Greg Valentine - Why Randy Savage Never Returned To WWF
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- Greg Valentine explains why Randy Savage had heat with WWF and never returned to work for Vince McMahon again. Stream brand new shoots 📺 TitleMatchNetwo...
This is from our exclusive Title Match Network interview series with the legendary, Hall of Famer Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
Produced live from Houston on January 2023.
The Hammer talks about his series of matches against the Macho Man Randy Savage. You may remember Greg wrestling Savage at Wrestlemania IV just before Randy went on to become World Wrestling Federation Champion for the first time.
Later the two met again in WCW for Monday Nitro. Find out why Valentine believes Randy had heat with WWF and why he never went back the company. Other wrestlers like Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan and many top stars all returned but Savage never did.
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When were the interviews done?
@@thack57 We produced this one Jan 2023 in Houston. Have done new interviews with the Hammer since then as well
I believe his untimely death is why he hasn't returned to WWE...lol ;)
One of the saddest aspect of his death is that him and WWE were finally trying to do stuff together, like he accepted to be in a video game (WWE All Stars) and even did an action figure commercial for them. Seems like he was open to returning to WWE in some capacity, which makes his death even more tragic for his fans. 😢
Absolutely. We were so close to getting a real Randy Savage comeback in WWE. Very tragic it didn't happened sooner. RIP to the great Macho Man
Indeed he was on his way back. The promo he did for them, I believe for the WWE video game, was so cool. Vintage Savage. Would have loved the ovation he would receive on Raw had he come back.
It had nothing to do with the WWE. In fact, Vince was fuming when Mattel went behind his back to make a deal with Savage for a figure.
@@ShadowAngel18606not true. Vince said, if we can make money with him let’s do it. They even released the 1st DVD of Savage around this time.
Mattel needs wwe approval for any figures they wanna make, whether a separate deal from wwe or not, the ones who are responsible for the line have shared that before. There's others they've wanted to make figures for but need permission to use or get use of their likeness. @@ShadowAngel18606
Greg knows a lot and knows how to say it, a real treasure.
greg is always respectful of every subject. he doesn't wallow in the mud. even when he doesn't like a guy or something, he doesn't come across as tacky. seems like a real class human being
Unless your wife is a see you next tuesday... 😆
I could listen to Greg for hours and hours.He is just truly one of the all-time greats.Long live the Hammer!
Greg Valentine always seems so genuine and not as full of hate and jealousy like a lot of the other guys from the golden era.
I've never seen an interview with him, so I was a bit afraid to even watch because so many interviews have shown the older guys to be really nasty and hateful about everyone else etc. It was great seeing someone who obviously just loves the business and sharing memories.
@@codemonkeyattack I can see why he had a long career, without ever being super-over. Both promoters and the locker room would like someone who is respectful, reliable, and wise. This was someone who was a consistent feature of the Golden Era without doing steroids. Also, as Survivor Series 93 showed, he was one of Vince's guys to make sure that things were solid in a potentially disastrous match (that was an angle-heavy match with two wrestlers who were inexperienced at that level).
I want the 80s back.
This era is hell.
I can listen to his stories for hours. That being said I think the world lost a treasure when Randy left. RIP.
Greg’s interviews are great. Plus you can speed playback x2 and still understand him clearly.
Wow
😂 you’re right, after the first 30 seconds I watched the rest at 2x speed and it was like a normally paced interview
1.5 is actually better than 1 lol
4x is the sweet spot.
Thanks for posting this! I always enjoy listening to the Hammer, he seems like a class act and never has a bad thing to say about anyone. And R.I.P. Randy Savage, gone but never forgotten.
You got it my man. Nothing but respect to the Hammer & the late-great Macho Man
I had to admire Randy after I found out he went to visit a wrestling friend each time he was in town
He did a recent interview where he had plenty of bad things to say about people. I think he did more trash talking than I had heard in all of his previous interviews combined.
@@timthegem you must be referring to his interview with James of WSI. Greg's burial of Beefcake was pretty funny though.
Just don't ask him about Beefcakes wife 😂😂😂😂
These series with the Hammer are always great. It not only helps them to relive the memories it helps us as fans to do as well. It's great learning so much about the everyone from the best era of wrestling. Sad that a lot of them are gone. Randy Savage made watching wrestling fun and entertaining.
