Randy Savage - greatest all-round performer?

[flakeymcgill]

He worked brilliantly both as dastardly heel and babyface in peril. His mic skills were legendary. Capable of 5 star matches and capable of varying his style too. Excellent at technical wrestling, street fights, brawls. And he was a draw for a very long period of time. He brought so much energy and emotion to absolutely everything he did. Watching him it wasn't just wrestling it was...art.

Yes people have drawn more, maybe some have switched between heel and face with equal success, some others may have shown their ability to have 5 star matches and other people than that might have demonstrated their ability to mix-up their in-ring style.

But all round I don't think there's ever been anyone better than Randy Savage.

[Feyrhausen]

He has to be in consideration for that title. One wonders how things would have gone if he were not second fiddle to Hogan his entire career. Or if Turner lured him away when he bought WCW and he became their giant face to oppose Flair and the Horsemen.

[Viking Hall]

I'd toss Terry Funk into the mix too, but I certainly wouldn't argue against Savage either.

[Fundertaker]

I would argue for Keiji Muto on the Japanese side as well, but yeah Randy Savage is probably the best and most successful all arounder of all time.

[Mozenrath]

One of the best, for sure. Not an improv guy, which sometimes frustrated opponents of his, with Randy liking to meticulously plan his matches and concentrate on them to the point of being irritable if anyone other than his opponent talked to him on match night, but really, that's about it in terms of big gripes I can think of that I've heard leveled at him.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

He's still not even done yet, but you could throw Jericho into the mix yet, it's telling that he's having one of his best runs in his late 40s helping to build a new promotion up.

[SmashTV]

He could do it all, absolutely, face or heel. Could work with just about anyone, was willing to put people over and had a respect for his craft and the business.

To me he’s up there with Shawn and Bret, so definitely one of the best all rounders.

[I'm Team Bayley and Indi]

you could probably compile categories - i.e in ring-skill, look, promo ability (probably some other categories) and give people scores out of 10

and someone like Randy Savage would score high on many of them, so yeah definitely up there

though if adaptability was a category he'd lose points there

[cornettesracket]

Mar 28, 2020 7:02:53 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

One of the best, for sure. Not an improv guy, which sometimes frustrated opponents of his, with Randy liking to meticulously plan his matches and concentrate on them to the point of being irritable if anyone other than his opponent talked to him on match night, but really, that's about it in terms of big gripes I can think of that I've heard leveled at him.

Rip Rodgers said this whole impression that randy savage planned out his matches wasn't true. He said outside of the steamboat match which was he said he'd never seen randy savage plan a match out before that and he worked for the poffos family. 

But ric flair and randy savage are 1a and 1b to me in terms of greatest all round pro wrestling. My favourite wrestling matches involve either flair and savage or both. 

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I have no clue who the greatest all-around performer in history is, wrestling is way too subjective for that. But Savage is probably my personal all-time fav wrestler, and I do see him as an example of a complete package (workrate and storytelling, interviews, body language, the look, star presence, etc).

[cornettesracket]

Mar 28, 2020 8:21:50 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

I have no clue who the greatest all-around performer in history is, wrestling is way too subjective for that. But Savage is probably my personal all-time fav wrestler, and I do see him as an example of a complete package (workrate and storytelling, interviews, body language, the look, star presence, etc).

My favourite feud in WCW was the ddp vs savage from 1997. And to see the videos of DDP after randy savage died about how giving randy was during that feud and yes he won the feud but DDP was made after that because randy Savage wasn't like the guy in the black who had such a fragile ego. 

[AJ Smudgico]

He's up there with (in my opinion) Bret, Shawn and Jericho. I think Jericho has the ability to be the best all rounder

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Don't know if he's the greatest but he's definitely up there. It's probably between him, HBK, Jericho, and Austin.

[Deleted]

Probably, but I would say Austin as well. He always had a great character (even as Stunning Steve), over as f*** memorable catchphrases, good storyteller in the ring, great technical wrestler before he broke his neck, did a great job adapting to being more of a brawler afterward, great tag team wrestler, great singles wrestler, had the greatest feud in wrestling history (Austin vs McMahon), etc.

[mauled]

He's certainly up there. My own list in no real order

Chris Jericho - Different promotions/ different generations- face or heel - on the mike and in the ring this guy has done it all. Hell he even has his own podcast
This guy is the best certainly at the moment imo

Bret Hart - Slightly different style but still the same as the above. It's why his matches hold up 20 to 30 years later. It's why people still love to listen to his opinion and his Zero mucks given style. Also being a heel in 1 country and a face in another at the same time was never done before Bret.

Steve Austin - People forget his wrestling side because he had the neck break which changed his style but damn both before and that he could really go. Watch his matches with Kurt Angle in 01 or as Stunning Steve with Steamboat in 93. While his feud with Bret and Vince and The Rock are some of the greatest of all time

The Rock - Basically the same as Austin. People forget his wrestling side but damn he could go when he wanted too.

Shawn Michaels - Just go watch that Tag match in Saudi Arabia. He hadn't wrestled in years yet he was the best thing in it and he literally had to carry the match after Trips injury. That he should be proud of. Plus The Ladder Match/Hell in a Cell they are talked about even to this day because of Shawn.

Kurt Angle - One of the biggest regrets was not seeing Kurt and Bret have a match but his matches with Shawn/Taker and AJ were all gold. While him and Benoit were the perfect opponents for each other. Watch there 03 Rumble match 😲

Randy Savage - For all of the above you listed.

Undertaker- There is a reason an undead Zombie was such a big thing for so long. Even if he has ruined it now.

Hulk Hogan - I'm not a fan of the human being Terry Bollea, who is pretty awful but .. there is no denying he was wrestling in the 80's and then his heel turn in 96 (long overdue) made him the heel of the 90's too. His charisma was undeniable and if you see his Japanese work doing Insiguris, he can wrestle.

Daniel Bryan - The only good thing WWE has had going for it the last few years. Face or heel he can do it

[Milkman Norm]

Great. Hell yes. Greatest? I think his post 1992 stuff eliminates him from that conversation.

[mauled]

Mar 28, 2020 10:32:42 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Great. Hell yes. Greatest? I think his post 1992 stuff eliminates him from that conversation.

You could make the same argument with Hogan.
His 93 run in the WF was awful. WCW 94-96 (until Bash of the beach) was him cashing the pay cheques and using his creative control. Then he should've put Sting over at Starrcade 97 but that don't work for me brother and he was still on top in 98 and 99 and 2000 even though he definitely was not the best

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Mar 28, 2020 7:30:07 GMT -5 Futureraven: Beelzebruv said:

He's still not even done yet, but you could throw Jericho into the mix yet, it's telling that he's having one of his best runs in his late 40s helping to build a new promotion up.

That is one thing about Jericho that I respect him for. The fact he took on a role with AEW and he went all in with that role when most talent at that age would been part time and not really willing to give so much effort in. In pass we seen guys known to be good workers phone it in the late 40s and not do nearly as much as Jericho as to help build the brand and put someone over. I agree Jericho work as been amazing in AEW and the fact he putting everything he has into what he doing. Not just collecting paychecks. Something we saw a lot of guys do in TNA.

[johnnyk9]

Class act in and out of the ring

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Didn't the forum vote exactly this once?