HULK HOGAN VS. RANDY SAVAGE
The 1980s were a golden era for wrestling, though few realized it at the time. Thanks largely to World Wrestling Federation, wrestling not only became a national entertainment phenomenon but also gained cultural significance transcending the sport. This was the rock star era, when one of the biggest pop stars of the moment -- Cyndi Lauper -- joined with wrestling greats to reach a mass audience inconceivable to earlier generations of wrestling fanatics.
And the man at the center of the ring for most of this era was Hulk Hogan.
HULKAMANIA
Like the Great Depression and Woodstock, Hulkamania was an event you had to live through to completely understand. Made possible by the ascendance of World Wrestling Federation, it was very much a product of its time and place.
Today, it's not uncommon to see entire movies built around a prominent wrestler. But in the 1980s, Hogan's appearances as a star in movies and TV were radical developments. That exposure, along with the WrestleMania extravaganzas featuring stars from other entertainment fields, brought new audiences to wrestling.
Hulkamania was much more than Hulk Hogan and his fans. But as the most visible wrestler of his time, Hogan not only leant his name to the phenomenon, he popularized and symbolized a certain type of wrestling. Big men, big muscles, over-the-top story lines, heels as popular as good guys -- all existed before Hulk Hogan. But none were mainstays of the industry until Hogan. Google some wrestling stars from the 1950s or '60s or '70s if you need to be convinced.
HOGAN
Hogan began wrestling professionally in 1977 when he was twenty-four. His peak years began with his return to World Wrestling Federation in 1983 and lasted until 1993. After that, he joined WCW, helping to transform it from a struggling operation to (briefly) the number-one wrestling franchise in the world. After WCW's collapse, he returned to WWE as popular as ever.
He continues to enjoy a successful career in the public eye as an entertainer and (often bedeviled) reality TV star; his name is synonymous with wrestling even today.
Hogan's opponents are a Who's Who of great wrestlers. Hogan had memorable encounters with everyone from Nick Bockwinkel to the Iron Sheik to Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Sting, and The Rock. Picking one or two story lines from his long career is like trying to determine which grain of sand on the beach is better than the others.
Some of his most memorable confrontations at the height of his fame came with Randy Savage, and their long and slightly twisted feud was as entertaining as any.
RANDY SAVAGE
"Macho Man" Randy Savage joined World Wrestling Federation in 1985. Almost immediately, he became one of the top heels in the promotion. Somewhat pompous and full of himself, Savage was managed by Miss Elizabeth, soon to be a star in her own right.
Before meeting Hogan in 1987, he had several great matches, the best of which was the epic encounter with Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III. Late in 1987, toward the end of a feud with the Honky Tonk Man, Savage found himself outnumbered in the ring by a group of wrestlers that included the Hart Foundation. Miss Elizabeth managed to get Hulk Hogan to help bail Savage out. A new alliance was formed among the three, who called themselves the Mega Powers.
Some sexual tension was evident to fans, as the beautiful Miss Elizabeth seemed to sparkle not only for Savage but for Hogan as well. The sexual innuendos added a tantalizing element to the rivalry.
WRESTLEMANIA IV
At WrestleMania IV, Hogan helped Savage win the title from Ted DiBiase by hitting him with a chair. The friendship between Hogan and Savage continued after the match; wrestling as the tag team Mega Powers, they dominated their opponents over the next year or so. Then jealousy over Miss Elizabeth ended the alliance.
At the Saturday Night's Main Event in February 1989, Savage accidentally knocked Miss Elizabeth out during a Tag Team match against the Twin Towers. With Savage busy in the ring, Hogan picked up Miss Elizabeth and carried her into the dressing room for medical attention. This left Savage to take the brunt of the Towers' onslaught.
Savage wasn't particularly pleased when Hogan returned, and he gave his partner a taste of his own medicine, declining to intervene when the Towers had Hogan on the ropes. Hogan received a substantial beating before managing to finish off the Towers on his own.
The match was over, but the rift between the two friends had just begun. Savage attacked Hogan following the match, and it was soon clear that the dispute had more to do with Hogan's attentions toward Miss Elizabeth than with what had happened in the ring.
Bad blood boiled. Hogan challenged Savage to a championship showdown. Savage accepted. The tension built, right up to WrestleMania V (April 2, 1989).
