WWE legend Macho Man Randy Savage has died at the age of 58. According to celebrity news website TMZ (and other sources) Savage (real name Randy Poffo) died in a car accident in Tampa, Florida. His brother Lanny (known as The Genius in wrestling circles) told TMZ that Randy had suffered a heart attack whilst at the wheel of his jeep.
Police reports are saying that savage veered across the central reservation of the motorway and his vehicle collided head on with a tree. Savage and his wife Lynn (his passenger) were both wearing their seatbelts and police are stating that they do not think alcohol or any other substance was to blame. Savage was pronounced dead today at the Largo Medical Centre.
Randy Savage was a real hero to countless wrestling fans in the 1980s-1990s, his (at the time futuristic) highflying style and fast—paced matches were the stuff of legend.
His WWE tenure saw Savage net himself WWE Intercontinental and Heavyweight gold. Many consider his Wrestlemania 3 match with Ricky Steamboat to be one of the best ever in the business. Savage also had some superb matches with Hulk Hogan (both as tag team partner and foe), Wrestlemania 4’s World Title tournament and Savage’s bouts with The Ultimate Warrior and Ric Flair are also worth checking out.
After his WWE success Savage like many wrestlers jumped ship to WCW, there he fared pretty well amongst th eoften egotistical NWO storylines and big name hitters, netting a few more World Titles to add to his collection. His last appearance in the ring was for TNA in 2004, by then however he was a shadow of his former self.
Frustratingly savage has never been inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, there are many rumours and speculations surrounding that decision, however perhaps now we will never know why such a monumental person In the WWE’s success was exclusion was decided upon.
Maybe now under these sad circumstances we will at long last see The Macho Man receive the acknowledgement he deserves for all that he gave to the world of wrestling during his life.
Our thoughts go out to his family in this sad time.
By Phil Allely
