How happy was Vince when Savage was commentating with him?

[Deleted]

Watching some of the Raw’s from 1994 on the Network here and it’s clear to see these two were the best of friends in real life. You can see how much Vince is enjoying himself alongside Randy and it’s not kayfabe either.

I always speculated on why exactly Vince was so upset with Savage for years and I think it’s as simple as this... Vince felt betrayed by a guy he looked up to and considered a really close friend. When Randy joined WCW and took the Slim Jim sponsorship, Vince took it personally and I think this is when Vince stopped allowing himself to get emotionally attached to any of his employees because you can see on these Raw’s how much he’s enjoying the company of these guys he probably feels he “created” and I think around the mid 90s, he realized it was just a job to the majority of them. This is when Vince became more ruthless and built up this reputation as the hard faced “hard to approach” boss in real life.

I truly believe late 80s-1996 was Vince’s “ideal” vision for wrestling. Colorful characters with a circus like feel. He had to adjust with the times unfortunately, so we’ve got the Attitude Era and then the Ruthless Aggression/PG era. Now we’re in the “Smark” era which seems to be catered towards fans who like pure wrestling matches and less characters.

Maybe I’m talking completely out of my ass and reading too much into things. But I advise you all to watch these Raw’s and tell me what you think!

[realist]

That's the way that I have always seen it. It makes a lot more sense than "He banged an underage Steph, but Vince McMahon, a rich and powerful man and notorious hot head, did nothing about it except never mention him again." Vince saw Savage as his guy, even more so than Hogan in a way. He felt like he could send Randy Savage anywhere in the world to represent the company well and carry the WWE banner for years and years and years. Vince McMahon always had this obsession with having a "Babe Ruth of wrestling" and he wanted to bestow that honor onto Randy Savage. Savage responded by taking one of his biggest sponsors to the competition.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Something personal happened. Prichard asked Vince directly why he forgave everyone but Savage and Vince wouldn’t answer him.

It wasn’t because he left to wcw or because slim Jim left later with him, they were still on very good terms and around 96-97 Randy even had a meeting with Vince to see if he would return to the wwf. Something happened around that time that made Vince hate Savage forever. It happened during those negotiations.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Apr 5, 2019 8:05:18 GMT -5 realist said:

That's the way that I have always seen it. It makes a lot more sense than "He banged an underage Steph, but Vince McMahon, a rich and powerful man and notorious hot head, did nothing about it except never mention him again." Vince saw Savage as his guy, even more so than Hogan in a way. He felt like he could send Randy Savage anywhere in the world to represent the company well and carry the WWE banner for years and years and years. Vince McMahon always had this obsession with having a "Babe Ruth of wrestling" and he wanted to bestow that honor onto Randy Savage. Savage responded by taking one of his biggest sponsors to the competition.

Savage didn’t took Slim Jim away, they kept doing stuff with the wwe, they didn’t left immediately after Randy left.

[chronocross]

Apr 5, 2019 8:14:27 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Apr 5, 2019 8:05:18 GMT -5 realist said:

That's the way that I have always seen it. It makes a lot more sense than "He banged an underage Steph, but Vince McMahon, a rich and powerful man and notorious hot head, did nothing about it except never mention him again." Vince saw Savage as his guy, even more so than Hogan in a way. He felt like he could send Randy Savage anywhere in the world to represent the company well and carry the WWE banner for years and years and years. Vince McMahon always had this obsession with having a "Babe Ruth of wrestling" and he wanted to bestow that honor onto Randy Savage. Savage responded by taking one of his biggest sponsors to the competition.

Savage didn’t took Slim Jim away, they kept doing stuff with the wwe, they didn’t left immediately after Randy left.

Yeah they did commercials with Bam Bam and (I think) Diesel in 94-95.

As for Vince/Randy, it definitely seemed like Vince was having the time of his life working with him and even giving him an on-air goodbye after Macho left the company, which he did not do for most people (even Hogan).

