The True Story of Randy Savage's TNA Comeback

What was supposed to be a shot in the arm for a fledgling promotion and a grand return for an ageing all-time great not only provided neither, but was a disaster on almost every level. This is The True Story of Macho Man Randy Savage's TNA Comeback.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown,, and NXT), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@themachodan13]

As a huge Macho Man fan this was really well done and props for not making this a negative piece on the man. There were some downs at the end of his career but you guys still brought out some positives in it

[@Andrew-gk6bn]

Yeah this is a very fair video. Macho man is my favorite, it's a shame WWE never brought him back for anything.

[@jamalvargas6146]

Hard To Believe Christian and Kurt Angle Were the ones To legitimize TNA and I was a fan a huge one at that

[@mikescott8903]

It is hard to believe because it's not true

[@ricksuddarth7200]

Was is it hard for u to believe that you were a huge TNA fan? 😂

[@richborn6700]

​@@ricksuddarth7200 between 2005-2008 they had a lot of fans. Even bad TNA from 2009-2016 still had more viewers and AEW does now. Which sucks because AEW is way better than late TNA in terms of matches, booking, and overall production and touring

[@ricksuddarth7200]

@@richborn6700 my sarcasm is always lost in translation 🤷

[@MovieEnvy]

@@ricksuddarth7200 it's always tough to tell in text.

[@kmorris4730]

Sometimes people need to crash hard before they realise they need to change their lives completely and that is what happened here. It must have been a terrible time for him. Liz dying in the most horrific way, him being ostracised from wwe whilst peers no where near as good as him were being inducted in to hof. He removed himself from the entire industry, cleaned himself up, got back together with his girlfriend from before he was famous and lived the rest of his life happily without any drama. Respect!

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

He obviously did not want to be one of the guys who lived off what he used to be by doing indy appearances and interviews and autograph signings. He wanted the fans to remember what he was. Respect!

[@SteRDLK]

Who was inducted into the HOF in 2004 who was "no where near as good as him"?

[@JamesWright-yw4lv]

I remember his commerical for WWE All stars - the last good WWE game. I really wish they would have inducted him while he was still here

[@JamesWright-yw4lv]

​@@SteRDLK unless Hogan was inducted that year, the answer is every inductee

[@SteRDLK]

@HiiDE Why would you overload the first HOF with the biggest names?

[@babarazamsucks]

R.I.P. Macho Man Randy Savage.😢

[@Apuleius_]

Thank you for this well-researched video. Evidentally Savage wanted to end his wrestling career with a bang, but his injuries and alcohol abuse made that impossible, and it took the fiasco of his TNA run to make him accept that. But afterward he had the good fortune to retire, remarry, and enjoy what remained of his life. I'm guessing he turned down Hogan's offer of settling things backstage because he wanted their last fight to be a big event, not a brawl outside a company he had decided was favoring Hogan.

[@Ocg85]

My

[@user-pu9bp7tp9x]

also he was already in bad physical shape; he couldn't even wrestle let alone engage in a real brawl

[@WilcoELT]

To be fair some light horseplay with an aging Harley Race would probably put most people in the hospital

[@phoenixstar5000]

He was smart enough to leave TNA before getting buried by jarrett during that awful "reign of terror"

[@henrikschmidt3964]

I think he realized he simply couldn't perform at the (top) level that he used to. It is so sad to think about, that in 98 as he was going out, he was almost at the peak of his popularity. He was really over as a character and I wish he hadn't had to bow out at that time.

[@mongomongo7664]

The Real King Of The Ring

[@babarazamsucks]

Never knew about WWA and never thought I would see Lawler and Borash commentate together!😱

[@JiggyT]

You should watch Wrestling With Wregrets videos about it, both informational and funny

[@babarazamsucks]

@@JiggyT Oh okay. That KZbin channel did a video on it I see. Never came across it somehow under related videos.

[@TheChrisHype]

Here's a piece of trivia to help melt your brain: Randy Savage was actually a year YOUNGER (52) at Turning Point then Shane McMahon was (53) at this year's WrestleMania.

[@darshin95]

jesus

[@bobbyarvizu3546]

Fah Q

[@ChristopherNeeme]

Minority opinion but I was glad Savage made the final appearance for TNA since WWE didn't want him. I don't feel he embarrassed himself even if he was very limited and he didn't take any shine off anyone else. I liked seeing him work with AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy, it did extend his career into another promotion and he recognized with it that it was time to step off the stage for good.

