"Macho Man" Randy Savage Tribute Thread
05-26-2014
, 10:38 AM
Survivor Series '89: Elimination Match - The King's Court (Randy Savage, Canadian Earthquake, Dino Bravo, and Greg Valentine) vs. the 4x4s (Jim Duggan, Bret Hart, Ronnie Garvin, and Hercules)
Date: November 23, 1989
Link: N/A
Background: Savage was feuding with Duggan, Valentine with Garvin, and ummm…yeah I don't know why the others are here. Bret Hart still wasn't a singles wrestler most of the time by this point. This had to be directly after Earthquake debuted by ambushing the Ultimate Warrior with Dino Bravo (posing as an audience member), because it was a really short-lived period where he was called The Canadian Earthquake.
The Match: The 4x4s clear the ring right away (by running in with weapons obviously). Once things settle, Savage is going to open up, and Duggan comes in right across from him so Savage bails to the outside. Hacksaw chases him back in, at which point he gets blindsided by Hercules. I guess that's the two we're starting with. Savage gets press-slammed and then instantly tags out to Valentine.
A few minutes later, Earthquake rids the match of the strongman.
But who's going to throw 10 clotheslines in a row and call it "wrestling" now? Oh wait, Duggan hasn't been eliminated yet; they have a backup clothesline specialist waiting in the wings. Savage's team goes up 4-3.
Macho Man eventually tags back in after 5-6 minutes on the apron, and executes an axhandle on Ronnie Garvin while his teammate Greg Valentine holds Garvin.
Drops a knee on Garvin and attempts a pin that only gets two, and unfortunately he tags right back out again. Gets another 10-second stint in the match where he lays in some punches, but despite being team captain he's not seeing a ton of action early. Duggan manages to eliminate Valentine by blindsiding him with the running clothesline, and we're evened up at 3.
Savage back in, hangs Duggan over the top rope but then tags Earthquake back in. In his next stint, he tags in to beat up on Ronnie Garvin but Garvin manages to scurry over to the corner and tag in the Hitman. We get the face-off between one of the icons of the Golden Era and one of the icons of the New Generation. Again, Bret Hart is still mostly a tag wrestler here (the Hart Foundation got another run with the tag belts the following year), but the crowd pops as the two men circle each other; it's as if they knew this would be a cool time capsule someday.
The Hitman gets the better of Savage, blocking a turnbuckle smash and delivering his own before executing an inverted atomic drop. Holds him in place and stomps in the lower abdomen. Macho Man backs off and smartly tags out to Dino Bravo. Within about 30 seconds, Bravo hits his sidewalk slam on Ronnie Garvin and puts him away for the three-count. We have 3-on-2.
Bret Hart and Jim Duggan manage to isolate and double-team the Earthquake, but Savage tags back in for round 2 with Bret. Again though, Savage has trouble and gets caught up in the corner and gets double-teamed by the two remaining babyfaces, then gets tied up Andre-style between the top and middle rope. Backbreaker by Hart gets two. Small package gets the same. Bret's second-rope elbow fails, and Macho bails out to Bravo again.
When he re-enters, Bret is in a lot more trouble, having taken a pretty good beating. The Hitman slips away again though, as he dodges a double-team move by Savage and Bravo, then dodges a standing elbow-drop, and scurries toward Hacksaw for the hot tag. Duggan knocks Savage down a few times, but Savage is able to reverse the tide, and even when Duggan tags out to Bret, Savage quickly controls him and carries him into the corner before tagging out to Bravo.
Bret hurts himself further by charging into the corner after Bravo and coming up empty, taking the hard chest-first bump. Shoulderbreaker by Bravo, then he sets him in the middle of the ring and tags in the Macho Man. Not hard to see what's coming here.
Bret takes the elbow, stays down for the three-count, and despite a solid performance that did a good job of putting him over, the Hitman is eliminated. We're at 3-on-1.
Duggan fights the good fight against the impossible advantage, but doesn't make any further eliminations. As he goes into the ropes to set up, I would assume, a clothesline, Sherri pulls down the top rope, he goes spilling over the top, and he's unable from there to return before the countout. Savage, Bravo, and the Earthquake survive. For some awkward reason, Finkel announces them as the "sole survivors," indicating that he has no idea what the word "sole" means.
Result: Savage, Bravo, and Earthquake survive (23:25)
Rating: The Savage vs. Bret stuff was pretty cool, but everything else was garbage. I can only give this one 2 stars out of 5.
Date: November 23, 1989
Link: N/A
Background: Savage was feuding with Duggan, Valentine with Garvin, and ummm…yeah I don't know why the others are here. Bret Hart still wasn't a singles wrestler most of the time by this point. This had to be directly after Earthquake debuted by ambushing the Ultimate Warrior with Dino Bravo (posing as an audience member), because it was a really short-lived period where he was called The Canadian Earthquake.
The Match: The 4x4s clear the ring right away (by running in with weapons obviously). Once things settle, Savage is going to open up, and Duggan comes in right across from him so Savage bails to the outside. Hacksaw chases him back in, at which point he gets blindsided by Hercules. I guess that's the two we're starting with. Savage gets press-slammed and then instantly tags out to Valentine.
A few minutes later, Earthquake rids the match of the strongman.
But who's going to throw 10 clotheslines in a row and call it "wrestling" now? Oh wait, Duggan hasn't been eliminated yet; they have a backup clothesline specialist waiting in the wings. Savage's team goes up 4-3.
