Diamond Dallas Page talks Macho Man, WCW Nitro DVD, Impact Wrestling, and YRG

I think it’s great what WWE has done and what others are doing to honor Randy. He was one of the greatest of all-time for a reason. The great thing about Randy is that he could be an effective heel and face almost seamlessly. When I turned heel in 1999, fans were still cheering for me. I literally had to go on the Internet and say “STOP CHEERING!” I still won “Most Hated Wrestler of The Year” from PWI. (Laughs)

Randy didn’t need to do that. He just had “it.” If he wanted you to love him, he’d make you love him. Same with him if he wanted to be hated. There’s not many wrestlers that can touch Randy Savage when it comes to pure talent and in-ring psychology.

How cool was it for you to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title at Spring Stampede ‘99?

Not only did you win a match featuring Hulk Hogan, Sting, and Ric Flair, but you pinned Flair clean and had the 1-2-3 counted by “Macho Man” himself. That was also the PPV you and Savage wrestled on just two years prior.

You know, I never really thought of that. Looking back, it’s a pretty cooling feeling to know the guy that helped get DDP to the main event level was the one that awarded me the WCW Title. That was such a special night for me.

To pin Flair clean. To have Randy be the ref and actually help me in the match (laughs)....it was an amazing feeling. To be awarded something I worked so hard for by my friend and a mentor of mine....unforgettable.

Dusty Rhodes always tells me I give him too much credit. I always tell people without Dusty Rhodes, there is no DDP. Dusty, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Randy were my greatest mentors in wrestling. Dusty told me the other day “You give me so much credit, but you got to the top despite people doubting you most of the way.”

Randy was a huge influence on my career and it was hard enough making a tribute for him. If Dusty died tomorrow, I don’t know if I can bring myself to do one for him. He’s my biggest mentor besides Randy and Jake. All those guys put so much confidence in me. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I hope Dusty lives until 100. (Laughs)

Do you have a story you’d like to share about Savage?

Yeah, Lanny Poffo [Randy’s brother] gave me permission to tell this story. He told me Randy loved me and that really means a lot. The story goes that Randy had one big regret in his wrestling career. Randy’s biggest regret was giving his girlfriend/valet the “Gorgeous George” name in his last year in WCW, which belonged to the original “Gorgeous Georges”--who was Randy’s wrestling idol.

Randy always regretted giving the name to his ex-girlfriend. He caught a lot of heat for that in ‘99-2000. Fast forward to 2011 and Randy had his MachoMan.com Web site redesigned so it links to an online tribute to Gorgeous George. One reason Randy loved George so much was because before Hogan, Flair, Superstar Billy Graham, and others, there was Gorgeous George.

George was mainstream before wrestling was mainstream. He transcended wrestling. Randy’s dad, who was also a wrestling legend, Angelo, always appreciated George for putting him over. Lanny told me George did for Angelo back in the day what Randy did for me in 1997. And ironically, the day of Randy’s death, the Web site in honor of Gorgeous George launched.

You were signed to TNA Wrestling from 2004-2005. Was that the last time you saw Savage?