[@baileyslife3469]

Macho man and Razor Ramon, 2 of the greatest most entertaining of all time , you talk about living your gimmick hot damn

[@franklingoodwin]

As someone from the Hip Hop culture I can confirm that the culture wanted the match to end the biggest beef since Jay-Z and Nas, but that coward Hulk Hogan couldnt even give us that. Now we know why 😉😂

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

Be a man, Hogan! 👆

[@SteRDLK]

lol Hogan offered him out backstage and Savage bottled it

[@Predators--cz2fb]

I knew Savages knee was bad but I didn’t realise how broken down he really was at the end.

[@dustincongello5802]

His tna run was his struggling to let go of the business..he seen other guys coming back and was probably struggling with wanting his comeback to be in the wwe but whatever issues stopped him or them from letting that happen so he tried TNA but it didn't feel right...and issues behind the scenes was his struggle manifesting itself ...the man found peace away from the ring but there's always that small part of him that wanted a last go at it

[@ananyaraizada7657]

He slept with Stephanie. That's why Vince fired him and never brought him back. He was even inducted into hof posthumously.

[@Liamsuprnova]

I wish people would stop bringing this internet RUMOR up as if it is a fact. He was actually asked to go into the hof before he died but declined as he wanted to be inducted with his dad and brother. If that rumor were true, they wouldn’t have inducted him ever.

[@dustincongello5802]

@@Liamsuprnova if you read what I said I said whatever issues he had with the wwe stopped him or them from makeing that happen. Meaning maybe he was the one that stopped himself from returning to wwe due to "wrestling" with whatever happened in the past between him and Vince McMahon...they shunned him for so long it was probably hard for him to swallow going back when Vince felt it was time and maybe wanted it to be a mutual thing..and honestly we don't know anything for sure. Only what we are told. Sometimes there will be multiple witnesses testifying to both sides of a story so its hard to know whats true..some wrestlers will lie to back another wrestler and tell their version of the story jist because they are friends or because henhas beef with the guy he's talking about. Thats what makes wrestling before the ruthless aggression era was so magical. So many legendary tales some true some not and some we will never know for sure

[@MovieEnvy]

@@ananyaraizada7657 one he wasn't fired so your wrong there. If he had been fired Vice would not have said the nice goodbye he did on Raw the following week. Also there has never been anything close to evidence that, that actually happened.

[@Liamsuprnova]

Sorry guy. I actually ‘liked’ your comment.I was referring to the other person declaring that Steph rumour as if it were fact not an internet dirt sheet rumor.

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

3:38 disappointed you didn't splice in The Clip. BOOOOOONESAAAAAW IZZZZ REEEEEEDDDDEEEEEE!!

[@joeywrestling9536]

It’s almost impossible for me to be objective because I love this channel and you guys so much. But if there is ANY justice in this world THIS video should be recognized for some sort of award or given serious accolades. From the editing to the content, and, of course, presentation this is magnificent work, lads! Thank you for all you do!! ❤️

[@mikescott8903]

Why? This was a hack job. An almost unresearched piece. Pure garbage.

[@jamie.777]

I wouldn't go that far 😊

[@Alreezy]

It is extremely jarring to see Macho Man in such a state in 2004. Compare his look from 2002's Spider-Man when he was at his most biggest to his TNA run two years later. You could tell he was no longer on the juice and that his best days were far behind him. I don't blame him at all for having second thoughts about even appearing for the live crowd that night.

[@vultureguy33]

Apparently he had a bad neck injury while making Spider-Man and it messed him up. It seemed like he wanted to make a good impression in Hollywood and was doing all of his own stunts and went a little too hard.

[@zackmeece4723]

Great video guys! As a lifetime wrestling fanatic and Macho Man being one of all time favorites this was a very well done, informative piece. Keep up the good work Cultaholic, snap into a Slim Jim!!

[@liquidamerican8543]

Jeez.. I knew the basics of this but hearing all the specifics paints a picture that I just wasn't aware of. Sad ending, I don't know how else to describe it.

