More NBA News ». More NBA Rumors ». View all NBA Sites. More MLB News ». More MLB Rumors ». View all MLB Sites. More NHL News ». More Puck Prose News ». View all NHL Sites. More Soccer News ». More Playing for 90 News ». View all Soccer Sites. When Savage wrestled Flair for the title, he and Hulette had already separated. While Savage was savoring victory inside the ring, his life was unraveling outside of it.
It was time for a change. Ted Turner was offering massive salaries to wrestling stars for his own promotion, World Championship Wrestling, and there was no bigger star than the Macho Man. Savage accepted an offer from WCW. On Dec. His marriage had failed and he had lost some friends, the ring had always been there for him.
As Savage entered a new locker room for the first time in a decade, a familiar figure was pushing for him behind the scenes.
But when Hulk came to WCW, he wanted to bring in some of the biggest names he could. Despite what was then a relatively tense relationship between the two of them, Hulk was the one who kept after me to reach out to Randy. Hogan lobbied for Savage from the moment he arrived in WCW. Hogan knew that, despite their differences, acquiring Savage would be good for business. Bischoff was ecstatic not only because Savage was able to come to WCW, but also because he brought a very sizable piece of business along with him.
Randy was a smart guy and he knew the dynamic was changing. WCW [which was formed in ] was growing, had a network and we had Ted Turner behind [us]. This was his opportunity for a fresh start and new opportunity. Page did not need a reminder.
Savage had creative control over his character and could choose whether Page won or lost. The Page—Savage feud became one of the top draws of the year. So I called him, but he never answered his phone, so I left a message. I just want to let you know, it meant a lot to me. He was so out far out there with his character. There was something about it I could identify with.
It was funny. Living the character helped him, absolutely it did. Randy still cared an awful lot for her and was a little protective of her. She died at age 42 on May 1, , from an overdose of painkillers and vodka. It was the result of pouring his whole life into his character. Bischoff still fondly recalls his time with Savage. He knows with full certainty that one of his encounters with the Macho Man could not have occurred in any other walk of life. MGM Garden was sold out and we were at the peak of our success at that point.
It was from Savage. This was the part with negotiations where Randy was a little more defensive, where his armor came out. The room service guy comes into the room. This guy looks at Randy, he looks at me, he looks at Randy again, and he looks at me.
The voice, the way he moved, the mannerisms, he just never broke character. I believe he started thinking he was the Macho Man. But that is the way he talked. So does art imitate life or vice versa?
But Randy was special. He lived and breathed the business, just like I did. The business was in his blood. But what was so different about Randy was that voice that he had, that talk that he had, his attitude. That was Randy 24 hours a day. That made it harder for Elizabeth, but being around him so much, she got used to it. For the rest of us, he was the perfect guy to do business with. He never wavered. You knew he was the Macho Man 24 hours a day.
Whether you were walking down the street with him or you were in the ring with him, he was nothing but money. He was always in that business mode and always drawing money. He was a very special person.
By , Savage had finished up his tenure with WCW and all but disappeared from the spotlight. He also reconnected with Barbara Lynn Payne, who had been his sweetheart in The couple wed on May 10, Once Savage retired from the ring, he was at peace away from it. Unlike so many other wrestlers who struggle to leave the mat behind, Savage was at peace outside of the business. He was driving with his wife near Tampa Bay when he suffered a heart attack and his Jeep Wrangler crashed into a tree.
An autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and advanced coronary artery disease. But it wasn't that easy. The issue regarding Savage and the Hall of Fame is complicated. The WWE responded by spoofing its departed superstars with vignettes featuring characters called the Nacho Man and the Huckster. The series of skits played up how Hogan and Savage were old and past their prime. Years later, there was another incident that considerably lessened any chance for reconciliation.
Savage responded with his infamous and distasteful Members Only interview. That interview led to the nasty rumor that Savage had had an affair with Stephanie before leaving for WCW—the reason why he was never welcomed back. Savage was intensely loyal to his family. He never second-guessed his father for starting an outlaw promotion, supporting him every step of the way.
Savage would not work with Lawler unless his father and brother were also hired. And he had made sure to bring his brother to the WWE, too. McMahon actually reached out to Savage in , but neither man had been willing to bend. McMahon wanted to induct only the Macho Man into the Hall of Fame, while Savage refused to go in without his father and his brother. They deserve a little respect, too. And on Sunday, he will finally earns his place among pro wrestling's all-time greats.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso gmail. Leave me out of it-don't invite me-and please don't pay me, because I don't need the thirty pieces of silver. That was the amount Judas Iscariot took to betray Jesus. It's a strange and tense situation. WWE would have to move forward going against Savage's wishes and with the Macho Man's brother unhappy with the situation. As sticky and uncomfortable as the circumstances are, though, WWE must induct Savage.
Chris Jericho was one of many folks who thought of him when word of Ultimate Warrior getting the nod came out. WWE was surprisingly able to smooth things over with Bruno Sammartino and Ultimate Warrior, two wrestlers with their own set of issues with the company. The company failed to do the same with Savage before his passing. That leaves Savage as the omission fans will most often point to when denouncing the legitimacy of the institution. The top stars of the era after his, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, are in as well.
The man who amazed between the ropes and hypnotized on the mic like no one else, the man whose name is still chanted at WWE events today can't remain on the outside of the WWE Hall of Fame. Enjoy our content? Join our newsletter to get the latest in sports news delivered straight to your inbox!
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