RIP MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE

On May 20th 2011 the world lost one of its most colorful and charismatic figures. Macho Man Randy Savage died from a heart attack while driving with his wife in Florida. To commemorate his legendary career, I'd like to list some of my favorite Randy Savage matches.

1. Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage (Intercontinental Champion)- Wrestlemania 3

This match is considered by many to be the best Wrestlemania match of all time and after watching it I can understand why. It is one of the best technical matches ever put together on wrestling's biggest stage. This match set a standard in storytelling and action that is missing in today's presentation. Savage would lose to Steamboat but he would prove to be one of the best athletes wrestling ever had. 

2. Randy Savage (World Champion) vs. Hulk Hogan-Wrestlemania 5

Long before Shawn Michaels or Bret Hart won the WWE World championship belt in the land of the giants. Macho Man Randy Savage did it with wrestling's biggest star: Hulk Hogan. The story was that Savage thought Hogan wanted Miss Elizabeth and in a jealous rage attacked Hogan. Savage would lose the WWE title to Hogan but would still be recognized as on of the WWE's best.


3. Randy Savage (World Champion) vs. Ric Flair-WCW

I know that Ric Flair and Randy Savage feuded in WWE but I loved their feuds in WCW even better. Here is a link to their Starrcade'95 match: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xzzj_macho-man-randy-savage-vs-ric-flair_sport. Randy always made you believe that he hated Flair and vice versa. Two of the very best ever. 

4. Randy Savage vs. Diamond Dallas Page

This is the rivalry that put DDP on the map. I'll never forget how it started when Macho Man showed pictures of DDP's then wife Kimberly in Playboy covered by the NWO logo. Out came Kimberly humiliated by being spray-painted.  Here's a link to the actual moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34fsgq1kSIE

At that time from about 1995 to 1997 wrestling would begin to turn a corner and go into the late 90's era that would bring pro wrestling back into the mainstream. From sexy women (Sunny, Sable, Kimberly) and Extreme action (ECW). Macho Man was apart of  two separate boom periods. 

RIP Macho Man. 

You will never be forgotten

5 THOUGHTS ON SMALLVILLE FINALE

Hello Class:

My aim for today is to offer five thoughts on the smallville finale.

1. The Lois and Clark scenes were great

I have to say that Tom Welling and Erica Durance have great chemistry. Their scene talking to each other from behind each side of the door was great. Erica Durance for my money is the best Lois Lane of all time. She has the beauty, brains, and attitude.

2. Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor was great

Ever since Michael Rosenbaum has had trouble replacing him. Eventhough Tess, Doomsday, Zod, and VRA  were nice, the key to the show's success was always Clark's journey to Superman and Lex's journey to Superman's arch nemesis. Michael Rosenbaum's return felt as if he never left. He delivered his lines with the same fierceness and flare that we've loved about his Lex Luthor from the start of this show.

3. How did Green Arrow kill 3 New Gods with just 3 arrows

Green Arrow killed 3 new gods with 3 regular arrows. They're gods. They shouldn't be killed that easily if at all. I don't get it but that's Smallville for you.

4. Tess makes Lex forget his time on Smallville with a neurotoxin

Hated this scene because it made the Lex character moot. I would have loved to have seen a Smallville world where Lex knew the secret but didn't tell anyone. One of the problems with Smallville is that it attempted to fit into the world of the Superman Richard Donner films and establish its own mythology, never getting the two exactly right.

5. No Clark in the full suit

Sure we saw Clark rip open the shirt to show the "S" at the end of the episode but I wanted Clark standing on top of a building in the full Superman gear with the classic hero pose. Yes I saw CGI Superman save Air Force One and push Apokolips into space like a basketball but not what I really wanted.

Overall I loved Smallville tips of the hat to the mythology but I wish they were more like the Ultimate Universe in Marvel and established their own. The chemistry between Tom and Erica was great. Michael Rosenbaum defined Lex Luthor for a generation and was the best Lex Luthor to date even surpassing my favorite, Gene Hackman. I might get the Smallville episodes when they come out on DVD just because there are a few episodes I'd like to see again.

Class Dismissed!!
The Professor

Thoughts on Smallville

Hello Class,

Today I'd like to offer some thoughts on Smallville. I've watched Smallville for the past ten years and I would say that despite some of its questionable storylines over the years, it remains DC/WB second strongest comic book property behind Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise.

I've never understood why Warner Brothers and DC didn't give more attention to Smallville. It could have been the property that launched Superman. Hopefully, the next Superman movie will launch Superman but I have my doubts.

MTV SPALSHPAGE had this article up on Friday's episode of Smallville: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/05/02/smallville-season-10-episode-20-preview-prophecy-legion-of-doom/#more-51629

It shows a group of Supervillains sitting around a table including Black Manta, Metallo, and Solomon Grundy. I think any three of these villains would have made a bigger impact on Smallville if used during the past three seasons. The Smallville versions of  Doomsday, Zod, and Darkseid seem to be watered down versions of Superman's best villains.

Of course that's been Smallville's problem, they like to water down Superman's villains and give them enough motivation to fill a 22-episode season.

And Clark should be in the suit but he's not because the show wants to stick to its creator's vision of this being Clark's journey of life lessons to Superman. Of course I feel like he's done that enough and should be in the suit. I think it would have been interesting to see a young Clark Kent of 23 or 24 as Superman and the mistakes he makes or how he juggles the dual identity.

Also, LOVE Erica Durance as Lois Lane.

Class Dismissed,
The Professor