Professional wrestling fans in the Nashville area were distraught to hear of the car accident death of a wrestling legend, Randy "Macho Man" Savage. The 58-year-old wrestling great gained fans in Tennessee and throughout the country in the late 1980's and early 1990's one of professional wrestling most flamboyant characters.
The wrestler had a heart attack while driving in Florida with his second wife. The wrestler's car ran off of the highway and slammed into a tree. His wife suffered minor injuries but Savage later died of his personal injuries at a Largo, Florida hospital.
Savage became successful in the wrestling world, which demands a unique combination of physical prowess and showmanship. Savage's nearly 240-pound frame of bulging muscles impressed audiences almost as much as his outrageous outfits which featured bright prints, sequins, and gaudy cowboy hats.
The wrestler's first wife, known as Miss Elizabeth, was also a star in the wrestling world. Miss Elizabeth played Savage's glamorous stage manager who sparked a rivalry between Savage and arguably the most famous professional wrestler of the era, Hulk Hogan.
While Savage would never have reality show success like Hulk Hogan, Savage did cross over into different areas of the entertainment industry such as film and gaming. Savage played the character of Bonesaw McGraw in the 2002 Spider-Man movie and was a featured character in a recent WWE All Stars video game.
Despite his movie success and video game ventures, Savage may ultimately be remembered for being the aggressive spokesman for Slim Jim snacks in the early 1990's. Savage's campy Slim Jim commercials usually involved explosions as Savage shouted, "Snap into a Slim Jim! Oooh yeahhh!"
Source: Washington Post, "'Macho Man' Randy Savage dies in car accident in Florida, former wrestler was 58," Jen Chaney, 5/23/11