Randall Mario Poffo
12 min read
Reading time
2,243
Words
Published
213
Film credits
2
Awards
Randy Savage, born Randall Mario Poffo on November 15, 1952, was the Macho Man in WWE and WCW. He won the WWF Heavyweight Championship twice and the WCW Heavyweight Championship four times, and starred in films like Spider-Man and King of the Hill. Savage died of cardiovascular disease on May 20, 2011 at age 58.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Randy Savage — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Randy Savage by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Randy Savage — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
On November 15, 1952, Randall Mario Poffo was born in Columbus, Ohio to Italian and Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. His father Angelo Poffo was a professional wrestler, and his brother Lanny Poffo also entered the business.
Growing up in Downers Grove, Illinois, Savage excelled in baseball and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. He later played in the minor league systems of the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds before turning to wrestling.
Randy Savage debuted in the WWF in 1985 and quickly became a top heel, managed by Miss Elizabeth. At WrestleMania IV in 1988, he defeated Ted DiBiase to win the WWF Heavyweight Championship with assistance from Hulk Hogan.
He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship in 1986 and the King of the Ring tournament in 1989. After moving to WCW in 1994, he captured the WCW Heavyweight Championship four times, including a win in the 1995 World War 3 battle royal.
Savage also acted in films such as Spider-Man 2002 as Bone Saw McGraw and voiced characters on King of the Hill and Dexter’s Laboratory.
Savage married Elizabeth Hulette, known as Miss Elizabeth, in 1984, and their on-screen wedding at SummerSlam 1991 mirrored their real-life union. They divorced in 1992 after a publicized relationship that was featured in WWE storylines.
He later married Barbara Lynn Payne in May 2010, just over a year before his death. Savage had a real-life on-again, off-again friendship with Hulk Hogan, and had an intense personality outside the ring.
Randy Savage influenced many future wrestlers with his charisma and high-flying style. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
His signature move, the Flying Elbow Drop from the top rope, is still remembered by fans. Savage also crossed over into mainstream entertainment, appearing in movies such as Spider-Man and television shows like King of the Hill.
The complete filmography of Randy Savage — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Randy Savage — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Randy Savage — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Ooooohhhh Yeah, Dig It?
I’m the Tower of Power, Too Sweet to Be Sour. I’m Funky Like a Monkey. Sky’s the Limit and Space Is the Place!
Little-known facts about Randy Savage — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
In high school, he was a baseball star and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.
Had a real-life on-again/off-again friendship with Hulk Hogan.
Hulk Hogan has considered Randy Savage to be his toughest opponent during his career.
Played baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds’ respective farm clubs.
His father Angelo Poffo was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame on May 21, 1995.
He and Miss Elizabeth Elizabeth Hulette staged their wedding at Summerslam 1991, seven years after they already wed.
Used the same entrance theme as Gorgeous George, who was his favorite wrestler.
His remains were cremated, and his ashes were placed under a favorite tree on his property in Largo, Florida, near his mother’s development. Ten days before his death, he had asked his brother to pour the ashes of his dog in the same spot.
His signature finisher is the Flying Elbow from the top rope.
WWE Hall of Famer.
His maternal grandparents were Lithuanian Jews, and his paternal grandparents were Italian.
Was described as being just as intense outside the ring.
In 2004 he attempted to convince WWF owner Vince McMahon to allow a match between Savage and Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 20. McMahon was not interested in the two wrestlers’ very personal rivalry. Savage has since stated that he would more than likely now retire from wrestling.
He graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 1971.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn Savage of Pinellas County, Florida; his brother, Lanny Poffo; and his mother, Judy Poffo; and his stepchildren, Devin and Noel. He was with Lynn for ten years before they married in May 2010.
In February 1976, Savage and his brother Lanny Poffo captured the Gulf Coast Tag Team title.
Was defeated by Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental Title in the WWF, in what many consider the greatest match of all time, at WrestleMania III 1987.
