— Time‘s “Person of the Year 2011” features a brief biography on Randy Savage. Savage, who passed away on May 20, was included in their “Fond Farewells” section of notable deaths in 2011.

The feature is available here.

— Regarding WWE discontinuing Classics on Demand in order to bolster the strength of the WWE Network when it debuts in April, although subscribers to the video on demand service are receiving postcards informing them that the service will be discontinued on January 1, 2012, some cable operators are telling customers asking about its status that it will not be discontinued until March 31, 2012.

— WWE will hold a Raw live event at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

source: F4WOnline.com

THQ has announced that “Macho Man” Randy Savage will be featured in WWE ’12, which is set for release next Tuesday. Savage will be a playable character via downloadable content pack in January.

— Tammy “Sunny” Sytch auctioned off the red gown she wore for her induction into the WWE Hall of Fame last April. It sold for $570.00 on eBay.

• Related: Tammy Sytch Falls Down Escalator

The following was also posted on her Facebook page:

“Ever wanted to sit and have lunch or dinner with Tammy and ask her anything you wanted to know and get autographed photos and photos with her at the same time? Now you can! Contact Bambi Weavil, bambi.weavil@gmail.com for more info on how you can purchase this unique and once in a lifetime fan experience! Thanks!”

— The official website of Toronto’s A.V. Club has published a review of the White House Studio Project’s art tribute to “Macho Man” Randy Savage following his death on May 20, 2011. The exhibit is open through today, which would have marked as his 59th birthday.

— WWE will hold a Raw live event at the Yakima Valley Sun Dome in Yakima, Washington on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale November 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

– Today would have been the 59th birthday of wrestling legend Randy Savage. Savage passed away on May 20th of this year after suffering a fatal heart attack while driving.

• Pictures from Randy Savage’s Wedding

– On Monday’s RAW, we saw the debut of a new Mark Henry t-shirt. That t-shirt, along with a new “retro” items, are now on sale at the WWE Shop website.

– WWE’s SmackDown brand will be at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th for a 1pm show. Tickets for that show go on sale this Friday, November 18th.

– After making his WWE television return on RAW several weeks ago when the Muppets were guest hosts, WWE is advertising Hornswoggle for several upcoming SmackDown live events.

Prior to her release from WWE last month, WWE was planning to start a “love interest” storyline with former Diva Maryse and Hornswoggle.

• MARYSE Does Sexy New RACE CAR Photo Shoot

(Source: f4wonline.com)

The December 2011 issue of WWE Magazine has an article highlighting ten features in THQ’s upcoming WWE ’12 video game and it is disclosed that “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Mick Foley will be playable characters via downloadable content pack.

The magazine states: “WWE ’12 boasts a WrestleMania-sized roster of icons that, for the first time ever, can be used by gamers right off the bat. Superstars such as Demolition, Ricky Steamboat, Kevin Nash and others are available initially: future downloadable greats will include the likes of Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage and Mick Foley. Oh yeah, and they’ll also offer alternate attire for Edge and Christian, a throwback to their late-’90s tag team heyday, just for the benefit of those with flash photography.”

THQ announced the first group of downloadable characters earlier this week: Shawn Michaels, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross and Michael Cole.

• WWE ’12 Downloadable Content Pack #1 Revealed (Pictures)

Jay Lethal participated in an interview with WorldWrestlingInsanity.com. Highlights from the interview are as follows:

As most fans know, Ring of Honor is embarking on a new chapter. Recently bought into by Sinclair Broadcasting, the company is set to make its TV debut with Sinclair on September 24th. Returning to the Ring after over six years, Lethal quickly captured their TV championship. As James Guttman points out, joining ROH during such an exciting time has to be great for any star. But for someone like Jay, who was there early on, the homecoming has to be sweeter. As Lethal explains to ClubWWI.com members, it is…

“Now that I’ve been back, how has it changed? I can tell you, the only two things that have changed are a few faces because a couple of Ring of Honor guys are still there from when I was there and Sinclair backing them. I am very big on promoting the fact that Ring of Honor has always had one of the best wrestling products out there. It’s just their only flaw was that they were unable to get this product out to the masses. Now they actually have that opportunity with Sinclair Broadcasting Group having bought out the company and being the new engine in the car, so to speak.”

