Superstars of Wrestling: Macho Man Randy Savage

Ring Name: Randy "Machoman" Savage
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 273 lbs.
Born: January 10^th 1954
Died: May 10^th 2011
Debut: November 1^st 1973
Retired: August 26^th 1991/February 18^th 2005. Active as an announcer until 2005.
Moves: Flying Elbow Drop

Randy Mario Poffo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the eldest son Angelo Poffo a well-known wrestler in the 1950s and 1960s. As a child, Randy also lived in Zanesville, Chicago, and Lexington, Kentucky. Savage was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals organization as a catcher out of high school.

Savage broke into the wrestling business in 1973 during the fall and winter of the baseball off season. Machoman took the ring name Randy Savage at the suggestion of a Georgia wrestling booker who said that Poffo "wrestled like a savage". Savage eventually decided to end his baseball career and become a full-time wrestler, working with his brother and father.

By June of 1985, Savage signed with Vince McMahon's WWF. Billed as "the top free agent in pro wrestling," Savage's first appearances on Tuesday Night Titans featured several established managers (including Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart) offering their services to Savage. He eventually declined their offers and chose Miss Elizabeth as his new manager. His gimmick was a crazed, ego-maniacal bully who mistreated Miss Elizabeth (who was his real life wife from 1984-1992) and threatened anyone who even looked at her. He made his pay-per-view (PPV) debut at The Wrestling Classic on November 7^th 1985, participating in a 16-man Royal Rumble tournament. He defeated Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat before losing in the finals to Junkyard Dog.

From 1985 to 2005 Randy Savage was one of the most popular wrestlers in professional wrestling. He faced everyone from Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior to Mr. Perfect when he wasn't color commentating with "Mean" Gene Okerlund. After numerous retirements, knee surgeries, a popular rap CD release in 2003 and returns to the ring, Randy Savage died in a car accident after suffering a heart attack in May of 2011 in Seminole, Florida.

References:

• Obsessed With Wrestling, Randy "Machoman" Savage
• Wikipedia, Randy Savage