Elizabeth Hulette in the 1980s and 1990s
“Elizabeth was one of the sweetest, most wonderful people.” —Irene Carlos, who worked out with her at Main Event Fitness in Marietta, Georgia.
Although pro wrestling was once a male-dominated sport, women now play larger roles thanks to Miss Elizabeth. She managed and accompanied male wrestlers to the ring, sometimes wrestling herself. (on three occasions) Elizabeth Hulette was one of several glamorous female valets who pioneered the “Diva” phenomenon in pro wrestling. (Sunshine, Baby Doll, Woman/Nancy Benoit, etc.) However, Elizabeth was a true pioneer because she was the one to gain national fame.
(Fun fact: Sunshine, Jimmy Garvin’s valet, was his first cousin. She was replaced by Precious, Jimmy’s real-life wife. Maybe people were weirded out by the whole cousin thing?!)
I watched a clip of Young Rock to see how Miss Elizabeth was portrayed. Personally, I felt the actress looked a lot like her, but spoke with too thick of a Southern accent– almost like Blanche from The Golden Girls. She did have an accent, but it was slight. (Maybe I have to watch more interviews.) However, if there was ever a spin-off series about female wrestling managers/valets, they should use the same actress. (Sarah Gattellari)
If Botticelli painted for the WWF, Miss Elizabeth would be Venus emerging from the shell. Though she was often objectified for her beauty, we cannot discount the fact that she paved the way for women in pro wrestling. She may have played a damsel in distress, but she also had some of the first storylines featuring a woman. She was a calming foil to Randy Savage’s chaotic persona, thus making one half of a charismatic wrestling couple. Miss Elizabeth also formed the famous tag team Mega Powers— Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan.
Miss Elizabeth was also a fierce fashionista. I wonder if she inspired any drag queens– little gay boys who watched wrestling, and were blown away by her makeup, jewelry, flowing gowns, and poised Southern Belle presence. Not “blown away” the way straight ones were, but in that they wanted to imitate her elegance. Wrestling personalities are seldom gay icons (except Cyndi Lauper), but I see her appeal. Maybe she could have guest-judged RuPaul’s Drag Race?
images not mine At least one of Miss Elizabeth’s dresses should be displayed in a wrestling museum/hall of fame.
Elizabeth Ann Hulette was born November 19th, 1960 (Scorpio) in Frankfort, Kentucky. Her parents were Donald and Mary Ann Hulette. (nee Sorg) Most reports state she was raised by her single mother, who was a nurse. She had two brothers, John and Steven. As a child, she enjoyed horseback riding and exploring the local meadows. She also played the flute and was a baton majorette— according to some yearbook photos.
After graduating from Franklin County High School, she majored in Communications at the University of Kentucky. She worked at a gym, where she gave warm towels to those who needed them. Here she met Randy Poffo, better known as “Macho Man” Randy Savage. They married on December 30th, 1984. Later, Elizabeth worked as a TV announcer for ICW (International Championship Wrestling) where Macho Man wrestled. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, this wrestling promotion was run by Angelo Poffo, Randy Savage’s father and her father-in-law. She also interviewed wrestlers before and after matches.
When they entered the WWF, Vince McMahon originally intended for Randy’s valet or manager to be Missy Hyatt. Missy fit Vince’s idea of a blonde bombshell, but Randy wanted to hire his real-life wife. (according to Elizabeth’s WCW Live interview I found on YouTube) However, she wasn’t a fan of wrestling at first.
“I really didn’t know anything about pro wrestling,” said Elizabeth, “I hadn’t seen that many women involved in it, other than the hard-core female wrestlers, something I never aspired to be. All of a sudden it seemed to happen, and I was in it. It became bigger than I ever imagined.”
It’s not clear how the ring name of Miss Elizabeth came about. However, it’s possible it was borrowed from Miss Brenda Britton, a valet/manager most famous in the Kansas City area, who was also valet for Randy Savage in some ICW matches.
On June 17, 1985, Macho Man Randy Savage debuted in the World Wrestling Federation. At that time, the WWF featured a story in which every manager in the promotion competed to offer their services to Randy Savage. During a match on July 30, 1985, in Poughkeepsie, New York, several managers were at ringside in hopes that he would name one of them as his new manager. Randy thanked each manager for his or her consideration and then asked that his new manager come to ringside. An elegant, unnamed woman entered to the ring, and announcer Bruno Sammartino remarked, “She must be some sort of movie star.” Her name was revealed as “Miss Elizabeth”. Elizabeth’s WWF debut was taped on July 30, 1985, and aired on the August 24, 1985 edition of WWF Prime Time Wrestling.
Miss Elizabeth’s first major storyline was in 1986, as Randy Savage feuded with George “The Animal” Steele. In the angle, Steele professed his attraction to Elizabeth, angering Randy Savage and leading to a series of matches between him and Steele. This feud was one of the WWF’s most popular of the 1980s; it carried on for more than a year, thanks to Steele’s continual crush on Elizabeth. (In real life, Randy Savage was said to be paranoid and overprotective of his wife– lashing out at any man who dared to look her way.)
Now, I won’t go into too much detail about her ’80s wrestling career, simply because it’s too long and varied. All you need to know is that at this point, she was considered a “face” (or good character) and was often fought over, rather than fighting for herself. She won Woman of the Year (1987) at the WWF awards.
