"Macho Man" Randy Savage Tribute Thread
05-22-2014
, 09:24 PM
05-23-2014
, 05:55 PM
Survivor Series '88: Elimination Match - Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Hercules, Koko B. Ware, and Hillbilly Jim vs. Akeem, Big Boss Man, Ted DiBiase, King Haku, and The Red Rooster
Date: November 24, 1988
Link: N/A
Background: The feuds broke down as The Mega Powers vs. The Twin Towers and Ted DiBiase vs. Hercules. The other participants were just random jobbers to fill out the match, because nothing says PPV main event like Red Rooster.
The Match: Savage leads the other three non-Hogan wrestlers to the ring, and then Hogan gets his own separate entrance after all of them are in there. Well that's a lovely way of demeaning Savage.
We start right off by revisiting the Savage/DiBiase feud. Fun little 2-minute exchange between those two until Savage tags Hercules in. Mostly covering eliminations and Savage appearances, but props to Koko for a very nice missile dropkick spot onto the Rooster. He tags Hogan, who sends Rooster into the ropes and catches him with a big boot on the outside. Tag to Savage, who promptly heads up top while Hulk bodyslams the Rooster. Flying elbow from Macho, and we've got our first elimination.
Our next elimination occurs when Akeem fights his way out of a disadvantageous situation with Hillbilly Jim in the corner and staggers him for long enough to hit his Air Africa splash to get a pinfall.
Hogan comes in next to attack Akeem, quickly tags to Savage who lays in some right hands but almost instantly tags Hercules back in. Herc and then Koko get their licks in on Akeem, but after Koko dives in following Akeem into the corner and ends up eating a face full of turnbuckle, he's doomed shortly after when Akeem tags the Boss Man in and Boss Man promptly delivers his sidewalk slam to get a pinfall. Side note: it's staggering how fat Boss Man was in the late 80s and how much better shape he was in a few years later.
Hogan and Boss Man have a prolonged exchange, and after Boss Man hits Hogan with a decent spinebuster, we get a heat segment with all of the heels taking turns getting their licks in on Hogan. Hogan eventually makes the hot tag to Hercules, who within two minutes gets pinned by the Million Dollar Man when Virgil distracts Herc and DiBiase rolls him up from behind with a schoolboy. While DiBiase is jawing with Herc from the ring though, a 4-2 advantage quickly becomes 3-2 when an alert Savage runs up and eliminates DiBiase with a schoolboy of his own.
3-2 goes on for quite some time, and we get another Hogan-in-peril heat segment, which finally ends when Boss Man misses on a splash attempt from the top rope and Hogan is able to make the hot tag to the champ. Shortly after this tag though, Macho finds himself caught in a bearhug by the Boss Man while Slick grabs Miss Elizabeth on the outside. Hogan goes and makes the rescue, clobbering Slick.
As Hogan returns back to the ring, Boss Man goes out and cuffs him to the bottom rope on the outside. Boss Man gets counted out in this process as Akeem and Boss Man double-team Hogan. Akeem then attacks the referee before lowering his big splash on Savage on the inside, and Akeem gets eliminated. We're now at 2-1, with the Mega Powers against Haku. Hogan is handcuffed and unable to help though, and Savage is significantly hobbled as Haku works him over.
Savage, unaware of Hogan's situation, tries twice to get over to tag Hulk in but Hulk is nowhere around. Slick, from the apron, holds Savage up while Haku goes for a crescent kick, but Savage dodges and Slick takes the brunt of the kick. Elizabeth goes up to the fallen slick, recovers the key to Hogan's cuffs from him and gets Hogan loose. Top rope splash by Haku surprisingly hits, but Savage manages to tag out at two. As Haku gripes about the referee's count, Savage manages to tag Hogan in, we get the moves of doom by Hogan, the legdrop, and a three-count. The Mega Powers survive.
Savage is still recovering in the corner from a significant beating in the match as Hogan goes to center ring to pose and celebrate. He gets, to Savage's eyes, inappropriate with Elizabeth again. Basically these three shots in sequential order tell the story:
Unlike at SummerSlam, when Macho gave a quick evil eye and then shook it off and celebrated, he continues being furious at Hogan here, though the announcers never acknowledge it. They just talk up the Mega Powers winning as the show goes off the air.
Result: Mega Powers survive (30:10)
Rating: Match was good fun for quite a while, though the last 10 minutes or so of it could have been abbreviated quite a bit. Ended up feeling like it was dragging, which brings it down. 2.5 stars out of 5. Nice angle advancement at the end though. This slow burn was beautiful.
Date: November 24, 1988
Link: N/A
Background: The feuds broke down as The Mega Powers vs. The Twin Towers and Ted DiBiase vs. Hercules. The other participants were just random jobbers to fill out the match, because nothing says PPV main event like Red Rooster.
The Match: Savage leads the other three non-Hogan wrestlers to the ring, and then Hogan gets his own separate entrance after all of them are in there. Well that's a lovely way of demeaning Savage.
