WWE Mount Rushmore of the 1980s

Summerslam 1988 was instrumental in propelling the WWF forward into the 1990s.
Summerslam 1988 was instrumental in propelling the WWF forward into the 1990s.

#4 'Macho Man' Randy Savage

Randy Savage and his larger than life persona left a mark on anyone who watched him.
Randy Savage and his larger than life persona left a mark on anyone who watched him.

The chances are that a lot of people who watched the WWF and wrestling in the 1980s would likely list Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III as one of the best matches of all time. Savage was so instrumental both in the ring and on the mic that their match for the Intercontinental Championship would foreshadow Savage's ascension up the card.

While Piper failed to capture the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, Savage won it during a pivotal moment in the company's tenure. In the finals of a tournament to crown a new champion at WrestleMania IV, Savage defeated 'the Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase for the vacant title.

It propelled him to superstar status and would soon push him into one of the greatest storylines in wrestling history when he would enter into a year-long program with Hulk Hogan. Throughout 1988, the tension between Hogan and Savage, the Mega Powers, grew with each passing month. They tagged together at SummerSlam of that year in the main event against Andre the Giant and DiBiase.

Even though they won, the tension only increased monthly and the feud culminated with the two squaring off in the main event of WrestleMania V in 1989. Savage's direction after losing to Hogan in 1989 also set forward one of the best storylines in history as he turned to the dark side and shunned Miss Elizabeth.

His whole descent into an arrogant heel was done to perfection and it was even more satisfying when he eventually reconciled with Elizabeth later in the storyline. Without Savage and his meticulous planning of matches, those masterpieces against Ricky Steamboat and Hogan wouldn't be as iconic as they truly are.

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