[@itsjohniley]

I love watching these videos, they always have new information to me. This one in particular has a lot of info I never knew. And it's a shame how his story ended. Its one of those huge What If scenarios he hadn't left WWE when he did as to how his career could have ended,,,

[@PedroBenolielBonito]

Also, I imagine that quote being spoken in the Macho Man voice.

[@Charlie_Xmas]

I still think he's the greatest at promos ever, everything he said was quotable

[@user-lg7lh6ev7f]

Double thumbs up for this article on the Macho Man. Thank you Macho for your positive contributions to this industry

[@branchtana315]

I stopped following wrestling for a few years after the death of WCW. Of course I knew about Savage's TNA appearances, but much of this story I never heard before. As well done as this video was, I kinda wish I wouldn't have heard this story. RIP Macho Man!

[@kevinzwicker96]

It always has bothered me that he never got a proper send off that he deserved sucks that wwe waited until his passing to put him in the hof

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Same here

[@TheBlackNostalgiaNerd]

It was cool too see him show up tho

[@erikrupp692]

Randy recognized that he just couldn't go anymore. His body was betraying him, just like everyone else's, eventually. Unlike a lot of other wrestlers who try to continue after their in ring abilities greatly diminish (Ric Flair, I'm looking at you), he realized that he just didn't have it anymore. He didn't want to be one of those guys faking it and trying just to make it through matches rather than being able to be great in the ring. You've got to respect that. Yeah, before that last TNA match he was erratic and somewhat delusional, but after that match he got it. It was a wake up call for him to get his life together, and, from all accounts, he did. Good for him. For my money, he's one of the 5 best Pro Wrestlers of all time.

[@brandonperkins176]

Savage went from "OOHH YEAH! DIG IT!!" to "OOHH NAH!! DAMN IT!!" when he arrived in TNA! It was simply a trainwreck when he showed up intoxicated!

[@feltyone]

One of the most hard and heartbreaking True Story episodes. A lot of y'all's stuff gets to be oh haha wrestling is weird. This one just hurts.

[@adamwatson6916]

People forget that savage hurt his neck really bad doing the spider man movie and koaf the ability to turn his neck in one direction. He also blew out his knee in 98 and could never wrestle a full schedule when he came back a year latter and drastically had to alter his Matches to be more theatrical and was extremely limited in his mobility.

[@jamesmuller1481]

Savage knew it was the end. That's why he dressed as The Macho Taker for his last match.

[@lisavee4670]

The Just for Men and Randy Savage product line that never was 🤷

[@Nbflowers1989]

Sad end to an epic career. Always loved Macho Man.

[@timothygraham4304]

"In his pomp", I saw what you did there!👌

[@ngarci8040]

He’s a GOAT…PERIOD…!!!

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Dude wwa sounds awesome wish we'd had it in the states

[@gerardotoole]

That was a great watch

[@RC_94]

Excellent documentary. Thanks lads

[@markshepherd9153]

He was there for " A cup of coffee"

[@moosedawgatlantaproductions]

Macho always had the cream!

[@gothelvis3541]

Hogan really made it out on top in the wrestling business. Still mega rich, hella famous, still alive with his health and legacy still intact. Quite surprising I'm sure Vince didn't see it coming

[@TheyWereNotSafeAndEffective]

I'm SO GLAD I never seen any of this!

[@Dr_1212]

"Ohhhhhh No!!" RIP Macho

[@Andrew-gk6bn]

03 and 04 were just awful years for Randy. A lot happened, Miss Elizabeth died, his rap career was flop and he was made fun of, he couldn't wrestle anymore, Hogan got a run in WWE and got into the HOF while he was blackballed, his star power was dwindling and he was 50 so probably going through a mid life crisis as well. I respect him even more that he was able to say I can't do it and just let himself get old and gray and stayed out of the spotlight outside doing charity gigs. After 04 you never really heard from him again until the WWE game before he died.

[@dolphenwulf2431]

46 y/o watched wrestling my whole life. ♥️ Randy was always my favorite.

[@moedog]

I was happy to see him back

[@DannyKnightmare]

My all time favorite.

