One of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time will be immortalized ahead of WrestleMania 31 when Randy “Macho Man” Savage is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The six-time world champion, who tragically passed away in 2011, will join other WWE legends who have recently entered the company’s hallowed hall, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, Bruno Sammartino, and The Ultimate Warrior, who passed away three days after his induction into the Hall last year.
A talented baseball catcher, who joined the St. Louis Cardinals organization shortly after leaving high school, The Macho Man broke into professional wrestling in 1973, making a name for himself in the ring during baseball’s off-season.
Savage joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1985, signing with Vince McMahon as “the top free agent in professional wrestling”, and made an immediate impact, attracting interest from several established wrestling managers, before electing to join forces with Miss Elizabeth.
The Macho Man challenged for his first championship belt in late 1985, taking on Tito Santana for the Intercontinental Championship in a bout he would lose. But much bigger things lay ahead for the Columbus, Ohio native, who eventually took the Intercontinental belt from Santana in a 1986 rematch, a title he would hold until his loss to Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III, a battle that would earn 1987 Match of the Year honors.
At WrestleMania IV, Savage finally got the chance he so eagerly sought, a shot at the WWF World Championship, surviving a 14-man tournament to finally claim the title by defeating Ted DiBiase – the Million Dollar Man, with the help of Hulk Hogan, the man who would eventually take the belt from Savage just a year later at WrestleMania V.
After coming out on the short end of multiple battles with Hogan over the next two years, Savage claimed the “King of the Ring” title and was later proclaimed “King of the WWF” in a ceremony where he was presented with his trademark scepter by the Million Dollar Man.
Savage retired from the WWF in 1991, but returned to defend the honor of Miss Elizabeth at WrestleMania VIII, laying a beating on champion Ric “Nature Boy” Flair to again become WWF World Champion.
Savage would later move on to the WCW, where he would once again battle his long-time rival, Hogan, eventually winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on an astonishing four occasions.
The Macho Man eventually left pro wrestling for good in 2005, and enjoyed a brief acting career with appearances in films like Spider-Man and Ready to Rumble, as well as TV shows like King of the Hill, Family Guy, Walker: Texas Ranger and Mad About You.
Savage’s Hall of Fame induction will take place the night before WrestleMania 31, which schedule for March 29 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The warm commemoration of Savage prior to the WWE’s biggest event comes in stark contrast to the conflict that preceded WrestleMania 30, when WWE Superstar CM Punk abruptly announced he would depart the company to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist, as reported at bettingsports.com.
Hulk Hogan, who developed a deep friendship with The Macho Man outside the ring, will be on hand to officiate at this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies.
