TMZ spoke with Randy's brother, Lanny Poffo, who said the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel around 10 AM and lost control of his vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol then confirmed Poffo was driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler when he veered across a concrete median through oncoming traffic and "collided head-on with a tree."
Poffo was transported to Largo Medical center, where he died from his injuries. His wife was a passenger in the vehicle during the collision -- but survived with "minor injuries."
Poffo, two-time WWF and four-time WCW world champion, was considered one of the best in-ring workers of his era and one of the top box office draws. He was 58.
His Wrestlemania III bout with Richard "Ricky Steamboat" Blood is still regarded as one of the best of all-time, and he headlined Wrestlemania V against Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea in what was the biggest money show in the industry's history for close to 10 years.
"WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the greatest Superstars of his time, Randy Poffo, aka Randy “Macho Man” Savage," the company said in a statement. "Poffo was under contract with WWE from 1985 to 1993 and held both the WWE and Intercontinental Championships. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends. We wish a speedy recovery to his wife Lynn. Poffo will be greatly missed by WWE and his fans."
Before entering pro wrestling, Poffo was a minor league baseball outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox farm systems.
He was the celebrity spokesman for Slim Jim snack foods in the mid-to-late 1990s and starred in the 2002 mega-hit Spider-Man as the wrestler Bonesaw McGraw.
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