[@mringram]

Great video

[@YETIPUNK]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that macho was advertised for the first TNA ppv on the commercials for the ppv...I wish I had my tapes I had it recorded back in the day

[@Thathorrorguy12FU]

Macho Man is my favorite wrestler ever. And after WCW, he should have let it go. He was one of the best to do it. Golf on the mic, gold in the ring. I don't think he should have came back with team madness,he go way too jacked , it was obviously the man was roided out big-time. And I honestly believe that lady cycle and the absolute size he put on is what made his heart the size it was,and therefore having that fatal heart attack. TNA was completely embarrassing and I can't believe a perfectionist like Savage wouldn't have done it unless it had to be a very huge pay day. And I know it was. All he did was punch guys and drop them. It was so sad.

[@Bsfnelz20]

His demands were doable except the limo rides 😂. Safe to say they didn't wanna pay for his 2 bodyguards $1000 a night. But good on him for trying to get his buddies a job and a nice pay day. OOOHHH YEEEEAAAH BROTHER

[@kellymcquay2626]

I liked it when he came to TNA it was great to see him

[@WeDontHaveCookies]

You left out the part where he filmed a commercial for WWE All- Stars just 3 months before he passed away.

[@davidwenzel717]

I had no Idea him and DDP where in TNA till recently lol

[@Parlimant_Strifey]

Double J really sold for him. A gracious act.

[@MrZero-bf3ss]

LmAo hogan asked him to scuffle and he backed down ? I need more on this

[@paulduckworth316]

Savage would have mauled Hogan, it takes a real man to walk away from the drama.

[@JamesWright-yw4lv]

Think about it like this though.. He saw himself in TNA, realized he didn't have it, ans didnt want to shortchange the fans.

[@scpjack7856]

Savage post-injury and PCO pre-being over VS Kurrgan post-WWF run and Sid post-leg injury may be the worst match to have never happened.

[@paulduckworth316]

Big Stiff

[@thee_man]

Wow, didn't know they cost Jeff Hardy the chance at the strap. 😂

[@TopKnoxMedia]

Macho Man made professional wrestling

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@rogermurray5582]

May 20,2011 12th Anniversary Dealth Randy Savage also Rest in Peace 🙏 🪦 Super Star Billy Graham Pass away 😢 age 79

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

I loved the Macho Man. It would've been great to see him back in the WWF/WWE one more time.

[@Kamau1865]

Good video but there is more to the story than you mention. Regardless, Randy Savage's in-ring work and promos were literally at leaat as good as anyone in the business, past or present. He's a real legend and probably doesnt get the prestige his status deserves from WWE.

[@SteRDLK]

Literally? As opposed to only figuratively being as good?

[@Kamau1865]

@@SteRDLK It's a discussion about wrestling. Not semantics or punctuation class. Do you realise how sad you look making a comment like that? Did anyone, ever, solicit your opinion or analysis on their choice of words, writing style or grammer? So why even comment...weirdo.

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🙏

[@StevenKunzer-qe9sn]

Would have loved to see Macho Man motivated for WMXX vs Hogan or The Rock. That wasn’t going to happen but I believe that would’ve been the way to end his in ring career, either one of those matches would’ve had Randy in the right headspace and he would’ve had a Magic Match.

[@J0HNJ0RDAN]

Freak out, FREAK OUT!

[@SheriffOutlaw]

STORYTIME!!! ❤

[@Daniel-cu8zt]

Fathet time will always remain undefeated!! Even the greatness of The Macho man knew this fact.

[@MrZero-bf3ss]

According to keeping it 100 podcast and konan Randy was actively looking for a fight? (Konan was there ) and hogan was not to be found I personally don’t think konan is out here lying just my opinion

[@wbcwinnipegbeltcollector]

The Day he Passed away i ended up Winning a Prize pack on youtube....the contest was a Randy Savage Impersonation contest Ohhh Yea 😅

[@Penrose-wi6tx]

He did anabolic steroids and other drugs, during the later part of his WCW run, when he was dating Gorgeous George. This caused health issues, later on.

[@justinfreney3740]

Savage will always be one the greatest of all time. Unfortunately this TNA run is very similar to what Flair is attempting now. Flair can't go anymore but still sees himself as the nature boy.. Savage worked out that he wasn't able to go an although he attempted it an failed in TNA he still walked away before it was too late. I do hope Flair realises he's done an doesn't die in the ring. Too many icons from that era went too long. Tried to late in life for another run an too many of them likely regret tarnishing their glory days. Truly sad stuff.