[realist]

Apr 5, 2019 8:14:27 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Apr 5, 2019 8:05:18 GMT -5 realist said:

That's the way that I have always seen it. It makes a lot more sense than "He banged an underage Steph, but Vince McMahon, a rich and powerful man and notorious hot head, did nothing about it except never mention him again." Vince saw Savage as his guy, even more so than Hogan in a way. He felt like he could send Randy Savage anywhere in the world to represent the company well and carry the WWE banner for years and years and years. Vince McMahon always had this obsession with having a "Babe Ruth of wrestling" and he wanted to bestow that honor onto Randy Savage. Savage responded by taking one of his biggest sponsors to the competition.

Savage didn’t took Slim Jim away, they kept doing stuff with the wwe, they didn’t left immediately after Randy left.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think that this is both true and false at the same time.  Slim Jim didn't leave immediately because they could not leave immediately.  They still had a contract with WWE, so they did a few commercials with guys like Bam Bam Bigelow, Warrior, and Diesel.  But, none of these guys were 1/10th of the pitch man that Randy Savage was, so as soon as the contract was finished, they followed Randy Savage.  He was their guy.  The Slim Jim company was not interested in WWE.  They were not interested in WCW.  They were interested in Randy Savage.  He just happened to be in WCW. 

Honestly, I think it had a major impact on the way that Vince McMahon does business even to this day.  He tries to push his stars just enough to where they are stars, but not quite big enough to not be interchangeable.  If that happened today, he would just cycle the guy out depending on his standing with the company.  Hell, just look at that CM Punk story from that infamous podcast.  Slim Jim wanted to use Punk.  WWE gave them Sheamus or Randy Orton, I think.

[Deleted]

Yes, you're right that Vince really seemed very fond of Randy. Toward the very end of his commentary days in WWF, Randy would frequently make scathing comments about how he would rather be in the ring than doing commentary with Vince. I have no idea if it hurt Vince's feelings but I always wondered if it did. On the RAW where Vince announced that they were unable to come to terms to keep Randy in the WWF, it really felt like a solemn and personal moment almost as if Vince was announcing that someone had died.

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with Slim Jim or screwing Steph. I think Vince looked at Randy the same way he looked at Gorilla Monsoon, as one of his inner circle and most trusted friends, and then Randy went to WCW and was part of the machine that almost killed the WWF. Vince forgave Hogan, Graham, Warrior countless times because they were talent... but I feel like Randy was family to Vince.

[BorneAgain]

Apr 5, 2019 8:49:38 GMT -5 @oldbaby said:

Yes, you're right that Vince really seemed very fond of Randy. Toward the very end of his commentary days in WWF, Randy would frequently make scathing comments about how he would rather be in the ring than doing commentary with Vince. I have no idea if it hurt Vince's feelings but I always wondered if it did. On the RAW where Vince announced that they were unable to come to terms to keep Randy in the WWF, it really felt like a solemn and personal moment almost as if Vince was announcing that someone had died.

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with Slim Jim or screwing Steph. I think Vince looked at Randy the same way he looked at Gorilla Monsoon, as one of his inner circle and most trusted friends, and then Randy went to WCW and was part of the machine that almost killed the WWF. Vince forgave Hogan, Graham, Warrior countless times because they were talent... but I feel like Randy was family to Vince.

It makes one wonder if the commentary job was (in Vince's mind) him taking care of Randy and giving him a long term position in the company ala Monsoon, with Macho Man occasionally fulfilling the Babe Ruth role with a match here and there. Savage having no interest in that and outright leaving for the competition possibly because McMahon wouldn't let him wrestle full time, could very well have felt like damning rejection to what Vince have considered a personally generous offer.

[Ben Wyatt]

Apr 5, 2019 7:58:54 GMT -5 @negan said:

Watching some of the Raw’s from 1994 on the Network here and it’s clear to see these two were the best of friends in real life. You can see how much Vince is enjoying himself alongside Randy and it’s not kayfabe either.

