[1994-03-20-WWF-Wrestlemania X] Randy Savage vs Crush (Falls Count Anywhere)

[KB8]

This was billed as falls count anywhere but in reality it was falls count anywhere except in the ring. It was sort of convoluted. You can't pin your opponent in the ring, but pinning them anywhere else in the arena or city of New York is fine. It also had a Texas death match twist to it in that after each fall the loser had sixty seconds to return to the ring. If he couldn't do so, the match was over. In practice it only went about eight minutes but it was an okay little brawl. Few are better than Savage at communicating the hatred of a feud that's supposed to be built on hate and he came out the gate jumping straight at Crush's face. You bought that he hated him, basically. They did some cool stuff, like a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the floor, a big Savage bump across the guardrail, Crush hit a nice superkick that busted Savage's mouth open, and then the finish was pretty amusing even if it didn't work entirely as intended. Crush kind of stunk for the entirety of his career but this iteration of him with the face paint and cool ring gear and aligning himself with Fuji was probably my favourite Crush. Neo-Nazi biker with tire track forehead tattoo, big goofy surfer bro, nWo lummox with sunglasses and Kronik-era hired assassin who slicks his hair back with Nutella just didn't click in the same way.

[cactus]

Crush could of been anyone else and the match wouldn't of changed much. This is Savage's last ever Wrestlemania match and it feels bittersweet as the crowd absolutely adore him. The falls count anywhere stipulation is admittedly dumb, but they don't overuse the pinfalls and this is over quick ever enough to not be tedious viewing. The finish with Savage tying up Crush to stop him from returning the ring was creative too. 

★★¾

[Superstar Sleeze]

Randy Savage vs Crush - WWF WrestleMania X

I would have bet money that was universally considered Crush's best singles match, but to my shock and chagrin this was rated pretty poorly on Cagematch, <5.0 and his best singles match is against Shawn Michaels in 1993, I will have track that down. I am not a big Crush/Brian Adams fan at all, but I thought this was his best individual performance and his best singles match easily. Just based on interpolation, you know the Macho Man still had it as he was kicking major league ass in the ring until 1997. I already said this in a different review, he didnt click with what WWF wanted to do. It was mutually beneficial for them to part ways. WWF could focus on the New Generation and Savage could rip it up in WCW with all the 80s stars. It was a win-win. He was great in this. 

I could have sworn I seen this before, but definitely not as the rules are unheard of and never duplicated. It is billed as Falls Count Anywhere, but it is a Texas Death Match, with the twist that you have 60 seconds to get back into the ring otherwise you lose. Savage meets Crush at the ramp. Crush rocks his shit. Atomic Drop. Tilt a whirl backbreaker. Snake eyes on the railing. 1-2-3! I was like what the fuck and then they explained the rules. Those three moves where the best three moves in succession Crush has ever done. Crush goes for the Salt in the ring, but Macho kicks it into his eyes. Great elbow to the top of the head. Macho Man steamrolls him with his usual offense. BIG ELBOW! Vince is like cover him and I was thinking well that would not logistically work. Macho Man being not only Macho, but also intelligence and pushes Crush to the outside to pin him. Crush of course gets back up as we knotted 1-1. They do some arena brawling, Savage throws Crush through some doors and ties him up to a pulley he tries to string him up, but the knot does work so Crush kinda just slumps to the floor to lose. 

I thought this was a ton of fun! Great highspots! Brisk, everything escalated, good use of stip. Pretty great match. This was Macho Man's last televised match for the WWF I believe and a good swan song. This was the highest Crush made it up the card. He looked poised to be a good heel for Bret, Luger or Undertaker, even Diesel or Shawn in 1995. He weirdly just kinda fizzled in 1994, he tagged with Yoko and then just disappeared. I was reading that maybe he was going to be pushed in 1995 but thats when he got arrested. This is only time I have ever seen a glimmer of potential, but perhaps Savage's meticulous pre-match planning helped him a lot. Definitely watch this match if you havent. *** 3/4