Mega Powers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mega Powers
Left to right: Randy Savage, Miss Elizabeth, and Hulk Hogan
Tag team
Members	Randy Savage Hulk Hogan Miss Elizabeth (manager) Jimmy Hart (manager)
Name(s)	Mega Powers Monster Maniacs
Heights	Hogan: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Savage: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Combined weight	539 lb (244 kg)
Billed from	Hogan: Venice Beach, California Savage: Sarasota, Florida
Debut	October 3, 1987
Disbanded	February 3, 1989

The Mega Powers was a famous tag team in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It was active from 1987 to 1989. The team included two wrestling superstars: Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. Savage's wife, Miss Elizabeth, was their manager.

The team broke up due to disagreements and misunderstandings, especially concerning Miss Elizabeth. This led to a big rivalry between Hogan and Savage. Their feud ended with a major match at WrestleMania V. The team briefly reunited in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. They were called The Monster Maniacs then. Later, they went back to their original name. Hogan and Savage often worked together or competed against each other. This continued until they both left WCW in 2000.

The Mega Powers Story

World Wrestling Federation (1987–1993)

How the Team Formed (1987)

Before 1987, Hogan and Savage were big rivals. They often wrestled for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Hogan usually won, but Savage also had important victories. Hogan was the most popular WWF star. Savage, who was the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, also gained many fans. By July 1987, fans cheered him more than they booed him.

Savage slowly became a fan favorite. This happened when The Honky Tonk Man, a villain who won the Intercontinental Championship, started saying bad things about Savage. To help Savage become a hero, WWF set up matches for him against other villains.

The Mega Powers officially formed on October 3, 1987. This happened during Saturday Night's Main Event XII. Savage was trying to win the Intercontinental Championship from Honky Tonk Man. When Savage hit his finishing move, The Hart Foundation attacked him.

Honky Tonk Man pushed Miss Elizabeth to the ground. She was trying to stop the attack. She ran backstage for help. Honky Tonk Man then tried to break his guitar over Savage's head. Soon, Miss Elizabeth returned with Hulk Hogan. Hogan saved Savage from the attack. After this, Savage offered his hand to Hogan in friendship. Hogan accepted, and they celebrated together. This moment made Savage a full fan favorite. Later that night, Savage called them the Mega Powers for the first time. Hogan said their combination would be "the most powerful force in WWF history."

Over the next four months, Hogan and Savage teamed up several times. Their first tag team match was on November 10, 1987. They teamed with Jim Duggan to defeat King Kong Bundy, Rick Rude, and Harley Race. They also teamed up in handicap matches and other six-man tag matches.

On March 12, 1988, Savage wrestled Ted DiBiase. DiBiase had Virgil and André The Giant with him. Andre attacked Savage when the referee was not looking. Savage was counted out of the ring. After the match, DiBiase, Andre, and Virgil attacked Savage. Miss Elizabeth ran for help again. She returned with Hulk Hogan, who chased the villains away. Hogan then helped Savage up.

WrestleMania IV (1988)

A tournament was held to find a new WWF World Heavyweight Champion. This happened after Hogan "lost" the title to André the Giant. André immediately gave the belt to Ted DiBiase. It was found that DiBiase had cheated. WWF President Jack Tunney then declared the championship empty.

Hogan and André both got a pass in the first round of the tournament. But they fought to a tie in the quarterfinals. This meant Ted DiBiase got a pass to the semifinals. Finally, Savage and DiBiase met in the final match. DiBiase tried everything to beat Savage. Andre, who was with DiBiase, also interfered. But Savage kept fighting. Savage then whispered something to Miss Elizabeth. She ran backstage, and fans wondered what was happening.

A few minutes later, Miss Elizabeth came back with Hogan. Andre and DiBiase were surprised. Hogan got revenge on DiBiase by hitting him with a steel chair. This happened while Andre was distracting the referee. Savage then hit his diving elbow drop and won the match. They all celebrated together after the win.

Months later, Hogan was away from WWF. Savage was fighting DiBiase for the title. DiBiase and Andre attacked Savage during an interview. Savage then challenged them to a tag team match. He said his partner would be the returning Hogan. They agreed to meet at SummerSlam.

SummerSlam (1988) Debut

Their first official televised tag team match was at SummerSlam '88. They faced André the Giant and Ted DiBiase. This match was called "The Mega Powers versus the Mega Bucks". Jesse Ventura was the referee. Miss Elizabeth helped the Mega Powers win the match by distracting their opponents. Ventura hesitated to count the pin, so Savage made him count to three.

