Randy Savage handled questions from children about his split with Miss Elizabeth with striking honesty and compassion during a public school appearance, telling them that “people grow apart” and that he wished her nothing but the best, according to longtime wrestling photographer Roy London on the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast with Brian Solomon.
London, who worked for the London Publishing magazines (including Pro Wrestling Illustrated) and later WWE in the early 1990s, said Savage’s school visits stood out because they were clearly more than promotional obligations.
“When Randy Savage went to the school to talk to the children, it was more than just an appearance,” London said. “It’s like he felt that he had to be there and he wanted to be there. And he impressed me, because he was so honest with the children.”
London said the children immediately asked Savage about Elizabeth, and rather than deflecting or staying in character, Savage spoke to them on their level.
“The children were going, ‘Where’s Elizabeth? Where’s Elizabeth?’ And he had to tell them, ‘We split up,'” London said. “And he said, ‘Children, you’re going to find in life when you grow up, people grow apart, and she’s wonderful. They had a wonderful life together, and he wishes her nothing but the best.'”
London said the way Savage communicated with the kids left a lasting impression on him. “He talked to them at such a nice level. He explained how people grow apart,” London said. “He was such a pro.”
Savage and Elizabeth’s on-screen wedding at SummerSlam 1991 was one of the most iconic moments in WWF history. The couple divorced in 1992. Elizabeth passed away in 2003 at the age of 42. Savage passed away in 2011 at the age of 58.
The full two-part interview with Roy London is available on the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast with Brian Solomon. Solomon is also the author of Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, available wherever books are sold.
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