Macho Man Randy Savage had a legendary career, including multiple WWF and WCW Championships, induction into the Hall of Fame, and a status as an icon who transcended the business.
Not much is said about the time Savage was actually royalty. In 1990, Macho Man Randy Savage was known as the Macho King.
Just like everything Savage did in his career, he took the throne in the WWF to another level. During this time, Savage had turned on Hulk Hogan and the lovely Elizabeth.
Instead, he walked to the ring with Sensational Queen Sherri. Not only was Sherri his queen, but she also interfered in his matches.
Crowning of the Macho King Randy Savage
WrestleMania V was a success. However, it did not end well for Macho Madness. Hulk Hogan defeated his former Mega Powers tag team partner for the WWF Championship.
Savage was as ruthless as ever, but still could not retain the title after WrestleMania. Savage announced that he had found an even “lovelier” manager. This was none other than Sensational Sherri.
Sherri, a Hall of Famer herself, was not liked by the WWF fans. Brutis the Barber, Beefcake, even nicknamed her “scary sherri”.
After several attempts to humiliate Hulk Hogan, Macho decided to focus on another goal. In 1988, the King of the Ring was not decided through a tournament; it was only put on the line if the holder of the crown chose to do so.
In 1989, King Haku was defeated by Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Hacksaw was an unlikely King. He was a fan favorite who really never fit the word “Royal.”
Enter the Macho Man Randy Savage. Savage, along with Sherri, defeated Duggan and took the crown. Macho Man was now known as the Macho King, and Sherri was Queen Sherri.
Unlike Duggan, the kingdom of the madness was ruled with an iron fist. Savage tortured anyone who dared challenge his authority as King.
The Macho King Randy Savage and Sensational Queen would be carried to the ring on the back of Savage’s servants. Everything Savage did was over the top; this was no exception.
Sherri was frequently compared to the “evil queen ” from snow white. She fit that description sensationally. Macho King also had a scepter that he was not afraid to use during matches.
Macho King Randy Savage vs ‘The Common Man’ – “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes
In early 1990, a “commoner” arrived in the WWF. This commoner’s name was Dusty Rhodes. Dusty was known as the common man. He was the son of a plumber.
He wore polka dots to the ring. However, Dusty Rhodes was anything but common. Dusty Rhodes actually worked for the NWA at one time.
Not only did he work for the NWA, but he was the NWA’s number one babyface. When he arrived in the WWF, it is rumored that Vince McMahon was punishing Dusty.
Week after week on WWE Superstars, Sherri would berate Rhodes. The fans loved him and felt a bond with the American Dream. The fans saw past the WWF’s ribbing.
One fan in particular was a huge Dusty Rhodes supporter. On WWE Superstars, Dusty noticed a woman wearing a polka dot sweater cheering him on.
He pulled her from the crowd. The two seemed to have nice chemistry. Dusty named her Sapphire. Sapphire would now accompany Dusty to the ring.
This pairing further angered the Kingdom of the Madness. At the 1990 Royal Rumble, Sherri was a guest on the Brother Love Show. Brother Love was a crooked televangelist who told every fan, obnoxiously, “I love you “.
Love believed that Sherri was a real woman, unlike Sapphire. Sapphire was not in a good mood and confronted Sherri, prompting Savage to attack, followed by Dusty Rhodes.
At House shows, Savage and Sherri would have Brother Love in their corner, and Dusty and Sapphire would have someone Savage knew very well, Miss Elizabeth.
This led to a match at WrestleMania VII. It was the first mixed tag match in WrestleMania History. Sherri had never looked more like an evil queen than that night. Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire, with the help of Miss Elizabeth, won the match.
April 14th 1990 Savage attacked Dusty from behind with Sherri s purse. Her purse had become another weapon used. Usually, it was loaded with a brick.
As Macho King Randy Savage was pummeling Rhodes, Sherri attacked Sapphire. Savage repeatedly hit his signature elbow on Dusty as Sherri forced Sapphire to watch.
Sherri then forced Sapphire to kiss the Macho King’s feet. Unfortunately for Savage, Dusty got up and protected his number one fan. This led to a match at SummerSlam.
Macho King would wrestle Dusty Rhodes, and Sensational Queen Sherri would fight Sapphire. Years later, in shoot interviews, Sherri Martel mentioned how much she liked working this angle.
She actually taught Sapphire to do a few moves. Sherri was always a team player and the exact opposite of her character. Bruce Prichard, also known as Brother Love, stated that it was the most enjoyable experience he had in his career.
As strange turn of events happened as Sapphire did not show up for her match. Sherri won by forfeit. Leading up to SummerSlam, Sapphire was receiving expensive gifts.
Later, it would be revealed that Sapphire’s benefactor was the Million Dollar Man. Macho Man Randy Savage defeated Rhodes after a sneak attack.
Soon after SummerSlam, Sapphire would leave the company. She did not like the demanding travel that WWF Superstars are required to do. She appeared with Dibiase in a few promos, but after that, she was gone. Dusty began to feud with Ted Dibiase.
Macho King Randy Savage vs The Ultimate Warrior
Macho King Randy Savage, on the other hand, was beginning the road to a pivotal point in his career. The Ultimate Warrior was the WWF Champion at the time.
At the Royal Rumble, Sherri approached the Ultimate Warrior and demanded a title match. Warrior gave the queen a resounding no. However, Savage was never one to accept the word no.
At the Royal Rumble, The Ultimate Warrior defended his title against Sgt Slaughter. Slaughter at that time had become anti-American during the Gulf War. He was a heat magnet.
During the match, Savage attacked Warrior with the scepter, allowing Slaughter to win the WWF title. The Ultimate Warrior wanted revenge.
Things got so heated between the two stars that both put their career on the line at WrestleMania VII. According to Bruce Prichard on his podcast Something to Wrestle, Randy wanted a break from the road. That’s really where this storyline was going.
WrestleMania VII day had arrived. All eyes were on that match. The match was very unique in several ways. First, it was the first career vs career match at WrestleMania.
Fans were hyped for this match. Two was the storytelling. This match was actually a few years in the making because Elizabeth was in the audience. She was Savage’s real wife, a former onscreen manager.
However, Savage obtained a legal separation when he moved in with Sherri. That’s dedication to wrestling. They don’t make them like Randy Savage anymore.
Savage was now with Sherri, who was onscreen, the exact opposite of Elizabeth. The fans had always secretly hoped that Macho and Liz would get back together. This was long storytelling at its finest.
Finally, the match itself. Macho Man hit his finisher, the elbow drop, not once, not twice, but five times, and Warrior kicked out. This is a common spot used in today’s WWE, but it was unheard of until Hulk Hogan.
Warrior ultimately defeated the Macho King. Seeing her meal ticket was over, Sherri ran into the ring and berated Savage, kicking him in the gut.
This prompted Elizabeth to run from her seat, grab Sherri, and throw her out of the ring. Elizabeth had never been physical like this before.
In the fans’ eyes, this was the first time in 2 years that Elizabeth was alone with Savage in a ring. The two embraced each other. That moment still gives me goosebumps. That’s how you tell a story.
Sherri was shown in the aisleway screaming just like the demise of an evil queen in a fairy tale. The late great Gorilla Monsoon said it perfectly, ” Ultimate Warrior is victorious, his career will go on; that of the Macho King Randy Savage is history.”