Most except Greg and Hulk are gone,sad indeed.
From my understanding, Vince refused to let Randy wrestle anymore and would only let him do commentary due to his age, and Randy felt he had more to give, and then when Vince gave Bob Backland of all people a program with Bret despite being even older than Randy, Randy felt insulted and betrayed and went to WCW and never looked back for decades.
he gave Stephanie a slim jim 😄
Had a cigarette with Hammer and Tito Santana at an Indy show he is cool AF💯💪
Heck yeah! What a memory - two legit legends right there
Try chain smoking with The Anvil! Now THAT is an unforgettable experience
@@changnoi6458you probably smoked his pole
😂 lol
@@hulkhoganstights6596 Speaking from experience are ya, buddy?
Glad the Hammer is doing well. I wonder why he never became a manager in his later years? He could have been a perfect old school heel manager.
Greg seems so humble. Love the guy glad to see drugs never took his life
I always assumed it was because Vince didn't want Macho to wrestle any more, and Macho wasn't ready to give it up.
Vince actually negotiated a new contract with Savage in early 1997 after his WCW contract was up. It fell through because Bischoff made a bigger offer. Vince never holds a grudge against anybody, even people who tried to hurt him and his promotion (like Graham and Sammartino). One exception is Savage. Suddenly in late 1997 Vince put him on a blacklist, couldn't even say his name and nearly fired an employee when he talked about Savage and what a great wrestler is.
In a matter of 7 months, Vince changed his oppinion about Savage and you can only guess why.
Savage on the other hand held a big time grudge against Vince, going back to a House Show in 1987, were a Legends Battle Royale took place and Savage asked if his father could participate, which McMahon denied. But Savage was never one to let a personal grudge make him lose mones or business opportunities.
That was Vince's reasoning.
@ShadowAngel18606 the reason why Savage was an exception was because Savage took the Slim Jim Account with him when he left.
@@gregorylevi1826 No he didn't, there were still Slim Jim commercials featuring Bam Bam Bigelow and Diesel after Savage left. It was Slim Jim who wanted Savage, because he was known as their spokesman by that point and a much bigger name.
@@fergalstackstreams and they failed, so Slim went back to Savage.
The Hammer is a National Treasure!
Greg The Hammer is Legit Pro Wrestler pure heat
I met Greg the hammer Valentine a long time ago and he was a great guy
All the very best to you Mr. Valentine
Really nice listening to Greg.
I love Greg Valentine... I saw him wrestle Don "The Magnificent" Muraco at the Providence Civic Center.... The Golden 80s...
Macho Man's last TV appearance was on an episode of TNA & after that that was it.
He did voice a bodybuilder on a 2007 episode of King of the Hill though.
Greg never dissapoints. Straight shooter 🔨
Hammer is the true definition of a Gentleman.
Randy vs DDP was one of my favorite feuds in WCW
Savage vs steamboat was classic too
Love me some Hammer content
I met Greg Valentine in Newark airport in 1984 when PeoplesExpress was going. He was on his way to fly to another city dressed for the match.
How did he smell?
@@NoneofYabiz-rx3zi What a question but he looked clean and on his way to another match.
@@terrencedeagle4429 😁 I assumed he was still in his wrestling gear (dressed for the match) and might have smelled funny
Prior to Randy's death he had finally found peace. He married a great gal and was enjoying life.
Because Randy made millions and SAVED millions. And THAT'S why he never had to eat the humble pie and come back to work for the 'massa.'
I think that's a big reason. Another reason: he lost the weight that he gained from his final run in WCW. Why go on the yo-yo. Another reason: he got married. Stay home. Enjoy the honeymoon. That's the new life. Randy tells the story of being cut from the MLB franchise. He ripped up/tore down/threw out all of his baseball gear. The past is the past. He dedicated himself to wrestling. It wouldn't surprise me if he did something similar after getting remarried.
Exactly! Savage was his own man.