We start right off by revisiting the Savage/DiBiase feud. Fun little 2-minute exchange between those two until Savage tags Hercules in. Mostly covering eliminations and Savage appearances, but props to Koko for a very nice missile dropkick spot onto the Rooster. He tags Hogan, who sends Rooster into the ropes and catches him with a big boot on the outside. Tag to Savage, who promptly heads up top while Hulk bodyslams the Rooster. Flying elbow from Macho, and we've got our first elimination.
Our next elimination occurs when Akeem fights his way out of a disadvantageous situation with Hillbilly Jim in the corner and staggers him for long enough to hit his Air Africa splash to get a pinfall.
Hogan comes in next to attack Akeem, quickly tags to Savage who lays in some right hands but almost instantly tags Hercules back in. Herc and then Koko get their licks in on Akeem, but after Koko dives in following Akeem into the corner and ends up eating a face full of turnbuckle, he's doomed shortly after when Akeem tags the Boss Man in and Boss Man promptly delivers his sidewalk slam to get a pinfall. Side note: it's staggering how fat Boss Man was in the late 80s and how much better shape he was in a few years later.
Hogan and Boss Man have a prolonged exchange, and after Boss Man hits Hogan with a decent spinebuster, we get a heat segment with all of the heels taking turns getting their licks in on Hogan. Hogan eventually makes the hot tag to Hercules, who within two minutes gets pinned by the Million Dollar Man when Virgil distracts Herc and DiBiase rolls him up from behind with a schoolboy. While DiBiase is jawing with Herc from the ring though, a 4-2 advantage quickly becomes 3-2 when an alert Savage runs up and eliminates DiBiase with a schoolboy of his own.
3-2 goes on for quite some time, and we get another Hogan-in-peril heat segment, which finally ends when Boss Man misses on a splash attempt from the top rope and Hogan is able to make the hot tag to the champ. Shortly after this tag though, Macho finds himself caught in a bearhug by the Boss Man while Slick grabs Miss Elizabeth on the outside. Hogan goes and makes the rescue, clobbering Slick.
As Hogan returns back to the ring, Boss Man goes out and cuffs him to the bottom rope on the outside. Boss Man gets counted out in this process as Akeem and Boss Man double-team Hogan. Akeem then attacks the referee before lowering his big splash on Savage on the inside, and Akeem gets eliminated. We're now at 2-1, with the Mega Powers against Haku. Hogan is handcuffed and unable to help though, and Savage is significantly hobbled as Haku works him over.
Savage, unaware of Hogan's situation, tries twice to get over to tag Hulk in but Hulk is nowhere around. Slick, from the apron, holds Savage up while Haku goes for a crescent kick, but Savage dodges and Slick takes the brunt of the kick. Elizabeth goes up to the fallen slick, recovers the key to Hogan's cuffs from him and gets Hogan loose. Top rope splash by Haku surprisingly hits, but Savage manages to tag out at two. As Haku gripes about the referee's count, Savage manages to tag Hogan in, we get the moves of doom by Hogan, the legdrop, and a three-count. The Mega Powers survive.
Savage is still recovering in the corner from a significant beating in the match as Hogan goes to center ring to pose and celebrate. He gets, to Savage's eyes, inappropriate with Elizabeth again. Basically these three shots in sequential order tell the story:
Unlike at SummerSlam, when Macho gave a quick evil eye and then shook it off and celebrated, he continues being furious at Hogan here, though the announcers never acknowledge it. They just talk up the Mega Powers winning as the show goes off the air.
Result: Mega Powers survive (30:10)
Rating: Match was good fun for quite a while, though the last 10 minutes or so of it could have been abbreviated quite a bit. Ended up feeling like it was dragging, which brings it down. 2.5 stars out of 5. Nice angle advancement at the end though. This slow burn was beautiful.
05-23-2014
, 08:08 PM
05-24-2014
, 07:24 AM
Saturday Night's Main Event XVIII: WWF Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Andre the Giant
Date: November 26, 1988
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKI-pl-oLUQ#t=20m02s
Background: Andre had gotten himself involved in a feud with Jake Roberts by this point; he wasn't really even tangentially feuding with Savage after SummerSlam. But here's a title shot anyway.
The Match: Savage tries to jump Andre in the corner as the match begins, has little effect, and Andre goes to work. As Andre attempts to back Savage into the corner multiple times, Savage lifts his knees on the second or third attempt to stagger the Giant, but Andre quickly regains control.
This is basically an extensive series of Andre restholds with Savage fighting back here and there. Andre is a truly painful worker to watch in the late part of his career. Savage finally launches a comeback that successfully brings Andre to his knees, and as this happens Jake Roberts shows up at ringside. This puts the match on hold just as it was getting interesting, and we go to commercial.
Back from break, Roberts has been ejected from ringside, but he seemingly left his snake behind somewhere around the ring. Heenan searches for it furiously as the action goes on in the ring. He finally finds it underneath the ring, Roberts return to ringside, the distraction spills into the ring, and the bell rings for a no contest.
Result: Double disqualification (8:51)
Rating: Completely, 100% unredeemable and worthless. 0 stars out of 5.
Date: November 26, 1988
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKI-pl-oLUQ#t=20m02s
Background: Andre had gotten himself involved in a feud with Jake Roberts by this point; he wasn't really even tangentially feuding with Savage after SummerSlam. But here's a title shot anyway.
