Team Madness was a
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
heel stable in
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of Nati ...
(WCW) led by
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo (November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011), better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestl ...
, that began in April 1999 and ended three months later in July.
History
Background
Between June 1998 and March 1999,
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo (November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011), better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestl ...
was on hiatus from WCW while recovering from at least two major knee surgeries. He made one appearance during this period, helping
Ric Flair defeat
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff (born May 27, 1955) is an American television producer, professional wrestling booker, and performer. He is best known for serving as Executive Producer and later Senior Vice President of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) an ...
for the Presidency of WCW on the December 28, 1998 episode of ''
Monday Nitro
''WCW Monday Nitro'', also known as ''WCW Nitro'' or simply ''Nitro'', is an American professional wrestling television program that was produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and broadcast weekly every Monday night on TNT in the United ...
''.
Stephanie Bellars accompanied Savage to the ring on this night, though she was not identified during the program.
When Savage returned in April 1999, he debuted a new look and theme music, sporting a slicked back ponytail and a new
heel attitude, as well as introducing Bellars as his
valet
A valet or varlet is a male servant who serves as personal attendant to his employer. In the Middle Ages and Ancien Régime, valet de chambre was a role for junior courtiers and specialists such as artists in a royal court, but the term "valet ...
, "Gorgeous George".
His first action was as the guest referee in the main event at
Spring Stampede, which was won by
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page (born Page Joseph Falkinburg Jr., April 5, 1956), better known by his ring name Diamond Dallas Page (often stylized as DDP), is an American actor and retired professional wrestler. In the course of his wrestling career Page has wre ...
(DDP).
For a short time afterward, Savage interfered in DDP's matches to make sure that Page kept the
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship originally used in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and later, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the original world title of ...
.
Formation
Savage started
feuding with Ric Flair while Gorgeous George started feuding with Flair's
bias
Bias is a disproportionate weight ''in favor of'' or ''against'' an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases for or against an individual, a group ...
ed
referee Charles Robinson.
When Ric Flair fired Randy Savage, he suggested a "my girl against your girl" match, pointing at referee Charles Robinson, where the special stipulation would be that if Gorgeous George won, Savage would be reinstated.
[ It was around that time that ]Madusa
Debrah Ann Miceli (born February 9, 1964), better known as Madusa, is an Italian-born American monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She is currently working for National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as a producer. In 2015, she has ...
and Miss Madness joined Macho Man as his other two valets.
Savage asked Miss Madness and Madusa to train Gorgeous George for the match.[ Behind the scenes, Nora and Madusa trained the other women of WCW at the ]WCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school in Atlanta, Georgia, owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
The school was founded by wrestler Jody Hamilton, who opened the training center in 1989 in Lovejoy, Georgia ...
. Gorgeous George had her wrestling match against Robinson at Slamboree on May 9, 1999,[ during which she used Savage's moves and Robinson mimicked Flair, who was his idol growing up. George pinned Robinson after a diving elbow drop.][ George was replaced in future matches with Madusa.
When ]Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American actor and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE under a legends contract. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he performed under his ...
won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship beating DDP at Slamboree, Savage went after the title himself. As part of the storyline, the villainous alliance would interfere in matches for the benefit of Savage. At The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash is a professional wrestling event currently produced by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. Created by Dusty Rhodes, the event was established in 1985 and was originally produced by the National Wr ...
, Sid Vicious
John Simon Ritchie (10 May 1957 – 2 February 1979), better known by his stage name Sid Vicious, was an English musician, best known as the bassist for the punk rock band Sex Pistols. Despite dying in 1979 at age 21, he remains an icon of the ...
returned to WCW and helped Savage to attack Kevin Nash. This led to a tag team
Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...
match at Bash at the Beach between Kevin Nash and Sting against Savage and Sid, in which whoever scored the winning fall would win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Savage won his fourth and final WCW World Heavyweight Championship when he pin
A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together.
Pin or PIN may also refer to:
Computers and technology
* Personal identification number (PIN), to access a secured system
** PIN pad, a PIN entry device
* PIN, a former Dutch ...
ned Nash.
Savage's last reign as champion did not last long. The next night on ''Nitro'', he lost the title to a returning Hollywood Hogan, when Nash interfered and powerbomb
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestler's shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a sta ...
ed Savage.
Separation and beyond
Team Madness slowly started to disband after Madusa and Miss Madness began fighting each other over who was responsible for Savage's title loss. Eventually, Savage fired both of them and started a feud with Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Known for his fierce defensive and rebounding abilities, his biography on the official NBA website states that he is "arguably the best reboundin ...
, defeating him at Road Wild
Road Wild (originally known as Hog Wild) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) that was held in the month of August from 1996 to 1999. It was a free event held in Sturgis, South Dakot ...
using a chain given by Gorgeous George.
After the disbandment, the villainous Madusa entered into a tournament for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but she was defeated and eliminated by Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael Benoit (; May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler. He worked for various pro-wrestling promotions during his 22-year career including most notably the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestlin ...
. After her elimination, Madusa put all her focus on managing Evan Karagias, with whom she also formed a romantic relationship.
Miss Madness became Mona, a fan favorite, who wrestled in a blue cocktail dress and barefoot. She embarked on mini-feuds with Madusa, Little Jeannie, and Asya. She then became Molly Holly in the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment.
Championships and accomplishments
* World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of Nati ...
** WCW World Heavyweight Championship
The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship originally used in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and later, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the original world title of ...
( 1 time) – Savage
See also
* The Dangerous Alliance
The Dangerous Alliance was a professional wrestling stable who was active in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1987 and
in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s. The group derives its ...
* The Diamond Exchange
The Diamond Exchange was a professional wrestling stable led by Diamond Dallas Page in the American Wrestling Association from 1988 to 1989. Page led a spiritual successor known as The Diamond Mine in World Championship Wrestling from 1991 to 199 ...
* The Mega Powers
The Mega Powers was a tag team in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1987 to 1989, consisting of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, and managed by Savage's wife, Miss Elizabeth. Lust and jealousy surrounding her led to the team's demise and subs ...
* The Millionaire's Club
The Millionaire's Club was a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2000.
History
In early 2000, WCW decided that Kevin Sullivan's booking style was not as successful as they had hoped. So, they decided to brin ...
* New World Order (nWo)
References
{{Reflist
World Championship Wrestling teams and stables