Macho Man eventually tags back in after 5-6 minutes on the apron, and executes an axhandle on Ronnie Garvin while his teammate Greg Valentine holds Garvin.
Drops a knee on Garvin and attempts a pin that only gets two, and unfortunately he tags right back out again. Gets another 10-second stint in the match where he lays in some punches, but despite being team captain he's not seeing a ton of action early. Duggan manages to eliminate Valentine by blindsiding him with the running clothesline, and we're evened up at 3.
Savage back in, hangs Duggan over the top rope but then tags Earthquake back in. In his next stint, he tags in to beat up on Ronnie Garvin but Garvin manages to scurry over to the corner and tag in the Hitman. We get the face-off between one of the icons of the Golden Era and one of the icons of the New Generation. Again, Bret Hart is still mostly a tag wrestler here (the Hart Foundation got another run with the tag belts the following year), but the crowd pops as the two men circle each other; it's as if they knew this would be a cool time capsule someday.
The Hitman gets the better of Savage, blocking a turnbuckle smash and delivering his own before executing an inverted atomic drop. Holds him in place and stomps in the lower abdomen. Macho Man backs off and smartly tags out to Dino Bravo. Within about 30 seconds, Bravo hits his sidewalk slam on Ronnie Garvin and puts him away for the three-count. We have 3-on-2.
Bret Hart and Jim Duggan manage to isolate and double-team the Earthquake, but Savage tags back in for round 2 with Bret. Again though, Savage has trouble and gets caught up in the corner and gets double-teamed by the two remaining babyfaces, then gets tied up Andre-style between the top and middle rope. Backbreaker by Hart gets two. Small package gets the same. Bret's second-rope elbow fails, and Macho bails out to Bravo again.
When he re-enters, Bret is in a lot more trouble, having taken a pretty good beating. The Hitman slips away again though, as he dodges a double-team move by Savage and Bravo, then dodges a standing elbow-drop, and scurries toward Hacksaw for the hot tag. Duggan knocks Savage down a few times, but Savage is able to reverse the tide, and even when Duggan tags out to Bret, Savage quickly controls him and carries him into the corner before tagging out to Bravo.
Bret hurts himself further by charging into the corner after Bravo and coming up empty, taking the hard chest-first bump. Shoulderbreaker by Bravo, then he sets him in the middle of the ring and tags in the Macho Man. Not hard to see what's coming here.
Bret takes the elbow, stays down for the three-count, and despite a solid performance that did a good job of putting him over, the Hitman is eliminated. We're at 3-on-1.
Duggan fights the good fight against the impossible advantage, but doesn't make any further eliminations. As he goes into the ropes to set up, I would assume, a clothesline, Sherri pulls down the top rope, he goes spilling over the top, and he's unable from there to return before the countout. Savage, Bravo, and the Earthquake survive. For some awkward reason, Finkel announces them as the "sole survivors," indicating that he has no idea what the word "sole" means.
Result: Savage, Bravo, and Earthquake survive (23:25)
Rating: The Savage vs. Bret stuff was pretty cool, but everything else was garbage. I can only give this one 2 stars out of 5.
05-26-2014
, 10:57 AM
Hogan and Beefcake defeat Savage and Zeus again at No Holds Barred
Date: December 27, 1990
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x49...y-savage_sport
This just being a hype piece for Hogan's bad movie, I'm not inclined to give it a full writeup. It was a cage match, about 10 minutes in length, and ended with Hogan giving three legdrops to Zeus and pinning him. It blew off not only Hogan's feud with Zeus, but Zeus's career in general. He did briefly resurface some years later in WCW, but that didn't last. Tiny Lister, who played Zeus, mostly returned to non-wrestling acting.
The match was offered on PPV as a doubleheader with Hogan's movie of the same name, though the match was taped at some random Wrestling Challenge taping two weeks previously. I weep for the people who paid PPV prices for it.
Date: December 27, 1990
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x49...y-savage_sport
This just being a hype piece for Hogan's bad movie, I'm not inclined to give it a full writeup. It was a cage match, about 10 minutes in length, and ended with Hogan giving three legdrops to Zeus and pinning him. It blew off not only Hogan's feud with Zeus, but Zeus's career in general. He did briefly resurface some years later in WCW, but that didn't last. Tiny Lister, who played Zeus, mostly returned to non-wrestling acting.
The match was offered on PPV as a doubleheader with Hogan's movie of the same name, though the match was taped at some random Wrestling Challenge taping two weeks previously. I weep for the people who paid PPV prices for it.
05-26-2014
, 04:13 PM
05-26-2014
, 05:51 PM
05-26-2014
, 06:06 PM
Royal Rumble '90: Savage and Sherri get in a dust-up with Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire
Date: January 21, 1990
Brother Love hosted a segment at the 1990 Royal Rumble. Sherri was his guest, and she spent a bunch of time running down Sapphire. Sapphire comes out, and Sherri continues degrading her until Sapphire finally gets fed up and slaps her. Randy and Dusty come to the rescue, etc. Segment ends with Dusty and Sapphire clearing the ring and dancing in the middle of it.
Royal Rumble '90: Rumble Match
Background: Savage had kind of still been feuding with Jim Duggan to this point, but obviously the segment with Dusty earlier in the night signaled a transition.
The Match: The Macho King comes out early, in the #5 position, and all in all it's a pretty uneventful Rumble for him. About eight minutes into his run he dumps Jake the Snake out of the ring as Jake is setting up a DDT on Ted DiBiase.