The Match: Savage tries to jump Andre in the corner as the match begins, has little effect, and Andre goes to work. As Andre attempts to back Savage into the corner multiple times, Savage lifts his knees on the second or third attempt to stagger the Giant, but Andre quickly regains control.
This is basically an extensive series of Andre restholds with Savage fighting back here and there. Andre is a truly painful worker to watch in the late part of his career. Savage finally launches a comeback that successfully brings Andre to his knees, and as this happens Jake Roberts shows up at ringside. This puts the match on hold just as it was getting interesting, and we go to commercial.
Back from break, Roberts has been ejected from ringside, but he seemingly left his snake behind somewhere around the ring. Heenan searches for it furiously as the action goes on in the ring. He finally finds it underneath the ring, Roberts return to ringside, the distraction spills into the ring, and the bell rings for a no contest.
Result: Double disqualification (8:51)
Rating: Completely, 100% unredeemable and worthless. 0 stars out of 5.
05-24-2014
, 09:04 AM
Royal Rumble '89: Rumble Match
Date: January 15, 1989
Link: N/A
Background: The Rumble wasn't yet for a title shot, so despite being the WWF Champion, Savage was also an entrant in the match.
The Match: Savage draws #15 and enters a fairly full ring. Runs straight in and beelines at Bad News Brown. Dominates Bad News for a moment, but Greg Valentine attacks Savage from behind and goes to work on the champ. Valentine quickly learns that when you come at the king, you best not miss.
Moments later, Savage goes over and attacks Shawn Michaels and double-teams Michaels with Arn Anderson for whatever reason. A double back-elbow off the ropes sends Michaels out over the top.
Savage was eventually eliminated when he and Bad News were fighting against the ropes, and Hulk Hogan comes up from behind and dumps both of them out.
Savage is getting pretty fed up with Hogan's bull**** at this point. Hogan pretends it was an accident that he eliminated Savage, which is a bizarre thing to do since there's nothing wrong with eliminating him on purpose.
Jesse Ventura: "I know Hulk Hogan, and he will stoop to any level if it will ensure that Hulk Hogan comes out on top." You wonder if there was some shoot in that comment. Jesse always showed a hilarious amount of animosity toward Hogan from the broadcast table.
Anyway, Miss Elizabeth finally succeeds in calming Savage down, and he does cool down and offers a handshake, seemingly patching things up between them.
Of all the random people in the world to do so, Big John Studd wins this Royal Rumble.
Result: Big John Studd via face turn push that never remotely worked; seriously, dude didn't even wrestle in a match at Mania a few months later (1:04:53)
Rating: N/A. More good angle advancement though.
Date: January 15, 1989
Link: N/A
Background: The Rumble wasn't yet for a title shot, so despite being the WWF Champion, Savage was also an entrant in the match.
The Match: Savage draws #15 and enters a fairly full ring. Runs straight in and beelines at Bad News Brown. Dominates Bad News for a moment, but Greg Valentine attacks Savage from behind and goes to work on the champ. Valentine quickly learns that when you come at the king, you best not miss.
Moments later, Savage goes over and attacks Shawn Michaels and double-teams Michaels with Arn Anderson for whatever reason. A double back-elbow off the ropes sends Michaels out over the top.
Savage was eventually eliminated when he and Bad News were fighting against the ropes, and Hulk Hogan comes up from behind and dumps both of them out.
Savage is getting pretty fed up with Hogan's bull**** at this point. Hogan pretends it was an accident that he eliminated Savage, which is a bizarre thing to do since there's nothing wrong with eliminating him on purpose.
Jesse Ventura: "I know Hulk Hogan, and he will stoop to any level if it will ensure that Hulk Hogan comes out on top." You wonder if there was some shoot in that comment. Jesse always showed a hilarious amount of animosity toward Hogan from the broadcast table.
Anyway, Miss Elizabeth finally succeeds in calming Savage down, and he does cool down and offers a handshake, seemingly patching things up between them.
Of all the random people in the world to do so, Big John Studd wins this Royal Rumble.
Result: Big John Studd via face turn push that never remotely worked; seriously, dude didn't even wrestle in a match at Mania a few months later (1:04:53)
Rating: N/A. More good angle advancement though.
05-24-2014
, 04:07 PM
The Main Event II: The Mega Powers vs. The Twin Towers
Date: February 3, 1989
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orHQYGaRzP4
Background: This was the culmination of an ongoing feud between these teams, finally meeting for the first time in a big tag team match. The beginning of the link above gives the history. On a personal note, this was also the first wrestling show that I ever watched. I was absolutely hooked after this.
The Match: Savage and Boss Man are going to start, but Boss Man demands Hogan so Savage tags him in. Hogan gets a quick immediate advantage, hitting an atomic drop on Boss Man that sends him out over the top rope. Boss Man back in after a recovery period, and after temporarily taking it to Hogan, Hogan blocks a turnbuckle smash and then delivers a number of turnbuckle smashes to Boss Man instead as the crowd counts along.
