Debuts are often make or break time for wrestlers. It allows us to often see them for the first time, and our love or hate affairs with them begins with that one match. On this day in wrestling history, June 17, 1985, Randy “Macho Man” Savage debuted in the WWE (WWF at the time) against Aldo Marino on Championship Wrestling.
It started a Hall of Fame career for arguably the greatest wrestler in history. And all because of a single opportunity.
Opportunity knocks
As I’ve often said, opportunities surround us. It usually comes down to us recognizing them and being able to take advantage of one when it comes around. It’s not as easy as it sounds, or most of us would be living a dream as a rock star, actor, sports hero, or whatever our dream goals are.
But when someone succeeds, they take the world by storm. In his final WWE interview in 2003 with Smackdown magazine (special thanks to @awrestlinghistorian for the excerpt and facts), Randy Savage said:
“Vince McMahon called me and said, ‘I’ll guarantee you an opportunity.’ I said, ‘That’s good enough for me.’ That was the break I was waiting for. That was what made me.”
It was the chance of a lifetime, and it changed the wrestling world forever as he carved out his own this day in wrestling history.
Tributes and loyalty
It also brought to like some cool aspects of his life and career that speak more about his character than we previously knew. One is his nickname “Macho Man” was often credited by many to be from the Village People. Given the times, it’s safe to assume it was meant to poke fun at him. This isn’t true, and there are two thoughts on where it came from. One says it started when he played baseball and got into a fight with a player on the opposing team. Things like that generally earn one the nickname of “Killer” or something along those lines, but his teammates thought “Macho Man” was better to poke fun (rib) of him. The other is his mother, Judy, read that it was going to be one of the top names/phrases used in the near future.
Another was his use of “Pomp and Circumstance” as his entrance music. It was meant as a tribute to “Gorgeous” George Wagner for when he helped Savage’s father, Angelo Poffo, when he was breaking into the wrestling business.
Savage was intensely loyal and stuck by those he considered his friends unless they proved otherwise. It’s an awesome trait that he continued throughout his life no matter how famous he became.
One of his greatest moments came after his debut, as he quickly established himself. During the 1980s, there were two names at the top of the professional wrestling mountain. One was Hulk Hogan, who was the biggest draw in history, and the other was Randy Savage. During that time, Savage was the only one to upstage Hogan on a regular basis. Talk about a feather in his cap.
The smallest moments can often define us, and if we’re lucky, we see them and grab hold for as long as we can. They can lead to so awesome moments and memories, and we never know if they’ll become another this day in wrestling history.
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