Dusty Rhodes enters the Rumble a moment later, heads straight after his new enemy Savage, and within a minute he backdrops him over the top rope.
As for the result? This is the one that Hogan allegedly took away from Mr. Perfect, the allegedly originally-scheduled winner.
Result: Hulk Hogan via backstage shenanigans (58:46)
Rating: N/A, but pretty worthless for Savage. The whole event for him was just building up a new feud with Dusty.
Date: January 21, 1990
Brother Love hosted a segment at the 1990 Royal Rumble. Sherri was his guest, and she spent a bunch of time running down Sapphire. Sapphire comes out, and Sherri continues degrading her until Sapphire finally gets fed up and slaps her. Randy and Dusty come to the rescue, etc. Segment ends with Dusty and Sapphire clearing the ring and dancing in the middle of it.
Royal Rumble '90: Rumble Match
Background: Savage had kind of still been feuding with Jim Duggan to this point, but obviously the segment with Dusty earlier in the night signaled a transition.
The Match: The Macho King comes out early, in the #5 position, and all in all it's a pretty uneventful Rumble for him. About eight minutes into his run he dumps Jake the Snake out of the ring as Jake is setting up a DDT on Ted DiBiase.
Dusty Rhodes enters the Rumble a moment later, heads straight after his new enemy Savage, and within a minute he backdrops him over the top rope.
As for the result? This is the one that Hogan allegedly took away from Mr. Perfect, the allegedly originally-scheduled winner.
Result: Hulk Hogan via backstage shenanigans (58:46)
Rating: N/A, but pretty worthless for Savage. The whole event for him was just building up a new feud with Dusty.
05-26-2014
, 06:54 PM
The Main Event III: WWF Title - Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Randy Savage (Guest Referee Buster Douglas)
Date: February 23, 1990
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfKBZD-OLSA
Background: This was originally slated to be officiated by Mike Tyson, but Tyson dropped the world boxing title in a stunning upset to Buster Douglas a couple of weeks earlier. The WWF wasn't going to stand for having a non-champion officiate the bout (a convicted rapist past his boxing prime eight years later was fine though), so they subbed Buster Douglas in as the referee. Why more Hogan-Savage? Well basically there weren't a ton of believable challengers to Hogan, and they were already setting up for Hogan-Warrior at Mania.
The Match: Douglas is just an outside official, which I suppose is all he really can be taught how to do on the spot. Earl Hebner is the regular official.
Savage off the ropes, runs into a shoulderblock by Hogan and takes a walk. Hogan is going to follow him out, but Douglas stands in his way and stops him. Savage back in, hangs the Hulkster over the top rope. Knocks Hogan out of the ring and is going to follow with an axhandle to the floor, but Douglas stops him too.
Hogan gets back in, Sherri is up on the apron and Hogan goes and grabs her. Savage attempts a knee from behind, but Hulk dodges and Savage hits Sherri. Not to go full Stroud, but I do find it odd that they had this generation's hero to kids be so willing to physically abuse a woman (even an obviously evil woman) on TV all the time.
Hulk hits a running clothesline/forearm on Savage. Scoop slam, two elbow drops, and a couple of closed fists before Hebner stops him. Atomic drop by Hogan. Off the ropes, but Sherri trips him. Hogan grabs her by the hair, but Savage quickly runs over and attacks. Macho now in control. Clothesline gets a two-count. Knee drop, followed by a chokehold. Savage distracts Hebner and Sherri strangles Hogan right in view of Buster Douglas, so Douglas ejects her to the back as the show goes to commercial.
Back from commercial, Hogan is fighting his way out of a reverse chinlock. Both men try to clothesline each other, but Savage gets the better of the exchange. Throws Hogan outside, and follows with an axhandle to the floor. Rolls the champ in, axhandle from the top to Hogan in the ring. Two-count.
Bodyslam by Savage in the middle of the ring. Up top, and he hits the flying elbow drop. Hulk kicks out on two of course, and it's time for the standard Hogan endgame sequence. Right hands, whip into the ropes, big boot…Savage rolls out and drags Hogan outside? Okay it got interrupted. They fight back into the ring, and there's a ref bump. Regardless, Hogan goes off the ropes with a legdrop, Buster Douglas goes in and makes a blatant fast count as Savage kicks out of the legdrop, but we get a three-count on a screwjob and the match is over.
Savage gets in Douglas's face, and as I recall Douglas ends up knocking him out, but the clip cuts out before that can happen.
Result: Hulk Hogan via pinfall (11:14)
Rating: This was whatever. 2 stars out of 5, maybe. This was the end of any WWF rivalry between Savage and Hogan.
Date: February 23, 1990
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfKBZD-OLSA
Background: This was originally slated to be officiated by Mike Tyson, but Tyson dropped the world boxing title in a stunning upset to Buster Douglas a couple of weeks earlier. The WWF wasn't going to stand for having a non-champion officiate the bout (a convicted rapist past his boxing prime eight years later was fine though), so they subbed Buster Douglas in as the referee. Why more Hogan-Savage? Well basically there weren't a ton of believable challengers to Hogan, and they were already setting up for Hogan-Warrior at Mania.
The Match: Douglas is just an outside official, which I suppose is all he really can be taught how to do on the spot. Earl Hebner is the regular official.
