Wrestler Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage Killed In Car Crash
The professional wrestler known as Randy “Macho Man” Savage has died in a car crash in Florida.
The Florida Highway Patrol says in a crash report that the 58-year-old former wrestler – whose legal name is Randy Mario Poffo – was driving a Jeep Wrangler when he lost control in Pinellas County around 9:25 a.m. The Jeep veered over the raised concrete median divider, crossed over the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with a tree.
Police say he may have suffered a “medical event” before the accident, but the report did not elaborate, and it said officials would need to perform an autopsy to know for sure. TMZ interviewed Savage’s brother, Lanny Poffo, who said Savage suffered a heart attack before crashing his vehicle.
The report confirms that the driver was the pro wrestler known as Randy Savage. TMZ reported that Savage’s wife of one year, Lynn, was a passenger in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries.
Macho Man began wrestling in the WWF in 1985 and became a superstar with his trademark catchphrase “Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh.”
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Macho Man’s Stats Alias:Macho Man, Macho King Height:6-foot-2 Weight:237 lbs. From:Sarasota, Fla. Signature Move:Elbow drop off the top rope Trained By:Angelo Poffo Career Highlights:WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Champion, married Miss Elizabeth at SummerSlam 1991
Macho Man’s WWE Bio There has never been a Superstar more colorful than “Macho Man” Randy Savage. His style – perfectly punctuated by his entrance music, “Pomp and Circumstance” – has only been outshined by his performance in the ring, which helped him to capture two WWE Championships, two World Heavyweight Championships, and a 14-month reign as Intercontinental Champion.
Joining WWE in June of 1985, Macho Man’s impact was such that his services were in demand by the various managers in WWE at that time. But Savage introduced a young woman named Elizabeth to accompany him to the ring and manage him. With the First Lady of Wrestling, Miss Elizabeth, as his manager, Savage’s first notoriety was reaching the finals of a one-night tournament, as part of the Wrestling Classic pay per view event in November, 1985. The following February, after a rivalry with then-Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana that spanned across several months, Macho Man defeated the WWE Legend to earn his first taste of gold.
Savage became a WrestleMania staple early on, making his Greatest Spectacle of Them All debut at WrestleMania 2, when he defended his title against the intimidating and unpredictable George “The Animal” Steele. He would hold the Intercontinental Championship until WrestleMania III, when he fell short to Ricky Steamboat in what is widely regarded by many as one the most thrilling contests in WWE history.
Success continued to coincide with Macho Man in 1988, when he won the King of the Ring tournament at WrestleMania IV to earn his first WWE Championship. During his reign as champion, he and Hulk Hogan formed one of the most formidable tandems to ever step foot in a ring. The Mega Powers were virtually unstoppable by anyone … except for themselves. A misunderstanding and a touch of jealousy sent Savage into a rage at NBC’s The Main Event, leading him to attack his tag team partner. The two took their differences to the ring at WrestleMania V, when Hogan won back the WWE Championship.
Savage went on to dub himself “Macho King” after defeating “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan for the King of the Ring title in 1989. He bore a scepter and crown, and called on Sensational Sherri to replace Elizabeth as his manager. He haunted then-WWE Champion Ultimate Warrior with a series of attacks in response to being denied a title opportunity, which led to a Career-Ending Match at WrestleMania VII. When Savage was pinned, Sherri attacked him as he lay helpless. Fortunately, Elizabeth was in the audience and rushed to his aid, sparking arguably the most romantic moment the WWE Universe had ever witnessed, when Savage hoisted her on his shoulders.
WrestleMania VII’s romance may have been topped at SummerSlam 1991, but that was once again by WWE’s favorite couple. The “Match Made in Heaven” saw Savage marry Elizabeth during a special in-ring ceremony.
Macho Man would return to the ring shortly after, and he eventually earned an opportunity for a second reign as WWE Champion at WrestleMania VIII against Ric Flair. Savage was successful in earning the perfect accessory to match his golden attire, and he also put to rest rumors that Flair started, claiming he and Elizabeth were having an affair. After his run as champion, Macho Man sat next to Mr. McMahon and served as color commentator for the premiere season of Monday Night Raw in 1993.
In 1995, Savage won his first World Heavyweight Title, winning WCW’s first-ever 60-Man Three-Ring Battle Royal. He would lose the gold a month later to past and present rival Flair, only to win it back from him for a second reign in early 1996.
Four years later, after a ring career that spanned back to 1973, Savage left the squared circle and left a style, a staggering list of accomplishments and legacy, which can only be described in two words: “Oooh, yeah!”
