The earliest memories I treasure as a wrestling fan does date back to the 1980’s, it was a time that sports entertainment captivated both my imagination and interest. In my family watching wrestling was like a tradition, even my grandparents were dedicated viewers. As you may imagine I was pretty much hooked into being an enthusiast from a very young age. The love for the business has hit many bumpy roads as the industry has consistently adapted to change, there have been equally as many moments that reaffirm why my family & I have remained so heavily engrossed in this entertainment platform.
Many fazes have ran through wrestling, perhaps the biggest being Hulkamania when it was unleashed upon the World. Despite the fact that Hulkamania ignited a massive impact that has spanned generations I cannot help but credit my earliest & most fondest memories to the Macho Man Randy Savage. Yes folks as the subject title suggests it is a Macho Man column this week “OOOOOOOOHHHHHH YEAH! IT’S TIME TO ENTER THE DANGER ZONE!”,
Whenever I think back to Randy Savage it’s his gravelly voice always enters my head first & foremost, the way he used it to cut a promo left an impression on you that felt absolutely intense! On many occasions he made comments that made you switch from laughing out loud by an outlandish comment all the way to making you feel genuinely hurt. Randy Savage could play with the crowd’s emotions in a magical fashion whether inside or outside the squared circle, for him it was seemless as he possessed all the tools for the job and knew how to use them for maximum effect,
Another instant mental picture when reflecting back to his prime would of course be the very vibrant dress sense, this larger than life personality knew how to garner all the attention towards him even if it was only for a mere moment. Randy Savage used his characters strengths in unison to draw eyes directly onto him.
Just think who else sounded like the Macho Man?
Who talked like the Macho Man?
Who looked like the Macho Man?
Who dressed like the Macho Man?
Those questions may appear strongly linked and can be fired as two questions instead of four but think closely a moment. The performer he was really named Randy Moffo portrayed so many small & fine details that no one else in the locker-room could ever be seen as remotely similar in any way. What you saw was what you got and that was someone different, a recipe that turned the gimmick into an immersive vacuum that glued fans eyes and fixated them onto their television sets.
Outside the ring Randy brought his own arsenal to the dance which only ever held a small number of rivals that challenged his spotlight which included the Immortal Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior, inside the ring however Randy excelled at level as he could be matched up with anybody on the roster and deliver! One of the most praised wrestling matches of all time at Wrestlemania 3 features the Macho Man facing Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, two years after that and he arguably appeared in one of the most anticipated Wrestlemania main events in history against Hulk Hogan.
Going from Ricky the Dragon Steamboat over to Hulk Hogan is a drastic leap in difference with how the matches are played out, Randy would work at a high level and compliment his opponent regardless of their strengths or weaknesses. In my opinion very few wrestlers truly demonstrate that adaptability these days, and the lackluster performances are credit to the notion something didn’t click and that the chemistry wasn’t there. Very few people ever go above & beyond to cultivate the best result possible, for many years I strongly believe Macho Man brought that dedication to the WWF.
During the build up for Wrestlemania 5 I was tucked well away in the Macho Man’s corner, he is the first ever heel I fell in love with. Regardless how Hulk Hogan pandered to the audience, I viewed Macho Man as an anti hero through the whole situation with Miss Elizabeth and desperately wanted him to leave the ring with the WWF World Championship. I recall watching that infamous promo he conducted with the flashbacks of the whole build up, I get goosebumps watching it every time. Whether you viewed Macho Man as a clear heel or an anti hero like me; there’s no doubt he carried his own weight opposing the magnitude that is Hulkamania.
Whenever the word charismatic is used for Macho Man it always feels like an understatement to me. The way he acted and carried himself just wasted no motion what so ever. As a youngster I thought he entered and left the arena exactly the same way he’d behave during an interview with Gene Okerland. That may sound naive to some people but guess what? I was a young fan at the time and I freaking loved it!
It’s now been over four years since the news of Randy Poffo’s passing struck the wrestling community & mainstream World. We lost a soul that oozed personality, colour, substance and fun inspiration to express ourselves. When superstars like CM Punk pays homage to Macho Man Randy Savage it becomes abundantly clear that his name carries real gravity in the business that has and will continue to inspire the future of the industry. Writing about Randy Savage’s many adventures I may visit someday soon, for now I just wanted to share my appreciation for this awesome person and would love to hear your views and experiences.
Until we meet again thank you for reading and take care.
Daniel over and out!
Recent Comments