I always speculated on why exactly Vince was so upset with Savage for years and I think it’s as simple as this... Vince felt betrayed by a guy he looked up to and considered a really close friend. When Randy joined WCW and took the Slim Jim sponsorship, Vince took it personally and I think this is when Vince stopped allowing himself to get emotionally attached to any of his employees because you can see on these Raw’s how much he’s enjoying the company of these guys he probably feels he “created” and I think around the mid 90s, he realized it was just a job to the majority of them. This is when Vince became more ruthless and built up this reputation as the hard faced “hard to approach” boss in real life.

I truly believe late 80s-1996 was Vince’s “ideal” vision for wrestling. Colorful characters with a circus like feel. He had to adjust with the times unfortunately, so we’ve got the Attitude Era and then the Ruthless Aggression/PG era. Now we’re in the “Smark” era which seems to be catered towards fans who like pure wrestling matches and less characters.

Maybe I’m talking completely out of my ass and reading too much into things. But I advise you all to watch these Raw’s and tell me what you think!

This.


Because of Vince's cutthroat business practices and outright terrible behavior at times, it's easy to forget that underneath it all, Vince McMahon *is* a human being with genuine feelings. I really feel like Savage leaving really broke the guy's heart

[Deleted]

Macho was notoriously frugal, stubborn and likes to be in control of every situation. Vince is notoriously stubborn and likes to be in control of every situation, Macho didn’t need Vince or the WWE and Vince couldn’t handle that as he felt some personal betrayal even though it was just business. I honestly don’t see it as much more than that. The Slim Jim thing definitely didn’t help, but anyone that actually thinks Macho banged Stephanie is completely out of pocket. They were probably just too similar to coexist.


You could tell that Vince and Macho enjoyed working the announce desk together though. Even though they kind of sucked, but at least they were having fun and were entertaining. lol

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Apr 5, 2019 8:49:38 GMT -5 @oldbaby said:

Yes, you're right that Vince really seemed very fond of Randy. Toward the very end of his commentary days in WWF, Randy would frequently make scathing comments about how he would rather be in the ring than doing commentary with Vince. I have no idea if it hurt Vince's feelings but I always wondered if it did. On the RAW where Vince announced that they were unable to come to terms to keep Randy in the WWF, it really felt like a solemn and personal moment almost as if Vince was announcing that someone had died.

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with Slim Jim or screwing Steph. I think Vince looked at Randy the same way he looked at Gorilla Monsoon, as one of his inner circle and most trusted friends, and then Randy went to WCW and was part of the machine that almost killed the WWF. Vince forgave Hogan, Graham, Warrior countless times because they were talent... but I feel like Randy was family to Vince.

But Vince gave him a great send off during raw and years later he met with Macho to see if there was any interest in returning.

Something happened in 96 that made Vince hate Savage forever. Years after him going to wcw and slim Jim leaving. Something happened during those meetings that Vince never forgave.

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2019 11:07:52 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Apr 5, 2019 8:49:38 GMT -5 @oldbaby said:

Yes, you're right that Vince really seemed very fond of Randy. Toward the very end of his commentary days in WWF, Randy would frequently make scathing comments about how he would rather be in the ring than doing commentary with Vince. I have no idea if it hurt Vince's feelings but I always wondered if it did. On the RAW where Vince announced that they were unable to come to terms to keep Randy in the WWF, it really felt like a solemn and personal moment almost as if Vince was announcing that someone had died.

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with Slim Jim or screwing Steph. I think Vince looked at Randy the same way he looked at Gorilla Monsoon, as one of his inner circle and most trusted friends, and then Randy went to WCW and was part of the machine that almost killed the WWF. Vince forgave Hogan, Graham, Warrior countless times because they were talent... but I feel like Randy was family to Vince.

But Vince gave him a great send off during raw and years later he met with Macho to see if there was any interest in returning.

