[1985-09-28-WWF-Philadelphia, PA] Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage - WWF, Philly 9/28/85

 

The most noteworthy thing about this match is just how much hair each man had at this point.

 

Kidding, so this is the first match between arguably the most famous names in pro wrestling history and the most famous feud in pro wrestling history. Having recently watched the Memphis set, you could just feel how big of a star Savage was. It translated instantaneously to the big lights of the WWF. He skyrocketed up the card from the summer of 85 to facing Hogan in September. I have always admired Savage for portraying probably the most despicable and ugliest traits of a human. The way he was arrogant, a coward hiding behind woman, a wild man, spitting and just being a general mean bastard. He is just a plan awful person. I mean what is left for me to say about Hogan. I have run out of ways to describe the irresistible energy this man brings. He is one of those wrestlers that just seeing him puts a smile on your face. You know what I will use Dick Graham's words: "He is bigger than the world." Savage is in full Memphis heel stalling, get on your bike and ride mode. It was some really fun stalling complete with swapping spit. I really enjoyed Hogan mocking Savage and then getting caught for being a hot dog when he came back in the ropes. Savage is such a whirlwind on offense. His full court press is really the only way to combat Hogan's size advantage well that and cheating like a muthafucka. We get the Liz spot twice to awesome heat. Each time Savage takes over, it is because Hogan is trying to get back through the ropes and Savage is being a dick about it. Savage nails a double axehandle, but gets caught on the second one. Savage ends up on the outside and this time Hogan physically lifts Liz out of the way to get to the Macho Man. The finish is a good one with Savage crashing and burning on the big elbow drop, which Gorilla put over huge. Hogan dropped the elbow for three, but Savage kicked out pretty damn quickly at three "to keep his heat". I guess you could say. If this was the test run to see if the Macho Man could do the big three in a row at the Garden he passed with flying colors. ***

[thebrainfollower]

Hogan won this with an elbow? Assume that's a typo but yeah having seen this match you can see this as just amazing, esp for right out of the gate

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hogan won this with an elbow? Assume that's a typo but yeah having seen this match you can see this as just amazing, esp for right out of the gate

 

Yep it was an elbow, lean backed and I swear Savage kicked out at 2.5, but they called it 3. It is still on DM, If you wanna recheck it. Their chemistry was off the charts on the first meeting.

 

Do you like the WM V match? I have never cared for it. I think the problem is me siding with Savage throws the dynamics off.

[thebrainfollower]

I hate to say it but for once I agree with Scott Keith. He theorized that just going out there and doing a Hogan match, with Savage suddenly the same guy he was in 1985 again was a huge mistake and that a crazy brawl would have been better.

Certainly the finish is just dull. Savage should have avoided the first legdrop or something, but that's not how things were done back then. I generally think each Hogan-Savage feud is worse than the last. 89 is still decent but WM isn't as good as any of the matches prior I've seen, the Halloween Havoc match is bad, and the 98 feud even worse.