Boss Man steps out, takes a rest, then tags Akeem in upon return. Hogan and Macho take turns punching Akeem back and forth toward each other, then the champ tags in. Savage off the top rope with an axhandle. Turnbuckle smash, and Hulk is back in. Axhandle from Hogan this time from the second rope, which is a rare move for him. Akeem gets enough offense in that he manages a tag out to Boss Man. Big clothesline by Boss Man, then a very nice piledriver on the Hulkster, but no pinning attempt to follow. Hogan manages a desperation backdrop that sends Boss Man out over the top, Boss Man drags Hogan out, but Hogan posts the Boss Man on the outside. The heels never fully cede control though, and once back in the Boss Man hits a spinebuster on Hogan that gets a two-count.
All four men end up in the ring brawling. Savage off the top with a cross-body onto Akeem, but Boss Man breaks up the pin. Savage comes off the ropes to follow, but Slick hits him from behind with Boss Man's night stick. The Towers double-team Savage, hitting a double back elbow before Akeem dumps him out over the top. Elizabeth tends to Savage and helps him get back in, but the big moment happens right after when Akeem sends Savage back through the ropes and sends him straight into Elizabeth. It's a hell of a bump by her, and one that didn't really look especially safe given how small she is. Liz is laid out now, and so is Savage as Hogan attends to both of them.
As Savage comes to, he takes umbrage at Hogan attending to Liz on the floor. As he's pointing at him and looks like he might deck him, Akeem grabs him in from the inside of the ring, and the Towers go to work double-teaming Macho on the inside as Hogan continues to tend to Liz on the outside. Savage manages to evade a double-team move and temporarily clears the Towers out, but as this happens Hogan picks Elizabeth up and carries her back to the locker room. Savage points angrily to him from the ring, but again this distraction causes him to get attacked from behind by Boss Man.
The camera follows Hogan back as he gets Elizabeth into the first aid room. Hogan blatantly over-acts the drama of the situation as if he was preparing for his role in No Holds Barred. Back out at the ring, Savage gets free of the Twin Towers and looks for a tag, but Hogan is still in the back with Elizabeth. She finally comes to, and Hulk heads back out to the ring. Savage is still in the firm control of the two big men until this moment happens:
Boss Man's splash off the ropes misses, Savage hits an axhandle off the top on Boss Man, then as Akeem comes back into the ring Savage sends him out over the top. Savage walks over as if to tag out, then slaps Hogan in the face. Jesse famously exclaims, "Savage struck Hogan!" This counts as a tag, so Hogan is in, and Savage takes his world title belt and leaves Hogan by himself in the ring.
Akeem hits his Air Africa splash on Hogan, gets a two-count, but Hogan hulks up. Big boot on Akeem, knocks Boss Man out of the way, legdrop on Akeem, and Hogan gets the three-count in a 2-on-1 situation. Boss Man attempts to cuff Hogan to the ring, but Hogan manages to cuff Boss Man and Slick together and escapes toward the back.
Savage is back in the dressing room and seems to be berating Elizabeth for what happened. Hogan heads back there, yelling "what's wrong with you, man?" The two get in a yelling match. Savage accuses Hogan of being jealous of his title, and jealous of Elizabeth. Hogan pleads to Liz, "Try to talk some sense into him."
Savage begins to walk away, then comes at him and clocks him with his belt, then continues the attack. Liz tends to Hogan, and Savage picks her up and throws her off. As he goes to attack Hogan with the belt again, Brutus Beefcake runs in and pulls the belt away. A few officials come in to break things up, and Savage finally walks off raging. The Mega Powers had broken up, and the long-simmering angle had been paid off with one of the great heel turns of the era.
Result: Mega Powers via pinfall when Hogan pins Akeem (22:00)
Rating: It's tough to separate the match from the angle. The match started off well, then became an afterthought to the angle. Since I can't really separate the two, this is a combined ranking of match and overall segment: 4 stars out of 5. Truly compelling television.
Date: February 3, 1989
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orHQYGaRzP4
Background: This was the culmination of an ongoing feud between these teams, finally meeting for the first time in a big tag team match. The beginning of the link above gives the history. On a personal note, this was also the first wrestling show that I ever watched. I was absolutely hooked after this.
The Match: Savage and Boss Man are going to start, but Boss Man demands Hogan so Savage tags him in. Hogan gets a quick immediate advantage, hitting an atomic drop on Boss Man that sends him out over the top rope. Boss Man back in after a recovery period, and after temporarily taking it to Hogan, Hogan blocks a turnbuckle smash and then delivers a number of turnbuckle smashes to Boss Man instead as the crowd counts along.
Boss Man steps out, takes a rest, then tags Akeem in upon return. Hogan and Macho take turns punching Akeem back and forth toward each other, then the champ tags in. Savage off the top rope with an axhandle. Turnbuckle smash, and Hulk is back in. Axhandle from Hogan this time from the second rope, which is a rare move for him. Akeem gets enough offense in that he manages a tag out to Boss Man. Big clothesline by Boss Man, then a very nice piledriver on the Hulkster, but no pinning attempt to follow. Hogan manages a desperation backdrop that sends Boss Man out over the top, Boss Man drags Hogan out, but Hogan posts the Boss Man on the outside. The heels never fully cede control though, and once back in the Boss Man hits a spinebuster on Hogan that gets a two-count.