Team Challenges and Split (1988–1989)

At the 1988 Survivor Series, Hogan and Savage led a team against Big Boss Man and Akeem. These two were known as The Twin Towers. Hogan and Savage won the match. After the match, Hogan acted very friendly toward Miss Elizabeth. This clearly annoyed Savage. In an interview, commentator Jesse Ventura talked about Savage's growing anger. Miss Elizabeth was not the only reason for their problems.

Their relationship was difficult. Hogan often acted friendly or protective toward Miss Elizabeth. This bothered Savage. For example, Hogan insisted Miss Elizabeth be at ringside for his matches. In one match, Miss Elizabeth was in danger. Big Boss Man put handcuffs on her. Savage ran out and saved her. Savage showed concern for Miss Elizabeth but seemed to ignore Hogan, who was also hurt.

At the 1989 Royal Rumble, Hogan accidentally eliminated Savage from the match. He was trying to get Bad News Brown out. They seemed to make up, but Savage was clearly upset.

Things got very tense on February 3, 1989, during The Main Event II. Hogan and Savage wrestled The Twin Towers. Akeem threw Savage out of the ring. Savage landed on Miss Elizabeth, knocking her out. Hogan carried Miss Elizabeth to the medical area. When she woke up, she asked Hogan to go back and help Savage. Savage had been fighting alone for several minutes. Hogan eventually asked for a tag. But Savage was furious about being left alone. He slapped Hogan in the face. Savage then took his championship belt and left. Hogan defeated The Twin Towers by himself.

After the match, Hogan went to check on Miss Elizabeth. Savage was there, yelling that he was tired of being second to Hogan and Miss Elizabeth. When Hogan arrived, Savage accused him of trying to steal Miss Elizabeth. He also said Hogan was trying to take his championship belt. Hogan asked Miss Elizabeth to talk sense into Savage. But Savage attacked Hogan with the belt. This ended their partnership and started their rivalry.

WrestleMania V: The Mega Powers Explode (1989)

Hogan challenged Savage for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. Savage accepted. Before the match, Savage showed edited videos to make it seem Hogan was interested in Miss Elizabeth. Hogan then showed the full videos to explain. The big question was whose corner Miss Elizabeth would be in. She announced she would be in a neutral corner.

On April 2, 1989, Hogan and Savage faced off at WrestleMania V. Miss Elizabeth was in her neutral corner. But she was later sent away from ringside. She caused too many problems trying to help both men. After a close match, Hogan won. He kicked out of Savage's finishing move. Then he used his own finishing move, the leg drop. Hogan became WWF World Heavyweight Champion for the second time.

Their rivalry continued for months. Savage replaced Miss Elizabeth with Sensational Sherri as his manager. He also teamed with Tiny Lister (Zeus). This led to a match at SummerSlam. Hogan and Brutus Beefcake (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated Savage and Zeus. They also had a cage match in December 1989.

Savage and Hogan met one last time on February 23, 1990. This was for a WrestleMania V rematch. Heavyweight Boxing Champion James "Buster" Douglas was the guest referee. Hogan won again.

After the Feud (1991–1993)

After his rivalry with Hogan ended, Savage started a new one with The Ultimate Warrior. Savage caused Warrior to lose his WWF Championship in January 1991. Savage and Warrior had a retirement match at WrestleMania VII. Savage lost. After the match, Queen Sherri turned on Savage. Miss Elizabeth came from the crowd and saved him. This made Savage a hero again. He left the ring with Miss Elizabeth to loud cheers.

Hogan won the WWF Championship back at the same event. Savage then served as a special guest referee for Hogan's matches. In these matches, Hogan kept his title. Savage often helped Hogan after being attacked himself.

On November 16, 1991, Hogan was attacked by The Undertaker and Ric Flair. Savage, along with Roddy Piper, saved Hogan.

Savage returned to wrestling in 1992. He and Hogan both competed in the 1992 Royal Rumble. They teamed up to defeat Jake "The Snake" Roberts and The Berzerker. They also teamed to defeat Roberts and The Undertaker. The Mega Powers reunited one last time in WWF on March 29, 1992. They defeated Ric Flair and Sid Justice by disqualification.

Hogan and Savage's real-life friendship ended in 1992. This happened when Miss Elizabeth filed for divorce from Savage. In an interview, Savage discussed the divorce. Personal issues arose between them.

Hogan left the WWF in the summer of 1993. Savage left near the end of 1994.

