Macho Man Randy Savage -- one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time -- died today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ spoke with Randy's brother, Lanny Poffo, who tells us the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel around 10 AM ... and lost control of his vehicle.
Earlier this month, Savage celebrated his 1-year anniversary with his new wife Lynn.
Savage was 58.
Macho Man began wrestling in the WWF in 1985 and became a superstar with his trademark catchphrase "Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh."
UPDATE: Florida Highway Patrol tells TMZ ... Savage was driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler on a when he veered across a concrete median ... through oncoming traffic ... and "collided head-on with a tree."
Savage was transported to Largo Medical center, where he died from his injuries.
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: ronnierocketAGO]
#603574 05/20/1101:09 PM05/20/1101:09 PM
I was really into wrestling as a kid and I watched it later as the likes of Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Randy Savage became popular. He was a hoot to watch.
.
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: SC]
#603586 05/20/1101:58 PM05/20/1101:58 PM
Oh man. I was definitely not expecting this. Macho was my hero back in the day..back when The Mega Powers were running the show. Then Miss Elizabeth is also gone. It's really bizarre. Fucked up.
r.i.p. Macho Man r.i.p. Mr. Perfect
Aside from The Hulkster and Ric Flair, these two were my favorite.
"What is given, can be taken away. Everyone lies. Everyone dies." - Casey Anthony, in a poem, July 7, 2008
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: VinnyGorgeous]
#603590 05/20/1102:34 PM05/20/1102:34 PM
Wow, what a shock...I grew up watching Randy Savage. This is definitely a tremendous loss for the pro-wrestling community.
What a shame...
"Growing up my dad was like 'You have a great last name, Galifianakis. Galifianakis...begins with a gal...and ends with a kiss...' I'm like that's great dad, can we get it changed to 'Galifianafuck' please?" -- Zach Galifianakis
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: XDCX]
#603593 05/20/1102:48 PM05/20/1102:48 PM
"Growing up my dad was like 'You have a great last name, Galifianakis. Galifianakis...begins with a gal...and ends with a kiss...' I'm like that's great dad, can we get it changed to 'Galifianafuck' please?" -- Zach Galifianakis
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: XDCX]
#603594 05/20/1103:22 PM05/20/1103:22 PM
Did you watch Haystacks Calhoun, the Iron Sheikh, the Graham Brothers ("Dr. Jerry Graham, noted tree surgeon")and, dare I ask, Antonino Rocca?
Yep. Not to forget Killer Kowalski, Johnny Valentine, Bruno Sammartino and Baba the Giant.
Rocca was one of my favorites.
I remember all of them, and more. Rocca was great - in later years he became Vince McMahon's co-host, and was usually unintelligible! Back in the days of George (The Animal) Steele, Gorilla Monsoon, Dick "The Bulldog" Brower, etc.
Randy Savage was part of the later, "new breed" of pro wrestler. Steroided to the max, and more theatrical and over-the-top than even Gorgeous George. I still get a little bit nostalgic for the "old days," I have to admit.
But I'm sorry to hear of Randy Savage's death. What a tragic way to die.
Signor V.
"For me, there's only my wife..."
"Sure I cook with wine - sometimes I even add it to the food!"
"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?"
"It was a grass harp... And we listened."
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?"
"No. Saints and poets, maybe... they do some."
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: Signor Vitelli]
#603598 05/20/1104:45 PM05/20/1104:45 PM
Randy Savage was part of the later, "new breed" of pro wrestler. Steroided to the max, and more theatrical and over-the-top than even Gorgeous George. I still get a little bit nostalgic for the "old days," I have to admit.
Not just all that, but also the expectations for more "workrate" in the ring, i.e. more "spots" (super body slam, turnbuckle jumps, etc.)in an average match than was expected of the Bruno generation.
Compare say that Savage/Steamboat match (arguably the greatest Wrestlemania match) with say a Bruno match. You'll notice a whole lot of differences, obvious and subtle. (Same way you can with a 2010s match with an 80s match.)
(Probably one of the chief reasons why wrestlers since the 80s and afterwards have died in ridiculous #s, which wasn't the case with the Bruno generation.)
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: ronnierocketAGO]
#603602 05/20/1105:25 PM05/20/1105:25 PM
Macho Man took the modern, theatrical wrestler to a new level; a real showman.
