The wrestling world and its fans are mourning today as one of the most influential & greatest wrestlers of all-time, the “Macho Man” Randy Savage, has passed away tragically. Savage is most remembered for being a huge part of the foundation of the wrestling boom in the 80s that helped make wrestling deem “acceptable” in mainstream American culture. He is and forever will be an American Pop Culture Icon.
It’s kind of difficult to sit down in front of a computer and write down my thoughts on the greatness that was the “Macho Man.” I have been a wrestling fan for as long as I could remember, I’m nearly 25 years old now and one of my first wrestling memories was of the “Macho Man” Randy Savage being on my television screen on a Saturday night. It was in that moment, on a Saturday night on NBC, watching it with my father that I had become a wrestling fan.
[adinserter block=”2″]I was pretty young and I could remember my father keeping saying the “Macho Man’s” tagline of “oh yeahhhhh” to me as I just laughed as my father when imitate the wrestling great. He’d put on these silly sunglasses doing the finger motions to me as I would watch Randy Savage deliver his trademark flying elbow drop to the top rope for the victory. It was literally in this moment that I look back, that the “Macho Man” got me hooked onto wrestling that very day.
It’s funny that as I write this blog the memories of my first wrestling memories is that one right now playing in my head. While years went on and time made me forget potentially how & why I started watching wrestling, it was in fact the “Macho Man” and not the mainstream star, Hulk Hogan, who ushered me into watching the great entertainment & sport of wrestling. A moment that I will not truly cherish for the rest of my life, thanks Randy.
Another personal moment I have when it comes to “Macho Man” Randy Savage came when my father told me about his friend that he had that worked at the then WWF. We live relatively close to the “Titan Towers” in Stamford so it was always pretty cool as a kid driving by the towers and seeing the old WWF logo on the top of the building. It was this friend of my father’s that promised him that he would get me something really special from the legend Randy Savage himself.
I waited with anticipation in what it could actually be, what was the “Macho Man” going to give a small 5 or 6 year old kid? It was then one day when my father came home with the “present” from the “Macho Man” for me from his friend that worked at the WWF. He had a manila folder in his hand and I can remember to this day him slowly opening it up to show me what was inside. Then I saw it, in all its glory, a personally autographed photo of the “Macho Man” Randy Savage for me!
I was ecstatic and excited as I read “To Jeffrey: Best wishes! “Macho Man” Randy Savage.” That very autograph picture sits in my room to this day, as I write this blog as we speak I can clearly see the autograph of Randy Savage sitting in my room. Something I will forever cherish in my memories of Randy Savage.
When it came to in-ring memories I have of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, well the list goes on and on. I can sit here all day and write massive blogs on the matches that influenced me as a wrestling fan & entertained the hell out of me. But one that stands out to me that I will share in this blog on this day we remember a legend, happened in March 1991.
Wrestlemania 7 from the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena was the place where this moment from me stood out. Quite simply put, Savage vs. Warrior in a retirement match. It is to this day and forever now, one of my favorite Wrestlemania moments of all-time.
[adinserter block=”1″]I’m not going to replay and retell what happened because you all know what took place during the match & all that surrounded the match while it was actually going on. I just can remember as a young 5 year old crying with joy over the moment of Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth reuniting and embracing. It was such an emotional moment for me as a wrestling fan and clearly marked how good of a performer Savage was, he could make you laugh, smile, be happy, be sad, or overjoyed, but at the end of the night he entertained you. He will forever be one of the best wrestlers of all-time.
It truly is a sad day today for all of us wrestling fans out there. We lost a legend, an icon and a hero. Randy Savage is irreplaceable and will be forever missed. I’d like to thank Randy Savage for all the entertainment & joy he gave to me over the years and most importantly, for be a hero of mine. I will forever miss him.
Join Eric Gargiulo & myself for the Thursday May 26th edition of “The Still Real to Us Show” where it will be a special “Macho Man” Randy Savage tribute show. Download the show this Thursday @ 8pm ET/5pm PT at www.wheelhouseradio.com or www.wrestlechat.net to find out if your pick made it to the air!
Jeff Peck is the producer for the “Wheelhouse Radio” program that airs every Sunday – Thursday @ 8pm ET/5pm PT at www.blogtalkradio.com/thewheelhouse and at www.errorfm.com @ 2am ET/11pm PT
Jeff also co-hosts “The Still Real to us show” with Eric Gargiulo which can be available at www.wheelhouseradio.com and can be downloaded in the “Real Guy Radio” section of the site..”
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You can follow “The Champ Jeff Peck” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealjeffpeck you can also follow Wheelhouse Radio on twitter at www.twitter.com/thewheelhouse and you can e-mail them @ wheelhouseradio@gmail.com.
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