Savage off the ropes, runs into a shoulderblock by Hogan and takes a walk. Hogan is going to follow him out, but Douglas stands in his way and stops him. Savage back in, hangs the Hulkster over the top rope. Knocks Hogan out of the ring and is going to follow with an axhandle to the floor, but Douglas stops him too.
Hogan gets back in, Sherri is up on the apron and Hogan goes and grabs her. Savage attempts a knee from behind, but Hulk dodges and Savage hits Sherri. Not to go full Stroud, but I do find it odd that they had this generation's hero to kids be so willing to physically abuse a woman (even an obviously evil woman) on TV all the time.
Hulk hits a running clothesline/forearm on Savage. Scoop slam, two elbow drops, and a couple of closed fists before Hebner stops him. Atomic drop by Hogan. Off the ropes, but Sherri trips him. Hogan grabs her by the hair, but Savage quickly runs over and attacks. Macho now in control. Clothesline gets a two-count. Knee drop, followed by a chokehold. Savage distracts Hebner and Sherri strangles Hogan right in view of Buster Douglas, so Douglas ejects her to the back as the show goes to commercial.
Back from commercial, Hogan is fighting his way out of a reverse chinlock. Both men try to clothesline each other, but Savage gets the better of the exchange. Throws Hogan outside, and follows with an axhandle to the floor. Rolls the champ in, axhandle from the top to Hogan in the ring. Two-count.
Bodyslam by Savage in the middle of the ring. Up top, and he hits the flying elbow drop. Hulk kicks out on two of course, and it's time for the standard Hogan endgame sequence. Right hands, whip into the ropes, big boot…Savage rolls out and drags Hogan outside? Okay it got interrupted. They fight back into the ring, and there's a ref bump. Regardless, Hogan goes off the ropes with a legdrop, Buster Douglas goes in and makes a blatant fast count as Savage kicks out of the legdrop, but we get a three-count on a screwjob and the match is over.
Savage gets in Douglas's face, and as I recall Douglas ends up knocking him out, but the clip cuts out before that can happen.
Result: Hulk Hogan via pinfall (11:14)
Rating: This was whatever. 2 stars out of 5, maybe. This was the end of any WWF rivalry between Savage and Hogan.
05-28-2014
, 05:41 PM
Quote:
- WWE is working on a new "Macho Man" Randy Savage DVD. Unlike the first Savage DVD that was released by WWE five years ago, this one will feature a documentary on Savage's career. While there has been no release date announced, several stars have already been interviewed for the project
05-28-2014
, 06:43 PM
WrestleMania VI: Randy Savage & Queen Sherri vs. Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire
Date: April 1, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31356295 (WWE Network only)
Background: These four got into a brouhaha at the Royal Rumble when Sherri insulted Sapphire on the Brother Love Show. As a result, Savage went from defending the WWF Title at WrestleMania V to wrestling in a mixed tag match a year later. Thankfully he wasn't held down like this forever, but this was the darkest part of the second WWF heel run.
The Match: Macho and Sherri out first. When Dusty and Sapphire arrive, Dusty introduces "the crown jewel" who's going to be in their corner, Miss Elizabeth.
We start with the two men going at it, as Dusty sends Savage into the ropes and hits him with a back elbow. Sherri runs distraction, Savage tries to capitalize, but his cross-body attempt just ends up in some sort of botchy-looking atomic drop/spinebuster hybrid. Dusty tags Sapphire in, and umm she's not a wrestler, so the match gets worse. She attempts a really, REALLY bad airplane spin on Sherri and then goes for a pin and gets one. Sherri tries for a bodyslam, collapses under Sapphire's weight, and that gets a two-count. Sapphire tags back out.
Dusty holds Savage up in his corner so that Sapphire can slap him. Savage ends up knocking Rhodes out of the ring with a knee to the back, then preoccupies the referee so that Sherri can deliver some damage to Dusty on the outside. Top rope axhandle to the floor by Macho. Again distracts the referee, again more of Sherri attacking Dusty on the outside. And then Macho comes back over for another top rope axhandle. He's going up for a third when Sapphire stands in the way to stop it. Savage forcibly tosses her aside. He returns the Dream to the ring and enters with an axhandle off the top to the middle of the ring.
Suplex on big Dusty. Two-count. Referee gets caught up with the women on one side of the ring, so Savage goes and gets his sceptre and clobbers Rhodes off the top with it. Doesn't follow with a pin, and instead tags Sherri with orders for her to finish it. Terrible top rope splash by Sherri gets two. Dusty turns it back around here, dealing with both Sherri and Savage. Tags in Sapphire. Dusty seems to hold Sherri up so that Sapphire can execute some sort of RKO-type move, but again Sapphire is truly no more competent at this than a random person off the street.
Miss Elizabeth interferes from outside with Sherri, then shoves her toward the middle. Sapphire rolls her up and gets the three-count. I'm beyond glad that this abortion of a match is over.
Result: Dusty and Sapphire via pinfall when Sapphire pins Sherri (7:52)
Rating: Zero redeeming value. 0 stars out of 5.
Date: April 1, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31356295 (WWE Network only)
Background: These four got into a brouhaha at the Royal Rumble when Sherri insulted Sapphire on the Brother Love Show. As a result, Savage went from defending the WWF Title at WrestleMania V to wrestling in a mixed tag match a year later. Thankfully he wasn't held down like this forever, but this was the darkest part of the second WWF heel run.
The Match: Macho and Sherri out first. When Dusty and Sapphire arrive, Dusty introduces "the crown jewel" who's going to be in their corner, Miss Elizabeth.