All four men end up in the ring brawling. Savage off the top with a cross-body onto Akeem, but Boss Man breaks up the pin. Savage comes off the ropes to follow, but Slick hits him from behind with Boss Man's night stick. The Towers double-team Savage, hitting a double back elbow before Akeem dumps him out over the top. Elizabeth tends to Savage and helps him get back in, but the big moment happens right after when Akeem sends Savage back through the ropes and sends him straight into Elizabeth. It's a hell of a bump by her, and one that didn't really look especially safe given how small she is. Liz is laid out now, and so is Savage as Hogan attends to both of them.
As Savage comes to, he takes umbrage at Hogan attending to Liz on the floor. As he's pointing at him and looks like he might deck him, Akeem grabs him in from the inside of the ring, and the Towers go to work double-teaming Macho on the inside as Hogan continues to tend to Liz on the outside. Savage manages to evade a double-team move and temporarily clears the Towers out, but as this happens Hogan picks Elizabeth up and carries her back to the locker room. Savage points angrily to him from the ring, but again this distraction causes him to get attacked from behind by Boss Man.
The camera follows Hogan back as he gets Elizabeth into the first aid room. Hogan blatantly over-acts the drama of the situation as if he was preparing for his role in No Holds Barred. Back out at the ring, Savage gets free of the Twin Towers and looks for a tag, but Hogan is still in the back with Elizabeth. She finally comes to, and Hulk heads back out to the ring. Savage is still in the firm control of the two big men until this moment happens:
Boss Man's splash off the ropes misses, Savage hits an axhandle off the top on Boss Man, then as Akeem comes back into the ring Savage sends him out over the top. Savage walks over as if to tag out, then slaps Hogan in the face. Jesse famously exclaims, "Savage struck Hogan!" This counts as a tag, so Hogan is in, and Savage takes his world title belt and leaves Hogan by himself in the ring.
Akeem hits his Air Africa splash on Hogan, gets a two-count, but Hogan hulks up. Big boot on Akeem, knocks Boss Man out of the way, legdrop on Akeem, and Hogan gets the three-count in a 2-on-1 situation. Boss Man attempts to cuff Hogan to the ring, but Hogan manages to cuff Boss Man and Slick together and escapes toward the back.
Savage is back in the dressing room and seems to be berating Elizabeth for what happened. Hogan heads back there, yelling "what's wrong with you, man?" The two get in a yelling match. Savage accuses Hogan of being jealous of his title, and jealous of Elizabeth. Hogan pleads to Liz, "Try to talk some sense into him."
Savage begins to walk away, then comes at him and clocks him with his belt, then continues the attack. Liz tends to Hogan, and Savage picks her up and throws her off. As he goes to attack Hogan with the belt again, Brutus Beefcake runs in and pulls the belt away. A few officials come in to break things up, and Savage finally walks off raging. The Mega Powers had broken up, and the long-simmering angle had been paid off with one of the great heel turns of the era.
Result: Mega Powers via pinfall when Hogan pins Akeem (22:00)
Rating: It's tough to separate the match from the angle. The match started off well, then became an afterthought to the angle. Since I can't really separate the two, this is a combined ranking of match and overall segment: 4 stars out of 5. Truly compelling television.
05-24-2014
, 04:47 PM
Boston Garden House Show: Title-for-Title - Randy Savage (WWF Champion) vs. Ultimate Warrior (IC Champion)
Date: February 11, 1989
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njFliocIYiA
Background: None to speak of, but this is the first televised title defense by Savage after the heel turn.
The Match: Savage gets furious at some ringside fans holding up a huge sign that says "Hogan Loves Elizabeth." As Warrior enters, Savage attacks him before he has his belt off, but Warrior mostly absorbs the blows and then manages a flying shoulderblock off the ropes at Savage. Savage takes a walk, and then gets to jawing with some fans, so Warrior follows him out and gorilla presses him overhead into the ring. Savage again leads Warrior on a chase around the ring, this time manages to drop an axhandle on Warrior as he rolls back in.
Savage goes up top for a cross-body, Warrior seems to botch the spot terribly and then kind of sloppily sets Macho up in the tree of woe before stomping away. Lays in some chops, gets the better of a whip into the corner after two reversals, but comes up empty when following Savage in. As he's staggered, Savage plants a running knee into his back and knocks him through the ropes to the floor. Top rope axhandle to the floor by Macho. The really refreshing thing about seeing Savage heeling it up again here is that he naturally carries more of the offense instead of playing face-in-peril.
Warrior back in, Savage plays to the crowd and then hangs Warrior over the top by jumping to the outside. Drops a knee on Warrior and then slaps on a reverse chinlock. After resting for a moment, Warrior works his way back up to his feet, elbows his way loose, but Savage gets him back down quickly. Axhandle from the top to the ring. Two-count. Warrior literally telegraphed throwing Savage off powerfully before Savage actually pinned him here.
