"Macho Man" Randy Savage Tribute Thread
05-11-2014
, 02:37 PM
MSG House Show: Randy Savage & Adrian Adonis vs. Bruno Sammartino & Tito Santana
Date: June 14, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFyATLvq-A4
Background: None that I could find.
The Match: Funny promo segment with Gorilla Monsoon interviewing Savage and Adonis before the match. Monsoon taunts and jabs Savage throughout it. Good stuff. After that, we're off to the ring for the match.
All four men brawl to start, with Savage and Bruno fighting outside and Tito and Adonis fighting inside. Those two head outside, and Adonis bodyslams Santana on the concrete. The referee finally gets things under control, and it's going to be Bruno vs. Savage to start. Bruno runs Savage into Adonis on the apron, then whips Savage into the ropes and hits him with a running knee to the gut on the way back.
Tags in Tito, he pummels Savage and then clears Adonis off the apron. Faceplants Savage in the ring twice. Bruno puts his boot up from the apron and Tito runs Savage into it. Tito then hangs Savage over the top rope on his way out before tagging Sammartino back in. Upon this tag, though, Savage is able to get to his corner and bring in Adrian.
Three armdrags by Bruno, Adonis finds himself in the wrong corner and gets punched by Tito, hobbles back toward Bruno, punch by Bruno, and Adonis pinballs between the two. Tito tags back in, high cross-body on Adonis, Savage makes the save on a pin attempt. Side headlock by Tito, but Adonis hits a great back suplex and tags Macho back in. Bruno returns, whips Savage off the ropes twice and clobbers him on the way back both times.
Savage takes a quick breather from the frenetic pace on the outside, but returns fairly quickly and Bruno returns to putting the boots to Savage. Tito actually grabs a chair on the outside, waffles Savage with it in a spot where the referee should have seen it, and Bruno's pin attempt is broken up by Adrian. Sick babyface sequence. Bruno tags out, Tito knees Savage in the back but knocks him into his corner and Adonis gets tagged back in.
Adonis with a bodyslam, then he goes up top for a splash but Tito lifts his knees and Adonis takes those knees to the gut on the way down. Both men tag out, and we're back to Bruno vs. Savage as the legal man, but all four are brawling again. Bruno and Tito try to double-team Adrian on the outside, but Savage goes up top and drops an axhandle to the floor on Bruno. Savage slips back into the ring in time, and we have a countout.
Result: Savage & Adonis via countout (9:44)
Rating: This was really good. These teams barely took a second off from perpetual action throughout this match, both teams worked cohesively despite not being established teams who worked together often…just a fun all-around brawl and match. Totally works as a random house show match in a vacuum involving four legends of the industry (well, three legends and Adonis, but I'm definitely an Adonis fan, dude was a highly legit worker). 3.5 stars out of 5.
Date: June 14, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFyATLvq-A4
Background: None that I could find.
The Match: Funny promo segment with Gorilla Monsoon interviewing Savage and Adonis before the match. Monsoon taunts and jabs Savage throughout it. Good stuff. After that, we're off to the ring for the match.
All four men brawl to start, with Savage and Bruno fighting outside and Tito and Adonis fighting inside. Those two head outside, and Adonis bodyslams Santana on the concrete. The referee finally gets things under control, and it's going to be Bruno vs. Savage to start. Bruno runs Savage into Adonis on the apron, then whips Savage into the ropes and hits him with a running knee to the gut on the way back.
Tags in Tito, he pummels Savage and then clears Adonis off the apron. Faceplants Savage in the ring twice. Bruno puts his boot up from the apron and Tito runs Savage into it. Tito then hangs Savage over the top rope on his way out before tagging Sammartino back in. Upon this tag, though, Savage is able to get to his corner and bring in Adrian.
Three armdrags by Bruno, Adonis finds himself in the wrong corner and gets punched by Tito, hobbles back toward Bruno, punch by Bruno, and Adonis pinballs between the two. Tito tags back in, high cross-body on Adonis, Savage makes the save on a pin attempt. Side headlock by Tito, but Adonis hits a great back suplex and tags Macho back in. Bruno returns, whips Savage off the ropes twice and clobbers him on the way back both times.
Savage takes a quick breather from the frenetic pace on the outside, but returns fairly quickly and Bruno returns to putting the boots to Savage. Tito actually grabs a chair on the outside, waffles Savage with it in a spot where the referee should have seen it, and Bruno's pin attempt is broken up by Adrian. Sick babyface sequence. Bruno tags out, Tito knees Savage in the back but knocks him into his corner and Adonis gets tagged back in.
Adonis with a bodyslam, then he goes up top for a splash but Tito lifts his knees and Adonis takes those knees to the gut on the way down. Both men tag out, and we're back to Bruno vs. Savage as the legal man, but all four are brawling again. Bruno and Tito try to double-team Adrian on the outside, but Savage goes up top and drops an axhandle to the floor on Bruno. Savage slips back into the ring in time, and we have a countout.
Result: Savage & Adonis via countout (9:44)
Rating: This was really good. These teams barely took a second off from perpetual action throughout this match, both teams worked cohesively despite not being established teams who worked together often…just a fun all-around brawl and match. Totally works as a random house show match in a vacuum involving four legends of the industry (well, three legends and Adonis, but I'm definitely an Adonis fan, dude was a highly legit worker). 3.5 stars out of 5.
