The following is a synopsis of wrestling legend Randy Savage's professional career. For a companion piece, read Torch columnist Pat McNeill's Wrestling History Lesson looking at Savage's career through video.

Randy Savage pre-wrestling

-- Minor League baseball (1971 - 1974): Savage did not advance past A-level in the St. Louis Cardinals's minor league system. Savage finished his minor league career with a batting average of .254 with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 39 doubles. (Baseball-Reference.com)

Randy Savage WWE career

Savage worked various territories in the 1970s and '80s prior to gaining national fame in then-WWF when he joined the company in 1985.

-- WWF Title History: two-time WWF champion, one-time Intercontinental champion. Savage was part of an era when it was rare for title changes, unlike today when titles are passed out like candy.

Savage captured his first WWF Title at WrestleMania 4 in 1988 the finals of a one-night tournament. Savage's second title reign began in April 1992 at WrestleMania 8.

Savage's only Intercontinental Title reign lasted over one year. Savage dropped the IC Title to Ricky Steamboat in March 1987 at WrestleMania 3 in one of the all-time great WrestleMania matches.

-- WrestleMania History: Savage wrestled at eight WrestleManias and commentated on one. His final appearance was at WrestleMania 10 in 1994, nearly 20 years ago.

WM2: Savage defeated George "the Animal" Steele on the undercard.

WM3: Savage dropped the IC Title to Ricky Steamboat.

WM4: Savage captured his first WWF Title.

WM5: Savage dropped the WWF Title to Hulk Hogan in the famous culmination of the "Mega-Powers Explode" feud.

WM6: Savage & Sensational Sherri lost to Dusty Rhodes & Sapphire in a mixed tag match.

WM7: Savage lost to Ultimate Warrior in what was billed as a Retirement match.

WM8: Savage captured his second WWF Title.

WM9: Savage was on commentary with Jim Ross and Bobby Heenan.

WM10: Savage defeated Crush in a Falls Count Anywhere match that ended one of the most memorable feuds in the early days of WWE Raw on Monday nights.

Randy Savage WCW career

-- Savage was a four-time WCW champion. Savage had title wins in November 1995, January 1996, April 1998, and his final reign in July 1999 that lasted exactly one day when he dropped the title to Hulk Hogan, his long-time rival, the next night on Nitro. Savage left WCW shortly thereafter.

-- One of the more memorable feuds during the Monday Night Wars era was his feud with Diamond Dallas Page, culminating in a Las Vegas Sudden Death match at Halloween Havoc 1997.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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