Randy Poffo, the pro wrestler who would rise to great fame under the stage name Randy "Macho Man" Savage, has died at the age of 58.
Savage, who graduated from Downers Grove North High School in suburban Chicago, was in a single-car accident Friday morning in Florida. Savage's brother and fellow WWF wrestler "Leaping" Lanny Poffo, told TMZ Savage was believed to have had a heart attack at the wheel at about 9:25 a.m. At this time it's not clear whether his death was caused by the heart attack or the car crash.
Savage's wife, Lynn was in the passenger seat of the car but escaped with minor injuries. Savage had been married to Lynn for just a year. He had previously been married to Elizabeth Ann Hulette, better known as his WWF manager Miss Elisabeth, who died in 2003.
The WWE released a statement saying, "WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest Superstars of his time, Randy Poffo, aka Randy 'Macho Man' Savage. Poffo was under contract with WWE from 1985 to 1993 and held both the WWE and Intercontinental Championships. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. We wish a speedy recovery to his wife Lynn. Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans."
Hulk Hogan, a sometime friend and sometime rival of Savage's both inside and outside the ring, wrote on Twitter that he and Savage had recently rekindled their friendship and that he was "completely devastated" by the news of Savage's death.
Savage was a graduate of Southern Illinois University and a minor league baseball player who was briefly in the White Sox farm system. As a wrestler, he'll be best remembered for his epic match with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at Wrestlemania III, widely regarded as the greatest wrestling match during the WWF's golden age.