Us old timers have mentioned some of their early day favorites. Also to mention, Ricky Starr, probably weighed 200 lbs., but very athletic. And of course a real blue collar guy Arnold Skaalund; alway won the bout against a nobody, but always got beat by the big names. Bruno Sammartino and Antonino Rocca were my favs and I loved to watch Haystacks take on two guys and pancake them.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, whoever humbles himself will be exalted - Matthew 23:12
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: MaryCas]
#603604 05/20/1105:33 PM05/20/1105:33 PM
Us old timers have mentioned some of their early day favorites. Also to mention, Ricky Starr, probably weighed 200 lbs., but very athletic. And of course a real blue collar guy Arnold Skaalund; alway won the bout against a nobody, but always got beat by the big names.
Ricky Starr was a lightweight (but a hell of a lot of fun to watch). Even with the inflated weights of the other wrestlers, Starr never weighed even 200 pounds.... he'd dance around the ring.
Arnold Skaalund was a local boy from Yonkers, right? He was always around Tony Altamore and Lou Albano (Albano later became known as Cyndi Lauper's father in her wonderful music video).
Good years. All these old names laid the foundation for the likes of Randy Savage.
.
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: SC]
#603606 05/20/1105:48 PM05/20/1105:48 PM
Any of you old timers remember "Classy" Freddie Blassie? I read his autobiography a few years ago. He's remember mostly now for his years as THE PREMIER heel manager, but he was quite the wrestler, in his own right. He was legitimately insane!
During Blassie's career, he'd been stabbed, had acid thrown on his back. At one point, he filed his teeth into points. He was so feared in Japan, it has been reported that he gave many viewers heart attacks, and some even died!
Probably the greatest heel in wrestling history, and certainly one of the most respected pros ever in the business. Certainly a HUGE influence on every heel character that has laced up a pair of boots.
"Growing up my dad was like 'You have a great last name, Galifianakis. Galifianakis...begins with a gal...and ends with a kiss...' I'm like that's great dad, can we get it changed to 'Galifianafuck' please?" -- Zach Galifianakis
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: XDCX]
#603638 05/21/1105:26 AM05/21/1105:26 AM
Any of you old timers remember "Classy" Freddie Blassie? I read his autobiography a few years ago. He's remember mostly now for his years as THE PREMIER heel manager, but he was quite the wrestler, in his own right. He was legitimately insane!
During Blassie's career, he'd been stabbed, had acid thrown on his back. At one point, he filed his teeth into points. He was so feared in Japan, it has been reported that he gave many viewers heart attacks, and some even died!
Probably the greatest heel in wrestling history, and certainly one of the most respected pros ever in the business. Certainly a HUGE influence on every heel character that has laced up a pair of boots.
Not really an old timer (well relatively anyway) but I do remember this song growing up.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: ronnierocketAGO]
#603648 05/21/1111:05 AM05/21/1111:05 AM
Me and my dad loved this guy to death..pardon the pun. I don't think there was a better wrestler than this guy. Just an amazing performer. I was hoping to see him on TNA and join Immortal.
"What is given, can be taken away. Everyone lies. Everyone dies." - Casey Anthony, in a poem, July 7, 2008
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: ronnierocketAGO]
#605183 06/10/1110:41 AM06/10/1110:41 AM
Dick the Bruiser, Handsome Harly Race, Pat O'Connor -- goo go on and on. Always a big SuperFly Jimmy Snuka fan (and of course, loved the feud with Roddy Piper.
Also loved King Kong Bruiser Brody (RIP)(matches with Kamalla were filled with blood)
And I will never forget a match I went to back in the 80's -- Andre the Giant V Big John Studd (RIP both)-- body slam match.
And, of course I was a big Hulk Hogan fan back in the day (maimlu when he was with the AWA
I cannot even remember when I watch wrasslin' last save for maybe flipping channels. Hiwever I do remmember when I did see it -- there was hardly any action in the ring -- long intros etc.... I still remember the "hour long, best 2 of 3 falls" matches back in the 70's
Re: "Macho Man" Randy Savage dies in car accident
[Re: ronnierocketAGO]
#605964 06/21/1111:25 PM06/21/1111:25 PM
