10 Most Fascinating Stories In WrestleMania History
8. The Redemption Of Randy Savage
Randy Savage's influence over the WrestleMania stage is profound; in crafting his rehearsed, move-for-move masterpiece with Ricky Steamboat in the Pontiac Silverdome, the Macho Man rewrote the in-ring language of pro wrestling in the heel role.
The character (formally) redeemed himself in storylines through his association with Hulk Hogan - but there was a certain, meticulously-plotted fatalism coursing through Savage's high-drawing babyface run as WWF Champion. Hogan turned from friend to spectre; his presence loomed over Savage's career accomplishment and his fractious personal life. This warped his unhinged psyche and telegraphed the events of WrestleMania V, at which he lost the title and abandoned valet and wife Miss Elizabeth. Their tumultuous falling out cast Savage as the perfect, despicable heel. Everybody who watched the WWF was in love with Elizabeth, the picture of sweet innocence; Savage's grotesque actions towards her even elevated the dire, comedic mixed tag at WrestleMania VI.
Elizabeth never stopped believing in her man, and her man came back to her at WrestleMania VII. It was there that Savage thought he had lost everything, in being retired by the Ultimate Warrior - but in a deeply moving and unforgettable scene, he regained everything he had ever wanted.
We know now, as learned adult fans, of the ironic strangeness that was this reconciliation, and of Savage's rank offscreen behaviour - but it was plotted so perfectly and performed so emotively that we forget, lost in the immortal fabric of the WWF's Golden Era.