05-11-2014
, 02:38 PM
Boston Garden House Show: WWF Title - Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Randy Savage
Date: June 27, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw-CJYZgXTY
Background: Savage has been chasing the WWF Title, and scored a countout victory over Hogan a month ago in a title match right here at Boston Garden.
The Match: Gorilla Monsoon and Mean Gene Okerlund on the call. Hogan seems to be wearing yellow for the first time; he was in white a month ago. So probably sometime in June 1986 is when the red and yellow branding began.
Savage blindsides Hogan at the bell, actually hits Hogan in the back with the WWF Title belt right in plain view of referee Danny Davis, and Davis (not yet in heel referee form) just no-sells the whole thing. Double axhandle off the top by the Macho Man. Elizabeth gets up on the apron for some reason and Savage yells at her. While this is going on, Hogan recovers and attacks Savage from behind.
Hogan puts on Savage's sunglasses to mock him, and pounds away on Savage for a minute with them on, discarding them once he dumps Savage out of the ring. He follows Macho out, lifts him up and blatantly posts him before shoving him back in. Savage pleads for a bit of mercy; Hogan mocks him. Clothesline by Hogan followed by a headlock and series of punches. Back suplex. Suplexes weren't a common thing from Hogan, but he did them in these last two matches with Savage. He probably didn't want to get shown up in case there was actual consideration of strapping Savage with the big belt at this time.
Savage into the corner, Hogan follows him in with the big clothesline. Another suplex by Hogan, followed by an elbow drop. Savage flails out, grabs Hogan by the front of the tights and pulls him through the ropes to the outside. Axhandle off the top to the floor. Drops a knee on Hogan out there. Rams Hulkster into the barricade (though not very well). Buries an axhandle into Hogan's back and then finally rolls the champ back in. Savage hits the flying elbow off the top, and not only does he not get the three-count on it, but Mean Gene just sort of casually talks through the near-fall so as to make sure he completely wrecks the moment. WTF.
After the kickout, we have our hulk-up. Big boot by Hogan off the ropes, bodyslam, legdrop, three-count. After the bell, Adrian Adonis runs in, and Adonis and Savage double-team Hogan. Hogan eventually knocks their heads together and clears the ring.
Result: Hulk Hogan via pinfall (7:14)
Rating: Started off pretty good, but the whole ending sequence was just too abrupt, and Mean Gene casually talking over the near-fall after the elbow drop is beyond egregious, especially for such a polished and usually elite broadcaster. While this match shared some of the positive earmarks of the Boston match from a month prior, it just wasn't near as good overall. I'll say 2 stars out of 5.
Date: June 27, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw-CJYZgXTY
Background: Savage has been chasing the WWF Title, and scored a countout victory over Hogan a month ago in a title match right here at Boston Garden.
The Match: Gorilla Monsoon and Mean Gene Okerlund on the call. Hogan seems to be wearing yellow for the first time; he was in white a month ago. So probably sometime in June 1986 is when the red and yellow branding began.
Savage blindsides Hogan at the bell, actually hits Hogan in the back with the WWF Title belt right in plain view of referee Danny Davis, and Davis (not yet in heel referee form) just no-sells the whole thing. Double axhandle off the top by the Macho Man. Elizabeth gets up on the apron for some reason and Savage yells at her. While this is going on, Hogan recovers and attacks Savage from behind.
Hogan puts on Savage's sunglasses to mock him, and pounds away on Savage for a minute with them on, discarding them once he dumps Savage out of the ring. He follows Macho out, lifts him up and blatantly posts him before shoving him back in. Savage pleads for a bit of mercy; Hogan mocks him. Clothesline by Hogan followed by a headlock and series of punches. Back suplex. Suplexes weren't a common thing from Hogan, but he did them in these last two matches with Savage. He probably didn't want to get shown up in case there was actual consideration of strapping Savage with the big belt at this time.
Savage into the corner, Hogan follows him in with the big clothesline. Another suplex by Hogan, followed by an elbow drop. Savage flails out, grabs Hogan by the front of the tights and pulls him through the ropes to the outside. Axhandle off the top to the floor. Drops a knee on Hogan out there. Rams Hulkster into the barricade (though not very well). Buries an axhandle into Hogan's back and then finally rolls the champ back in. Savage hits the flying elbow off the top, and not only does he not get the three-count on it, but Mean Gene just sort of casually talks through the near-fall so as to make sure he completely wrecks the moment. WTF.
After the kickout, we have our hulk-up. Big boot by Hogan off the ropes, bodyslam, legdrop, three-count. After the bell, Adrian Adonis runs in, and Adonis and Savage double-team Hogan. Hogan eventually knocks their heads together and clears the ring.
Result: Hulk Hogan via pinfall (7:14)
Rating: Started off pretty good, but the whole ending sequence was just too abrupt, and Mean Gene casually talking over the near-fall after the elbow drop is beyond egregious, especially for such a polished and usually elite broadcaster. While this match shared some of the positive earmarks of the Boston match from a month prior, it just wasn't near as good overall. I'll say 2 stars out of 5.
