'd like it: Least I Could Do 2011-05-21

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Yep, saw it. Sohmer and Lar rock.