Macho was my favorite heel as a kid him and Hulk was my two favorite in golden era. Wish he had another major WWE title run. Or on WCW but I didn't know then how Hogan would hold talent back and use his backstage influence to stay on top. But that's another subject . But macho man was most talented all round performer. He made it cool to be the bad guy Lol😂
Would have loved to see Savage vs The Rock and Stone Cold.
Savage never faced Stone Cold per say... but he faced Stunning Steve... and said this about Steve Austin... great Wrestler... wrong place wrong time! Savage knew he was gonna be Gold!!
Been watching wrestling since the early 80's, and Greg is one of the GOATS. Notice the way he dresses, and carries himself. This is a real gentleman.
It would've been nice if Macho Man was back in WWE in the early 2000s.
Could you imagine the Rock vs Macho Man with Sensational Sherei returning on Randy Savage's side and later include a triple threat match involving Shawn Michael's. The chemistry, the promos, and the storyline would be amazing.
my friend wrestles alot of over the hill old superstars and they are the most boring slow matches i ever seen. but still its always good to see the person, see them walk up, and for the fans getting to meet them and etc. so even though the match sucks its still great to know these people are still alive and out there instead of wondering where did they go or how are they doing
I really enjoy watching and listening to Greg Valentine discuss issues in the WWWF.
the fact that Vince wanted him as a Commentator when he was only 42 is still crazy to think about, imagine all they could have still done with him.
Yeah. Randy could still go. Vince loved randy though. He was hurt when randy bounced man. Those rumors of randy banging Stephanie might be just that.
If he would have stuck around you had to have thought that he would have gotten another opportunity with the thin rosters that were about to occur in the new generation era.
His body was already shot by then. Vince was looking out for him the same way he was looking out for Daniel Bryan.
Considering Bob Backlund was older than him absolutely. Macho Man wasn't out of place for that matter
The Heart can Attack anyone at any Age! It can just STOP! With No Warning!✝️💔
Because of Slim Jim!
Greg’s hair is fuckin flawless!!! 👌🏾🫡
Great the Hammer Valentine is a legend
Randy was never the same after he did the double axe handle to hogan from the top of the cage in WCW
Yeah, that wasn't worth it. He shouldn't have done that spot in the first place and Hogan not catching him was horrible
@@NoneofYabiz-rx3zi yeah Savage was out of his prime days anyway and that move wasn't smart at all to do.
I think Randy was trying to outdo Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka & Cactus Jack because he knew those two are still remembered in pro wrestling for that. He wanted to be remembered for something like that too.
He also jumped from the top of the cage during the "No Holds Barred" cage match
Love listening to Hammer and Heenan. They understood the business and how they fit in.
Only the best personalities could switch from hero to heel and pull it off well, Randy was one of those, as well as having he athletic talent to go with it. He definitely gave the most charismatic interviews, and had best wardrobe hands down, and was just a hoot to watch anytime he was on camera. I loved his technique of drawing you in with a quiet part of his talking, then turn it up to 12, Ooooo Yeahhhhhh!
Macho is on the Mount Rushmore for wrestling..
Its just hard getting old brother
Randy in 02 could have got a Hogan pop 100% if he walked into a WWE arena. Only Hogan could have beaten it. Imagine Randy vs any of the young guys Hogan faced? There was definitely heat with him and Vince. Especially when you add he fact that it took so long to get him in the hall of fame. The Stephane stuff may be untrue but something is real.
What is real is that Vince was mad Randy took the Slim Jim Account with him when he left.
The Hammer is a class act
Macho man is one of the few wrestlers from that era that would have been able to wrestle in the modern era style.
I honestly think that it hurt Vince more when Savage left than any other wrestler.
It did because Randy took the Slim Jim Account with him.
@@gregorylevi1826yes but I think randy only made $1 million of that commercial of slim Jim. Eric bischoff revealed that in a podcast. Not bad man. Randy was the only wrestler that had the personality for it. They tried making diesel cover it and he sucked.
I do think Vince, being the overproducing businessman he is, doesn't have may personal friends and has problems with taking business decisions personally. I think he considered Randy a friend, and saw him leaving as a personal attack.