05-11-2014
, 03:10 PM
MSG House Show: Intercontinental Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Pedro Morales
Date: August 25, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xOAJwsL6c
Background: None. Pedro was one of the first Intercontinental Champions though, and is now a WWE Hall of Famer, so definitely a legend vs. legend match.
The Match: Morales sends Savage off the ropes right away, but Savage clings to a rope and stops from running off it. Second lock-up, Savage sends Morales into the ropes, shoulderblock by Morales off it. Scoop slam by Morales, pin attempt, two-count, Savage takes another walk.
Back in, Savage throws a punch, Pedro blocks and punches. Savage, feigning injury, gets a foreign object out of his trunks and hits Morales with it before tucking it back away. Sends Pedro outside, follows him and rams him into the steel barricade. Double axhandle off the top to the floor. "And nobody has gotten up from this, absolutely nobody." -Lord Alfred Hayes. Well that's not even remotely true Alfred, WTF are you talking about. He does that in every match and he's not undefeated so…
Macho suplexes Morales back over the top and into the ring. Two-count. Goes for a top rope axhandle, but Pedro pummels him on the way down. Morales launches the comeback, getting the better of a punching exchange and then executing a back bodydrop after sending the champ off the ropes. Plants Savage into the buckle. Savage reverses a whip into the corner, but Morales jumps up from the corner with a double underhook pinning attempt…two. Small package, two.
The two battle over a backslide, Morales succeeds, nearly gets a three-count. Picks up Savage, lays in a left, sends him to the floor. Follows and slams Savage's head into the steel barricade. Savage picks up a chair and tries to hit Morales with it, but Morales dodges and gets back into the ring. The bell rings, and we have a lame countout finish.
Result: Pedro Morales via countout (7:16)
Rating: Come on; Morales was on the back end of his career. Just let Savage go over him here. Match was alright, nothing special. 2 stars out of 5.
Date: August 25, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xOAJwsL6c
Background: None. Pedro was one of the first Intercontinental Champions though, and is now a WWE Hall of Famer, so definitely a legend vs. legend match.
The Match: Morales sends Savage off the ropes right away, but Savage clings to a rope and stops from running off it. Second lock-up, Savage sends Morales into the ropes, shoulderblock by Morales off it. Scoop slam by Morales, pin attempt, two-count, Savage takes another walk.
Back in, Savage throws a punch, Pedro blocks and punches. Savage, feigning injury, gets a foreign object out of his trunks and hits Morales with it before tucking it back away. Sends Pedro outside, follows him and rams him into the steel barricade. Double axhandle off the top to the floor. "And nobody has gotten up from this, absolutely nobody." -Lord Alfred Hayes. Well that's not even remotely true Alfred, WTF are you talking about. He does that in every match and he's not undefeated so…
Macho suplexes Morales back over the top and into the ring. Two-count. Goes for a top rope axhandle, but Pedro pummels him on the way down. Morales launches the comeback, getting the better of a punching exchange and then executing a back bodydrop after sending the champ off the ropes. Plants Savage into the buckle. Savage reverses a whip into the corner, but Morales jumps up from the corner with a double underhook pinning attempt…two. Small package, two.
The two battle over a backslide, Morales succeeds, nearly gets a three-count. Picks up Savage, lays in a left, sends him to the floor. Follows and slams Savage's head into the steel barricade. Savage picks up a chair and tries to hit Morales with it, but Morales dodges and gets back into the ring. The bell rings, and we have a lame countout finish.
Result: Pedro Morales via countout (7:16)
Rating: Come on; Morales was on the back end of his career. Just let Savage go over him here. Match was alright, nothing special. 2 stars out of 5.
05-11-2014
, 03:21 PM
Joint promo: Randy Savage w/ Jake Roberts
Date: September 7, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_KztnSjo_0
It's a shame Mean Gene didn't conduct this interview, but maybe the sheer mic talent would have been too great for one screen. This promo has no particular point as it's basically just mutual admiration between two young heels on their way up in the company, but as you can expect it's the usual great talking that they put out.
Date: September 7, 1986
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_KztnSjo_0
It's a shame Mean Gene didn't conduct this interview, but maybe the sheer mic talent would have been too great for one screen. This promo has no particular point as it's basically just mutual admiration between two young heels on their way up in the company, but as you can expect it's the usual great talking that they put out.
05-11-2014
, 04:24 PM
WWF Superstars: Intercontinental Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Ricky Steamboat
Date: November 22, 1986
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3d...avage-ic_sport
Background: This had no background. This would become the background.
The Match: Vince and Jesse on the call. Jesse is always a big fan of Macho, but also puts over how great Steamboat is. Jesse was always good about putting the best babyfaces over in his commentary despite being a heel commentator himself. Dave Hebner and Danny Davis have an argument in the ring over which would officiate - Davis was now into his heel turn - but Hebner prevails in the argument and Davis leaves.
Both wrestlers enter into a double Greco-Roman knuckle lock early, Steamboat frees one hand, goes behind, moves it into a hammerlock, sends Savage into the ropes, armdrag off the ropes and he controls with an armbar from there. Savage works his way back up, sends the Dragon into one corner. Sends him into another, but in the second corner Steamboat hops up on the turnbuckle, leapfrogs over Savage, slides back under him, pops up and executes a scoop slam. Armdrag and back into an armbar. My God these two were magic together.