Then Savage got hurt. An arm injury led to a swollen bursa sac at his elbow. When this got infected, his entire arm swelled up. Days before the match, Savage was in bed with a serious fever and blood poisoning, in no shape to compete.
Not that he was willing to admit that.
"Don't worry about the Macho Man," Savage told friends. "I'll be there."
WRESTLEMANIA V
Savage showed up at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City with a wrap on his right elbow big enough to preserve a well-fed mummy. The infection had been drained, but he was still suffering the effects of the ailment. No matter. He and Hogan went out and tussled in one of the great matches of both men's storied careers.
Taller than Savage by several inches, Hogan chased him from the ring soon after the bell. Buff and in his prime, Hogan nonetheless had a hard time keeping up with Savage as the smaller man literally ran him around the ring. Savage had little reason to stop -- whenever he got close enough, Hogan used his superior size to great advantage, either by giving him a closed-fist jab or overpowering him in a hold.
Savage absorbed an enormous beating in the middle of the match but kept getting up for more. Flinging his body across the narrow confines of the ring again and again, he rallied the crowd. They seemed grudging at first, but gradually the cheers grew louder and louder.
Miss Elizabeth saved Savage at one point, then kept things balanced by nursing Hogan while he was out of the ring. Savage reacted strongly, pushing her out of the arena before returning to attack Hogan.
A cut opened over Hogan's left eye, negating Hogan's size advantage. Savage moved in for the kill. Hogan countered with a monstrous kickout that sent Savage high into the air.
Hogan began to get his adrenaline as the crowd became frenetic. A tremendous flurry of slaps, punches, a kick and legdrop -- Savage was pinned, momentarily unconscious.
A tremendous roar went up. The champion had reclaimed what was rightfully his.
THE FIGHT CONTINUES
The Savage-Hogan feud continued for a few months, fueled by sexual and professional jealousy. Both wrestlers formed new partnerships for a tag team showdown. Savage dumped Miss Elizabeth for a new manager -- Sensational Sherri -- and partnered with Zeus.
Not to be outdone, Hogan called on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake to man his corner. Miss Elizabeth also made a cameo to support him.
Before a filled Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Hogan and The Barber prevailed over Savage and Zeus. The match was the end of a story that had run well over a year, but it was not the final time in their history that the two would face off.
WCW
Hogan went to WCW in 1994, becoming the focus of the franchise the moment he signed his contract. Savage followed, just in time for Starcade, the promotion's late December Pay-Per-View.
There was a great deal of speculation about whether Savage would be Hogan's friend or enemy. At the event, he saved Hogan from a pile-on by the 3 Faces of Fear, one of whom was the Butcher. Hogan defeated Butcher to keep the Championship belt, and he and Savage were friends again. For a while, at least.
Savage feuded with Ric Flair, reprising their earlier clashes in the World Wrestling Federation. He teamed with Hogan at Clash of the Champions XXX, where they beat Kevin Sullivan and the Butcher, and was generally his ally.
Then came 1996 and the New World Order (nWo). Joining the stable of very cool heels, Hulk Hogan became Savage's archenemy.
Savage, now representing the traditional WCW, feuded ferociously with Hogan and his cohorts week after week. At Halloween Havoc in 1996, he and Hogan faced off in a fight where Miss Elizabeth was once again a main motivator.
Though older, Savage still displayed his trademark athleticism. As Hogan strutted in his sunglasses and golden wig -- he'd "gone Hollywood" -- Savage ran, raining blows on his old adversary. Hogan staggered, helpless as Savage stole his glasses and wig.
The crowd roared in delight.
Hogan finally dropped his mugging. Picking up a chair, he knocked Savage senseless during an exchange outside the ring.
Miss Elizabeth couldn't decide who to help. She loved Savage, but Hogan had offered to make her a film star. She went back and forth for a while, distracting both wrestlers and teasing the crowd with peeks at her charms.
Then the match became a Free-For-All. The ref was knocked out. Hogan was knocked out. Savage decided to chase Ted DiBiase around for kicks. The Giant appeared, grabbed Savage, and chokeslammed him into unconsciousness.
The match ended with The Giant carrying Savage into the ring, where he placed Hogan's arm over him for the countout.
MORE NWO
After the match, Savage disappe...
