Mike Rickard
The Enduring Legacy of
HULK HOGAN (Part 12)
Mike Rickard is a lifelong wrestling fan and retired bank robber as well as the author of the book Wrestling's Greatest Moments. He can be reached here and on Facebook.
Despite Savage’s questionable treatment of Miss Elizabeth and his cheating ways in the ring, Savage began to win over the hearts of WWF fans. After his epic match against Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat at Wrestlemania III (a match still considered by many to be the greatest match of all time at Wrestlemania), Savage slowly began turning face. While he continued his feud with Ricky Steamboat, working a series of steel cage matches at house shows, he faced occasional heel opponents such as Butch Reed and the Honky Tonk Man (HTM).
The Honky Tonk Man had upset Ricky Steamboat for the Intercontinental strap, a belt that Savage had hoped to regain. Savage was the first to congratulate HTM but a rivalry
developed after the Honky Tonk Man proclaimed himself the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time and that the fans should forget about past champions including “The Macho Man”.