Suplex by Warrior, and suddenly Rick Rude shows up at ringside, posing. Rude was getting ready to take the title away from Warrior at WrestleMania. Savage attempts a schoolboy, holds the tights, but only gets two. Facebuster by Warrior. Runs off the ropes twice and attempts a splash, but Savage gets the knees up. Two-count for Savage. Warrior begins no-selling and shaking the ropes. Two clotheslines by the IC Champion, but he gets distracted by Rick Rude and goes out after him. Randy Savage hits an axhandle to the floor, then quickly returns to the ring. The bell sounds, and Macho wins via countout.
Rick Rude enters the ring and offers Savage a handshake. Savage shakes his hand and the two embrace. Warrior attacks from behind and clears the ring. Obviously both champions keep their respective belts.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (10:36)
Rating: Thought Savage carried this one nicely. This match had something of a ceiling because it was never going to end in a pinfall and any thinking fan realized that, but from a pure ringwork perspective it was certainly solid. 3 stars out of 5.
Date: February 11, 1989
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njFliocIYiA
Background: None to speak of, but this is the first televised title defense by Savage after the heel turn.
The Match: Savage gets furious at some ringside fans holding up a huge sign that says "Hogan Loves Elizabeth." As Warrior enters, Savage attacks him before he has his belt off, but Warrior mostly absorbs the blows and then manages a flying shoulderblock off the ropes at Savage. Savage takes a walk, and then gets to jawing with some fans, so Warrior follows him out and gorilla presses him overhead into the ring. Savage again leads Warrior on a chase around the ring, this time manages to drop an axhandle on Warrior as he rolls back in.
Savage goes up top for a cross-body, Warrior seems to botch the spot terribly and then kind of sloppily sets Macho up in the tree of woe before stomping away. Lays in some chops, gets the better of a whip into the corner after two reversals, but comes up empty when following Savage in. As he's staggered, Savage plants a running knee into his back and knocks him through the ropes to the floor. Top rope axhandle to the floor by Macho. The really refreshing thing about seeing Savage heeling it up again here is that he naturally carries more of the offense instead of playing face-in-peril.
Warrior back in, Savage plays to the crowd and then hangs Warrior over the top by jumping to the outside. Drops a knee on Warrior and then slaps on a reverse chinlock. After resting for a moment, Warrior works his way back up to his feet, elbows his way loose, but Savage gets him back down quickly. Axhandle from the top to the ring. Two-count. Warrior literally telegraphed throwing Savage off powerfully before Savage actually pinned him here.
Suplex by Warrior, and suddenly Rick Rude shows up at ringside, posing. Rude was getting ready to take the title away from Warrior at WrestleMania. Savage attempts a schoolboy, holds the tights, but only gets two. Facebuster by Warrior. Runs off the ropes twice and attempts a splash, but Savage gets the knees up. Two-count for Savage. Warrior begins no-selling and shaking the ropes. Two clotheslines by the IC Champion, but he gets distracted by Rick Rude and goes out after him. Randy Savage hits an axhandle to the floor, then quickly returns to the ring. The bell sounds, and Macho wins via countout.
Rick Rude enters the ring and offers Savage a handshake. Savage shakes his hand and the two embrace. Warrior attacks from behind and clears the ring. Obviously both champions keep their respective belts.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (10:36)
Rating: Thought Savage carried this one nicely. This match had something of a ceiling because it was never going to end in a pinfall and any thinking fan realized that, but from a pure ringwork perspective it was certainly solid. 3 stars out of 5.
05-24-2014
, 05:37 PM
Saturday Night's Main Event XX: Miss Elizabeth doesn't choose a side for WrestleMania
Date: March 11, 1989
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwseQENhCk
Savage vs. Hogan for the WWF Title had been announced as the main event at WrestleMania. Elizabeth is brought out by Mean Gene Okerlund to make her official announcement as to which wrestler's corner she would be in.
Liz: "Gene, this is the hardest decision that I've ever had to make in my life, because I care for both men. This is a decision I never thought I had to make. I hoped it would never come down to this."
Gene: "Elizabeth, are you going to be in Hulk Hogan's corner for WrestleMania V?"
Liz: "No, no I'm not."
Savage interrupts to celebrate Elizabeth apparently going with him.
Gene: "Are you going to be in the Macho Man's corner?"
Liz: "No."
Savage is furious, gets in Elizabeth's face, and Hulk Hogan interrupts to say that he's waiting until WrestleMania to take Savage's head off. It was announced after this that Elizabeth said that she would be at ringside to assist both men, and would be in a neutral corner for the match.
Date: March 11, 1989
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwseQENhCk
Savage vs. Hogan for the WWF Title had been announced as the main event at WrestleMania. Elizabeth is brought out by Mean Gene Okerlund to make her official announcement as to which wrestler's corner she would be in.
Liz: "Gene, this is the hardest decision that I've ever had to make in my life, because I care for both men. This is a decision I never thought I had to make. I hoped it would never come down to this."
Gene: "Elizabeth, are you going to be in Hulk Hogan's corner for WrestleMania V?"
Liz: "No, no I'm not."
Savage interrupts to celebrate Elizabeth apparently going with him.