James then mentions that Aaron Wood, a writer for WorldWrestlingInsanity.com, is flying into New York from Scotland this weekend and the top of his priority list was to attend the Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor iPPV on Saturday. Guttman along with other site writers Matt Dawgs and Canadian Bulldog will be there too (https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/new-york-ny-sept-11th/). As such a pull factor for viewers – even from across the globe – Ring of Honor’s momentum seems to be going strong. It leads JG to ask a question he’s asked others. With all the talk of TNA challenging WWE, is the idea of ROH challenging TNA more believable? Is TNA’s race against ROH actually closer than the one they have with WWE? As someone who’s worked for both, Lethal tells ClubWWI listeners his thoughts and why…

“Not only is that believable to me, but it’s very conceivable, I think, to many of the fans out there, especially Ring of Honor fans – although they may be a little bit biased. But so am I because I’ve worked for both companies. I was just recently let go by TNA and I’d hate to make it sound like I’m very bitter, but I wasn’t the only one let go. There were a handful of my friends. Not just friends, but also great wrestlers were let go and I just don’t understand the reasoning behind it… As a company, if you have anybody on your roster, you’d want to find what they do well and feature that one thing.

“I think that’s one thing that TNA isn’t doing. That’s one flaw that they’re lacking for the bottom half of their show, anyway. Ring of Honor, from top to bottom, their whole product is about wrestling. We’re not trying to focus on storylines and talking and all the boring this and that. Our main focus, which is pretty cool – we’re going to get wrestling fans, because we’re about wrestling – but another aspect that we’re reaching for that WWE and TNA doesn’t seem to be reaching for is that UFC fan. UFC fans are driven by competition. Because that’s what UFC is. It’s real. It’s a competition. And that’s what we’re trying to center our Ring of Honor product on. I definitely think that we have a great chance in overtaking TNA, if they’re not careful.”

Jay speaks about specific friends let go from TNA and his feelings overall about the company’s strengths and weaknesses. For him, though, his biggest strength in Total Nonstop Action wasn’t a creative decision as much as his own impression skills. As “Black Machismo”, Jay was known for his spot-on Randy Savage impersonation. But the question that James always wondered was whether Savage was ever approached to come in. It would make sense, right? Well, during the ClubWWI.com discussion, Jay says it wasn’t a consideration and seemed to be more along the lines of thinking that Randy wouldn’t do it if asked. That is, until Hulk Hogan arrived and had an idea that sounds like many other ideas credited to him…

“Hogan came in and a couple of months from Hogan being there, he actually said he was talking with the Macho Man and working it with him to come in. Hogan actually sat me down and explained the whole thing he wanted to do too. He wanted to film vignettes of me going to Hogan, me getting Hogan pissed off, and Hogan yelling at me. Then the next time you see me, I’m at a bar and I’m talking to somebody and you can’t really see him because they’re in the shadows. But they have that Savage hat on.

“Eventually you hear Savage say that we’re getting Hogan right where we want him. We’re getting under his skin. We got him, got him, got him. So it was going to be one of those things where I’m trying to get under Hogan’s skin because that’s what Savage has me doing. Then Savage comes in and it was going to be a big attack on Hogan. That was the original plan from what I was told. I don’t know if that was ever really going to happen, but that’s what Hogan told me personally.”

James Guttman remarks that it’s funny how many of Hulk Hogan’s TV ideas usually involve people attacking Hulk Hogan. They laugh and go on to discuss Savage’s original TNA run in 2004 and more. Follow Jay on Twitter at @thelethaljay. And remember, Jay Lethal is just one of hundreds of stars available as soon as you sign up to ClubWWI.com. Over one hour with Jesse Ventura. Over two hours with Jerry Lawler. And over a thousand hours of audio – all ready to listen to right now.

WWE Hall of Famer Greg “The Hammer” Valentine no-showing Great North Wrestling’s Randy Savage tribute show on Sept. 3 in Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada has been turned into an angle.

Lanny Poffo, the brother of the late superstar wrestler, posted a video on YouTube challenged the 60-year-old to a mixed martial arts match on December 30 in Gatineau. The wrestler formerly known as The Genius says he will throw cash he received from his recent inheritance to bait Valentine into the fight. He also taunts Valentine by calling him a “mangina” and that he may be left in a body bag.

The video can be accessed here.