Savage works his way into a rope break near the corner, then grabs Steamboat's head and smashes it into the turnbuckle. Bodyslam. Kneedrop. Top rope double axhandle. Two-count. Savage's whip into the ropes is reversed, but Savage hops up on the turnbuckle this time, leaps back with a cross-body, Steamboat rolls through it to create his own pinning combo, just gets two.
Savage sent into the corner, but he gets a boot up to floor Steamboat on the follow. Steamboat blocks a turnbuckle smash, executes one of his own on Macho. Steamboat to the top, tomahawk chop from there connects, but Steamboat doesn't attempt a pin, instead wailing on Savage on the mat. Sunset flip by Steamboat, but Savage punches him in the head before he can be pulled over. Savage sends him over the top, Steamboat skins the cat and flips back in, rolling up Savage from behind for two.
Savage whipped into the ropes, Steamboat leapfrogs him on the way back, and we have a ref bump as Savage collides with referee Dave Hebner. Cross-body off the top by the Dragon, and as Hebner slowly comes to and begins a count, Danny Davis runs in and stops the count, insisting that he is now the referee for the match. Steamboat gets up and yells at Davis, Davis says "fine" and leaves, but of course by now Savage is up and attacks Steamboat from behind. Hebner is back in play.
Savage sends Steamboat out of the ring, then pulls him along to the outside for the sequence that spawned the whole feud. He walks him over to the steel barricade, picks him up, and drops him throat-first on the barricade. He then sets him back up, throat-first, on the barricade, heads to the top, and hits an axhandle to the floor that rams Steamboat throat-first hard into that barricade.
Steamboat gets counted out, and the bell rings, but Savage isn't done. He pulls him back inside, goes out and gets the timekeeper's bell, and after setting Steamboat in the middle of the ring, Savage comes off the top with the bell and drives it into Steamboat's throat. Savage finally gets forced away from ringside, and Steamboat, unable to breathe, is stretchered off by medical personnel.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (7:02)
Rating: Excellent stuff. Already the kind of absurd pacing they would live up to for even longer in their classic at WrestleMania III. Great post-match heat build to really make this a nuclear feud right from the start. I wish they had done something to make Savage really furious with Steamboat to justify that level of post-match beatdown, because that really wasn't anything he was doing to anyone else, but meh. 3.75 stars out of 5, only because it felt a bit brief to give it a full four.
Date: November 22, 1986
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3d...avage-ic_sport
Background: This had no background. This would become the background.
The Match: Vince and Jesse on the call. Jesse is always a big fan of Macho, but also puts over how great Steamboat is. Jesse was always good about putting the best babyfaces over in his commentary despite being a heel commentator himself. Dave Hebner and Danny Davis have an argument in the ring over which would officiate - Davis was now into his heel turn - but Hebner prevails in the argument and Davis leaves.
Both wrestlers enter into a double Greco-Roman knuckle lock early, Steamboat frees one hand, goes behind, moves it into a hammerlock, sends Savage into the ropes, armdrag off the ropes and he controls with an armbar from there. Savage works his way back up, sends the Dragon into one corner. Sends him into another, but in the second corner Steamboat hops up on the turnbuckle, leapfrogs over Savage, slides back under him, pops up and executes a scoop slam. Armdrag and back into an armbar. My God these two were magic together.
Savage works his way into a rope break near the corner, then grabs Steamboat's head and smashes it into the turnbuckle. Bodyslam. Kneedrop. Top rope double axhandle. Two-count. Savage's whip into the ropes is reversed, but Savage hops up on the turnbuckle this time, leaps back with a cross-body, Steamboat rolls through it to create his own pinning combo, just gets two.
Savage sent into the corner, but he gets a boot up to floor Steamboat on the follow. Steamboat blocks a turnbuckle smash, executes one of his own on Macho. Steamboat to the top, tomahawk chop from there connects, but Steamboat doesn't attempt a pin, instead wailing on Savage on the mat. Sunset flip by Steamboat, but Savage punches him in the head before he can be pulled over. Savage sends him over the top, Steamboat skins the cat and flips back in, rolling up Savage from behind for two.
Savage whipped into the ropes, Steamboat leapfrogs him on the way back, and we have a ref bump as Savage collides with referee Dave Hebner. Cross-body off the top by the Dragon, and as Hebner slowly comes to and begins a count, Danny Davis runs in and stops the count, insisting that he is now the referee for the match. Steamboat gets up and yells at Davis, Davis says "fine" and leaves, but of course by now Savage is up and attacks Steamboat from behind. Hebner is back in play.
Savage sends Steamboat out of the ring, then pulls him along to the outside for the sequence that spawned the whole feud. He walks him over to the steel barricade, picks him up, and drops him throat-first on the barricade. He then sets him back up, throat-first, on the barricade, heads to the top, and hits an axhandle to the floor that rams Steamboat throat-first hard into that barricade.
Steamboat gets counted out, and the bell rings, but Savage isn't done. He pulls him back inside, goes out and gets the timekeeper's bell, and after setting Steamboat in the middle of the ring, Savage comes off the top with the bell and drives it into Steamboat's throat. Savage finally gets forced away from ringside, and Steamboat, unable to breathe, is stretchered off by medical personnel.