Professional wrestler, baseball player, actor, rapper.
When he returned to being a heel wrestler in 1989, Savage recruited Sensational Sherri as his manager.
Had a story angle with Dusty Rhodes in the WWE, lasting for most of 1990.
One of a handful of wrestlers to become the Heavyweight Champion in both the WWF and WCW. WWF twice, WCW 4 times.
Played baseball in college.
Won a tournament at WrestleMania IV 1988, beating Ted DiBiase, with Hulk Hogan’s assistance, to capture the WWE title.
It has been revealed in a recent documentary, that Savage was known to be possessive of his wife Miss Elizabeth.
Defeated Tito Santana at Boston Garden on February 8, 1986, to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship title.
There have been reports that Savage got into a real fistfight with Legion of Doom member, Hawk.
Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan always clashed behind the curtain. More than a few occasions, Hogan stole Savage’s moment by being in the ring after winning the world title. WrestleMania IV ’88 & Word War 3 ’95 & an episode of WCW Nitro after beating Ric Flair for the belt in January of ’96. Lastly, when Savage beat Flair for the belt in WrestleMania VIII ’92, Hogan still had the main event.
According to his brother Lanny Poffo, Randy Savage was very sensitive about his bald spot.
In 1992, during a television interview, he revealed that he had taken steroids in the past.
Released his first rap album in 2003, with a song titled Be A Man Hulk!, a challenge to Hulk Hogan.
He played four years in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds baseball teams mainly as an outsider.
In 1995 he won the WCW World War 3.
In November 1994 he left the WWE and signed with WCW.
Made his TNA debut at the Victory Road PPV.
Is the third longest single reigning WWF Intercontinental Champion of all time. His first and only reign as champ lasted 13 months, 21 days.
Notable title wins include: Southeastern Tag Team titles with Ole Anderson; ICW World title; WWF Intercontinental title; WWF Heavyweight title twice; WCW World title four times.
Was a replacement for the Ultimate Warrior, when Savage feuded with Jake Roberts in 1991.
Even though he lost the career-ending match against the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII, Savage was still contracted to wrestle for the next few weeks afterwards.
Was meant to have participated in the 1991 Royal Rumble main event but for reasons unknown, failed to do so.
Inducted as Randy Poffo into the Downers Grove North High School Downers Grove, Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 inaugural class.
Recaptured the WWE heavyweight title, by defeating Ric Flair at Wrestlemania VIII in April 1992. Five months later, Savage lost the belt back to Flair.
Former WWF Intercontinental Champion.
In November 2004, after some tense negotiating, NWA TNA announced in the wrestling media outlets that, after a lengthy absence, Savage would return to in-ring action at an early December pay-per-view.
He was cremated at Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Largo, Florida. His ashes were sprinkled under a tree at his former residence afterwards. There was no memorial service for him.
Macho Man Randy Savage visited Bombay, India on Sunday, November 21 1994. He was there to trash out the fine print to a WWF tour to hit India early in 1995. He met Bollywood legend and former professional wrestler Dara Singh. His photograph was on the cover of The Times of India, the premier newspaper of Bombay. On Monday he lectured students at a leading public school as the guest of the principal. There is a report on his visit to city entitled Savage floors all with niceties in the paper. Bollywood Film producer Ashok Thakeria and his company tied up with the WWE and planned an entire publicity campaign for the forthcoming event. But it all went down the drain when Bollywood producers Tito and Tony Juneja decided to play a smart game with Ashok. The producer duo cashed in all the hype that Ashok generated. They invited their own stars, who lied to be part of the WWF/WWE, but when Ashok Thakeria threatened legal proceedings, they turned back saying they were part of the N.W.A. They had their matches in a span of 2 weeks.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Randy Savage.
Celebrities similar to Randy Savage — same craft, ranked by reach.
🌍 Hong Kong
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇺🇸 United States
🇦🇹 Austria
🇨🇳 China
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇺🇸 United States
🇮🇪 Ireland
