In 1991, at WrestleMania VII, The Ultimate Warrior faced Randy “Macho King” Savage in a Career Ending Match. The bout took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and was one of the night’s biggest attractions alongside the WWE Championship match between Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter.
Background
WrestleMania VII had been planned for a much larger stadium, but the show moved to a smaller arena. Promoters said the move was for safety reasons tied to a controversial Sgt. Slaughter storyline. The card still drew a strong crowd, with two major storylines at its center.
Randy Savage had played a part in The Ultimate Warrior losing the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Savage hoped that cost would push him back into the title picture. Warrior answered with a challenge: at WrestleMania VII, the loser would retire from wrestling for good.
The Match
The match surprised fans early when Warrior walked to the ring instead of his usual running entrance. That change helped him keep his energy longer. The match mostly saw Savage work hard to wear Warrior down. He used quick thinking and underhanded tactics, with Sensational Queen Sherri at ringside helping him at times.
Savage climbed to the top rope and hit his famous elbow drop five times, but Warrior repeatedly kicked out. Savage also took stiff shots later: he took a pair of lariats, a press slam, and a running splash, but he still kicked out at two.
Warrior answered with a late, sudden surge. He hit three powerful shoulder tackles that staggered Savage. After the final tackle, Warrior pinned Savage and had his hand raised in victory, ending the match and forcing Savage to announce retirement under the stipulation.
Aftermath
After the match, Sherri kicked Savage while he was down. Miss Elizabeth, who had not been seen on TV since the previous WrestleMania, rushed the ring and threw Sherri out. Elizabeth and Savage embraced in an emotional moment that meant a lot to fans.
Wrestling retirements rarely last. Savage did not stay away. He left for Japan for a series of matches and later returned to the company. The Ultimate Warrior also returned to television to help others on the card, but his time with the company would be short-lived after behind-the-scenes issues and a failed drug test.
In later years, Savage continued wrestling for another decade. The on-screen reunion with Elizabeth was bittersweet in real life: the pair divorced in mid-1992.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Warrior | Won (pinned Randy Savage) |
| Randy Savage | Lost (announced retirement; later returned) |
