I was already a wrestling fan for about twenty years before Randy 'Macho Man' Savage came on the scene in the World Wrestling Federation. He was one of the first, if not THE first wrestler who came in as a heel and wound up being a crowd favorite. Ric Flair managed to pull off the same bit but it took a while after he left the old National Wrestling Alliance promotion. What helped Savage was his real life association with Miss Elizabeth Ann Hulette, married in real life for seven years before their in-ring characters tied the knot at 1991's Summer Slam event. This first episode of "Dark Side of the Ring" traces the Macho Man/Miss Elizabeth relationship and it's eventual breakup in a blended reality of life imitating art, or some would say vice versa. Participants in the program include Randy's brother, Lanny Poffo, Scott Hall, Jimmy Hart, Jake the Snake Roberts, Eric Bischoff and ex-wife of Hulk Hogan, Linda Bollea, each of them offering their insights into the relationship from their unique perspectives. The show relies a lot on re-enactments of events in the lives of the ring personalities, and it's unfortunate that better renditions of actual match footage couldn't be found to use as part of the story. But the story itself is insightful and fascinating if you followed wrestling in the late Eighties and early Nineties. What you weren't aware of behind the scenes is examined in some detail here, for example, one wouldn't have known about Miss Elizabeth's breakup with Savage and eventual association with Lex Luger back in the day unless you were a real hard core follower. What's hard to imagine is that both personalities are now gone, Savage dying in a car crash in 2011 and Miss Elizabeth succumbing to acute toxicity brought on by a mix of painkillers and vodka in 2003. Her death was ruled an accident; she had been living with Lex Luger at the time. Even though I don't follow the 'sport' any more, I still find it tragic that both Savage and Elizabeth couldn't have lived out a full and productive life outside the ring.
4 Reviews
Two peas in a pot meet boiled heated ends.
blanbrn10 December 2022
This episode one from "Vice's" "Dark Side of the Ring" series called "The Match Made in Heaven" was one revealing one that brought back memories of wrestling glory with a power couple who would meet tragic Greek like ends. As in the mid to late 80's Randy Savage AKA "The Macho Man" became an elite ticket selling draw one of the meanest and dirtiest like bad guys in the lineup, who would later turn a fan favorite.
Only when him and real life girlfriend/wife Elizabeth(a Kentucky beauty) became married on the work stage things became all rules and no holds barred for the "WWF" power couple. Only Randy and his jealous crazy ego became a roadblock as Mrs. Elizabeth left and divorced him.
This split set a downward path for both and wrestling in general as stated in the show many past "WWF" performers stated that Randy and Elizabeth were meant to be together however cruel fate and the harsh twist of life would not allow it. As the spiral and blind curvy road lead to a drug death overdose for Elizabeth and a tragic automobile accident for Randy. Wow not one, but both would leave life and the worlds of fans forever.
Given in the episode were interviews from family, friends, "WWF" wrestlers and managers who gave their thoughts and takes on Randy and Elizabeth as the memories though remembered for tragic ends will never be forgotten. Beautiful and blunt brash telling episode that was a wonderful start of the series that showcased the dark and doom life that this couple had in and out of the ring squared circle.
Only when him and real life girlfriend/wife Elizabeth(a Kentucky beauty) became married on the work stage things became all rules and no holds barred for the "WWF" power couple. Only Randy and his jealous crazy ego became a roadblock as Mrs. Elizabeth left and divorced him.
This split set a downward path for both and wrestling in general as stated in the show many past "WWF" performers stated that Randy and Elizabeth were meant to be together however cruel fate and the harsh twist of life would not allow it. As the spiral and blind curvy road lead to a drug death overdose for Elizabeth and a tragic automobile accident for Randy. Wow not one, but both would leave life and the worlds of fans forever.
Given in the episode were interviews from family, friends, "WWF" wrestlers and managers who gave their thoughts and takes on Randy and Elizabeth as the memories though remembered for tragic ends will never be forgotten. Beautiful and blunt brash telling episode that was a wonderful start of the series that showcased the dark and doom life that this couple had in and out of the ring squared circle.
The Match Made in Heaven
Prismark1021 January 2021
In the heyday of the WWF. Macho Man Randy Savage was one of the elite wrestlers in its roster. The bad guy turned good who became a crowd favourite.
Millions tuned in to see Randy get married to the goodie goodie Miss Elizabeth at Summerslam in 1991. By 1992 they had separated. The audience did not know that the couple had actually married in 1984.
Summerslam was just a show marriage for a PPV audience. Randy and Miss Elizabeth probably agreed to stage this as their real marriage had cracks. Apparently Randy was immensely jealous of other guys hanging around his wife.
After the divorce Miss Elizabeth hooked up with Lex Luger. He was already married with kids. It was the beginning of a downward spiral which included drug addiction. Miss Elizabeth died in 2003 of a drug overdose.
In 2011 Randy Savage who had retired from wrestling for some years died of a heart attack while driving a jeep. The steroids he used in his wrestling days might have been a contributing factor.
With such fascinating ingredients. Dark Side of the Ring cooked up something plain and flavourless. This should had been much more insightful and fascinating.
Only Linda Bollea, the then wife of Hulk Hogan had something more appreciative to add. How the spouses were expected to wash the blood of the wrestler's shoes once they got back to the hotel room. The routine of the wrestler's wife.
At times the line between what was real and what were scripted wrestling stories was so blurred. I doubt even the contributors knew the actual truth.
Millions tuned in to see Randy get married to the goodie goodie Miss Elizabeth at Summerslam in 1991. By 1992 they had separated. The audience did not know that the couple had actually married in 1984.
Summerslam was just a show marriage for a PPV audience. Randy and Miss Elizabeth probably agreed to stage this as their real marriage had cracks. Apparently Randy was immensely jealous of other guys hanging around his wife.
After the divorce Miss Elizabeth hooked up with Lex Luger. He was already married with kids. It was the beginning of a downward spiral which included drug addiction. Miss Elizabeth died in 2003 of a drug overdose.
In 2011 Randy Savage who had retired from wrestling for some years died of a heart attack while driving a jeep. The steroids he used in his wrestling days might have been a contributing factor.
With such fascinating ingredients. Dark Side of the Ring cooked up something plain and flavourless. This should had been much more insightful and fascinating.
Only Linda Bollea, the then wife of Hulk Hogan had something more appreciative to add. How the spouses were expected to wash the blood of the wrestler's shoes once they got back to the hotel room. The routine of the wrestler's wife.
At times the line between what was real and what were scripted wrestling stories was so blurred. I doubt even the contributors knew the actual truth.
Forced story
JurijFedorov8 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
They start out telling us about a pro wrestling storyline that takes the people all over the place. Quite peculiar as of course it's all just acting. Then later they go into this one single couple. He loved her, she ended up leaving him to be with another wrestler who was married and later died of a drug overdose. There is nothing much here. We know basically nothing about their personal life or his later marriage. Yet the documentary mixes fact and fiction to claim that it was boundless unbreakable love. Not so at all. It's yet another showbiz couple.
The narration is yet again all over the place as in the other episodes. You don't really get a full story. These episodes are clearly made in just weeks with no clear director controlling everything. It's just a basic template storyline pushed together in all episodes and it always feels rushed and hazy with way too few details as clearly no one did their proper research because they likely just didn't have time for it.
The narration is yet again all over the place as in the other episodes. You don't really get a full story. These episodes are clearly made in just weeks with no clear director controlling everything. It's just a basic template storyline pushed together in all episodes and it always feels rushed and hazy with way too few details as clearly no one did their proper research because they likely just didn't have time for it.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
