"Macho Man" Randy Savage vs Nick Kiniski WWF Wrestling Challenge 05-10-1987
I've never met anyone who didn't love Macho Man Randy Savage
Notice I say love, not like. You can't just like the Macho Man, because it does a grave disservice to Mach. Randy Savage only brings out intense feelings in all of us, and it's pure undistilled love man. He probably has the highest approval rating of any pro wrestler. He's incredible popular , but there isn't the backlash like there is against that bald idiot Hulk Hogan. I know people talk about Hogan being the biggest star, fuck that shit.. They never had to turn Randy heel because the crowds were turning on him, they turned Randy heel because who gives a shit it's The Macho Man and he's going to be awesome either way. Whereas Hogan stuck around in popular culture because he went full Hunter Thirst Helmsley in his perpetual quest for the spotlight, Randy Savage disappeared for years and his legend only grew. Hogan may have drew more money, but I think Randy Savage transcended the wrestling bubble a hell of a lot better. He's a fucking pop culture icon. Everyone has a bad Macho impression, everyone thinks of Macho when they see a Slim Jim, everyone remembers when he got a feature role in Spiderman.
BE A MAN HOGAN.
I will defend Be a Man as a legitimately great diss track, but I am known for having an awful taste in music. BARENAKED LADIES FOR ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME PLEASE. Regardless of his questionable rapping skills, Macho Man was awesome. I keep using that word because it's a perfect way to describe him. He was just awesome. One of the awesomest , don't give a shit if it's not a word it fits, things about Macho was how much any heel/face turn that happened never did anything to take away from Macho. His character was that of a crazy person, so when he was a heel he was just a crazier version of crazy. Heel Macho Man was baffling to me as a kid, as I grew up in a distinctly babyface Macho Man era. I had WWF bedsheets from 1991 featuring drawings of all the top guys, including The Macho King. I would just look at that drawing of The Macho King and try to figure out what the hell it was. He was the Macho Man, not the Macho King. Mom you need to return this. This is a mistake. Little did I know that not only was Macho King a heel, but it was his second go around as a bad guy in the company.
His first go around included this match from WWF Wrestling Challenge in May of 1987 as "The Macho Man" Randy Savage takes on Nick Kiniski. This match takes place just a couple months after Savage's legendary match with Ricky Steamboat, but a few months before Savage finally turns face and the MegaPowers Unite. So this is an interesting glance at Savage as his character transitions into a new part of his career. A reminder that a Randy Savage character transition basically means he gets a little less or a little more crazy. If you can't handle my Randy Savage as a heel energy than you don't deserve me at my Randy Savage as a babyface energy.
I'm pitching that to TJ Maxx next week.
In a break from the usual format, we get introduced to the wimpy for this evening, Nick Kiniski, first. Nick is the son of former NWA World Champion Gene Kiniski. I think Nick might be Canadian. I don't know why I would think that. Oh yeah, because Nick wears a blue jacket with Canada written on it. Because half this blog discusses mullets now, Kiniski has a very nice mullet. It's not too trashy, not too wild. The kind of mullet you could bring home to dinner with your mother. Savage is out next, and Randy Savage is still the coolest looking motherfucker. He's been dead for ten years and him now is still cooler than I ever will be. He is ,of course, accompanied by Miss Elizabeth and she is ,of course, accompanied by creeps reaching over the guardrail to touch her. I'm glad wrestling fans are less creepy nowadays. Do I detect a hint of sarcasm? THIS BABY'S OFF THE CHARTS. This is the robe era of Macho Man, because this dude was so friggin' cool that he had different eras of outfits. Liberace wishes he had Macho Man's swag. I actually own a copy of those Macho Man sunglasses he's wearing, I got them as a gift, and I cannot pull them off like he does.
I still would like answer to the question, did Macho Man straighten his hair or was it just that way naturally? There are a lot of scene girls from 2007 who would be jealous of Randy's fried to hell look. The match starts with a lockup and what do you know, Kiniski grabs a headlock. This is the 15th straight match to start with a headlock, so at this point I think wrestling needs to start over. Start more matches with lariats please. Savage gets a hammerlock, but Kiniski actually counters with a hiptoss while still in the hold. Very nice, not very evil, but very unique and very cool. "Outlaw "Ron Bass is on commentary for this one and I'm starting the rumor he's the one who inspired Scott Ferall to get into broadcasting. Hell of a deep cut there. Kiniski still outworking Savage here with chain wrestling and Randy is getting frustrated. Elizabeth is frustrated too as she gets a picture in picture interview explaining Randy is going crazy because he can't regain his Intercontinental title. Kiniski still kicking Randy's ass with more hiptosses and slams. Man Randy is giving Kiniski a lot here. Kiniski hits a beautiful dropkick that sends Randy bouncing into the ropes. Randy clearly wanted to go through and out of the ring, but he mistimed and the bounce back looks like it hurt. Kiniski follows Randy outside the ring, but Randy uses Elizabeth as a shield. In six months this guy is going to be a top babyface, insanity. This allows Randy to sneak into the ring and attack Kiniski before he gets in there. Even still Kiniski whips Randy into the ropes, but Randy moves and Kniski takes the Bret Hart bump hard. Musty be a Canadian way to take a buckle. Randy clotheslines Kiniski over the top rope, before climbing and DOUBLE AXE HANDLE TO THE OUTSIDE. I know Double Axe handles are lame, but not when Randy Savage is jumping to the outside and destroying his own knees in the process. Randy with a scoop slam and Ohhhhh Baby HE DROPS THE ELBOW for the win. That move is gorgeous.
Not a great squash, but it's Randy Savage so who gives a shit. Surprising lot of offense for Nick Kiniski, but it fed into the chickenshit era of The Macho Man. It's insane that the guy getting bumped around by wimpies until he had to use his girlfriend as a shield will be the babyface world champion in less than a year. Props to Macho for giving the wimpy so much, but not losing any of the Macho Man luster. Let's see Terry Bollea do that. DO IT YOU COWARD
BE A MAN HOGAN.
TLDR Review
Macho Macho Man, I want to be a Macho Man. I tried to do YMCA with KINISKI but it didn't work. I really don't like Hulk Hogan.