Result: Randy Savage via countout (7:02)
Rating: Excellent stuff. Already the kind of absurd pacing they would live up to for even longer in their classic at WrestleMania III. Great post-match heat build to really make this a nuclear feud right from the start. I wish they had done something to make Savage really furious with Steamboat to justify that level of post-match beatdown, because that really wasn't anything he was doing to anyone else, but meh. 3.75 stars out of 5, only because it felt a bit brief to give it a full four.
05-11-2014
, 06:37 PM
Saturday Night's Main Event VIII: Intercontinental Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Date: November 29, 1986
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6ACeJUcYUI#t=04m08s
Background: Jake Roberts wanted a title shot, so this match was signed. This is heel vs. heel.
The Match: As Gene Okerlund prepares to interview Jake in the locker room before the match, Jake sneaks up behind and scares him with his snake. Okerlund spends the rest of the interview trembling, and you can see his mic shaking furiously the whole time. Jesse: "I couldn't tell if he was holding a microphone or a vibrator!" Uhhhh…
Jake threatens Elizabeth with the snake before the match. Macho hides behind her. She finally leaves the ring, the snake gets put back in the bag, and we're going to have some wrestling. Vince speculates that he thinks the fans might side with Savage between the two hated competitors. Armdrag by Jake to open. Side headlock on his part. Savage pulls his hair to gain some leverage. Snake pulls Savage's hair to get his leverage back. He throws Savage into a corner, Savage gets a boot up on the follow.
Savage with a snapmare, then a kneedrop, then a pointless pin attempt. Savage bounces off the ropes, measures Jake and hits him in the back of the head with an axhandle. Roberts fights back, but Savage blocks his punch and ties him up in the ropes. He grabs the bag with the snake out of the corner and shoves it underneath the ring so that he doesn't have to worry about it anymore. That doesn't last, since as soon as Jake regains control he fetches the snake and puts it back in the corner.
Roberts with the short clothesline, pin attempt, Savage's foot gets a rope break. Jake teases a DDT, but then drapes Savage's arm over him and executes a face-first suplex. The crowd seems to be behind Roberts. Punch, punch, punch, and Jake is in firm control until he drops his head for a back bodydrop and takes a kick in the face from Savage.
Savage controls Jake to the outside, heads up top, hits an axhandle to Roberts on the floor. Sends him back into the ring, another axhandle off the top onto Roberts. Pin, two-count. Back up for one more axhandle, Jake catches him with a fist to the gut on the way down. The two fight to the outside, Jake throws Savage back in, Savage hits a vicious axhandle on Jake as he enters the ring after him. Once back in the ring, the two are brawling wildly, and as referee Dave Hebner tries to get the match under control, each man deliberately knocks Hebner out of the way. We get the bell; we have a double DQ.
Result: Double Disqualification (9:30)
Rating: You know, not bad. Jake was a better worker back then, before Honky messed him up. I didn't think there were any tremendous spots in the match, but I do think the two men told the story well of a somewhat normal match ramping up in hostility pretty constantly until it hit a fever pitch where they both lost their cool and got disqualified. Let's say 2.5 stars out of 5.
Date: November 29, 1986
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6ACeJUcYUI#t=04m08s
Background: Jake Roberts wanted a title shot, so this match was signed. This is heel vs. heel.
The Match: As Gene Okerlund prepares to interview Jake in the locker room before the match, Jake sneaks up behind and scares him with his snake. Okerlund spends the rest of the interview trembling, and you can see his mic shaking furiously the whole time. Jesse: "I couldn't tell if he was holding a microphone or a vibrator!" Uhhhh…
Jake threatens Elizabeth with the snake before the match. Macho hides behind her. She finally leaves the ring, the snake gets put back in the bag, and we're going to have some wrestling. Vince speculates that he thinks the fans might side with Savage between the two hated competitors. Armdrag by Jake to open. Side headlock on his part. Savage pulls his hair to gain some leverage. Snake pulls Savage's hair to get his leverage back. He throws Savage into a corner, Savage gets a boot up on the follow.
Savage with a snapmare, then a kneedrop, then a pointless pin attempt. Savage bounces off the ropes, measures Jake and hits him in the back of the head with an axhandle. Roberts fights back, but Savage blocks his punch and ties him up in the ropes. He grabs the bag with the snake out of the corner and shoves it underneath the ring so that he doesn't have to worry about it anymore. That doesn't last, since as soon as Jake regains control he fetches the snake and puts it back in the corner.
Roberts with the short clothesline, pin attempt, Savage's foot gets a rope break. Jake teases a DDT, but then drapes Savage's arm over him and executes a face-first suplex. The crowd seems to be behind Roberts. Punch, punch, punch, and Jake is in firm control until he drops his head for a back bodydrop and takes a kick in the face from Savage.
Savage controls Jake to the outside, heads up top, hits an axhandle to Roberts on the floor. Sends him back into the ring, another axhandle off the top onto Roberts. Pin, two-count. Back up for one more axhandle, Jake catches him with a fist to the gut on the way down. The two fight to the outside, Jake throws Savage back in, Savage hits a vicious axhandle on Jake as he enters the ring after him. Once back in the ring, the two are brawling wildly, and as referee Dave Hebner tries to get the match under control, each man deliberately knocks Hebner out of the way. We get the bell; we have a double DQ.