We start with the two men going at it, as Dusty sends Savage into the ropes and hits him with a back elbow. Sherri runs distraction, Savage tries to capitalize, but his cross-body attempt just ends up in some sort of botchy-looking atomic drop/spinebuster hybrid. Dusty tags Sapphire in, and umm she's not a wrestler, so the match gets worse. She attempts a really, REALLY bad airplane spin on Sherri and then goes for a pin and gets one. Sherri tries for a bodyslam, collapses under Sapphire's weight, and that gets a two-count. Sapphire tags back out.
Dusty holds Savage up in his corner so that Sapphire can slap him. Savage ends up knocking Rhodes out of the ring with a knee to the back, then preoccupies the referee so that Sherri can deliver some damage to Dusty on the outside. Top rope axhandle to the floor by Macho. Again distracts the referee, again more of Sherri attacking Dusty on the outside. And then Macho comes back over for another top rope axhandle. He's going up for a third when Sapphire stands in the way to stop it. Savage forcibly tosses her aside. He returns the Dream to the ring and enters with an axhandle off the top to the middle of the ring.
Suplex on big Dusty. Two-count. Referee gets caught up with the women on one side of the ring, so Savage goes and gets his sceptre and clobbers Rhodes off the top with it. Doesn't follow with a pin, and instead tags Sherri with orders for her to finish it. Terrible top rope splash by Sherri gets two. Dusty turns it back around here, dealing with both Sherri and Savage. Tags in Sapphire. Dusty seems to hold Sherri up so that Sapphire can execute some sort of RKO-type move, but again Sapphire is truly no more competent at this than a random person off the street.
Miss Elizabeth interferes from outside with Sherri, then shoves her toward the middle. Sapphire rolls her up and gets the three-count. I'm beyond glad that this abortion of a match is over.
Result: Dusty and Sapphire via pinfall when Sapphire pins Sherri (7:52)
Rating: Zero redeeming value. 0 stars out of 5.
05-28-2014
, 07:31 PM
SummerSlam '90: Randy Savage vs. Dusty Rhodes
Date: August 27, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31336889 (WWE Network only)
Background: This feud was ongoing since the Rumble, and this was the de facto blowoff match. They fought all summer long in house shows, though mercifully none seemed to make it onto YouTube so I felt free to just fast forward from Mania to SummerSlam. Also, Queen Sherri was scheduled to face Sapphire earlier in the night, but Sapphire was mysteriously a no-show, so Sherri won by forfeit.
The Match: Sapphire had finally shown up to the arena late after being mysteriously missing all night, but had beelined for a dressing room and wouldn't come out. Dusty goes to the ring by himself, visibly bothered by the Sapphire situation. Savage comes down, and as we're ready to begin, Ted DiBiase interrupts from a platform across the arena and announces that he has bought Sapphire.
He has bought her with a WWF Tote Bag full of cold hard cash. Couldn't you spring for a proper briefcase while you were at it, Ted? Dusty is distraught and is going to go after DiBiase, but Savage runs him down from behind, attacks, and drags him back to the ring. Dusty briefly turns around and gets an offensive flurry, but Savage repairs to the outside, gets a foreign object while Dusty and the referee are tied up with Sherri, and goes back in to waffle Rhodes with it for the win. Practically a squash match.
Result: Randy Savage via pinfall (2:15)
Rating: I mean this was just over two minutes, it wasn't really a match. At least it mercifully blew off this worthless feud. 0.5 stars out of 5.
Date: August 27, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31336889 (WWE Network only)
Background: This feud was ongoing since the Rumble, and this was the de facto blowoff match. They fought all summer long in house shows, though mercifully none seemed to make it onto YouTube so I felt free to just fast forward from Mania to SummerSlam. Also, Queen Sherri was scheduled to face Sapphire earlier in the night, but Sapphire was mysteriously a no-show, so Sherri won by forfeit.
The Match: Sapphire had finally shown up to the arena late after being mysteriously missing all night, but had beelined for a dressing room and wouldn't come out. Dusty goes to the ring by himself, visibly bothered by the Sapphire situation. Savage comes down, and as we're ready to begin, Ted DiBiase interrupts from a platform across the arena and announces that he has bought Sapphire.
He has bought her with a WWF Tote Bag full of cold hard cash. Couldn't you spring for a proper briefcase while you were at it, Ted? Dusty is distraught and is going to go after DiBiase, but Savage runs him down from behind, attacks, and drags him back to the ring. Dusty briefly turns around and gets an offensive flurry, but Savage repairs to the outside, gets a foreign object while Dusty and the referee are tied up with Sherri, and goes back in to waffle Rhodes with it for the win. Practically a squash match.
Result: Randy Savage via pinfall (2:15)
Rating: I mean this was just over two minutes, it wasn't really a match. At least it mercifully blew off this worthless feud. 0.5 stars out of 5.
05-28-2014
, 08:40 PM
Sherri slaps Ultimate Warrior repeatedly on The Brother Love Show, trying to bait him into giving Randy Savage a title shot
Date: September 8, 1990
I can't find a link of it, but basically for several weeks Sherri came out and continually taunted the Warrior on Savage's behalf, with Savage nowhere to be seen. This infuriated Warrior, and the feud built from there.
