6 Shocking Deaths That Changed The WWE
5. Macho Man Randy Savage (1952-2011)
News of the Ultimate Warriors death on April 8 immediately reminded wrestling fans of Randy Savages surprise passing nearly three years ago. Savage also died of a sudden massive heart attack with his wife by his side, and he, like the Warrior had been busy mending fences with WWE brass at the time of his death. Before his death, it was widely speculated that Savage would be inducted into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame in his home state of Florida on March 31, 2012, the night before Wrestlemania 28. Wrestling fans mourned the loss of Randy Savage and the failed opportunity to see him rightfully enshrined beside the other all-time legends of wrestling.
Impact of Savage's Death
Savages death undoubtedly forced the WWE to reevaluate the way it handled the Hall of Fame inductions of its previously blacklisted wrestlers. In the three HOF ceremonies following Macho Mans death, the WWE has honored long-overlooked legends like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino, Jake The Snake Roberts, Razor Ramon, and the Ultimate Warrior. Even the HOF inductions of Yokozuna in 2012 and Paul Bearer in 2014 were novel in the fact that WWE was acknowledging the careers of two superstars posthumously. Im confident in saying that the WWE will always regret its failure to book what would have been a highly viewed public mea culpa with the Macho Man. A wrestling hall of fame without Randy Savage is like a Dairy Queen without its signature Blizzards #InductSavage.
Savages detailed autopsy has not been made public as of this writing, but you can read the U.K. Daily Mail's account of the report here. Note that Savage suffered only minor injuries as a result of the car crash that was, at first, what reportedly killed him. Also, no illegal substances were found in his system at the time of his death despite rampant speculation.