Something happened in 96 that made Vince hate Savage forever. Years after him going to wcw and slim Jim leaving. Something happened during those meetings that Vince never forgave.

Yeah but just because Vince gave him an emotional sendoff, that doesn't mean that he couldn't have built up resentment toward him over the years.  The '96 meeting might have been as simple as Vince putting his heart into what he felt was a great deal to bring Randy back to the WWF family and Randy rejecting him to stay with the competition that was kicking his ass.

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

I remember in the Billionaire Ted skits, Nacho once got asked how Elizabeth was, felt that was really mean spirited in something that was really petty

[wildojinx]

Apr 5, 2019 11:44:29 GMT -5 I'm Team Bayley and Indi said:

I remember in the Billionaire Ted skits, Nacho once got asked how Elizabeth was, felt that was really mean spirited in something that was really petty

She had turned heel at that point in WCW (which explains the "she's not so great" response), but if anything, that's just yet another reason to get fans to flip to WCW.

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

Apr 5, 2019 13:29:23 GMT -5 wildojinx said:

Apr 5, 2019 11:44:29 GMT -5 I'm Team Bayley and Indi said:

I remember in the Billionaire Ted skits, Nacho once got asked how Elizabeth was, felt that was really mean spirited in something that was really petty

She had turned heel at that point in WCW (which explains the "she's not so great" response), but if anything, that's just yet another reason to get fans to flip to WCW.

I still think it was a dig at them not being together anymore

[The Thread Barbi]

Vince McMahon: Whaddaya want pal? Here's money and everything's water under the bridge!

Randy Savage: Well, Vince, I liked being married. Let me be your son-in-law, ohhh yeaaaahhh!

Vince McMahon: GET OUT!!!

[The Dark Order Inferno]

You know what would be awesome? A commentary team of Vince and Ron Killings.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Apr 5, 2019 11:21:49 GMT -5 @oldbaby said:

Apr 5, 2019 11:07:52 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

But Vince gave him a great send off during raw and years later he met with Macho to see if there was any interest in returning.

Something happened in 96 that made Vince hate Savage forever. Years after him going to wcw and slim Jim leaving. Something happened during those meetings that Vince never forgave.

Yeah but just because Vince gave him an emotional sendoff, that doesn't mean that he couldn't have built up resentment toward him over the years.  The '96 meeting might have been as simple as Vince putting his heart into what he felt was a great deal to bring Randy back to the WWF family and Randy rejecting him to stay with the competition that was kicking his ass.

That’s the thing the resentment started after those meetings. He forgave everyone and reached out to people once they experienced hardships like Bret and Jarrett, and Bret spat on his face and knocked him out backstage, but never Savage and it was because of what happened in those meetings.

[Deleted]

Apr 5, 2019 8:13:13 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Something personal happened. Prichard asked Vince directly why he forgave everyone but Savage and Vince wouldn’t answer him.

It wasn’t because he left to wcw or because slim Jim left later with him, they were still on very good terms and around 96-97 Randy even had a meeting with Vince to see if he would return to the wwf. Something happened around that time that made Vince hate Savage forever. It happened during those negotiations.

I believe that Vince felt that Randy used him to get a better deal from WCW. There was also a rumor that they had another meeting around 98 that went nowhere and Savaged signed back up with WCW.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Apr 6, 2019 10:29:58 GMT -5 @robertgbp said:

Apr 5, 2019 8:13:13 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Something personal happened. Prichard asked Vince directly why he forgave everyone but Savage and Vince wouldn’t answer him.

It wasn’t because he left to wcw or because slim Jim left later with him, they were still on very good terms and around 96-97 Randy even had a meeting with Vince to see if he would return to the wwf. Something happened around that time that made Vince hate Savage forever. It happened during those negotiations.

I believe that Vince felt that Randy used him to get a better deal from WCW. There was also a rumor that they had another meeting around 98 that went nowhere and Savaged signed back up with WCW.

Ok so Vince got sick that the guy just used them to get a better deal.