Savage cuts promo on Warrior, says Warrior shouldn't want to find him
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcoXl20TY6Y
Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII: Savage defeats Dusty Rhodes
Date: October 13, 1990
Can't find this one either. Am okay with not finding this one. Savage won via countout, so I guess this was the blowoff? A countout blowoff? They were done with meaningful matches with each other after this anyway.
Survivor Series '90: Savage challenges The Ultimate Warrior to a WWF Title match
Date: November 22, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31304977 (WWE Network only)
Savage found himself without a match at Survivor Series for whatever reason, but he did get a platform to give a lengthy promo calling out The Ultimate Warrior and vowing to win the WWF Title from him. You would think this was setting up for a title match at Royal Rumble, but I think plans changed toward going with Sgt. Slaughter between the Survivor Series and the Rumble, so this just became a personal blood feud.
Date: September 8, 1990
I can't find a link of it, but basically for several weeks Sherri came out and continually taunted the Warrior on Savage's behalf, with Savage nowhere to be seen. This infuriated Warrior, and the feud built from there.
Savage cuts promo on Warrior, says Warrior shouldn't want to find him
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcoXl20TY6Y
Saturday Night's Main Event XXVIII: Savage defeats Dusty Rhodes
Date: October 13, 1990
Can't find this one either. Am okay with not finding this one. Savage won via countout, so I guess this was the blowoff? A countout blowoff? They were done with meaningful matches with each other after this anyway.
Survivor Series '90: Savage challenges The Ultimate Warrior to a WWF Title match
Date: November 22, 1990
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31304977 (WWE Network only)
Savage found himself without a match at Survivor Series for whatever reason, but he did get a platform to give a lengthy promo calling out The Ultimate Warrior and vowing to win the WWF Title from him. You would think this was setting up for a title match at Royal Rumble, but I think plans changed toward going with Sgt. Slaughter between the Survivor Series and the Rumble, so this just became a personal blood feud.
Last edited by LKJ; 05-28-2014 at 08:46 PM.
05-28-2014
, 09:07 PM
Royal Rumble 1991: Savage costs Warrior the WWF Title, then no-shows the Royal Rumble match
Date: January 19, 1991
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31345879 (WWE Network only)
Savage and Sherri interfered at incredible length to mess with the Warrior during his title defense against Sgt. Slaughter, and finally managed to level him with the killshot when he cracked him over the head with his sceptre and thus enabled Slaughter to win the title. I was not a fan of early 90's Sgt. Slaughter, but this title win for him gets such epic heat for both he and Savage that it's a pretty beautiful thing to watch. Finkel saying, "The winner of this bout…and NEW" cut off by Piper and Monsoon both screaming "NO!" is a pretty great moment.
Later on, there was a no-show during the Rumble, and Savage (who was scheduled to be in) never came out. I'm guessing the implication is that Warrior kicked his ass, or that Savage left the arena, or something, but nobody clued the announcers in on how to react to it so it was never really explained.
Date: January 19, 1991
Link: http://network.wwe.com/video/v31345879 (WWE Network only)
Savage and Sherri interfered at incredible length to mess with the Warrior during his title defense against Sgt. Slaughter, and finally managed to level him with the killshot when he cracked him over the head with his sceptre and thus enabled Slaughter to win the title. I was not a fan of early 90's Sgt. Slaughter, but this title win for him gets such epic heat for both he and Savage that it's a pretty beautiful thing to watch. Finkel saying, "The winner of this bout…and NEW" cut off by Piper and Monsoon both screaming "NO!" is a pretty great moment.
Later on, there was a no-show during the Rumble, and Savage (who was scheduled to be in) never came out. I'm guessing the implication is that Warrior kicked his ass, or that Savage left the arena, or something, but nobody clued the announcers in on how to react to it so it was never really explained.
05-28-2014
, 10:29 PM
WrestleMania VII: Retirement Match - Randy Savage vs. Ultimate Warrior
Date: March 24, 1991
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjs...emania-7_sport
Background: The feud between these two men had gone on for over six months now. It became increasingly personal until one week it was announced that it would be a retirement match.
The Match: Just as the introductions for the match are starting, Bobby Heenan notices something off-camera and points out Miss Elizabeth as sitting in a floor seat along the aisleway. I'm not sure that she had appeared on WWF TV since WrestleMania VI.
Ultimate Warrior, who always always always sprinted to the ring, walked to the ring for this one. This was a nice touch, and the announcers point it out, saying that he must feel the gravity of the situation with his career on the line. The crowd is hot for this one from the beginning, chanting for the Warrior before we ever get an opening bell.
The two men are slow to lock up, with each playing to the crowd. They finally do engage, but basically end up with a stalemate broken up by referee Hebner. They separate and stare down a bit.
Next lockup results in Warrior flooring Savage. Third one goes Savage's way, as he drives a knee in and follows with an eye gouge. Tries a side headlock, but gets flung into the ropes and hit by a shoulderblock on the way back. Savage into the ropes and takes a clothesline. Warrior holds him up in a chokehold and drops him, then picks him up and levels him with an inverted atomic drop. Regular atomic drop follows. Again Warrior holds Savage up in a chokehold; Sherri runs into the ring, and Warrior promptly throws Macho into her.
Right hand by the man from Parts Unknown sends Savage into the ropes and gets him tied up. Savage finally breaks his momentum by stopping short after a whip and kicking the Warrior in the face. A Macho clothesline follows, then a cross-body attempt, but Warrior catches him cleanly…and then just gently sets him down and slaps him across the face. Quite a troll move. Savage is unsurprisingly furious, goes and gets a chair and flings it into the ring, which is a bit silly since Hebner just shrugs and disposes of it.
