Hello and welcome to the inaugural edition of the "Top 10 of...". First off i'd like to thank Bill Apter and Bob Ryder for making a dream come true and allowing me to write for 1Wrestling.com. Like many of you, i grew up on a regular diet of the "Apter Mags" and during my initial forays into the world wide web it was 1Wrestling.com and in particular their coverage of the now infamous "Montreal Screwjob" that opened my eyes to the behind the scenes goings on in Pro Wrestling. To be able to write for this site is truly a privilege.
The idea for this column was born out a conversation i had with a younger cousin of mine last week following the passing of Randy Savage. Being a younger wrestling fan, and almost ten years my junior he would have witnessed very little of the Macho Man as an in ring performer. However, Randy's recent passing led to his "discovery" of the Macho Man's work and it was this that prompted him to ask me for an essential viewing list for Randy Savage.
And so the "Top 10 of..." was born. Each week i'll be bringing you my Top 10 lists of essential viewing for some of Wrestling's greatest stars of the past and i want to hear from you, dear readers. Leave your feedback and requests for who you wish to see covered next by commenting below, e-mailing me at raymullan@gmail.com or alternatively tweeting me via @raymullan.
Randy will forever be remembered as one of the most unique, charismatic and hard working stars in the history of professional wrestling, so if you still haven’t been fortunate enough to see Savage go to work or if your a long time fan looking to reminisce, then I suggest reading this list of his Top 10 matches ever!
10. Randy Savage and Lanny Poffo vs. The Rock n Roll Express (Memphis Wrestling - June 25, 1984)
A wild, chaotic brawl as Randy and his brother Lanny Poffo take on the Rock n Roll Express. Some classic "Rasslin" featuring a truly shocking moment (for this time period anyway!) as Randy drags Ricky Morton to a table, and piledrives the southern heart throb straight through it.
9. Randy Savage vs. Jerry Lawler (Memphis Wrestling - June 8, 1985)
Long before nWo vs. WCW or the WWE Invasion, Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler ran huge angles directly feeding off inter-promotional battles following the Jarrett and Lawler run Continental Wrestling Association's (CWA) purchase of International Championship Wrestling (ICW) which was owned and operated by Randy Savage and his family.
This culminated in a bloody, chaotic match-up between the two biggest names of each territory with the loser being forced to leave town. The two ripped each other apart as the fans looked on anxiously, knowing that the hometown hero was going to have a hard time putting Savage away. In the end, Lawler prevailed, but the real winner? Vincent Kennedy McMahon who went on to signed Savage shortly thereafter.
8. Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Shawn Michaels (WWF European Rampage - April 19, 1992)
I watched this bout from my living room as a wide-eyed six year old as this leg of the European Rampage tour was broadcast on PPV in the UK. At this time Shawn Michaels’ star was rising, and was given this shot at the gold to test the waters and determine if he was "at that level" yet. Abnd what better test than the Macho Man? In the end, Savage edged a victory with a cross body counter, but despite the loss Michaels walked out a made man.
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7. Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Bret Hart (WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event - November 11, 1987)
This was arguably Bret Hart’s first chance to shine on a national TV stage in a singles match. The match saw the usual technical clinic from the "Excellence of Execution" with Hart working Savage’s leg, including legitimately breaking his ankle bone by slamming it against the ring post. Savage fought through the pain, made his comeback, and caused “The Hitman” to succumb to a roll up. According to Bret, as he offered apologies to Savage post-match a limping Savage assured Hart he needn't worry as it was "good for business".
6. Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Great American Bash - June 15, 1997)
Savage and Page had one of the most exciting feuds of 1997 with a number of great bouts including this one, billed as Savage/Page II which was the feature bout of the Great American Bash 97 Pay-Per View. Dubbed "a falls count anywhere match," the rules allowed for a pinfall to happen anywhere in the arena, which resulted in the two fighting their way through the crowd and onto the entrance ramp. It was probably Savage's wildest bout in WCW and given both men were in their 40's at this time its testament to their abilities that few could match them.
5. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase (Wrestlemania IV - March 27th, 1988)
I'll admit this isn't the greatest match of Randy Savage's illustrious career but it's certainly one of the most important. For the first time in history, the WWF Championship was vacated after Hulk Hogan was screwed out of the title by Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant on Saturday Night's Main Event (which for the recored garnered the highest viewing figures for any wrestling show in history - 33million viewers for a 15.2 rating).
In order to resolve the situation a World Title Tournament was set-up which would culminate in a Randy Savage vs. Million Dollar Man final. With Andre the Giant at ringside with DiBiase, the odds were stacked against Randy and fearing for Elizabeth's safety, Savage sent his manager to the back...only for her to return with Hulk Hogan as an equalizer.
The crowd now at fever pitch DiBiase locks in the Million Dollar Dream and it would appear that Savage is done for until Hogan hits the ring and smashes DiBiase in the back with a chair and allows Randy to deliver his patented top-rope elbow and secure his first WWF Championship.
4. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania V - April 2, 1989)
Widely regarded as one of the best storylines that WWE ever did. Starting over a year before when Miss Elizabeth pulled Hulk Hogan from the dressing room to save Randy Savage from an attack by the Honky Tonk Man. The jealousy and mistrust build until the Mega Powers were forced to collide at Wrestlemania. A great match, it was the testament to great storytelling and two of wrestling's greatest characters.
3. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair (Wrestlemania VIII - April 5, 1992)
Macho Man won his second WWF Championship at the Hoosier Dome in 1992. Much like his WrestleMania V bout with Hogan, Savage's enmity with the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric Flair involved the beautiful Miss Elizabeth. Flair had claimed to have romanced Savage's lady — and had the pictures to prove it!
As the soap opera story unfolded, it was eventually revealed that Flair’s images had in fact been doctored, but that didn’t stop Savage from dishing out a vicious beating on wrestling's biggest stage.
2. "Macho King" Randy Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VII - March 24, 1991)
The Warrior's reign as WWE Champion ended due to the interference of Randy Savage in his title match against Sgt. Slaughter at the Royal Rumble just a few months earlier. Both men put their careers on the line in this match which started as a slow burner and culminated in multiple false finishes before Warrior took the victory.
As great as this match was, the events that unfolded after this match were even better. After being apart for two years, Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth reunited. The event’s biggest loser it would seem, was also its biggest winner.
*Note* The video footage of this match-up was not available on one of 1Wrestling.com's trusted partners butyou can find footage of the match at the following locations: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x80s30_wwe-wrestlemania-vii-macho-man-vs-u_sport, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x80s3x_wwe-wrestlemania-vii-macho-man-vs-u_sport
1. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (Wrestlemania III - March 29th, 1987)
Wrestlemania 3 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan. An event best remembered by the "Slam Heard around the world!". But whilst Hogan and Andre may have topped the card that night, it was "Macho Man" Randy Savage v Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat that the fans went home talking about as the match of the night and match that redefined WWF/E wrestling.
Savage vs. Steamboat is considered by many to be the greatest WrestleMania match of all time, if not the greatest WWE match, period. The lead-in to WrestleMania had seen Steamboat taken out by Macho Man after he leapt from the top rope and driven a ring-bell into the Dragon's throat. Out for revenge, Steamboat vowed to wrest the Intercontinental Championship from his nemesis in front of the largest indoor crowd in history.
These two ring warriors put on the performance of a lifetime and had the 93,000 fans packed into the Silverdome on their feet for most of the match. The added distractions of George "The Animal" Steele and Elizabeth at ringside were not a detriment to the bout and the action was hard-hitting and fast-paced from bell-to-bell. If your going to watch just one Randy Savage match, i urge you to make it this one.
Well folks, that's it for this edition of the Top 10 Of..., until next week, thanks for reading!
Ray Mullan
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