Randy “Macho Man” Savage, the professional wrestler known for his raspy voice, the sunglasses and bandanas he wore in the ring and the young woman named Miss Elizabeth who often accompanied him, died in a car crash Friday in Florida. He was 58.
A Florida Highway Patrol crash report said the former wrestler — whose legal name was Randy Mario Poffo — was driving a Jeep Wrangler when he lost control in Pinellas County shortly before 9:30 a.m. The Jeep veered over the raised concrete median divider, crossed over the eastbound lanes and crashed head-on into a tree.
Police said he might have suffered a “medical event” before the accident, but the report did not elaborate. It said officials would need to perform an autopsy to know for sure.
The report said a woman in the vehicle, identified as Barbara L. Poffo, 56, suffered minor injuries. A statement from Stamford, Conn.-based World Wrestling Entertainment said the passenger was the wrestler’s wife. Both were wearing their seat belts, according to the police report.
“Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans,” the statement said.
Savage was a charismatic wrestler made famous for his “Macho Man” nickname and his “Oooh Yeah!” catchphrase. He was a champion in Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation, and later Ted Turner’s now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.
Savage defined the larger-than-life personalities of the 1980s World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). He wore sequined robes bejeweled with “Macho Man” on the back, rainbow-colored cowboy hats and oversized sunglasses, part of a unique look that helped build the WWF into a mainstream phenomenon.
For most of his career, his valet, Miss Elizabeth, was by his side. Elizabeth Hulette was his real-life wife at the time. They later divorced, and Hulette died in 2003 at 42 in what was later ruled a prescription-drug overdose.
The WWF made Savage its champion after a win over Ted DiBiase in the main event at WrestleMania in 1988. Savage had not appeared for a major wrestling organization since 2004, when he performed for Total Nonstop Action.
He was at times both the most popular and most hated wrestler in entertainment. His flying elbow off the top rope was mimicked by basement and backyard wrestlers everywhere. Savage made good use of his deep, raspy voice as a corporate pitchman as well, for years ordering Slim Jim fans to “Snap into a Slim Jim!” He’s most known for his legendary rivalries with Hulk Hogan, Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair.
Wrestlers took to Twitter to let fans know Savage won’t be forgotten.
“There’s probably five or six of us, with Andre (the Giant) and Hogan and thankfully myself and Flair, that, when their names pop up, even if you’re not a fan, you know who . . . these people are,” said former wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. “You say, ‘I know this guy. I know Macho Man Randy Savage.’ He was part of that breed. We lost a good one.”
Rhodes said Savage had prudently saved his money and was content to remain out of the spotlight.
“He was a recluse, almost,” Rhodes said. “Whatever he was doing, he wanted that privacy. Yeah, he was out of the picture for 10 years, but he didn’t want to be in the picture.”
