I just had to include this as the Promo of the Day. Bet Savage didn't need much in the way of scripting to accuse Hogan of lusting after Elizabeth before blindsiding him with the belt. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Savage bitching out Liz before Hogan gets to the back is incredible. Earlier in the day I pulled up Wrestlemania VIII on the network feed just to hear Savage's tremendous "just a piece" promo after beating Flair.
Need a raging promo full of passion and intensity, Savage is king.
Rewatching the glory days of my youth is what keeps me a fan of wrestling. Without classic WWF circa 1984-1992, I dunno that I'd even follow THIS BUSINESS any longer.
The best angles are the ones where the people involved are close to their true personalities. And Hogan leaving him to get squashed while attending to Liz was incredible. I remember during the match, Liz was like "Where's Randy?" and Hogan's like "oh shoot I left him in the ring!" made me cheer Savage when he went off.
Hogan sometimes doesn't get credit for these things but their interaction really made it look like we were eavesdropping in on two bros fighting over a woman. As great as Savage was, Hogan held up his end perfectly.
Look up the "hotdogging and grandstanding" promos Macho did following this...wouldn't be out of place coming out of a vengeful face until the later ones.
Beefer was the ultimate tough-luck guy. I was a kid in 1988-89 and Beefcake was as popular as anyone in the WWF at the time. In fact, given what a lunatic Warrior turned out to be (RIP) you can't help but wonder what they could have done if Beefcake won the IC title in 1988 and rolled up the card. When he was about to finally get his break, he takes a knee to the face parasailing and that is that.
I have to disagree. Even watching at the time I thought "Wait...Beefcake? Teaming with Hulk in a PPV main event? Really?" And I *liked* Beefcake's act. I just didn't see him on Hulk or Savage's level. I can only speak for me of course, but I would have expected even a guy like Duggan to be ahead of the Barber on the pecking order. Of course I was ignorant of the real details.
Ventura said it too during a Beefcake match on Superstars. Something like "This is the guy who I consider the weak link (i remember the word wimped wimp, but i was a kid) for sumerslam. There's no doubt in my mind the Macho Man can take him, and yeah... There's really no doubt that he wouldn't wanna get grabbed by Zeus".
the before and after promos of flair savage at wm 8 is a clinic of how to DO PROMOS period. Love Flair's crimson mask shaking off the loss and strutting. "the fistfull of tights!"
Watching this again makes me appreciate Randy's segment with Crush all the more (the one where Crush turns on him), 'cause in thats segment, too, he uses the phrase "You're out of line," but in this tense sort of don't-do-this manner. Watching the two promos together, that phrase tying back to Randy's heel insanity makes it seem like, "Crush, man, seriously, back off."
Also, I like that Randy finally leaves but makes it clear that he's only doing so "'Cause I want to," like a chickenshit bully should.
A lot of recent WWE stuff just blurrs together for me so I don't remember this specifically, but was it intentionally violent like this? I would assume not. If a male wrestler literally slung a "defenseless female" like Elizabeth there today, there would be a ton of controversy.
Absolutely -- probably the two best back to back promos ever. That match finish doesn't get enough credit either -- how many people out dirtied the dirtiest player in the game?
I love how Gene brings up all of Savage's infractions and he just diffuses the whole thing with "Do I care? I don't even care... that's ok!" haha. Such a heelish interview, but he comes off as the ultimate babyface anyway because of the Elizabeth angle.
We weren't booing Hogan. (Well I booed him when he was wrestling, but not for this.) They didn't yet have screens where we could see what was happening backstage. In fact, they delayed the live broadcast in Milwaukee (where this was) until the next day... which I really do believe was in part so those of us at the show could see what happened backstage. We also couldn't see the interviews or the friendship package they put together for Randy and Hulk, which meant we were treated to about ten minutes of "Jive Soul Bro" as Slick and the Twin Towers danced in the ring. I've been to pay per views, video cassette tapings, and dark shows, but this Main Event was the strangest experience - but easily the most exciting.
Hogan slapping Randy's finger out of his face really put this one over. That shit looks like two dudes about to tear each other apart.
ReplyDeleteTurn the closed captioning on for bonus fun on this one
ReplyDeleteSavage bitching out Liz before Hogan gets to the back is incredible. Earlier in the day I pulled up Wrestlemania VIII on the network feed just to hear Savage's tremendous "just a piece" promo after beating Flair.
ReplyDeleteNeed a raging promo full of passion and intensity, Savage is king.
This is so awesome. Savage was the man.
ReplyDeleteHogan slapping his finger away makes it.
Never noticed the boos for Hogan when he first appeared on camera.
ReplyDeleteBest part: Beefcake getting tossed out like the jobber he was.
ReplyDeleteThat promo, and his promo after Tuesday in Texas are impossibly great.
ReplyDeleteBeefcake really stuck out like a sore thumb in the main event scene in 1989.
ReplyDeleteSee, people make the Ambrose/Piper comparisons, but I've always thought Savage was just as apt a comparison. Dean would kill at that kind of promo.
ReplyDeleteRewatching the glory days of my youth is what keeps me a fan of wrestling. Without classic WWF circa 1984-1992, I dunno that I'd even follow THIS BUSINESS any longer.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he stuck out during the actual.time. he was storyline hogan's friend and feuding with savage. It made sense. Looking back, not so much
ReplyDeleteThe best angles are the ones where the people involved are close to their true personalities. And Hogan leaving him to get squashed while attending to Liz was incredible. I remember during the match, Liz was like "Where's Randy?" and Hogan's like "oh shoot I left him in the ring!" made me cheer Savage when he went off.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jesse on commentary was EXCELLENT.