World Championship Wrestling (1994–2000)

Reunion (1994–1996)

Hogan and Savage resolved their real-life differences. Hogan then convinced WCW president Eric Bischoff to sign Savage. Savage was unhappy with his smaller role in WWF. In his first WCW appearance, Savage mentioned his complex relationship with Hogan. He was unclear about who he would support. He helped Hogan at Starrcade 1994 and shook his hand. This showed they were allies again. Jimmy Hart, who managed Hogan, also managed their team.

They were first called "The Monster Maniacs." This was likely for legal reasons. Hogan and Savage teamed up on January 25, 1995. They fought Kevin Sullivan and The Butcher. Hart later turned on the team at Halloween Havoc 1995. He joined the Dungeon of Doom, a group Sullivan formed. On March 24, 1996, at Uncensored, The Mega Powers reunited. They faced eight opponents in a Doomsday Cage Match. These opponents were called the Alliance to End Hulkamania. On January 23, 1996, they lost to Ric Flair and The Giant.

Second Breakup (1996)

The team broke up again at Bash at the Beach on July 7, 1996. This time, Hogan became a villain. Hogan came out as if to save Savage and Sting. They were wrestling The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash). But Hogan betrayed Savage and Sting. He attacked Savage three times. Then he formed the New World Order (nWo). WCW used Hogan's and Savage's past real-life issues in the story. Hogan even said he didn't need Savage as a friend.

Later that year, the former friends faced off at Halloween Havoc. They fought for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Savage almost won. But Ted DiBiase and The Giant helped Hogan keep the title. The nWo then brutally attacked Savage. Savage's ex-wife, Miss Elizabeth, was with the Four Horsemen. She begged Hogan to stop hurting Savage. She still cared about him. She covered his unconscious body to protect him. She and Savage were then spray-painted.

New World Order (1997–1998)

After losing to Hogan, Savage took a break. He returned to WCW in January 1997. He joined Sting in the rafters. He didn't show loyalty to WCW or the nWo for a while. At SuperBrawl VII, Savage appeared ringside. This was during a match between Hogan and Roddy Piper. Savage became a villain by giving Hogan brass knuckles. Hogan used them to win against Piper. After the match, Hogan and Savage attacked Piper together.

The pair often teamed up, sometimes with the Outsiders. Savage started wearing similar wrestling clothes to Hogan. But in late 1997, Hogan lost the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Then, problems started again between Savage and Hogan. This time, it was about who was the leader of the nWo. Hogan and Savage teamed for the last time on February 16, 1998. They lost to Sting and Lex Luger by disqualification.

Savage and fellow nWo member Kevin Nash had a brief rivalry. They realized Hogan was trying to turn them against each other. Hogan wanted to keep them from chasing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Savage took the title from Sting. But Hogan took it from him the next night. After that, the nWo split into two groups. Hogan led nWo Hollywood. Savage co-founded the nWo Wolfpac with Nash.

The former Mega Powers teammates faced off for the last time on July 12, 1999. Savage lost the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to Hogan.

The Millionaire's Club (2000)

In 2000, Hogan and other wrestling legends formed a group called The Millionaire's Club. During a big fight, Savage suddenly ran out and helped the Club. He joined them after tapping fists with Hogan. Hogan and Savage were now fan favorites again. This reunion was short. Hogan left WCW in July 2000. Savage was not seen again before WCW closed on March 26, 2001.

Parodies and Tributes

TNA: Hogan and Jay Lethal (2010)

On March 29, 2010, on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)'s Impact! show, Hogan met with "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal. Lethal's character was inspired by Savage. He mentioned the Mega Powers, seeing himself as Savage's partner. They ended the segment with the Mega Powers handshake.

WWE: AxelMania and Macho Mandow (2015)

On May 5, 2015, on Main Event, Damien Sandow started a new "Macho Mandow" character. It was like Savage's, with the same entrance music and similar clothes. He wrestled Curtis Axel, whose "AxelMania" character was like Hogan's. Their match was interrupted by The Ascension. On May 11, 2015, on Raw, they had a rematch. The Ascension interrupted again. This time, Axel and Sandow fought off The Ascension together. They then shared a handshake like the original Mega Powers. The team was called "The Meta Powers." At Payback, The Meta Powers lost to The Ascension. The Meta Powers storyline ended on July 24, 2015. This happened after WWE ended ties with Hulk Hogan. Sandow continued to use the Macho Man character.

Achievements and Awards

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 57 among the 100 best tag teams in 2003.
• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) – Hulk Hogan (1), Randy Savage (2)
• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF World Heavyweight Championship (2 times) – Hulk Hogan (1), Randy Savage (1)

See also

In Spanish: The Mega Powers para niños

• New World Order
• The Millionaire's Club