Thoughts on the Randy Savage DVD
The much-anticipated Randy Savage DVD, Macho Madness: The Ultimate Randy Savage Collection, was released today, and it was worth the wait.
Savage was one of my favorite wrestlers during the Hulkamania era in the WWF, and this DVD is a reminder of just how incredibly talented and unique of a performer he was both in the ring and on the microphone.
It goes without saying that the three-disc set of Savage’s most famous matches and promos are a must for any “Macho Man” fan, but I also highly recommend it for any younger fans who may not be that familiar with him.
The DVD has most of the Savage matches that you would expect – versus Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III, Ted DiBiase at WrestleMania IV, Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania V, Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VII, Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII – but there also are several compelling matches that I had never seen before.
Among them is match against Shawn Michaels that took place in 1992 shortly after Michaels turned heel and became a singles wrestler, as well as a tag team match that pitted Savage and Bret Hart against Ric Flair and Michaels, also from ’92.
Not only do we get Savage in the ring with his contemporaries and future main-eventers such as Michaels and Hart, but there also is a match between Savage and “The Living Legend” Bruno Sammartino from 1987. There are matches from Savage’s stint in WCW, as well, including a good one against Diamond Dallas Page from 1997 that helped make DDP a star.
As much as I enjoyed the matches, however, the best part of the DVD for me are the promos. With his gravely voice, odd mannerisms and mixed metaphors, Savage had one of the most distinctive promo styles ever. His promos were often stream of consciousness and nonsensical, but the brilliance was in his delivery. Much like Flair, Savage could cut a heel promo that entertained you as much as it made you want to root for his opponent to put him in his place.
Unlike today’s heavily scripted promos, Savage was a star during an era when guys came up with their own stuff, and his creativity is on full display here in several interviews with Mean Gene Okerlund. Savage shows that he could pick up a random object lying around the studio – such as a cup, a newspaper, a broom, a trash can and even a miniature coffee creamer – and incorporate it into the interview. And the word association segment that he does with a “psychiatrist” on Tuesday Night Titans is just laugh-out-loud funny.
As with any retrospective on someone who has had a career as illustrious as Savage, not everything will be included on the DVD that you would like. I really wish the match from The Main Event in 1989 in which Savage turned on Hogan was on there. I also would like to have seen one of Savage’s promos from that feud with Hogan on the DVD. His intensity was off the charts during that run.
It’s also a shame that there is no pre-WWF footage of Savage from his days in Memphis and International Championship Wrestling – where he frequently feuded with his brother, Lanny Poffo.
As expected given the strained relationship between Savage and WWE, the man himself was not involved in the project, nor are there interviews from anyone talking about Savage. The clips are introduced by Matt Striker and Maria.
Still, what is on the DVD – including a fair share of Savage’s manager and real-life wife Elizabeth – more than makes up for what isn’t on it.
Comments
"I really wish the match from The Main Event in 1989 in which Savage turned on Hogan was on there. " They probably didnt put it on there b/c it was on The Best of SNME dvd. Im definately getting this dvd tomorrow after i get off work
Posted by: jason | June 9, 2009 6:38 PM
This is one I may get . I used to love watching Savage . And as you stated Kevin , as good a wrestler he was , I think his promos were even better .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | June 9, 2009 6:48 PM
20 years ago,I was too young to fully understand how great macho really was. The most surprising aspect being how serious he was about the actual wrestling aspect. He could even have a good match with warrior! Elbow drop was great. always landing feet first, to not hurt his opponent. Did get to see him wrestle once at the "tent" in the 80's. Just a small house show in warwick, RI, that used to be on the wwe New england circuit.
Posted by: Ryan B | June 9, 2009 7:45 PM
Can't wait to check this collection out, my hope is that someday Savage will repair whatever is broken w/Vince and allow the fans to see him in a WWE ring.
Posted by: Glenn | June 9, 2009 7:53 PM
How far in advance do you get these DVD's? There is no way you had time to report on RAW, update Batista's injury, write this blog, answer questions, do everything else you have to do on any given day at The Sun, and watch 3 discs worth of Macho Madness. The DVD's just came out today.
I'm gonna pick this up this weekend, and I'm sure after watching it I'm gonna want to kick Jay Lethal right in his "Machismo."
RESPONSE FROM KE: I got a copy from WWE a couple weeks ago and have watched a little at a time.
Posted by: Andre the Midget | June 9, 2009 8:18 PM
"Still, what is on the DVD...more than makes up for what isn’t on it."
Ehh. My favorites are the documentaries. Gotta have a sit-down with Savage for that.
Posted by: Stephen | June 9, 2009 8:52 PM
Got the DVD today and the Madness ensues.....OOOHHHH YYYEEEAAAHHHH!!! DIG IT!!!
Posted by: Chris | June 9, 2009 8:53 PM
Did you hear about the Slim Jim plant that exploded today in North Carolina?
Posted by: Chris Slater | June 9, 2009 9:34 PM
This may be the first wrestling DVD I buy. I loved Randy Savage when I was a little girl and I especially loved Miss Elizabeth. This is a DVD that could be a real nostalgia trip for me, back to when I used to watch wrestling with my Daddy and want to grow up to be like Miss Elizabeth. I'm glad it's a good DVD, because it's definitely been a long time coming.
Posted by: Michelle | June 9, 2009 10:21 PM
I gotta agree with some of the other reviews, the fact that there is no documentary or that Savage didnt come to terms with McMahon to talk about his career is really what I was most looking forward to..
Posted by: Dane | June 9, 2009 10:42 PM
Kev,
Is it possible that this could be a prelude to the Macho man returning for one last match, possibly at summerslam or WM26? I'll be getting this DVD set soon. Like you, I used to love watching him. It is amazing that he pulled a good match out of Warrior - a true testament to his ability.