Result: Double Disqualification (9:30)
Rating: You know, not bad. Jake was a better worker back then, before Honky messed him up. I didn't think there were any tremendous spots in the match, but I do think the two men told the story well of a somewhat normal match ramping up in hostility pretty constantly until it hit a fever pitch where they both lost their cool and got disqualified. Let's say 2.5 stars out of 5.
05-11-2014
, 08:02 PM
Boston Garden House Show: Intercontinental Title Lumberjack Match - Randy Savage (c) vs. Bruno Sammartino
Date: February 7, 1987
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31307039 (WWE Network)
Background: None that I know of. Usually the lumberjack stipulation indicates a prior feud, but these two haven't been wrestling each other before this that I've seen. Savage's enemy Ricky Steamboat is one of the lumberjacks though, so there's that.
The Match: Savage does the "hide behind Liz and then snipe" move to open. Tries to follow the ambush with a top rope axhandle but Bruno punches him on the way down. Bruno with a right hand, Savage tries to bail, but lumberjacks Haku and King Kong Bundy fling him back in. Another flurry by Bruno, another attempted escape, another spot where the lumberjacks toss Savage back in.
Knee strike and turnbuckle smashes by Sammartino. Savage sneaks a foreign object out of his trunks, hits Sammartino with it, and that turns the tide. Savage chokes Bruno, stomps at him, sends him outside. King Kong Bundy takes a cheap shot at Bruno while he's out there before sending him back in. As he's rolled back in, Savage hits an axhandle off the top from 3/4 of the way across the ring.
Another collision sends Sammartino out. This time Sammartino takes the fight to the same lumberjacks who hassled him last time and clears them out before heading back in. Bruno gets a surge of adrenaline and goes into attack mode on Savage, kneeing and punching and turnbuckle smashing, etc., then points to Ricky Steamboat and deliberately tosses Savage out to be near Steamboat. Steamboat and Savage exchange blows before Steamboat sends him back in.
Once Savage is back in, Sammartino cinches in his bearhug on Savage. He looks to potentially have the match won, but King Kong Bundy comes in and attacks Bruno, causing a disqualification and saving Savage's belt. I have no idea, outside of heel solidarity, why Bundy would care about helping Savage. Big brawl ensues in the ring afterward, but Savage has already bailed by this point.
Result: Bruno Sammartino via DQ (~4:30)
Rating: Bad. Not worth watching. 0.5 stars out of 5.
Date: February 7, 1987
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31307039 (WWE Network)
Background: None that I know of. Usually the lumberjack stipulation indicates a prior feud, but these two haven't been wrestling each other before this that I've seen. Savage's enemy Ricky Steamboat is one of the lumberjacks though, so there's that.
The Match: Savage does the "hide behind Liz and then snipe" move to open. Tries to follow the ambush with a top rope axhandle but Bruno punches him on the way down. Bruno with a right hand, Savage tries to bail, but lumberjacks Haku and King Kong Bundy fling him back in. Another flurry by Bruno, another attempted escape, another spot where the lumberjacks toss Savage back in.
Knee strike and turnbuckle smashes by Sammartino. Savage sneaks a foreign object out of his trunks, hits Sammartino with it, and that turns the tide. Savage chokes Bruno, stomps at him, sends him outside. King Kong Bundy takes a cheap shot at Bruno while he's out there before sending him back in. As he's rolled back in, Savage hits an axhandle off the top from 3/4 of the way across the ring.
Another collision sends Sammartino out. This time Sammartino takes the fight to the same lumberjacks who hassled him last time and clears them out before heading back in. Bruno gets a surge of adrenaline and goes into attack mode on Savage, kneeing and punching and turnbuckle smashing, etc., then points to Ricky Steamboat and deliberately tosses Savage out to be near Steamboat. Steamboat and Savage exchange blows before Steamboat sends him back in.
Once Savage is back in, Sammartino cinches in his bearhug on Savage. He looks to potentially have the match won, but King Kong Bundy comes in and attacks Bruno, causing a disqualification and saving Savage's belt. I have no idea, outside of heel solidarity, why Bundy would care about helping Savage. Big brawl ensues in the ring afterward, but Savage has already bailed by this point.
Result: Bruno Sammartino via DQ (~4:30)
Rating: Bad. Not worth watching. 0.5 stars out of 5.
05-11-2014
, 10:37 PM
Quote:
The Pre-Wrestling Years
Randy was born in Ohio, and ended up playing baseball at and graduating from Downers Grove High School, which was located in a suburb of Chicago, IL. Actress Denise Richards also went to that school, though unfortunately for Randy she was just born a few months before he graduated from high school so there wasn't exactly a ton of overlap.
Poffo was signed into the St. Louis Cardinals organization out of high school. He had been a catcher to that point, but mostly played outfield once he got to the minor leagues. He bounced around, from the Cards' minor league system to that of the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox.
Randy was born in Ohio, and ended up playing baseball at and graduating from Downers Grove High School, which was located in a suburb of Chicago, IL. Actress Denise Richards also went to that school, though unfortunately for Randy she was just born a few months before he graduated from high school so there wasn't exactly a ton of overlap.