Gene: "Are you going to be in the Macho Man's corner?"
Liz: "No."
Savage is furious, gets in Elizabeth's face, and Hulk Hogan interrupts to say that he's waiting until WrestleMania to take Savage's head off. It was announced after this that Elizabeth said that she would be at ringside to assist both men, and would be in a neutral corner for the match.
05-24-2014
, 05:41 PM
Savage cuts the GOAT series of promos leading into the main event of WrestleMania V
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilS4L0fpbG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTmR9CLH6yg
"You've got lust in your eyes, and your black heart, for Elizabeth!"
Just watch these. This is the definition of elite mic work.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilS4L0fpbG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTmR9CLH6yg
"You've got lust in your eyes, and your black heart, for Elizabeth!"
Just watch these. This is the definition of elite mic work.
05-24-2014
, 07:04 PM
WrestleMania V: WWF Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Hulk Hogan
Date: April 2, 1989
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v...y-savage_sport
Background: …pretty much read everything since WrestleMania IV if you're unaware of the background for this one.
The Match: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura on the call. In my view, this match is the pinnacle of Jesse Ventura's commentating career. He's truly fantastic on this one, thundering after Hogan for 20+ minutes starting during the introductions and following through to the end of the show. As a kid I basically ate up everything Jesse said in this match, and went forward loving Savage and never fully embracing Hogan as a result.
Savage is out first, and Jesse calls out how stupid it is. As Hogan goes to the ring, Jesse lays the badmouth on him. Gorilla says that Jesse is obviously jealous. Jesse says "you're darn right" and continues on an epic rant about what a scumbag Hogan is. Like I said, I'm always genuinely curious about how much shoot there is on Jesse's commentary toward Hogan. It's pretty clear from all that I've read and seen that Savage legit hated Hogan at pretty much all times.
Savage has epic heat as he plays to the crowd at the top rope, and we're set to the start the match. The first lockup concludes with Hogan outpowering Savage and sending him across the ring. The second exchange ends in a Hogan shoulderblock, and Savage takes a walk. As he re-enters, he points the finger at Elizabeth and badmouths her. Headlock by Savage gets control; Hulk sends him into the ropes out of the headlock, but the champ grabs the ropes and slides back out. Leads him on a chase around the ring, then hides behind Elizabeth as Hogan catches up to him.
Hogan with some rare chain wrestling, a headlock into a hammerlock into a drop toehold and finally back into a side headlock. Savage turns things around a moment later though, back suplexing the Hulkster out of the headlock. Hogan lays in some rights, but Savage eye rakes and thumbs his way back to an advantage. Axhandle off the top takes Hogan down for a two-count.
The champ lays in the armbar while driving a knee into Hogan's head. Hogan works his way back up, fights through an arm-wringer, and pulls Savage by the tights to throw him outside the ring. Savage re-enters and gets smashed into two opposite turnbuckles. Two elbow drops by Hulk, then he threatens a third buy rakes Savage's eyes with his boot instead. Jesse: "I don't understand how the pukesters can cheer for this guy. He's as dirty as they come." Hogan drops his head too early for a backdrop, gets kicked in the face, and Savage follows with a hard clothesline.
Hogan appears to be cut open with a gash above his left eye. I went back to try to figure out when that happened, and I'm pretty sure it was a legit hardway shot he took when Savage's boot incidentally went over his face when he threw Savage outside by his tights a couple of minutes earlier. He had been opened up since then, and now the blood is starting to get flowing. Savage lays in a reverse chinlock to control, but Hogan works his way back up after a moment.
Savage attempts a kick, Hogan catches his leg and hits an atomic drop. Running elbow drop misses. Savage catches Hogan from behind with a running knee that runs Hogan face-first into the buckle. Schoolboy with pulled tights gets two. Savage follows with another turnbuckle smash, then blatantly goes after the wound above Hogan's eye. The focus on the gash makes me think it was a blade job, but I just can't find a spot for Hogan to have bladed unless he did it super quickly when the camera panned off him after that spot I mentioned earlier.
Hulk is down and crawling; Savage stomps on Hogan's hand. Savage gets distracted by Elizabeth though, allowing Hogan enough recovery time to attack Savage from behind and regain an advantage. Hulk scoops Macho up and throws him over the top to the outside. Elizabeth tries to help Savage, but he violently waves her off and tells her to GTFO. Hogan follows him out, Savage rakes him in the face to go after the open wound again, but Hogan blocks the following attempt to smash him into the apron. He picks up Savage over his shoulder and is going to post him, but Liz stands in the way and stops him. While this is happening, Savage wriggles out behind and then posts Hogan instead.
Referee Hebner is sick of the Elizabeth distraction and ejects her from ringside. Savage goes back to work on the match, heads up top and hits an axhandle onto Hogan that knocks him throat-first onto the steel barricade a la Ricky Steamboat. Savage back in, hangs Hogan over the top rope. Bodyslam and a kneedrop by Savage gets two. Randy pulls some tape off his wrists and strangles Hogan with it out of Hebner's view.