Savage attempts to get back on offense, but Warrior blocks his punch and stays in control. He stomps the Macho Man repeatedly in the corner. Throws some right hands. Whip into the corner, and he attempts to follow it in with a flying shoulderblock, but gets air and ends up all the way on the outside. Savage distracts Hebner as Sherri gets her shots in. Savage follows with an axhandle from the top to the floor. More distraction back inside, more Sherri outside until Warrior just gets mad and shoves her to the ground. This doesn't get far though, as it allows Savage to attack Warrior from behind and then ram him into the post.
Back inside, Savage gets good elevation from a standing position as he drops the knee. Attempts a backslide, but Warrior outpowers him and turns it into his own backslide for a two-count. Savage escapes, backs into the corner, spits on Warrior out of it, then runs outside. Sherri distracts, Savage tries to hit Warrior from behind, but Warrior sees it coming and keeps an advantage, knocking Macho back over. He goes off the ropes a number of times, seeming to set up his flying shoulderblock as he waits for Savage to get up…but then he randomly launches before Savage truly gets up, and Savage has to play it off like he sidestepped it. Savage attempts a pin on that sequence and gets a two-count.
Reverse chinlock by the Macho Man. They've earned the rest with the pace so far. Warrior finally works his way back up, elbows his way out, Savage ducks a clothesline running one way, then they both get a running start and clothesline each other.
As the men finally come to, Sherri is distracting Hebner. Warrior locks in a small package for a long time, but there's nobody there to count. Warrior back up and pissed, yells at Hebner and Savage knees Warrior into him for the ref bump. Savage holds Warrior as Sherri comes in, shoe in hand, and tries to clobber him off the top rope. Warrior gets free, and she clocks the Macho Man instead.
Warrior stalks Sherri outside the ring, follows her through the ring to the other side and grabs her while she's on the apron. Savage with a schoolboy from behind for a two-count. Warrior throws a couple of punches. Savage flips things around and executes something of a stun gun to hang Warrior over the top rope. Grabs him and does his usual hanging over the top rope by jumping to the outside.
Back in with a bodyslam. Heads up top for the flying elbow and hits. Immediately pops up and hits a second one. By the time he gets up after this one, you know that he has lost the match. Drops a third elbow from the top. And a fourth. And a fifth. Savage makes a lazy cover and makes it super obvious that Warrior is kicking out, which he does.
Warrior hulks up. Savage keeps attacking, but Warrior starts no-selling and then dishing it out himself. Punches. Clotheslines. Press slam, running splash…and Savage kicks out on two. Now that was an actual dramatic near-fall.
Savage kicking out of his finishing sequence seems to rattle Warrior. He looks upward for an answer as to why a dude kicked out of one pinfall attempt. This is the one part of this match that's just stupid. He makes as if he's going to leave. As he is debating this though, Savage clotheslines him off the apron. Goes up top and tries to drive him into the steel barricade with an axhandle, but Warrior sidesteps and Savage takes a solid bump off the barricade.
This rejuvenates Warrior, who sends the Macho Man back in and stands him up in the middle of the ring. Flying shoulderblock sends Savage all the way back outside. Warrior follows and returns him to the middle. Again stands Savage up, against a flying shoulderblock to the outside. Rinse and repeat, and we get a third flying shoulderblock. Pulls Savage back in, drags him to the middle, and pins him with one foot.
Of course, we're not done here. Warrior celebrates for a bit, as Sherri watches on in disbelief that her meal ticket just lost his career. After Warrior leaves, Sherri comes in furious and attacks Savage for losing.
Miss Elizabeth is shown watching on in concern, and eventually she just can't take it anymore. She hops over the rail and runs to the ring, attacking Sherri and sending her out of the ring.
Savage comes to, not knowing who was attacking him. Liz tries to help him up, but he doesn't know who is trying to help him up and he violently waves her off. He makes it to his feet on his own, turns around and sees Elizabeth, instinctively ***** his fist, but then stops when he realizes that it's her. Sherri is outside, with Hebner restraining her, and Savage realizes that Sherri was the one attacking him. He finally gets his wits about him, sees that Liz still loves him two years later, and we get one of the most iconic WrestleMania moments of all time.
Yep. Moment still unquestionably holds up nearly 25 years later.
Result: Ultimate Warrior via pinfall (20:47)
Rating: I found more this time that sort of irked me about the match, but whatever. The storytelling here was brilliant, and from start to finish this was one of the greatest ~30-minute segments in wrestling history. 4 stars out of 5.
Date: March 24, 1991
Link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjs...emania-7_sport
Background: The feud between these two men had gone on for over six months now. It became increasingly personal until one week it was announced that it would be a retirement match.
The Match: Just as the introductions for the match are starting, Bobby Heenan notices something off-camera and points out Miss Elizabeth as sitting in a floor seat along the aisleway. I'm not sure that she had appeared on WWF TV since WrestleMania VI.
Ultimate Warrior, who always always always sprinted to the ring, walked to the ring for this one. This was a nice touch, and the announcers point it out, saying that he must feel the gravity of the situation with his career on the line. The crowd is hot for this one from the beginning, chanting for the Warrior before we ever get an opening bell.
The two men are slow to lock up, with each playing to the crowd. They finally do engage, but basically end up with a stalemate broken up by referee Hebner. They separate and stare down a bit.
