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WWE Hall of Famer Hacksaw Duggan announced this afternoon that former WWF star Lanny Poffo has passed away. Poffo was just in New Jersey several days ago taking part in a virtual autograph signing.
A member of the Poffo wrestling family, Lanny and his brother Randy Savage were second-generation wrestlers who along with their father Angelo Poffo forged quite the promotional war against Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler's Memphis Wrestling territory promotion with their ICW promotion. After the war ended, Poffo would work for Bill Watt's Mid-South, teaming with Rick Rude and then Continental, feuding with the Rock N' Roll Express alongside Savage.
Poffo and Savage made their way to the WWF in the mid-1980s, where their relationship was never publicly acknowledged. Poffo was an undercard babyface as "Leaping" Lanny Poffo, who wrote poems and recited them before matches and tossed autographed frisbees into the crowd. He was a babyface who was positioned towards the bottom of the card, working against dominant heels and getting some offense in before losing, and the victories were never really in doubt, although Poffo was always a good in-ring hand and a strong babyface.
Poffo would gain regular victories over low-level heels and was among the first in the United States to perform a moonsault in the ring. On one loop in late 1987, WWF ran a series of Bunkhouse Battle Royals where you could come as you are and Poffo came out and worked every night wearing a legitimate suit of armor, which was quite the sight to see at the time.
In the early 1990s, at Hulk Hogan's suggestion, Poffo was turned into a heel as "The Genius" eventually just utilizing that name. He wrestled Hogan and beat him via countout on an episode of NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event, propelling him into WWF main events for the first time. He became aligned with Mr. Perfect Curt Henning, managing and tagging with him against Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. Poffo always spoke highly of Hogan and that he provided the window for Lanny to make the most money ever in his career. Poffo exited the company towards the end of 1992 but did return for additional appearances in the mid-1990s on live events.
Poffo was signed to WCW in 1995 but only made one appearance. The story that has made the rounds over the years was that he was signed at the behest of Randy Savage with the idea of portraying a modern day version of Gorgeous George, which Savage had acquired the right to. Poffo prepared and dyed his hair blonde, but was never called to work, instead receiving a check to stay home and do nothing when it came to performing. Great work if you can get it.
Poffo returned to the ring at the first Wrestle Reunion event in Tampa, Florida in 2005 and was such a class person that when he accidentally exposed himself taking a bump, he sought out fans in front of him the next day at the convention to apologize profusely that it had accidentally happened. Poffo made off and on appearances and cameos in the business, including at the All In PPV, accompaying Jay Lethal but in recent years had moved to Ecuador and his last major appearance for WWE was accepting the WWE Hall of Fame induction for his late brother Randy Savage. While Savage was admant that he not go in unless the entire family went in, Poffo made the decision as the surviving brother at the time to do what he felt was best for Randy's fans, admitting that while they wouldn't get the speech they wanted from Randy, they could enjoy Randy being inducted.
Poffo made regular appearances at signings and wrestling conventions in recent years. He last wrestled on an independent show in 2020.
Poffo was 68 years old.
On behalf of everyone at PWInsider.com, we'd like to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Lanny Poffo.
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