I could no longer tell you who wrestled who in that tournament, with a couple of exceptions. I recall being relatively shocked when Greg eliminated Steamboat. Talk about a fall from grace. Vince must have been severely tweaked at Ricky for insisting on dropping the IC belt the prior year to attend the birth of his son.
It wasn't that hard to believe. Now it seems like it, but it's like Hammer was a jobber at that time. He had big funds not too long before that.
Then they turned him face just to job him out to heels.
Ya, kinda shocking how Steamboat walked around the ring with his young son before the match, then ended up losing the match!!! It makes me wonder if Vince got a laugh out of that.
@@Plainview-tu7xn Yeah I remember Greg's good guy turn a little, particularly the Battle Royal on Saturday Night's Main Event that came down to him and Perfect. No big surprise who won.
@@STEJTHEGREATEST Yeah he dedicates the match to his newborn, we're all thinking we could be in for a rematch against Savage, and then nope lol.
He took the belt off steamboat because he wanted time off.
It was an extraordinarily petty thing to do.
5 years in WCW, on television nearly every week, and being a part of about 30 PPV events 1995 to 2000.. Randy had a good career in WCW. WWF 1996/1997 really didn't have anything for him.
Never understood why they didn’t give him a run with Bret Hart. If Warrior and Hogan didn’t want to do a job, I’m sure heel savage would have done.
Bret never really had the talent to work with Owen was great but Lawler didn’t really fit the WWF. Shawn was still green as a singles in the early 90s.
@@Glasschin2.0 Supposedly I heard somewhere Warrior was willing to go heel but that of course didn't end up happening
Wrestling heels seem to usually be the easiest going guys... as long as you don't piss them off. 😆
I know back in 2003 Randy Savage was asked if he would ever return to WWE. His response was he did it all and is enjoying the quiet life.
I wonder if it was just because Randy was like perfectionist. Yes, like Hammer said Randy was older. Also the popularity of Stone Cold / Rock / DX / Undertaker, so how and where would Randy fit in ?. I think that would be easier reason, if cant Main Event why go back ?
Vince pushed him out, he had stolen the show at WrestleMania 8 with Ric Flair (Hogan vs Sid was on last) yet a year later he's been relegated to announcer. He could still go and draw (see his main event match vs DDP in WCW) yet Vince thought he was to old, made him commentator then had Hogan win the title in the main event of WrestleMania 9. He stuck around another year but could see he was going nowhere with Vince and rightly left for WCW. After that why would you go back?.
Yes, people say: "Well, Macho was old"
That didn't stop Vince from bringing back Jake in 1996? It didn't stop Vince from bringing back Piper, Volkof, LOD,. It didn't stop Vince from pushing Lawler in main event fueds. They even brought back Neidhart several times enough though he was really done when the Hart Foundation broke up.
Yes, there was a youth movement, but Vince pushed out guys like Savage, Martel and Santana a few years too soon. They replaced those guys with people like The Goon, TL Hopper.
WWF had nothing outside of Bret, Taker, Razor, HBK, Owen and a couple of others.
I feel like we were robbed of good matches with Savage facing Bret, HBK and maybe even Austin and The Rock.
That's always been my understanding as well. Vince was still angry over Macho leaving WWF in late 94 to bolt to WCW. Maybe the fact that he left just a few months after Hulk added an extra bit of animosity and unforgiveness.
Hogan left summer 93, Macho left December 94.
Almost 1 1/2 years had passed, pal
@@jimtoms7591Vince was mad because Randy took the Slim Jim Account with him.
@@Plainview-tu7xn Don't forget Bob Backlund who was older than Macho Man. Now THAT was a waste imho. Lawler was also older so no excuse really. I'm convince that the New Gen. would have been better if the RIGHT people from the Golden Era were kept around (might've made things more interesting). Imagine the great matches that may have happened as a result. Could've seen Jake and Razor feuding and then becoming a tag team for one since you mentioned both guys.
Vince forcibly retired Randy from the WWF/E ring. At the same time, Vince and Randy rode to the moon in the 80’s and 90’s. I’ve heard Vince prizes/expects loyalty, on a huge scale. I don’t think Randy was wrong to go to WCW, considering he didn’t want to retire from the ring. But, I think Vince was crushed by his leaving the company.