Poffo was signed into the St. Louis Cardinals organization out of high school. He had been a catcher to that point, but mostly played outfield once he got to the minor leagues. He bounced around, from the Cards' minor league system to that of the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox.
05-11-2014
, 10:47 PM
05-11-2014
, 11:00 PM
Thanks everyone who has posted so far, as always it keeps me working on these to know that people are actually wanting to read it.
I can't stop rewatching this promo (it's just two minutes long). For whatever reason, this specific one is definitely the funniest of all the early promos I've posted IMO. This could easily be my warped sense of humor talking, since he's being a complete dick in it, but it's the combo of the way Savage delivers that exchange above and the way he goes on genuinely acting amazed by how rude she was when she obviously did nothing wrong.
Quote:
Randy Savage promo w/ Mean Gene
Date: September 7, 1985
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBLzCypJBzQ
I'll include a whole ton of promos in this thread. It would be a waste not to, as awesome as Savage was on the mic throughout his career.
This started Savage's character as being verbally abusive and rude toward Elizabeth, as she responds to a compliment Mean Gene pays her and Savage gets pissed and demands that she leaves.
Mean Gene: "Randy Savage, with all due respect, that is pretty tough!"
Savage: "No it isn't, in fact that is super low-key, that wasn't nothing."
For some reason that made me laugh pretty hard. Mean Gene briefly responds and then seems to start corpsing a bit too before collecting himself.
Date: September 7, 1985
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBLzCypJBzQ
I'll include a whole ton of promos in this thread. It would be a waste not to, as awesome as Savage was on the mic throughout his career.
This started Savage's character as being verbally abusive and rude toward Elizabeth, as she responds to a compliment Mean Gene pays her and Savage gets pissed and demands that she leaves.
Mean Gene: "Randy Savage, with all due respect, that is pretty tough!"
Savage: "No it isn't, in fact that is super low-key, that wasn't nothing."
For some reason that made me laugh pretty hard. Mean Gene briefly responds and then seems to start corpsing a bit too before collecting himself.
05-11-2014
, 11:36 PM
WrestleMania III: Intercontinental Title - Randy Savage (c) vs. Ricky Steamboat w/ George "The Animal" Steele
Date: March 29, 1987
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPwnUDxme3A#t=01m29s
Background: Savage crushed Steamboat's trachea or whatever with a timekeeper's bell back in November. Steamboat had been out of action, but vowed to return in time to get revenge at WrestleMania. Also George Steele is involved by still being the creeper who wants to grope Elizabeth, so he'll be with Steamboat for this match.
The Match: Champ out first, but Jesse doesn't rage about it this year. Lockup, stalemate, armdrag by Steamboat, quick walk by Savage and then he's back in. Knee to the gut by Savage, but misses an elbow, Steamboat with an armdrag, then a choke that he holds up for several seconds before dropping Savage.
Savage leads Steamboat on a chase around the ring, gets in, attacks Steamboat as he enters. Knee-lift, kick to the chest, and he rakes at the Dragon's eyes which causes referee Dave Hebner to back him down. Arm wringer by Steamboat, he works it a bit by hanging it over the top rope and then continuing to pound on it. Savage gets free with a hair-pull, sends him into the ropes, elbow smash and then he runs him over to the other side and sends him over the top.
Steamboat attempts to re-enter, gets up to the apron, but Savage turns him around, forcibly leans him back, and drives an elbow straight into that injured throat that Steamboat was coming back from. That chops Steamboat down to size, and Savage stomps away. Snapmare brings Dragon back into the ring from outside, side headlock takeover into a pin, two-count. Knee drop, two-count.
Steamboat blocks a turnbuckle smash and executes one of his own, following with a series of chops and then getting Savage tied up in the ropes. A couple of deep armdrags and a shoulderblock, Steamboat for a pinning attempt but no. Savage blocks and gets a punch in, sends Steamboat over the top. Dragon skins the cat, holds on and flips back in, but Savage instantly clotheslines him hard back over the top and this one sends the challenger to the floor.
Savage follows him out, drives a knee into his back, and that sends him over the steel barricade. George Steele blatantly helps Steamboat get back into the ring. Savage promptly throws him back out, then goes up top for the axhandle to the floor. Throws him back in, axhandle to Steamboat in the middle of the ring. Bounces off the ropes, elbow smash to the top of Steamboat's head. Runs Dragon toward the ropes, hangs him over the top, scurries back at lightning quick speed for a cover but can't finish the match there. **** these guys were fast as hell this match.
Suplex by Savage, two-count. Elbow by Savage, Steamboat back at him with a chop, but Savage remains in control, hitting one more elbow that staggers the dragon and then executes a gutwrench suplex. Attempted back suplex by Savage, Steamboat flips through it. Savage charges him, Steamboat back bodydrops him super high over the top.
As Savage re-enters, the Dragon goes up high, tomahawk chop from the top. Only a two-count due to a rope break. Lowers multiple chops into Savage's eyes. Savage tries to roll out, Steamboat gives him one more right hand for good measure to push him out, then follows. Savage tries to meet him on his way back in, Steamboat with a shoulder lunge and then a sunset flip over the ropes for a pinfall attempt for two. Steamboat with a cradle pinning attempt, two more. Small package, two-count once again. You can see that Hebner is incredibly winded by this point just trying to keep up with his officiating duties. I'd never noticed that before, but it just adds to the awesomeness of their pace.
