'Macho Man' Savage dies

'Macho Man' Savage dies in car wreck

Former pro wrestling star "Macho Man" Randy Savage died at age 58 Friday of injuries suffered in a car accident in Tampa, Fla., TMZ reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol told TMZ that Savage was driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler when he veered across the center median and struck a tree. He did not hit any oncoming vehicles.

TRAGIC SPORTS DEATHS
Sports has lost many athletes way too soon. We list a few.

Savage's brother, Lanny Poffo, told TMZ the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel.

Savage died of his injuries at Largo Medical Center, TMZ reported.

Savage's wife, Lynn, was a passenger in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries, authorities said. She was treated at a separate hospital.

According to the report, both Savage and his wife were wearing seatbelts, and police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Lanny Poffo, also a former pro wrestler, posted on his website, "In Loving Memory. Randy Mario Poffo November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011."

Savage, whose real name was Randy Poffo, was one of wrestling's biggest stars through the mid-1980s and 1990s. He retired in 2005.

A native of Sarasota, Fla., Savage signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly known as the WWF) in 1985 and quickly became a fan favorite. He squared off over the next decade with fellow wrestling legends like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior and Ric Flair.

Hogan expressed his sadness Friday on Twitter, saying he and Savage had just begun to rekindle their friendship after a decade.

"I'm completely devastated, after over 10 years of not talking with Randy, we've finally started to talk and communicate," Hogan wrote. "He had so much life in his eyes & in his spirit, I just pray that he's happy and in a better place and we miss him. I feel horrible about the ten years of having no communication. This was a tough one."

Using his signature finishing move, the flying elbow drop, the Macho Man won the WWF title for the first time at WrestleMania IV in 1988. Savage moved to World Championship Wrestling in 1994 for a five-year stint. He last wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2004 and 2005.

Savage married the late Elizabeth Hulette in 1984, and she would later go on to WWF fame as his ring escort, Miss Elizabeth. The couple divorced in 1992 and Savage remarried last May.
Source: msn.foxsports.com