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Hall of Fame 2011 - The Marquee Induction... Ohh YEAHHH!!!
By: Ryan Sommerer | Posted: 12/21/11




I wasn't able to express right away my feelings and thoughts on the passing of one of the all time greatest wrestlers, a wrestler who was one of the originals that made a huge impact on me growing up, enticing me to become one of the biggest and greatest fans of pro wrestling. Well, now that he's been announced as the Marquee induction to this years TWF Hall of Fame class, it's time for me to pay tribute to the one and only "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

When it comes to professional wrestling, there is one thing that separates a great wrestler, and a legend, and that is having that "It" factor. To accurately describe the "it" factor is near impossible; The combination of having great talents ranging from the ability to work in the ring to an astonishingly high level, the talent to cut a meaningful and gripping promo that's full of genuine emotion, an individual look to the wrestler that is very unique and eye catching, the ability to bring in people to watch you perform, and, most importantly of all, that indefinable aura that makes the person stand out from the rest of the locker.

Check out the OSWreview tribute
to the Macho Man by clicking Here!
With his colorful robes, intense demeanour and his raspy voice, Randy Savage looked, walked, acted, and talked like a true wrestling superstar. When it came to talking on the microphone, forget it. Savage was truly a rarity. A one of a kind talker in the business. His promos may have been nonsensical at times, but the brilliance of them was in his delivery. He had the ability to be funny and seriously intense at any given time and amazingly, come across as both funny and seriously intense at the same time.

The Macho Man was such a stand-out character, with such a colourful personality that he is one of the few performers to transcend the business and be remembered by non-wrestling fans too; all you have to say is, "OOHHHH YEAH!!!" Or better yet, "Snap into a Slim Jim!! OH YEAH!!!!" and most will know what and who you are impersonating. He is without a doubt a larger than life persona that became a pop icon in the eyes of millions of people across the globe. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that always, and I do mean always, whenever I hear "Pomp and Circumstance" played out at any event for any reason, the first thing that comes to my mind is to grunt out a gravely voiced "OHHH YEAH!" and then point my finger upwards towards the sky and twirl it while grabbing onto my belt with my other hand...

Also on a personal note, Savage was indeed the very first wrestler I saw wrestle. And it was during one of his few legendary stints with Hulk Hogan. A match during Saturday Night Main Event. I still remember sitting on that old couch of mine with my eyes glued to our heavy squared tv in the corner of the living room. I'd never seen anything on TV like this before. I was mesmerized.

There are so few performers through the years that have possessed this "It" factor. Becoming such a huge WWF fan as a little kid back in the 80s at the tender age of 4, there were three top guys: The Immortal Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and The Macho Man. Where Hogan was the most charismatic and the Warrior was the most electrifying, Macho Man above the other two possessed all of the qualities I've already mentioned despite never being able to overcome Hulk Hogan. To make a better comparison, The Macho Man was the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels in the 80's before Shawn Michaels was even the Heartbreak Kid. He was without a doubt one of the most well rounded, complete total packages that ever existed in the ring.

Ask any wrestling fan, their are just two things about Macho Man that stand above the rest of his accomplishments. These two things are so revered with what they represent that they are used as a "measuring sticks."

The first of course is his legendary Intercontinental Championship match at Wrestlemania 3 against Ricky The Dragon Steamboat. To this very day it is seen as one of the-- if not the greatest wrestling match in the history of the WWE. Many future wrestling greats have stated they became wrestlers because of this match. Others have proclaimed it as their all time favourite match. It is quite possibly the most talked about Wrestlemania match of all time. It is Macho Man's defining moment in regards to his amazing wrestling ability and talent. He always brought his very best to the table and pushed his opponents to pull off their best work in their careers. He easily lays claim thto being the man that gave Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior their very best matches in their entire careers. And that is saying a LOT about the amazing talent Macho Man possessed. In my opinion, Macho Man was the third greatest Intercontinental champion of all time (Right behind Shawn Michaels and Mr. Perfect) and nobody has ever done a more perfect Top Rope Elbow Drop than Savage - In fact the move is so synonymous with Savage that it's now used almost solely as a tribute to him; just ask CM Punk.

As for the other thing? Unlike just about every other heel to come to the WWF/E, Savage did not have a manager. A story line developed in which there was a bidding war for his services forcing all of the top managers of the day such as Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart and Freddie Blassie to make their pitch to land wrestling’s hottest free agent. In the end, Savage rejected them all and introduced a beautiful, young woman known as Miss Elizabeth.

Ahhh yes, Savage and Elizabeth... The two became one of the most compelling acts in WWF/WWE history and without a doubt, were THE most famous and successful "wrestling couple" in history. The emotions and storylines that developed between these two, along with the insane amount of emotion shown from the fans for them through those years in the 80's and early 90's is still one of the most surreal, magical and amazing things that I've ever seen in wrestling.

"Heaven now beckons the 'Macho Man' Randy 'King' Savage."

Thank you for all the great memories you gave me as a kid, Macho Man.

OHHHHH YEAH!!!


- Ryan Sommerer
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