Till I knew wrestling and how great he was. With that hair etc. I used to see Valentine a mini Hulk Hogan type thing. But in reality he was brilliant.
Sad he didn't like to lose. And when he did he wanted some rubbish after the match. Cheap shots etc. But on the whole he was one of the best.
He and Honky were great. And that thing with the leg brace in the Ron Garvin feud. That was pure magic.
I don't care who you are or what you did for a living, trying to deal with the fact that father time is catching up to you and you can't do what you used to do is a hard pill to swallow.
When you are young and cocky and naive, older guys warn you about it, and you laugh it off. You think somehow you'll be the one guy that escapes it, and it seems like it is a million years off before you have to worry about it. But father time catches up with all of us sooner or later.
Yes, it does. Old age isn't for sissies.
It's horrible! 😢
The way he answered it and transitioned to Pete Rose made me think he didn't want to hear another follow-up question.
Great wrestler and very hard hitting. Didnt think Greg was great on the promo and thats what got him from the main event
Lol. No mention of Steph (yet). By the hammer or in comments.
Steph knows why
I was looking for someone who knew lol
That's a urban myth made up by someone to discredit Randy
@@donjohn2695 Wrong.
Dutch knows, too.
Is the macho man randy savage more iconic than Dwayne Johnson
It depends on how old you are! I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Rock actually wrestle! He had a lot of charisma and mic skills, but if you want a classic wrestler, Randy was the man!
I dig this dude. Greg feels like one of the real blue collar types that can be himself wherever he goes. A guy you want around you. Sadly it feels like a dying breed of Man
Sen Greg valentine on the indys man he was awesome to watch it was against king Kong bundy.and before the match they invited little kids in the ring for pictures
Randy savage
I've said it from the late 90's, Randy leaving broke Vince's heart. He thought Randy would stay forever but Randy still had gas in the tank.
And then when he went to WCW and Slim Jim had a few commercials with Kevin Nash they knew it wouldnt be the same, so they bailed on WWF and not only went back with Randy, but they sponsored WCW Halloween Havoc, and at the time, losing the huge sponsorship of Slim Jim was detrimental to Vince. Pretty sure its what led to him having to release Bret Hart from his contract, the loss of that sponsor was that huge.
Vince could forgive Randy for going away to wrestle, but basically stealing away a sponsor to endanger the business was a bridge too far.
The whole Stephanie McMahon thing is baseless.
Greg's right about the getting older thing. Think about not only doing something you're great at, but something you truly love, specifically for a career. And it's something you've been involved in since you're basically a kid (late teens/early 20s) and it's really the only thing you know. And then you have to stop. And you know, because of your age, it's something you can't really do anymore. That's gotta be hard as hell to accept. What I'm trying to say is, be more understanding to these type of people. We're all quick (I'm not old btw) to go "Geez, just give it up, why can't you understand that? What's so hard to get, you're old?" They're aware. Just envision yourself being that person. Think of one thing you truly love to do (and it doesn't have to be something where age even matters...say painting) and then suddenly NOT being able to do it anymore. It's gotta suck. Anyway, love The Hammer...much respect to him, and to anyone else that put their entire lofe into something and now has to slow down. Everyone have a great New Year and be good to one another.
Except that he went to WCW & had a great run looking as good as ever
I think Vince held it against Randy because he wasn’t pressed to come back to his company and let him know he didn’t need it like others did.
Yes. Losing Hogan and Savage to WCW in 1994 was a HUGE blow to WWF
Much bigger deal than the NWO
If I could have 2% of Savage estate, then I would have my social secretary post this instead.
I think financially Randy didn’t need to go back so never did
That too.
Is this UA-cam channel Houston based I would love to come out do some work
I'd like to meet GV.
How misleading! but when he left, he wasn't wrestling & they didn't want him to. Mach wanted to be in the ring.
I used to bench press 150kgs in my 30's and take tren and do alsorts. But I got smart. Went on TRT, lost a ton of weight and now in my 50's I am slim. Well 180lbs. I still use a multi gym, exercise bike.
I am still alive and got my blood pressure down to 135/80
It's only way to go.
Greg tells a good story where he and Vader nearly come to blows, apparently Bad news Brown broke it up.