[@AGxAG]

Imagine this was Warrior doing all this b.s , people would be burying him

[@fatcat8033]

I never knew BONESAW from Spider-Man had a last name 🤔

[@GregoryGregory916]

I believe all of this EXCEPT saying Randy turned down an offer to fight Hogan for real outside, I’ll never ever believe they no matter who’s says it’s true

[@PatI-zg9gm]

I loved Savage, but I disregard his work after leaving the WWF in 1994. He was beat up after two decades in the ring, and it was evident. But the Savage from 80 to 90? Awesome.

[@YouMotorcycle]

This made me sad 😢

[@henrikschmidt3964]

These were hardly Savage's finest showings. That he had heat with Jimmy Hart seems so ridiculous. Jimmy is like the nicest man in all of wrestling.

[@Brownberet197]

I doubt hulk punked savage out konnan provides a different story and he was there

[@Charlie_Xmas]

Oh hey Jack, i'm French Canadian and it's pronounced Pee-air Karl wey-lett I tried writing it how I think someone in english would pronounce reading those, cheers

[@Longlostpuss]

Of course Hogan is going to challenge Savage to a fight by that time knowing he had health and fitness issues. So yeah, it's believable, but Hogan wouldn't fight Randy when he was relatively fit and well would he?

[@Secretname807]

I loved Macho Man the character, but Randy Savagr the man was not a good guy. We all talk about him like he was just a jealous husband to Elizabeth, but it was far more than just a minor character flaw. He locked her in a room when he was wresting because he was so jealous. That's criminal.

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Thank For The Story Video 📖🙊🤯😭🥰💕👍💞💛🌟🥇🏆

[@hydrowashpressurecleaning]

Big loss for wrestling fans not having the Macho Man at Wrestlmania 20. Vince, you let a great opportunity slip through that big cheque book of yours. Oooooooooooohh Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

[@josephlawson9950]

Snap into a slim Jim

[@uttermanbo]

I never bought the Macho and Stephanie conspiracy. But it's so weird that WWE has allowed everyone back except Macho. Bret came back in 2009, Warrior in 2014. Hogan keeps coming back. Im sure Flair will as well. But never Macho, one the biggest stars of the golden era.

[@diegovb1145]

If he had become the TNA champion and THEN stepped away from wrestling, that would end his carreer on a high note. So yes, I understand that this was something he wanted to do. Even if his body and skills where not what they once had been.

[@sonicheroxd5767]

Macho Sadness

[@rickydabessst59]

This video just made me sad

[@padraigmuldoon4266]

Savage post 1999 seems really hard to work with and his brain was focked from the years of drug abuse The TNA appearances were sad even for TNA standards

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

I think it was more about his body being beaten up and not having to do anything he didn't want to just for the money at that time.

[@QuentinDude]

It-really-makes-no-sense-at-all-why-Vince-never-brought-Randy-back-for-at-least-a-few-appearances-after-everything-he-did-and-accomplished-in-the-WWF.....He-brought-back-so-many-other-guys-who-were-way-more-troublesome-than-Randy

[@DJCummerbund]

how dare you

[@paulduckworth316]

Kurgan Rules

[@DominusImperator]

savage is the greatest of all time , the era from 85-89 is what im talking about oh yeah cannot be denied , high altitude coming down on danger zone

[@laurastuhler4791]

Randy had one of the biggest drops if not the biggest drop from being an absolute legend of wrestling to nothing. His skills in 1998 after his injury went from being at 85-90% to like 5%. He literally couldn't execute a single wrestling move. No more jumping over ropes, double ax-handles or flying elbows, nothing. The difference between say Randy Savage and Ric Flair was almost all of Ric's matches followed the same pattern, Randy's didn't, he was more about the intensity and athleticism and when he lost that he was just finished.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

The decline started before that. I loved this guy, going back to his days in Memphis. Macho Man from 80 to 90 was terrific.

[@BurdenErnie1]

Miss Elizabeth has been dead for 20 years

[@watersandblue6001]

Savage's Tna Run was so terrible and he was so out of shape. Such a bad ending for the huge Legacy he had.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

I did not care for his WCW run. The years in the ring had caught up to him before he left the WWF. 80 to 90 is prime Macho Man.

[@liloiax22]

2:12- who's with Macho Man in that picture? 🍈🍈🍑😲!

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

Bubba screwed over Macho for his pal Hogan. Hogan railed his wife and the video of it went around the world. Karma?