Also, this list was from a wrestling magazine at the time:
Elizabeth’s Favorite…
City: San Francisco
City to shop: Miami
Charities: Special Olympics and Starlight Foundation
Soap opera: The Young and the Restless
Chocolate Bar: Snickers
Fruit: Apples
Game: Chess
Colors: Red and Yellow
Drinks: Diet Pepsi and Diet Snapple Peach Iced Tea
Unfortunately, Elizabeth and Randy Savage divorced in 1992, ending a “match made in Heaven.” It’s not clear why, as there are rumors of infidelity in both parties, but none can be verified. Randy’s jealousy and possessiveness of Elizabeth were also said to have caused tension.
“Elizabeth and I were having problems,” Randy said, “It happens that at the time, Elizabeth and Hulk Hogan’s wife [Linda] were very, very, very best friends. And they were running around together. I didn’t think it was healthy for our relationship. I would call home, and Elizabeth wouldn’t be there.”
“I wasn’t really finished growing up,” Elizabeth said, “I was reacting a little and acting out, maybe against Randy and not having a clear focus and idea of what I wanted as well.”
The Ultimate Warrior added:
“Randy was very protective of her and did not allow a line leading to over-friendly contact [with other talent] And, believe me, the lines Randy drew never had slack in them…. Let there be no mistake – wound up as the ‘Macho’ element of Randy’s life was, when it came to his marriage he was disciplined and controlled, had class and respected it traditionally.”
https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/randy-savage-miss-elizabeth
On December 6th, 1997, Elizabeth married Cary Lubetsky, a South Florida attorney. The wedding was held at the Cuban Hebrew Temple in Miami Beach. However, they soon separated and were officially divorced on April 19, 1999. Throughout this marriage, she owned a clothing store in Miami.
All was not calm for her wrestling career, either. By 1996, Elizabeth’s public image had changed to a heel (villain) as part of WCW’s New World Order. (World Championshop Wrestling) In 1999, she underwent breast augmentation surgery, thus flaunting a noticeably fuller bust. (The surgical scars are noted on her autopsy report.) Her time playing a villain wasn’t without criticism, with WhatCulture observing that it was “uncomfortable” to watch her in a faction against Randy Savage himself. But no matter how the fans felt, WCW continued booking her as a villain and she managed real-life boyfriend Lex Luger.
Nancy Benoit (“Woman”), Ric Flair, and Miss Elizabeth at a WCW match
The two began dating while they were both married, culminating in divorces so they could live together. Looking back, the relationship began out of proximity and convenience, and marriages with affair partners don’t last long (they weren’t married, but you know what I mean)– the relationship was doomed from the start.
In April 2003, the police were called due to domestic violence. Lex hit Elizabeth in the garage of their townhouse, leaving her with two black eyes, a cut lip, and a bump on her head. At the time, the couple were under the influence of pills and alcohol. Lex was charged with a misdemeanor of battery. He was released on a $2,500 bond before being arrested two days later for drunk driving.
“I was making a lot of really bad, selfish decisions at that time in my life,” Lex Luger said. “I wouldn’t have admitted it at the time, but things were really going to a dark place and getting out of control in a bad way.”
On May 1st, 2003, Elizabeth underwent cardiac rest after accidentally overdosing on painkillers and alcohol. Lex was home at the time along with the couple’s cleaning lady. “[I] said, ‘Hey Liz, wake up, your food’s gonna get cold,’ and she didn’t respond,” Lex recalled. “I knew that was strange. So I got up and tried to shake her and she didn’t respond. I immediately called 911. I was panicked.” After EMTs tried CPR, Miss Elizabeth died at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. She was 42 years old.
Some fans have speculated that Lex– as Elizabeth’s abuser –was responsible for her death. But there isn’t evidence to suggest this, and her death was ultimately ruled an accident.
https://www.grunge.com/718319/tragic-details-found-in-miss-elizabeths-autopsy-report
Forensic investigator Hal Bennett wrote that Miss Elizabeth “had arrived in full [cardiac] arrest.” “Emergency Medical Services personnel had intubated the victim at the scene, started an IV line and transported her to the emergency room where advanced medical intervention was started but proved unsuccessful,” the report continued.
Mike O’Connell, a detective with the Cobb County Police Department, reported that Elizabeth “had been observed drinking Vodka and taking Soma and Loritabs [sic]” mere hours before she went into cardiac arrest.
Her grave is located at Frankfort Cemetery in her hometown Frankfort, Kentucky. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7403592/elizabeth-ann-hulette
Surprisingly, Miss Elizabeth isn’t in the WWE Hall of Fame. Her family was against her being in it, as they thought her involvement in the wrestling world led to her getting addicted to drugs and alcohol, and her untimely death. However, according to what I’ve read, one brother is open to the idea. I hope she is inducted one day. It’s definitely possible, as Lia Maivia (The Rock’s grandmother, a prominent wrestling promoter) will be inducted this year– a bit late, but at least not never.
I wish I found some more direct quotes from Elizabeth regarding fame, as it must have been a whirlwind experience, but I’ve been lucky to find this one:
“Would I ever write a memoir?” Elizabeth said, “No, because I know so much about so many people that I would never want to say anything that someone might take the wrong way. These are the people I’ve had a lot of fun with, and I’ve been through a lot of their pain. I’ve been married and divorced, and it’s not easy. I just wouldn’t want to invade anybody’s life like that by sharing secrets.”
Even when asked about writing her own story, Miss Elizabeth thought of others and how she related to them. If nothing else, that should emphasize the type of person she was. She may be known as the “First Lady of Wrestling”, but she was also the first to stand by your side.
Curious History Girl 