It's not that they can't do it, its just that they don't look good doing it anymore. Sad but true.
Imagine if Randy Savage went to ECW. That would have been a PERFECT fit in 97 to lead the company. I know a lot of people would say.. he wouldn't fit the culture, he's TOO BIG a name and personality. True but that would disappear the second he went Hardcore with Funk and put on a clinic with Rob Van Dam.
It would also serve the purpose of making him The Main Heel after Raven left and put Shane Douglas into the anti-hero role that was hot at the time because of Stone Cold. Everyone gets elevated.
Strange most wrestlers who had bad blood with Vince McMahon. When they came back to his company they died shortly after. Macho man ultimate warrior. Bruno samartino🤷 poisoned?
UW it wasn't even 3 days, but MM never returned so that blows your theory up a bit. Not sure on Bruno.
I can tell u why vince never brought him back many the top officials in video said it was the slim jim deal that was worth insane amounts of money and when he left wwf he took that chunk money
As long as it is forever remembered that it was Macho Mans sacrifice that saved us all from the rapture!!
That has to be the 1st time anyone has ever referred to Pete Rose as a great guy. Great baseball player ya.
Mentioning his age is/was is BULL.
He was younger then Ric and Hulk and others and wrestled better then both of them! It was the money he deserved and his personal beef.
Money wasn't it, Randy wanted to wrestle again but Vince didn't want him wrestling. Vince wanted him doing commentary so Randy left for WCW. Now what made Vince angry was Randy took the Slim Jim endorsement deal with him.
@@gregorylevi1826 Your splitting hairs dude. WHY would Vince not want him wrestling? His AGE. Waste of debate bro.
@@wesleywarsmith1113 no it's not, Vince felt he wasn't as good as he was when he was younger. But he loved him commentary and that's what he wanted him for in the end.
@@gregorylevi1826 So his AGE ,,like I said in the original comment.
From what I've seen and heard Randy could be hard to work with, he had his issues, possibly even bipolar. When he was in his game he was the best around, but on the other hand he was known to be Randy Savage a lot more than he was Randy Poffo, even in situations when he really shouldn't have been, not to mention that his relationship with Elizabeth was beyond Toxic. There's a long-standing online rumor that Savage had an affair with an underage Stephanie McMahon, I tend to doubt that happened though, I can't see Vince not destroying him if it were true. I think mostly it was Randy no longer had enough in him to overlook the accumulated headaches.
Dutch has said that everyone knew about it in 1995!
weird how he didn’t return to wwe yet went to tna , maybe the rumors were true about stephanie mcmahon 🤔
Randy wasn't brought back because he left WWF without notice. He pulled a swerve on Vince.
The Slim Jim thing was making a lot of money for the WWF and they when Savage went to WCW he took that with him. When Savage had promised Vince he wouldnt ever go to WCW then he did
Vince got a taste of his own medicine. All the people he screwed over. Good for Savage.
They made him an announcer when he could still go.
I have a funny feeling that what the "Macho Man" Randy Savage considers good money is a far distance from what Greg, the Hammer Valentine considered good money.
Not talking about Macho man and Stephanie McMahon.
Everyone keeps saying that randy couldn't return because of the alleged allegations of Stephanie, but really there were more factors in that a-lot of people may not so be aware of.
People who believe that are stupid. There is absolutely no evidence anything ever happened between Randy and Stephanie.
The reason Randy left the WWF/WWE was because Vince didn't want him to wrestle anymore -- he forced him into being a commentator
I heard it was because Stephanie didn't want to taste his slim jim again.
How are you
He says it and he's not the only one who said it. It's about how you lose and credibility. WWE put those 2 things out of the window to many wrestlers, for quite a lot of years. Several of them from NXT which they "moved up" to RAW and SD. Just to made clowns of them and people dislike the product.
Randy Savage was frugal and he made a lot of money. I think he didn't come back because he didn't have to. I think it's that simple. When he passed away, his estate was valued at over $20M.
0:31 this how triple H got over This the reason MJF thinks triple h is top 5 superstar don’t get me wrong for his era he was vital but he doesn’t do anything perfect
Randy quit while he was on top