Today would’ve been the 68th birthday of Randy Mario Poffo, best known to wrestling fans as Randy "Macho Man" Savage. [Thread]

Born in Columbus, Ohio to an Italian-American father in Angelo and Jewish mother in Judy, Poffo had athletics in his family: his father was a well-known wrestler in the 1950s and 1960s and was featured on Ripley's Believe it or Not! for his ability to do lots and lots of situps.

Randy was in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system for four seasons. In between his third and fourth seasons in baseball, Poffo wrestled, breaking into the business in 1973 as "The Spider", based off the popular comic book character Spider-Man.

At the suggestion of Georgia Championship Wrestling booker Ole Anderson, Poffo became Randy Savage because Ole thought he "wrestled like a savage". After reading an article in Reader's Digest, Randy's mother Judy suggested adding the name "Macho Man". Obviously, the name stuck.

Savage called it a career in baseball after the 1974 season and began wrestling full-time with his father and younger brother. They frequented Georgia, eastern Tennessee, the Carolinas, Michigan and the Midwest for his Angelo's own company, International Championship Wrestling.

Randy Savage pre-ICW working for Nick Gulas in 1979 wanting a shot at NWA Worlds Champion Harley Race. Check out Randy's voice, he hadn't found his full Pampero Firpo voice yet.

Randy Savage and Bob Orton Jr. talk about their upcoming match with Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens. From ICW in 1980.

Eventually, the Poffos landed in Memphis at Continental Wrestling Association. Savage feuded with
@JerryLawler
over the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship and teamed with his brother to feud with the Rock ‘n Roll Express.

Randy Savage Piledriving Ricky Morton through a table in the Mid-South Coliseum - 6/25/84.

Amazing jabs from Randy Savage, and selling from Adrian Street.

Savage also feuded with Carlos Colon and Abdullah the Butcher during his runs in Puerto Rico in 1984.

The next year, the Savage-Lawler feud capped off with
@JerryLawler defeating Savage in a "loser leaves town" match in Memphis. It was, of course, a write-off: Savage was WWF-bound.

Randy Savage made his WWF debut in June 1985 as "pro wrestling's top free agent". Several managers threw their name in the hat for his services, but in the end, it was his real-life wife, Miss Elizabeth that got the gig.

He quickly rose up the ranks of the WWF, challenging for Tito Santana's WWF Intercontinental Title after only a few months with the company. He also defeated WWF Champion @HulkHogan by countout twice in @TheGarden in his rookie year with the company.

In February 1986, Savage defeated Santana for the Intercontinental Title. He would feud with the likes of Bruno Sammartino and George "The Animal" Steele, but his most memorable feud and match as champion came against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.

Bruno Sammartino calls Randy Savage a piece of slime, and attacks him for what Savage did to Ricky Steamboat Steamboat.

The match vs. Steamboat at Wrestlemania III in March 1987 was different from most any bout during that time (the match was heavily planned as opposed to being called on the fly in the ring), and led to one of the greatest WrestleMania matches in history.

Steamboat won the title, ending Savage's run at 14 and a half months The bout was named Match of the Year by @OfficialPWI and @WONF4W Newsletter. Savage would recover and win the King of the Ring tournament later that year.

An iconic shot of Randy Savage delivering his patented Flying Elbow Drop at WrestleMania III.

Around this time, Savage began getting cheered by fans despite being heel. He became less hostile towards Miss Elizabeth and challenged Honky Tonk Man and his claim to being the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.

In October 1987, Savage defeated Honky via disqualification when Jimmy Hart's other charges, the Hart Foundation, interfered. In the ensuing beatdown, Miss Elizabeth sent out Hulk Hogan to even the odds. The Mega Powers were born.