Steamboat with a roll-up, Savage rolls through and grabs the tights, but still only gets a two-count. That successfully got a fall against Steamboat in a house show match. There were a few of those in this match, where they deliberately played off of falls that worked against each other previously. Just really smart stuff. Savage reverses a whip into the corner and we have a ref bump.
Clothesline by Savage, then up to the top, flying elbow connects with Steamboat but there's no referee. Savage tries to revive Hebner, then goes ringside for the timekeeper's bell. He heads toward the top with it, but George Steele interferes and tosses Savage off the top. Savage back up, attempts a scoop slam, Steamboat rolls him into a small package and gets the three-count.
This match still holds up beautifully today.
Result: Ricky Steamboat via pinfall (14:36)
Rating: Perfection. I'm sure if you're reading, you've seen this match, but if you haven't then do so as soon as you can. Not only is it revolutionary, but it holds up as a fantastic watch today. 5 stars out of 5.
Date: March 29, 1987
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPwnUDxme3A#t=01m29s
Background: Savage crushed Steamboat's trachea or whatever with a timekeeper's bell back in November. Steamboat had been out of action, but vowed to return in time to get revenge at WrestleMania. Also George Steele is involved by still being the creeper who wants to grope Elizabeth, so he'll be with Steamboat for this match.
The Match: Champ out first, but Jesse doesn't rage about it this year. Lockup, stalemate, armdrag by Steamboat, quick walk by Savage and then he's back in. Knee to the gut by Savage, but misses an elbow, Steamboat with an armdrag, then a choke that he holds up for several seconds before dropping Savage.
Savage leads Steamboat on a chase around the ring, gets in, attacks Steamboat as he enters. Knee-lift, kick to the chest, and he rakes at the Dragon's eyes which causes referee Dave Hebner to back him down. Arm wringer by Steamboat, he works it a bit by hanging it over the top rope and then continuing to pound on it. Savage gets free with a hair-pull, sends him into the ropes, elbow smash and then he runs him over to the other side and sends him over the top.
Steamboat attempts to re-enter, gets up to the apron, but Savage turns him around, forcibly leans him back, and drives an elbow straight into that injured throat that Steamboat was coming back from. That chops Steamboat down to size, and Savage stomps away. Snapmare brings Dragon back into the ring from outside, side headlock takeover into a pin, two-count. Knee drop, two-count.
Steamboat blocks a turnbuckle smash and executes one of his own, following with a series of chops and then getting Savage tied up in the ropes. A couple of deep armdrags and a shoulderblock, Steamboat for a pinning attempt but no. Savage blocks and gets a punch in, sends Steamboat over the top. Dragon skins the cat, holds on and flips back in, but Savage instantly clotheslines him hard back over the top and this one sends the challenger to the floor.
Savage follows him out, drives a knee into his back, and that sends him over the steel barricade. George Steele blatantly helps Steamboat get back into the ring. Savage promptly throws him back out, then goes up top for the axhandle to the floor. Throws him back in, axhandle to Steamboat in the middle of the ring. Bounces off the ropes, elbow smash to the top of Steamboat's head. Runs Dragon toward the ropes, hangs him over the top, scurries back at lightning quick speed for a cover but can't finish the match there. **** these guys were fast as hell this match.
Suplex by Savage, two-count. Elbow by Savage, Steamboat back at him with a chop, but Savage remains in control, hitting one more elbow that staggers the dragon and then executes a gutwrench suplex. Attempted back suplex by Savage, Steamboat flips through it. Savage charges him, Steamboat back bodydrops him super high over the top.
As Savage re-enters, the Dragon goes up high, tomahawk chop from the top. Only a two-count due to a rope break. Lowers multiple chops into Savage's eyes. Savage tries to roll out, Steamboat gives him one more right hand for good measure to push him out, then follows. Savage tries to meet him on his way back in, Steamboat with a shoulder lunge and then a sunset flip over the ropes for a pinfall attempt for two. Steamboat with a cradle pinning attempt, two more. Small package, two-count once again. You can see that Hebner is incredibly winded by this point just trying to keep up with his officiating duties. I'd never noticed that before, but it just adds to the awesomeness of their pace.
Steamboat with a roll-up, Savage rolls through and grabs the tights, but still only gets a two-count. That successfully got a fall against Steamboat in a house show match. There were a few of those in this match, where they deliberately played off of falls that worked against each other previously. Just really smart stuff. Savage reverses a whip into the corner and we have a ref bump.
Clothesline by Savage, then up to the top, flying elbow connects with Steamboat but there's no referee. Savage tries to revive Hebner, then goes ringside for the timekeeper's bell. He heads toward the top with it, but George Steele interferes and tosses Savage off the top. Savage back up, attempts a scoop slam, Steamboat rolls him into a small package and gets the three-count.
This match still holds up beautifully today.
Result: Ricky Steamboat via pinfall (14:36)
Rating: Perfection. I'm sure if you're reading, you've seen this match, but if you haven't then do so as soon as you can. Not only is it revolutionary, but it holds up as a fantastic watch today. 5 stars out of 5.
05-12-2014
, 08:06 PM