I'm confused. Should savage's promo be scripted to say wwe universe and best for business??? Works great now
ReplyDelete-Anddd... Cut! Great job, Randy!
ReplyDelete-What? The cameras were on?
Hogan sometimes doesn't get credit for these things but their interaction really made it look like we were eavesdropping in on two bros fighting over a woman. As great as Savage was, Hogan held up his end perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLook up the "hotdogging and grandstanding" promos Macho did following this...wouldn't be out of place coming out of a vengeful face until the later ones.
ReplyDeleteNo, at the time I'm sure he fit right in. Like you said though, looking back now....
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. He showed so much care all the time
ReplyDeleteBeefer was the ultimate tough-luck guy. I was a kid in 1988-89 and Beefcake was as popular as anyone in the WWF at the time. In fact, given what a lunatic Warrior turned out to be (RIP) you can't help but wonder what they could have done if Beefcake won the IC title in 1988 and rolled up the card. When he was about to finally get his break, he takes a knee to the face parasailing and that is that.
ReplyDeleteBeefs actually held up his end as a worker during this stretch. He had a damn good match with Savage in the SNME leading up to Summerslam 1989
ReplyDeleteWhat made Savage so great, and what makes every really great heel, is there is always a kernal of truth to what motivates them.
ReplyDeleteNever noticed Savage throwing Liz like a frisbee.
ReplyDeleteThere is another one against I think Rick Rude (?) in 88. Maybe Greg Valentine.
ReplyDeletealso ... the bump Liz took with Savage hitting her being thrown out of the ring was insane.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that must have been a botch. It could have killed her. She came incredibly close to getting his full weight right on her head.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree. Even watching at the time I thought "Wait...Beefcake? Teaming with Hulk in a PPV main event? Really?" And I *liked* Beefcake's act. I just didn't see him on Hulk or Savage's level. I can only speak for me of course, but I would have expected even a guy like Duggan to be ahead of the Barber on the pecking order. Of course I was ignorant of the real details.
ReplyDeleteVentura said it too during a Beefcake match on Superstars. Something like "This is the guy who I consider the weak link (i remember the word wimped wimp, but i was a kid) for sumerslam. There's no doubt in my mind the Macho Man can take him, and yeah... There's really no doubt that he wouldn't wanna get grabbed by Zeus".
ReplyDeletePeople love Heenan because he's hilarious ... but NOBODY worked heel as an announcer better than Ventura. Nobody.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/POi-gt2vsDE
ReplyDeleteHow about the Beefcake botch from the live airing?
I remember Beefcake as being very popular as well. He cut guys' hair after matches for crying out loud! How cool was that!?
ReplyDeleteRandy was on some killer shit that day. One of the best angles ever.
ReplyDeleteI still love that in wrestling of all the things that you can hit a guy with the championship belt is an automatic KO as in knocked da fuck out!
ReplyDeleteWatched it. Loved it. Realized, I miss the Winged Eagle belt.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't get much better than this.
ReplyDeletethe before and after promos of flair savage at wm 8 is a clinic of how to DO PROMOS period. Love Flair's crimson mask shaking off the loss and strutting. "the fistfull of tights!"
ReplyDeleteYeah, Savage doesn't get enough credit for making guys look like a million bucks.
ReplyDeleteWatching this again makes me appreciate Randy's segment with Crush all the more (the one where Crush turns on him), 'cause in thats segment, too, he uses the phrase "You're out of line," but in this tense sort of don't-do-this manner. Watching the two promos together, that phrase tying back to Randy's heel insanity makes it seem like, "Crush, man, seriously, back off."
ReplyDeleteAlso, I like that Randy finally leaves but makes it clear that he's only doing so "'Cause I want to," like a chickenshit bully should.
lets be real no one is an apt comparison to randy...
ReplyDeleteChalk that up as another thing that would NEVER happen in today's WWE.
ReplyDeleteOne of four bumps she took in the WWF I believe. The two in this match/segment. Honky Tonk pushing her down and Jake slapping her.
ReplyDeleteThis was almost as inspired as Beau James's promo against The Cripplers last month.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Big Show bowled AJ over just a couple years ago.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Beau never filmed himself laying on an operating table. That would have been a hilarious visual.
ReplyDeleteA lot of recent WWE stuff just blurrs together for me so I don't remember this specifically, but was it intentionally violent like this? I would assume not. If a male wrestler literally slung a "defenseless female" like Elizabeth there today, there would be a ton of controversy.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Bryan intentionally orchestrated it to keep his title.
ReplyDeleteHogan is not really on his game for it, but that's a pretty awesome, crazed Macho Man promo.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the bump in the interview is probably onto a pad or something (the fall is off camera) but that one at ringside is really sick.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely -- probably the two best back to back promos ever. That match finish doesn't get enough credit either -- how many people out dirtied the dirtiest player in the game?
ReplyDeleteI love how Gene brings up all of Savage's infractions and he just diffuses the whole thing with "Do I care? I don't even care... that's ok!" haha. Such a heelish interview, but he comes off as the ultimate babyface anyway because of the Elizabeth angle.
We weren't booing Hogan. (Well I booed him when he was wrestling, but not for this.) They didn't yet have screens where we could see what was happening backstage. In fact, they delayed the live broadcast in Milwaukee (where this was) until the next day... which I really do believe was in part so those of us at the show could see what happened backstage. We also couldn't see the interviews or the friendship package they put together for Randy and Hulk, which meant we were treated to about ten minutes of "Jive Soul Bro" as Slick and the Twin Towers danced in the ring. I've been to pay per views, video cassette tapings, and dark shows, but this Main Event was the strangest experience - but easily the most exciting.
ReplyDelete