Valentine posted an explanation Friday on his Facebook account apologizing for no-showing the event and leaving a nasty voice message to Great North Wrestling promoter Devon Nicholson. Valentine says he no-showed the event because he received a phone call on the morning of the show that his mother-in-law had two days left to live, so he flew to Nashville to be by her side—she recovered. Nicholson said between Valentine’s flight from Tampa, hotel, pay and photos he printed up to sell, he was out $2,000. Valentine said he would return Nicholson the money when he arrived in Tampa.

“This was never the issue, so why he had to go off and try to hurt me at a time where we are having a tragedy in our family, I don’t know,” Valentine wrote of Nicholson releasing his angry voice message and saying he no-showed the event after he was paid.

He continues, “What tends to hurt me the most, is that I asked him to please tell the fans that I was sorry and that I was not going to be able to make it to the event. I purposely made sure that he would express that to the fans who came out to see me, and to celebrate the life of Randy Savage. Instead, he tells everyone that I pulled a “No show”. He didn’t give any reason for my absence, just told people I didn’t show up. This is not how I operate. However, when push comes to shove with family, family will always win out.”

WWE Hall of Famer Greg “The Hammer” Valentine offered an explanation on his Facebook page for no-showing Great North Wrestling’s Randy Savage tribute show on Sept. 3 in Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada after the organization paid $2,000 for his services.

Here is my Official Statement on my Canada Booking. I hope this clears things up.

I was booked for the Macho Man Memorial Show in Canada. That’s true. I told the promoter I was coming. That’s true. I received my deposit from the promoter. That’s true. Now let me clear some things up…

A few days before the scheduled booking, my mother-n-law had to go into the hospital for an emergency surgery. I sent my wife, Julie, to Nashville to be by her side. I stayed back in Tampa to continue with my weekend booking schedule. I called the promoter when I saw my flight itinerary. He had me on a 715 flight to Miami from Tampa, then Miami to Chicago, then Chicago to Ottawa, then a couple hour drive to the show, plus going thru customs when I land…which can take an hour for me to get thru.

When I saw this, I called the promoter and left the message that many of you heard. I asked for the remainder of the money if I was going to be jumping on THREE different airplanes to get to this event. And yes, I promised him I would be there. Now what you need to understand is this… My message to him was stern. I was angry. My wife was a bundle of nerves because she is seeing her mother suffer. I was not with her, and I now have a flight schedule that is beyond crazy. Last time I went there I didn’t need to go on THREE planes to get there. So, with all that being said, I was stressed out, and I do apologize to the fans who heard the voice mail that I left. The pressure got the best of me and I used language I shouldn’t have. We all make mistakes.

This is what then unfolded as the reason I did not show up… The promoter sent me the remainder of the money as I asked. I was going to his booking as I promised him…even though I was under a lot of pressure with what has been going on with my mother-n-law (something that the promoter knew about). The morning of the booking came, I was still going. I then got a call from my wife in Nashville that her mom was given 2 days to live. That did it for me. How can I, as a husband, NOT be with my wife and mother-n-law, and the rest of the family? What would you do? If you were a son or daughter of adult age, and had a vacation scheduled, but your Mom or Dad was given two days to live…would you still go away on your vacation, or put things in priority order, and be with your family?

As I write this to you, I am with the family in Nashville, filling my days with my wife and the rest of the family at my mother-n-law’s bedside. It’s been 2 days already and she is still with us, but I attribute that to the many fans and friends who have been praying for her. I have received numerous emails expressing your concern and support in my situation.

If the promoter is angry, and out to try and hurt my reputation, shame on him. I called him and apologized for not being able to come, and TOLD HIM I was not going to make it because of the news we got from the hospital the morning of the show… that her death was expected. I even went as far to tell him that I would return the money he sent…all of it, and I STILL stand by it. When I return to Tampa, I will be heading to my bank and mailing him the money. This was never the issue, so why he had to go off and try to hurt me at a time where we are having a tragedy in our family, I don’t know.

What tends to hurt me the most, is that I asked him to please tell the fans that I was sorry and that i was not going to be able to make it to the event. I purposely made sure that he would express that to the fans who came out to see me, and to celebrate the life of Randy Savage. Instead, he tells everyone that I pulled a “No show”. He didn’t give any reason for my absence, just told people I didn’t show up. This is not how I operate. However, when push comes to shove with family, family will always win out.