After choking him down, Savage heads up top, hits the big flying elbow, but Hogan kicks out on two and it's hulk-up time. Savage with some punches that Hogan no-sells. Big boot, legdrop, and Hogan regains the title.
Result: "…and NEW WWF Champion," Hulk Hogan via pinfall (17:54)
Rating: This was really good stuff. The Trump Plaza crowd was pretty lame and held the match back a little bit, but I thought the story in the ring was told well and that the match was well-worked by both men. 3.75 stars out of 5.
Date: April 2, 1989
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v...y-savage_sport
Background: …pretty much read everything since WrestleMania IV if you're unaware of the background for this one.
The Match: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura on the call. In my view, this match is the pinnacle of Jesse Ventura's commentating career. He's truly fantastic on this one, thundering after Hogan for 20+ minutes starting during the introductions and following through to the end of the show. As a kid I basically ate up everything Jesse said in this match, and went forward loving Savage and never fully embracing Hogan as a result.
Savage is out first, and Jesse calls out how stupid it is. As Hogan goes to the ring, Jesse lays the badmouth on him. Gorilla says that Jesse is obviously jealous. Jesse says "you're darn right" and continues on an epic rant about what a scumbag Hogan is. Like I said, I'm always genuinely curious about how much shoot there is on Jesse's commentary toward Hogan. It's pretty clear from all that I've read and seen that Savage legit hated Hogan at pretty much all times.
Savage has epic heat as he plays to the crowd at the top rope, and we're set to the start the match. The first lockup concludes with Hogan outpowering Savage and sending him across the ring. The second exchange ends in a Hogan shoulderblock, and Savage takes a walk. As he re-enters, he points the finger at Elizabeth and badmouths her. Headlock by Savage gets control; Hulk sends him into the ropes out of the headlock, but the champ grabs the ropes and slides back out. Leads him on a chase around the ring, then hides behind Elizabeth as Hogan catches up to him.
Hogan with some rare chain wrestling, a headlock into a hammerlock into a drop toehold and finally back into a side headlock. Savage turns things around a moment later though, back suplexing the Hulkster out of the headlock. Hogan lays in some rights, but Savage eye rakes and thumbs his way back to an advantage. Axhandle off the top takes Hogan down for a two-count.
The champ lays in the armbar while driving a knee into Hogan's head. Hogan works his way back up, fights through an arm-wringer, and pulls Savage by the tights to throw him outside the ring. Savage re-enters and gets smashed into two opposite turnbuckles. Two elbow drops by Hulk, then he threatens a third buy rakes Savage's eyes with his boot instead. Jesse: "I don't understand how the pukesters can cheer for this guy. He's as dirty as they come." Hogan drops his head too early for a backdrop, gets kicked in the face, and Savage follows with a hard clothesline.
Hogan appears to be cut open with a gash above his left eye. I went back to try to figure out when that happened, and I'm pretty sure it was a legit hardway shot he took when Savage's boot incidentally went over his face when he threw Savage outside by his tights a couple of minutes earlier. He had been opened up since then, and now the blood is starting to get flowing. Savage lays in a reverse chinlock to control, but Hogan works his way back up after a moment.
Savage attempts a kick, Hogan catches his leg and hits an atomic drop. Running elbow drop misses. Savage catches Hogan from behind with a running knee that runs Hogan face-first into the buckle. Schoolboy with pulled tights gets two. Savage follows with another turnbuckle smash, then blatantly goes after the wound above Hogan's eye. The focus on the gash makes me think it was a blade job, but I just can't find a spot for Hogan to have bladed unless he did it super quickly when the camera panned off him after that spot I mentioned earlier.
Hulk is down and crawling; Savage stomps on Hogan's hand. Savage gets distracted by Elizabeth though, allowing Hogan enough recovery time to attack Savage from behind and regain an advantage. Hulk scoops Macho up and throws him over the top to the outside. Elizabeth tries to help Savage, but he violently waves her off and tells her to GTFO. Hogan follows him out, Savage rakes him in the face to go after the open wound again, but Hogan blocks the following attempt to smash him into the apron. He picks up Savage over his shoulder and is going to post him, but Liz stands in the way and stops him. While this is happening, Savage wriggles out behind and then posts Hogan instead.
Referee Hebner is sick of the Elizabeth distraction and ejects her from ringside. Savage goes back to work on the match, heads up top and hits an axhandle onto Hogan that knocks him throat-first onto the steel barricade a la Ricky Steamboat. Savage back in, hangs Hogan over the top rope. Bodyslam and a kneedrop by Savage gets two. Randy pulls some tape off his wrists and strangles Hogan with it out of Hebner's view.
After choking him down, Savage heads up top, hits the big flying elbow, but Hogan kicks out on two and it's hulk-up time. Savage with some punches that Hogan no-sells. Big boot, legdrop, and Hogan regains the title.
Result: "…and NEW WWF Champion," Hulk Hogan via pinfall (17:54)
Rating: This was really good stuff. The Trump Plaza crowd was pretty lame and held the match back a little bit, but I thought the story in the ring was told well and that the match was well-worked by both men. 3.75 stars out of 5.
Last edited by LKJ; 05-24-2014 at 07:18 PM.