Next lockup results in Warrior flooring Savage. Third one goes Savage's way, as he drives a knee in and follows with an eye gouge. Tries a side headlock, but gets flung into the ropes and hit by a shoulderblock on the way back. Savage into the ropes and takes a clothesline. Warrior holds him up in a chokehold and drops him, then picks him up and levels him with an inverted atomic drop. Regular atomic drop follows. Again Warrior holds Savage up in a chokehold; Sherri runs into the ring, and Warrior promptly throws Macho into her.
Right hand by the man from Parts Unknown sends Savage into the ropes and gets him tied up. Savage finally breaks his momentum by stopping short after a whip and kicking the Warrior in the face. A Macho clothesline follows, then a cross-body attempt, but Warrior catches him cleanly…and then just gently sets him down and slaps him across the face. Quite a troll move. Savage is unsurprisingly furious, goes and gets a chair and flings it into the ring, which is a bit silly since Hebner just shrugs and disposes of it.
Savage attempts to get back on offense, but Warrior blocks his punch and stays in control. He stomps the Macho Man repeatedly in the corner. Throws some right hands. Whip into the corner, and he attempts to follow it in with a flying shoulderblock, but gets air and ends up all the way on the outside. Savage distracts Hebner as Sherri gets her shots in. Savage follows with an axhandle from the top to the floor. More distraction back inside, more Sherri outside until Warrior just gets mad and shoves her to the ground. This doesn't get far though, as it allows Savage to attack Warrior from behind and then ram him into the post.
Back inside, Savage gets good elevation from a standing position as he drops the knee. Attempts a backslide, but Warrior outpowers him and turns it into his own backslide for a two-count. Savage escapes, backs into the corner, spits on Warrior out of it, then runs outside. Sherri distracts, Savage tries to hit Warrior from behind, but Warrior sees it coming and keeps an advantage, knocking Macho back over. He goes off the ropes a number of times, seeming to set up his flying shoulderblock as he waits for Savage to get up…but then he randomly launches before Savage truly gets up, and Savage has to play it off like he sidestepped it. Savage attempts a pin on that sequence and gets a two-count.
Reverse chinlock by the Macho Man. They've earned the rest with the pace so far. Warrior finally works his way back up, elbows his way out, Savage ducks a clothesline running one way, then they both get a running start and clothesline each other.
As the men finally come to, Sherri is distracting Hebner. Warrior locks in a small package for a long time, but there's nobody there to count. Warrior back up and pissed, yells at Hebner and Savage knees Warrior into him for the ref bump. Savage holds Warrior as Sherri comes in, shoe in hand, and tries to clobber him off the top rope. Warrior gets free, and she clocks the Macho Man instead.
Warrior stalks Sherri outside the ring, follows her through the ring to the other side and grabs her while she's on the apron. Savage with a schoolboy from behind for a two-count. Warrior throws a couple of punches. Savage flips things around and executes something of a stun gun to hang Warrior over the top rope. Grabs him and does his usual hanging over the top rope by jumping to the outside.
Back in with a bodyslam. Heads up top for the flying elbow and hits. Immediately pops up and hits a second one. By the time he gets up after this one, you know that he has lost the match. Drops a third elbow from the top. And a fourth. And a fifth. Savage makes a lazy cover and makes it super obvious that Warrior is kicking out, which he does.
Warrior hulks up. Savage keeps attacking, but Warrior starts no-selling and then dishing it out himself. Punches. Clotheslines. Press slam, running splash…and Savage kicks out on two. Now that was an actual dramatic near-fall.
Savage kicking out of his finishing sequence seems to rattle Warrior. He looks upward for an answer as to why a dude kicked out of one pinfall attempt. This is the one part of this match that's just stupid. He makes as if he's going to leave. As he is debating this though, Savage clotheslines him off the apron. Goes up top and tries to drive him into the steel barricade with an axhandle, but Warrior sidesteps and Savage takes a solid bump off the barricade.
This rejuvenates Warrior, who sends the Macho Man back in and stands him up in the middle of the ring. Flying shoulderblock sends Savage all the way back outside. Warrior follows and returns him to the middle. Again stands Savage up, against a flying shoulderblock to the outside. Rinse and repeat, and we get a third flying shoulderblock. Pulls Savage back in, drags him to the middle, and pins him with one foot.
Of course, we're not done here. Warrior celebrates for a bit, as Sherri watches on in disbelief that her meal ticket just lost his career. After Warrior leaves, Sherri comes in furious and attacks Savage for losing.
Miss Elizabeth is shown watching on in concern, and eventually she just can't take it anymore. She hops over the rail and runs to the ring, attacking Sherri and sending her out of the ring.
Savage comes to, not knowing who was attacking him. Liz tries to help him up, but he doesn't know who is trying to help him up and he violently waves her off. He makes it to his feet on his own, turns around and sees Elizabeth, instinctively ***** his fist, but then stops when he realizes that it's her. Sherri is outside, with Hebner restraining her, and Savage realizes that Sherri was the one attacking him. He finally gets his wits about him, sees that Liz still loves him two years later, and we get one of the most iconic WrestleMania moments of all time.
Yep. Moment still unquestionably holds up nearly 25 years later.
Result: Ultimate Warrior via pinfall (20:47)
Rating: I found more this time that sort of irked me about the match, but whatever. The storytelling here was brilliant, and from start to finish this was one of the greatest ~30-minute segments in wrestling history. 4 stars out of 5.