That is the truth. This is what happened. Yes, I did not like the flight itinerary, and I did ask him for the balance of my payoff, but that had nothing to do with me not being there. It was getting the news that my mother-n-law was about to die that caused me to decide not to go the day of. As stated earlier, my mother-n-law seems to be doing better, and I thank you all for praying. I believe that is the only reason why. For those that got offended, I do apologize, and I do hope to see you again one day soon. Thank you for your support throughout this time, and for being such dedicated fans and friends.

-Greg “The Hammer” Valentine

Great North Wrestling President Devon Nicholson issued the following statement regarding WWE Hall of Famer Greg “The Hammer” Valentine no-showing last Saturday’s Randy Savage tribute show in Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada after the organization paid $2,000 for his services.

“It is one thing to no-show a pro wrestling event. It is another to demand all your money up front, promise you’re going to come and then no show a huge event like the Macho Man Memorial Show,” Nicholson said.

“Greg Valentine cost in the ball park of $2,000 for his payoff, plane ticket, and hotel room. That money all went to waste with him no-showing. Greg Valentine truly showed what scum he is this week. I would highly recommend that no promoter trust or book this man. He better hope he never crosses paths with me again. What he did was a horrible insult to me, Lanny, The Macho Man and most importantly the fans who paid to see him.”

After negotiations for Valentine to appear at the Randy Savage tribute show were finalized, he drunkenly called organization officials three days before the event demanding that he be paid more money (which he received).

Audio of the profanity-laced voice message Valentine left can be accessed here.

Lanny Poffo recently participated in an interview with SLAM! Wrestling to address his late brother, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, as well as his own lengthy career in sports entertainment.

Poffo is asked whether WWE reached out to Randy for induction into their Hall of Fame and what his feelings were on the matter.

“Yes, we talked about it,” Poffo said. “As a matter of fact, what he was, remember when the Von Erichs got into the Hall of Fame? That was the first time he’d mentioned it, and my father was still alive. We celebrated his birthday, and at this point my father was coherent. He says, ‘The Von Erichs are in the Hall of Fame? I’m not going in, ever, into the Hall of Fame unless it’s the Poffos, Lanny, Randy and Angelo.’ That’s what he said. We didn’t cremate him against his wishes and we’re not going to go into the Hall of Fame against his wishes either.”

Poffo also commented on WWE releasing several products featuring Randy.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “Did you see the interview he made for the Mattel dolls? He said, ‘It looks just like me, not now, but then.’ He got a big pop at the ComicCon with his video when he made that self-deprecatory joke. I thought it was phenomenal. He made a joke about himself that he didn’t look like that anymore.”

The full interview can be accessed here.

The Honky Tonk Man predicted during an interview last week with Monday Night Mayhem that the late Randy Savage will receive his long overdue enshrinement into the WWE Hall of Fame next year.

“I think ‘Macho Man’ (Randy Savage), of course will be the headliner,” the former WWE Superstar said. “The sad thing is that he’s not going to be there to give his own speech.”

The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that prior to his death, Savage said on ‘several occasions’ that if he was asked to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, he would be happy to accept the honor, but WWE head Vince McMahon would not allow his enshrinement. Lanny Poffo, however, revealed in an interview with the Ottawa Sun what his brother’s true wishes were.

“He said if the Hall of Fame ever comes calling, that it would be all three of us (Randy Savage, Lanny Poffo and father Angelo Poffo) or nothing,” Poffo said.

— With The Nexus likely being dropped following CM Punk’s departure from WWE, Mason Ryan is expected to be repackaged. WWE’s creative has discussed using him as a bodyguard for either The Miz or Alberto Del Rio.

— The latest issue of WWE Magazine, which features Rey Mysterio on the cover, pays tribute to the late Randy Savage. Enclosed in the issue is a photo of every “Macho Man” outfit from WWE’s photography archive, totaling over 100.

— The Capitol Punishment DVD will feature a single extra, a backstage interview with Christian following his loss to Randy Orton.

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels talks about what he learned from the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage:

The disclosure of Randy Savage’s cause of death is being covered by several media news outlets including The Associated Press.

An autopsy by the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office revealed Savage had an enlarged heart with severe atherosclerosis of his coronary arteries. He suffered only minor abrasions and bruising from the May 20 crash in Seminole, Florida.

An article on TBO.com features more details on the medical examiner’s findings.

