Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat: A Match for the Ages

Submitted By Patrick Kelley on 07/20/08

A Match for the Ages: “You won’t see a better match if you live to be a 100” Those were the words spoken by Gorilla Monsoon shortly after the scheduled Intercontinental Championship Match for Wrestlemania III concluded. Wrestlemania III was the biggest show wrestling had ever known. It drew a record crowd of over 93,000 people to the Pontiac Silverdome, and it was sold almost entirely on the dream match of “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan taking on the “8th Wonder of the World” Andre the Giant. However, many would argue that it was another match on the card that stole the show. That night, the largest live indoor crowd in history witnessed two of the greatest of all time battle it out for the prize of the Intercontinental Championship. It was “The Macho Man” Randy Savage, the defending champion, with the lovely Miss Elizabeth in his corner taking on Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, who had seconded by George “The Animal” Steele. There are many things that come together to make a great match. Many of which I’m sure I am not qualified to have an opinion on since I myself have never laced up the boots or taken a bump. However, from the point of view of a fan, I can give my opinion on why this match is so special, and why it deserves the recognition it has received. First of all, it is important to take a look at the wrestlers themselves. Randy Savage is easily one of the most recognizable stars that wrestling has ever produced. He ranks right up there with Hulk Hogan as being one of the biggest names from the 1980s. He had a unique presentation and character, and anybody who has ever heard him talk will tell you that there is nobody else quite like him. Having a great personality like that involved in a match is going to make it worth watching no matter who he is with. But the guy across the ring from him was definitely worth ten times his weight in gold. Ricky Steamboat never quite had the over the top personality of somebody like Piper, Savage, or Hogan, and didn’t have any catchphrases. However, in his own way, he was just as charismatic. As a fan, I can honestly say that I’m not sure what it was about Ricky that made him so likable. I have heard stories about how he is one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet that was involved with wrestling, and for some reason when I watched his matches, I could believe it. The one thing that both men had in common was the amount of talent they both possessed. Back in that time period, there weren’t many on par with them, and I personally would say none that were better. But how did the match come about? Like all stories, there needs to be a set up for inevitable climax. The match had a great build up, the likes of which you probably wouldn’t see today in a modern wrestling product. Savage, seeing Steamboat as a credible threat to his championship, saw fit to try and eliminate his adversary for good by taking the ring bell and driving it into the throat of The Dragon. The injury sustained was one that was portrayed as being career threatening and it seemed as if Ricky Steamboat was done for good. Now obviously wrestling is not real, but rather entertainment. However, the simplicity of this angle made for compelling television. It was nothing over the top, but clearly defined the roles of the players. Randy Savage was clearly the bad guy. He was selfish and cowardly. He could not stand the idea of another taking his spotlight and tried to eliminate his most dangerous threat. On the other side, Ricky Steamboat was clearly the sympathetic hero that the fans wanted to see make his return in order to make Savage pay for his sins. The fans had to wait a long time for that to happen though. That is another key aspect in the build up. Steamboat was kept off TV for months, which did a great job of selling the severity of the injury, and building the fans’ hopes that the hero would return. Eventually he did make his grand return, and the match was set for WWF’s biggest show, Wrestlemania III. Another key aspect for the success of this match was obviously what was done in the ring, which many would argue is the single most important part of any wrestling product. Now what was it that made the action in this match so special? Well for starters it was unlike anything that WWF fans were used to up to that point. In its growing popularity, the WWF featured mostly big monsters like King Kong Bundy, Big John Studd, & of course Andre the Giant. They also focused a lot of attention on over the top and charismatic personalities like their poster boy Hulk Hogan & the legendary Roddy Piper. That’s not to say those guys weren’t talented (as they certainly were) but the Savage/Steamboat encountered offered a completely new look into how wrestling could be done. You had two smaller guys (at least when compared to monsters the company had to offer) who were very talented and very well conditioned. What do you do with that? Well they worked a pace that was probably the fastest most fans of North American wrestling had ever seen before. Nowadays that kind of match is common place with guys like Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and the stars of TNA’s X Division on the scene, but back then it was one of a kind spectacle. You had two guys breaking out some of the best moves in their offense and trying all kinds of different pinning combinations. Never before did WWF fans see so many nearfalls in such a short amount of time, and that added to the excitement of this classic. Also brilliantly executed was the finish. The referee was knocked out (a rarity back in those days) and that allowed Savage to try and injure Steamboat again with the ring bell. George Steele prevented this from happening, and Steamboat was able to roll Savage up and win the bout, securing his revenge & the Intercontinental Championship in the process. The finish to the match was perfect because it brought back memories of how the match came about in the first place, reminding fans of the set up, and adding the suspense of history repeating itself. But of course, everyone left with a smile on their face when Steamboat came out with the gold, the best possible outcome. In an age where moves like a Tornado DDT & a Top Rope Hurricanrana are not only common place, but done in the same match multiple times, the Steamboat/Savage match might seem primitive to modern day fans. Well I would argue that first of all, its not about the spots, but the story comes first. Secondly, the Savage/Steamboat encounter was truly unique and ahead of its time. So much so, that modern day stars like Chris Jericho often cite this match as an inspiration for them. This match was so amazing that it actually opened the door for smaller & high flying wrestlers to take center stage (Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, & most notably Shawn Michaels). It should also come as no surprise that Randy Savage was headlining Wrestlemania the very next year. This match not only gave us a great match, but it changed the way wrestling was presented and from now on, anybody who works a more high flying style of match, will & should be compared to this bout, similarly to how all Ladder Matches will forever be compared to the Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon classic. The match has been praised by fans for years as being one of the best matches ever. It was listed by the WWE as the 4th Greatest Match in Wrestlemania history (and some fans have argued that isn’t good enough) It was a blueprint and it was a measuring stick for the future and it will forever have a place in wrestling history as one of the greatest matches to ever take place. “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat truly was one for the ages. :: DISCUSS THIS POST ON THE FORUMS! :: SEE MICKIE JAMES & THE DIVAS NUDE! :: BUY WRESTLING DVD'S THROUGH OUR STORE! :: GO BACK TO THE HOME PAGE WRESTLING EPICENTER STORE IS OPEN! THE HOTTEST WRESTLING DVD'S ARE NOW AVAILABLE! We've got hundreds of pro wrestling DVD's at your fingertips! All your favorite stars such as Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Sting, Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Harley Race, Andre the Giant, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Booker T, & countless others! We've also got the Divas! 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