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Former OPW Female Superstar Heather Savage Dies In Car Accident

Posted: Nov 10th 2014 By: CMBurnham

Oklafan is saddened to report the death of former 2-time OPW Oklahoma Women's Champion Heather Savage, who passed away in a car accident on November 9, 2014. She was just 36 years old.

Savage, whose real name was Heather McGuire, trained at the OPW Academy and began her involvement with wrestling as a member of the VIP Crew, along with Rocco Valentino, Vinnie Valentino, The Great Bolo 2nd, Joey Casanova and Jenna Love. Although just a valet, her interference was key to helping the Valentinos and Bolo retain their titles and win some of their matches. But there were other women training in the OPW Academy and it seemed like only a matter of time before one of those women challenged Savage to a match. That happened on February 12, 2000 as Savage took on Misty Lynn in OPW's first ever women's match. Even though Savage lost the match by DQ, she always knew that she had a place in OPW's history.

With Savage, Love and Lynn now competing as well as some other regular female wrestlers on the roster, OPW decided to institute the OPW Oklahoma Women's Title. Savage entered the competition on February 26, 2000, but was eliminated in the first round by Miss Venom. Fellow VIP Crew member Jenna Love eventually won the title and that is where the problems between Savage and her stablemates began. With Love as the champion, she became the alpha female and Savage was overlooked and ignored. When Savage finally stood up for herself, she was kicked out of the boot and received a vicious beating from the Crew. Savage gained some allies, including Splash Jackson, but she knew she needed to fix her sights on the title in Love's grasp. It only took about two months for Savage to defeat Love for the OPW Women's title, but then the real struggles began.

Over the course of almost four months, Savage saw Miss Venom and Darling Nikki Sweet challenge for the title. She was able to hold off most of those challengers, but eventually the pressures of being champion were too much as she lost the title back to Jenna Love on August 26, 2000. Savage remained determined to regain the title and fulfilled that goal on December 23rd, 2000 by once again defeating Jenna. This title reign lasted one day over three months before she lost it to Miss Venom. It would be her last title reign in OPW.

Savage faced every major female star who passed through the OPW Arena. Stars such as Jenna Love, Sgt. Stryker, Miss Venom and Darling Nikki Sweet to name a few. She also formed associations with such stars as Splash Jackson and Cousin Cooter. After being unable to regain the Women's Title from Miss Venom, Savage closed out her time in OPW as full-time valet for Cousin Cooter. But she was not just competing in OPW exclusively.

In 2001, Savage began to work for Harley Race's World League Wrestling and set her eyes on the WLW Women's Title. She completed that goal on April 27, 2001 by defeating Che Physique, but would only hold the title for a little over a week before losing it back to Physique on May 5, 2001. Savage pursued Physique for another title shot and finally regained the belt on August 1, 2001. This title reign would be much longer as she would be champion until February 16, 2002 when she would lose it to perhaps her biggest rival in WLW, Miss Natural.

Savage retired from professional wrestling sometime after losing the WLW Women's Title, as she had married Bull Schmitt and began a family with him. That union produced two children, but ultimately ended in divorce. Some personal demons reportedly haunted Savage for some time, but she still strove to be a good mother and remain on good terms with Schmitt for the benefit of their children.

No details regarding the circumstances of the car accident are known at press time. Oklafan became aware of the death upon Bull Schmitt's posting about it on his personal Facebook page. WLW and Brian Kelley have also posted tributes to Savage, who had seemed to fade into a bit of obscurity. But as one of the pioneers of OPW's Women's division, she remains a vital part of professional wrestling history in this state.

Oklafan extends condolences to Heather Savage's friends and family at this time.