“He had sustained no trauma from that crash,” said William Pellan, the medical examiner’s office director of investigations. “So the crash had nothing to do with his death. He just happened to be driving when he had a cardiovascular event.”

Pellan added that he may have had a heart attack. He may have had some type of arrhythmia and his heart stopped beating, or his heart may have simply stopped beating.

“We don’t see evidence of it (a heart attack) because he died right away,” Pellan said.

Wrestling icon “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s cause of death has been revealed. According to the Pinellas County Medical Examiner, the former WWE & WCW champion died from a fatal “cardiac event” last month while driving on a Florida highway.

The medical examiner stated that the cardiac event was a result of cardiovascular disease.

According to the toxicology report, Savage tested positive for alcohol and hydrocodone during the time of his death, but neither played a role in his death.

(Props to TMZ.com for the info used in this report)

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan was recently interviewed by ESPN.com’s Jon Robinson to promote his upcoming video game “Hulk Hogan’s Main Event” for the motion-sensing Xbox 360 Kinect system. Here are some highlights of what Hogan said about:

Wanting To Wrestle Steve Austin: “Well, if there is that one last huge match that really, really meant something to the fans, that would have to be against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. I can see him already making appearances back on TV and he’s already starting to get full of himself. I heard him say for a while that his back and his neck were too messed up to wrestle, but from I’ve been seeing lately, I think he’s getting geared up to do something and I’d like to be a part of it.”

His Memories of Randy Savage: “Randy and I were stuck together like glue for about 15 years. We did everything together — we traveled together, we worked out every day together — and then we went on to have some great matches. I know this sounds horrible, but we made a lot of money together, and then we had this huge falling out that to this day, I still don’t know why he got mad. He went through a lot with his divorce from Elizabeth and stuff, but we just started talking again a few months before he died. I don’t do many independent wrestling shows, but I finally did one and (Randy’s brother) Lanny was there and he was telling me how tough it was after their dad passed away, but his dad was really happy that Randy and I had started talking again. But then Lanny was really worried about his mom, so they were going to throw a big barbeque at his mom’s house with Randy and I, and that was supposed to be the next weekend, but Randy died in the middle of the week. Out of all the guys who have died, that one hit me the hardest. I’ve known a lot of guys, I’ve walked into hotel rooms where there have been bad situations, but that one was a tough one.”

There’s much more to the interview, including Hogan talking about his relationship with Vince McMahon, his favorite matches and more. Head over to ESPN.com for the full article.

Lanny Poffo, the brother of the late Randy Savage, has announced in an interview with Florida’s Bright House Sports Networkthat the official cause of the legendary Macho Man has been revealed.

Savage died from a heart attack caused by a condition called ventricular fibrillation, which is an abnormal heart arrhythmia that twitches the heart and prevents it from pumping blood to the body.

Poffo also revealed that Savage’s wife Lynn, who was in the car with Randy at the time of his fatal crash, acted heroically and saved the lives other people while their car was veering out of control into oncoming traffic:

“Randy’s foot was still on the accelerator. She reached over and steered the Jeep Wrangler into a tree, saving the live of a motorcyclist and possibly a bus. You know, there’s no telling what can happen when you’re going the wrong way.”

• Pictures From Randy Savage & Lynn’s Wedding Last Year
  

Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas of Right After Wrestling Radio on The Score on SIRIUS 158 recently spoke with Diamond Dallas Page. Highlights:

DDP on possibly coming back to the WWE in the future & how he is doing today: “I spoke to Johnny Ace about this…I haven’t heard back from him on it. I told him I would love to do some kind of PR. Some public relations. That sort of thing is what Vince [McMahon] wanted me to do when I left. He wanted me to stay and be the color-commentator but I was burnt out of wrestling for so many years and I needed a break. Long story short, 10 years later I’m still doing pretty well but I would love to be a part of the WWE family.”

