My first memories of Randy Savage were when I was 4 years old my parents had taped Wrestlemania IV, I was pretty young at the time and the only wrestler I knew was Hulk Hogan. But as I watched the tournament to crown a new champion I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the Macho Man. Ted Dibiase only had to wrestle two matches to get to the finals while Savage had to go through Butch Reed, Greg Valentine, and The One Man Gang,as I was watching I found myself rooting for Randy more and more and when Elizabeth ran back to the back and came back out with Hogan who Gorilla Monsoon announced was Randys good friend well that sealed it for me.I was now a Mach Man mark. He won the world title that night and became one of the most popular wrestlers in the sport.
Months later I would watch in horror as the Mega Powers combusted as Randy accused hogan of having eyes for his woman,I was off the bandwagon. Even though it was pretty cut and dry back in those days bad guys were bad and good guys were good, and young children rooted for good guys guys like Hogan and The Warrior. For some reason as I got older I found myself rooting for the Macho King especially against the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII. To this day I feel like that was Warriors best match and thats because Savage knew how to work the audience and work in the ring.Another memorable moment for me in Randy's WWF days was the snake incident with Jake Roberts, I was so worried for Savage I thought that Cobra was gonna kill him, needless to say it didn't and he got reinstated and was able to avenge himself.
Later, Randy would go to WCW and of all the feuds the NWO had going throughout there run, There was nothing more intense or interesting as the feud Savage had with DDP. In my opinion it was one of the most amazing program in the history of WCW.
Living in the Tampa Bay area I had a lot of contact with Randy, a very close friend of mine helped train Gorgeous George and helped to get Randy back in shape after knee surgery. I would see him all over the place, and for a while he was a regular guest on the Bubba the Love Sponge show till he had a falling out with Hogan, the last couple of years if you asked me what I thought about Randy Savage I would of told you he's as crazy as the Warrior between his rap album and his constant calling out of Hogan, it seem like he'd gone off the deep end.
Whether you liked him or hated him you can't deny Savage is a true legend in the sport. When I heard the news today it kind of hit me hard, It's kind of like a piece of my childhood was lost today a piece I'll never get back because he's gone. We will never get to hear "Oh Yeahhh" and I just can't "Digg It"
Over the next couple days I'll be posting some of Macho's greatest matches.
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