When you think of Macho Man Randy Savage in the world of professional wrestling, you mainly revisit his work in the World Wrestling Federation, especially his WrestleMania III match with Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat for the Intercontinental Championship, winning two WWF Championships, his “Match Made In Heaven” with Miss Elizabeth at SummerSlam 1991, and his stellar color commentary during his early days with Monday Night Raw.
To me, his WCW work is completely under the radar.
A four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Savage’s work with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the New World Order, Diamond Dallas Page, and Lex Luger stand on its own. Contrary to what people may think, the Macho Man was one of the rare veterans who came to play and left it all out there every night.
People forget that at Spring Stampede on April 19, 1998, during his match with Sting, Savage tore his ACL. In spite of that, with a little help from Kevin Nash, he STILL won the match and the WCW World Title. He went on to wrestle another TWO MONTHS with the injury.
After rehabbing for almost a year, Savage returned to WCW as a full-time competitor. (WRITER’S NOTE: The Macho Man did appear on the night after Starrcade 1998, taking out the Giant and helping Ric Flair become WCW President, but he wasn’t medically cleared.) However, he made a giant shift in character. Goodbye went the outrageous outfits and in came the motorcycle hats and leather pants.
Randy Savage completely reworked his character for the modern day, a move that is still completely underrated almost thirty years later. In spite of it being the start of WCW’s downturn in the Summer of 1999, Savage had a fresh coat of paint. He turned himself up to infinity and completely engulfed himself in being the intense, controlling psychopath you saw glimpses of throughout his career.
He also put together “Team Savage”, three women with a unique vibe individually: Mona, the “Queen of WCW”, complete with evening gown, Madusa, the absolute bad-ass who looked like a million bucks, and Gorgeous George, Macho’s main squeeze and sultry valet. For a short time, he even had Sid Vicious, who made his return in May 1999, as his muscle.
After holding the WCW World Championship for 24 hours in July, Savage moved onto a rivalry with NBA rebounding great, and incredibly eccentric, Dennis Rodman, which culminated at Road Wild in a wild Hardcore match on August 14, 1999 with the Macho Man winning.
However, that would be his last WCW match. Over two months later, on October 25, 1999, the night after Halloween Havoc, Savage and Gorgeous George would come out to the ring, bedazzled and fresh with their attire. In a shocking moment, the Macho Man would QUIT the promotion due to overall frustrations. WCW fans, including myself, thought that would be it for the legendary four-time WCW World Champion.
Thankfully, we had one final appearance to remember him by.
May 3, 2000’s edition of WCW Thunder.
Throughout the night, the battle between the Millionaires Club and the New Blood was at fever pitch. Brawling throughout the building and interference within matches were the norm. Both sides’ hatred of one another was at a fever pitch. The crescendo needed to be reached.
Ric Flair, in a heated discussion with Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo, demanded a battle royal between the warring faction, with the last man standing receiving a title shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, held by David Arquette. The New Blood leaders accepted.
Pure bedlam ensued minutes later. Eliminations galore, the New Blood had Diamond Dallas Page and “the Nature Boy” all to themselves. Destruction was on their mind.
Someone had other ideas.
A limo was parked outside in the parking lot for most of Thunder, with license plates reading “F.U.N.B.”. (I think you know what this means.) Just as the New Blood were going to destroy Page and Flair, a man with leather pants vacated the automobile. The camera focused on his feet, the individual began walking with a purpose towards the arena.
Suddenly, the PA system hit with a familiar theme, and THE MACHO MAN made his way out to a thunderous ovation!
Savage began throwing fists with reckless abandon. In a five second span, he eliminated PerfectShawn Stasiak, the Wall, and Mike Awesome. Cruiserweight Champion Chris Candido tried to Pearl Harbor the Macho Man, but to no avail. Following a patented Savage snap haymaker, Candido found himself tossed out of the squared circle like yesterday’s news. Savage then eliminated himself from the match and went right back to work on Candido.
If not for Randy Savage, Ric Flair would not have survived to the end. Following Bret “Hit Man” Hart, still dealing with post-concussion syndrome, leveling Hulk Hogan with a chair, and Mr. Russo accidentally leveling Shane Douglas with a baseball bat while trapped in a figure-four leglock, Flair cracked a Mark McGwire home-run swing to “the Franchise’s” midsection, flipping him out of the ring, and winning the battle royal to a raucous ovation!
Savage then went to check on the Hulkster, who went through a table with Kidman following a Bischoff bat-shot to the back. The one-time “Mega Powers” looked at each other and pointed.
This wild scene was the Macho Man’s last appearance in World Championship Wrestling.
In the midst of chaos, I personally think there was no better way for the Macho Man to go out. For someone that thrived on intensity, this was Randy Savage’s wheelhouse. For us die-hard WCW fans, there could have been a more gracious way to leave. But, looking back, this was awesome.
Thank you, Macho Man.
Bankie Bruce
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