Perhaps out of anyone who has ever wrestled in a TNA ring, it was the saddest to watch Randy Savage. Well, if you can really call what Savage did wrestling. In 2004, TNA wanted to get some buzz going for their foray into monthly pay-per-views. It was a big step, so the company signed a big name to appear. Their first show had Savage appear as a cliffhanger, and the following month he was scheduled to team up with Jeff Hardy and A.J. Styles to battle the evil Kings of Wrestling which consisted of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett (basically, NWO 2000 without Scott Steiner and Bret Hart). In theory, having Savage on-board was a nice get for TNA. Fans hadnt seen him on TV in four years, and he remained a cultural icon. The company had to have picked up a few buys from fans just out of curiosity. However, Savages participation at the event probably dissuaded those fans from buying the next pay-per-view. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wctOLB5ZtrA In the main event, Savage didnt even start the match with his team. That seemed like a rip-off to people who paid to see him. Finally, after 15 minutes into the match, he emerged. He walked out dressed completely in black. He didnt even remove his shirt, and looked noticeably smaller since we last saw him. He then threw a handful of punches and basically sat on Jeff Jarrett to pin him. Was a roll-up too much work? According to TNA employee Bill Behrens, Savage had been drinking all day and he had to help him up the ramp. That actually explains quite a bit. Seeing Savage in such condition was like a top rope elbow drop to our hearts. Maybe that run is best left forgotten.
As Rust Cohle from True Detective said "Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you're good at."
Sadly, I can't solve a murder like Rust...or change a tire, or even tie a tie. But I do know all the lyrics to Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme song and can easily name every Natural Born Thriller from the dying days of WCW. I was once ranked 21st in the United States in Tetris...on the Playstation 3 version...for about a week.
Follow along @AndrewSoucek and check out my podcast at wrestlingwithfriends.com