What DDP thinks of the whole Kurt Angle/Randy Orton “finishing move” situation: “The thing is you don’t use the guy’s finish in the same company. If you’re in TNA and Kurt Angle is using the Ankle Lock, then you don’t do it in that company because Kurt will really take your ankle and put you in it and break your ankle. But if you’re in the WWE or the independent circuit, it is what it is. I don’t know what’s happening between Randy [Orton] and Kurt [Angle] but I love Randy using the RKO. Being it’s a version of the Diamond Cutter, people will think of me whenever he hits that move. And I think Randy is the greatest wrestler in the World…I think he is the very best. ”

Memories of working with Macho Man Randy Savage in WCW: “[My favorite match with Randy Savage was our first one at Spring Stampede] because that’s where he put me over. We were doing house shows and one night in Florence, South Carolina, Arn Anderson walked into the locker room and he was the agent. He asked Macho what he wanted to do tonight and Randy said, ‘I think I wanna take the Diamond Cutter’, and it almost knocked Arn over. Arn asked me if I knew how much of an honor that was and I was like, ‘ummm yeah’! When I hit the Diamond Cutter the crowd exploded. When the referee slid down, the entire place was counting 1-2-3 and the crowd exploded again – and Randy (while laying there) said to me, “I think we have our finish to Spring Stampede’!”

The June 6, 2011 issue of TIME features an article on the late Randy Savage written by Vince McMahon. Here is the article in its entirety:

“It’s important in sports and it’s important in entertainment to stand out. Randy knew that. Right away, he wanted to leave his mark, and to do that he was aware he had to make himself different from everyone else. One way he did this was concentrating on his outfits, those brightly colored costumes with foot-long fringe that became his trademark. He brought to wrestling a unique look and style.

“Randy, who died in a car crash May 20 at age 58, was one of the building blocks of what is now WWE (previously known as the World Wrestling Federation). He had a very unusual voice –remember his “Snap into a Slim Jim. Oh, yeah!” commercials?–and was extremely charismatic. Perception is very important in this business, and he also had a very high opinion of himself, something he needed in a locker room full of performers who had been around for a while and had big personalities and followings–like Hulk Hogan, Today, Randy is remembered as one of wrestling’s all time greats. No question about it–he certainly was.”

According to multiple accounts, former WWE Tag Team Champion Brian Knobbs mocked Randy Savage’s death at a wrestling convention last Friday in Newark, California.

A number of former WWE stars were on hand for Big Time Wrestling’s annual Wrestlefest event last Friday at the Newark Pavilion including Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman, Jim Neidhart, Jerry Sags, Greg Valentine and Jimmy Hart. News of Savage’s passing broke Friday and Knobbs was cracking jokes about the deceased wrestler later that day in front of his longtime colleagues.

Waltman, who witnessed Knobbs’ mean-spirited behavior, took to Twitter to criticize the Nasty Boys member.

He wrote, “There’s no shoot brewing with Knobs. He’s just an asshole for making jokes about Randy Savage dying on the same day it happened. He’s pathetic.”

Waltman also wrote the following to Hulk Hogan, a close friend of Knobbs’: “I’m sorry to even bring you into Knobs BS, but he needs to be held accountable for once. You’re the only one I know who can do it.”

Lanny Poffo was also scheduled to appear at the event but canceled due to the death of his brother.

The June 6, 2011 issue of TIME features an article on the late Randy Savage written by Vince McMahon. A preview of the article was released:

“It’s important in sports and it’s important in entertainment to stand out. Randy knew that. Right away, he wanted to leave his mark, and to do that he was aware he had to make himself different from everyone else. One way he did this was concentrating on his outfits, those brightly colored costumes with foot-long fringe that became his trademark. He brought to wrestling a unique look and style.

“Randy, who died in a car crash May 20 at age 58, was one of the building blocks of what is now WWE (previously known as the World Wrestling Federation). He had…”

To read the article in its entirety, pick up a copy of TIME at your local newsstand or download the TIME iPad app.

WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, a long time colleague of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, appeared on Monday Night Mayhem, which airs every Monday at 7:00 p.m. Highlights from his interview are as follows:

His reaction to Savage’s passing and how he always saw himself identifying with Randy throughout his career:

“I identified with Randy a lot. We both had a lot in common, in that we were both buys who grew up in this industry whose fathers were wrestlers. I’ve always believed that for kids who that grew up in the industry that it’s not just a job, but it’s something they fell in love with and something they’ve known all their lives. There’s a certain camaraderie there. In a word, Randy was charismatic. He’ll be very missed, and it’s sad.”

What he will personally and professionally remember the most about Randy, both inside and outside the ring:

“It was his professionalism. He was all business. He would laugh, and cut up, and have fun too, but for the most part, he was a consummate pro. He took his job and his work very seriously, and I always admired that. He was incredibly dedicated.”