I don't know anything about what he has been up to since WCW ended, or the state of his health or anything like that. I know he and Vince have a bad relationship, but if he is fit and wants to wrestle, surely Vince must see the draw potential in one more Macho Man match. Possibly against Undertaker, Chirs Jericho or Shawn Micheals.
Posted by: rob | June 10, 2009 2:19 AM
I probably am not the first to say this, but as i don't know much about the 90s wrestling, i don't know much about Randy Savage. Anyway, don't you think he sounds a lot like Jay Lethal, and, do you think Lethal takes his character from Randy Savage, possibly because Savage was one of his idols?
Posted by: Legacy.1 | June 10, 2009 11:32 AM
This might the first wrestling dvd I will buy in years. Even though I was a hardcore hulkamaniac it was impossible not to enjoy Savage, I even did a pretty cool Macho Man impersonation as a kid but being a african-american sadly it would only be seen as a jay lethal impersonation now. DAMN YOU TNA!
Posted by: John Smith | June 10, 2009 12:00 PM
Oh wow, Maria is on the DVD! Hmm..
Seriously though, how much attention is given to Ms. Elizabeth on the segments between matches? They are easily one of the best "packaged deals" in wrestling history for manager/wrestler combinations.
Fans today talk more & more about Savage's in-ring and mic skills, but it seems less & less people talk about how Ms. Elizabeth made Savage especially unique.
Posted by: Mr. Sarcasm | June 10, 2009 12:09 PM
Savage was one of a kind. I still hope someday him and Vince mend fences so he can have his day and deserved place in the WWE Hall of Fame
Posted by: Mark | June 10, 2009 12:15 PM
I loved it ive waited years for it literally but its missing the Savage/Crush match from Wrestlemania X and the summitt.
Posted by: Anthony Carpenter | June 10, 2009 1:25 PM
KEvin, I was wondering if you know whether Randy Savage sees any money from this DVD or if WWE has exclusive rights to everything?
Also, remind me why WWE and Savage are on the outs?
RESPONSE FROM KE: I don't about the money, but my guess is no. WWE owns all the footage that is on the DVD.
Posted by: AMC | June 10, 2009 1:54 PM
Does anyone know what exactly is the beef between McMahon and Savage? I'll I've ever herd is they have issues with each other but I don't know the specifics. Was it what Brett Hart mentioned in is book about McMahon kind of pushing him to the side to make room for new talent? Was it money? If anyone knows please fill me in. Thanx in advance.
Posted by: Andre the Midget | June 10, 2009 3:04 PM
Andre the Midget - I think it has something to do with Savage leaving WWF to sign w/WCW after vowing not to ..... I think.
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | June 10, 2009 7:59 PM
Unless there is backstage footage of Randy and Stephanie what good is the DVD?
Posted by: eric | June 10, 2009 9:43 PM
Thank you arteest! :)
Posted by: Andre the Midget | June 10, 2009 10:30 PM
I'll definately be buying this dvd, and I haven't bought one from WWE in years. I'm a big Savage fan and would have liked to have seen them put out a new Savage t-shirt and of course the documentary, but hopefully that is a future possibility. There are still plenty of matches they could use for another dvd. The big hope is for the Hall of Fame in 2010.
Posted by: Billy | June 11, 2009 12:04 AM
The short and polite version is that nobody knows what happened between Savage and McMahon. There are several Internet theories floating around—some business, some personal—but they're just rumor and speculation. There may be only two or three people who know the truth, and so far they're not talking.
Posted by: Stephen | June 11, 2009 11:31 AM
I remember reading something a while back about the Savage-Mcmahon beef possibly dealing with Savage having "relations" with Stephanie. I'm not sure how valid it is.
Posted by: Killer Tofu | June 11, 2009 12:24 PM
Andre the Midget - Your're welcome !
However , if you read some of the posts after mine , it's anybody's guess .
Arteeeeeest.
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | June 11, 2009 5:26 PM
Just wanted to say that a.) Randy Savage rules!!! and b.) to answer a questioner above about his current health, etc., I worked for a pizza delivery place in the islands off the gulf coast of Florida, where Savage lives for at least most (if not all) of the year.
From all interactions with him (mine and others, through work & random stuff like running into him at a filling station, etc) he is fit, looks good, has an active social life, gets around fine (no visible sign of injuries), is extremely cool and friendly in person and on the phone, and is a very generous tipper! That last item is about the highest complement I can give another human being, btw.
He also sounds like the Macho Man all the time... that amazing voice is his real voice.
I will NEVER take the WWF's Hall of Fame seriously until Savage is a fully honored inductee.
And Jay Lethal has good taste in role models!
Posted by: Bentley | June 12, 2009 1:56 PM
There must be some truth to the rumor that Savage is persona non gratis in the WWE for some personal reason having to do with the McMahons, otherwise he'd have been in the Hall of Fame years ago and this DVD would not have taken so long to be released.
Good matches on this DVD, but they really couldn't have put less effort into it. Those hosts are very annoying and the lack of a mini-documentary really stands out. I'm sure they could have found any number of wrestlers to say what an influence Savage had on wrestling. Even without his participation, they could have done a mini-doc with guys currently on the roster explaining his impact...
Too bad. Overall, a good collection of matches, but disappointing. Hopefully it doesn't end up being the only Savage DVD set.
Posted by: Dingo | July 4, 2009 10:21 PM
Hey Kevin - Might be a dumb question but did your copy have an insert card detailing the matches and all? Mine doesn't and while its nothing to fret about - it does such when you don't know the list or ordering of the matches. Could you help clarify this?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Yeah, mine did.
Posted by: Hari | December 7, 2009 11:58 PM