— The obituary for the late Randy Savage has been posted online. It features a guestbook for people to share memories and express condolences.

In addition to his wrestling exploits, the obituary notes that for several years every holiday season, he visited All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida to deliver gifts to patients and participated in the George Steinbrenner Children’s Holiday Concert for underprivileged kids of Tampa. He also recently took part as a celebrity guest judge in a fundraiser benefiting Art for Autism.

— WWE announced today that due to a scheduling conflict, the SmackDown live event at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon on August 20, 2011 has been canceled. Monday Night Raw will return to the Rose Garden on February 27, 2012. An on sale date has not been announced.

— Jake “The Snake” Roberts appears at the Sports Heroes and Legends 10 Giffords Lane Staten Island, New York on July 23, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 4L00 p.m.

source: PWInsider.com

The body of the late Randy Savage was cremated Tuesday and his ashes were spread at the base of a tree at his Largo, Florida home, reports TMZ.com. In compliance with his final request, the family did not play his trademark wrestling theme music during the ceremony.

According to Randy’s brother Lanny Poffo, the wrestling legend adamantly requested that in his funeral plans, his theme music, Pomp and Circumstance, was not to be played while he was laid to rest.

TMZ reports that in recent years, Savage felt “extremely guilty” about using the song because it was initially used by his idol, wrestling legend Gorgeous George. He felt like he stole George’s thunder.

Poffo says Randy’s closest friends and family members will meet again in Florida Thursday to continue to mourn and honor his memory

Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer stated today on F4WOnline.com that recent allegations made by WWE Hall of Famers George “The Animal” Steele and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper concerning Vince McMahon’s soured relationship with Randy Savage have nothing to do with the WWE chief’s animosity towards the late wrestler.

Piper alleged last Friday on Twitter that Savage slapped McMahon in a bar. Steele then suggested in an interview that McMahon held Savage in contempt for abruptly jumping to World Championship Wrestling in 1994 because he considered him “almost like a son.”

Steele said, “I think that what happened with Randy, when his career was winding down with the WWF, Vince McMahon just loved Randy. After all everything Randy had done and he took him under his wing, and he wanted Randy after the ring was over with for him, he wanted him to be our spokesperson. He was traveling with Vince all the time. Randy was almost like a son, they were really tight. And then one day, we were at a TV meeting, and we got word that Randy, without calling Vince, had left and jumped to the WCW. I had never seen Vince McMahon broken before, he was crushed. It hurt him big time and I don’t think he ever got over that. I think that’s the real problem to be honest with you.”

In late 1996, Savage’s contract with WCW had expired and he briefly negotiated with WWE regarding a possible return to the organization. Meltzer said that during this time frame, Vince McMahon told him he would take back Savage “with open arms,” but would “never ever” take Hulk Hogan back.

Meltzer then notes that McMahon’s animosity towards Savage during the final years of the wrestling legend’s life stemmed from an incident that occurred following 1996, or “something he found out.”

“Any explanation of why Vince hates Savage that has to do with something that Vince would have known pre-1996 is clearly balderdash,” Meltzer stated. “Either something post 1996, or something he found out after 1996.”

There is a long-standing rumor indicating that Savage was involved in a sexual relationship with McMahon’s daughter Stephanie during his final year in WWE, therefore explaining his animosity towards him (which McMahon learned years later). While the allegation has never been verified, Meltzer stated in March 2009 that top WWE officials believed the rumor to be true.

Meltzer said then, “I think that the reason is the same reason that everyone says. It’s the reason everyone in (WWE) says. It’s the reason that is the only one that makes any sense. So I think that’s the reason. I can’t come up with any other reason. I don’t know. I mean, I’ve heard that reason from so many people that are not internet rumormongers, I mean people who – all I know is that within the company as far as the top people, they all believe it, and nobody knows for sure, because it’s never brought up.

“When I first heard the story I didn’t believe it because I thought it was just some story, but then, and I mean even when people who are very high up in that company, after they left the company, would tell me that story I still didn’t believe it, but, you know, after a certain number of years when it’s just, you know, ideas are brought up for Randy Savage and the reaction – there’s something real, real bad because, let’s face it, I mean, I couldn’t count the number of times Vince said he would never do business with Hulk Hogan, and he always does. So, I don’t know…Actually, as time goes by, more people talk about it trying to say that it didn’t happen.”