Key Takeaways
- Mick Foley redefined what a WWE hero could be, using a unique blend of chaos and character development to turn hardcore mainstream.
- The WWE legend wrestled out of pure passion, not in pursuit of fame or shock value.
- Foley advises today’s wrestlers to find fulfillment in their own performances and not allow promoters to define the value of their careers.
Mick Foley (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop)
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is known for his insane matches and gruesome affinity for wild bumps, but he’s also remembered in a much greater light for how he made fans feel.
Foley continues to give back to the WWE Universe, taking time between photo ops and autograph sessions to speak with RG during his involvement in GalaxyCon New Orleans. Fans flooded the venue with red and black flannels, a nod to his famous Cactus Jack look, and shirts bearing the Mankind and Dude Love characters, paying tribute to a legacy of depth and storytelling. For the now 60-year-old wrestling legend, this love is often far from one-sided.
"One of the best interactions I've had was actually on my way out of the hotel [in New Orleans]," Foley said. "This was an older woman, and she was so excited. So, I said to her as she left, 'You just made my day.' There are times where these interactions will make me as happy as they make the people."
How Foley’s Passion For Wrestling Shaped His Hardcore Legacy
Foley’s rise to wrestling superstardom wasn’t the result of some chiseled physique or flashy set of moves. It was earned through barbed wire, thumbtacks, steel chairs, and a willingness to endure some of the most unthinkable spots the art has ever witnessed. His approach could easily seem like either a chase for danger or perhaps an attempt at reaching wrestling immortality with blood, sweat, and broken bones, but for Foley, the motivation was actually a reflection of his passion and pure fandom.
"I was bringing to life what I wanted to see as a fan,” Foley explained. “I know my style wasn't for everybody, and eventually, I did become a mainstream character. But when I started doing it, it was not with the expectation that I would be a household name. It was just with the expectation I'd be doing stuff I wanted to do."
Foley brought hardcore wrestling to the forefront, shifting perception and shattering the mold of what a hero could be without sacrificing aspects of the craft. In an era dominated by larger-than-life, polished personas, Foley broke through with a level of unpredictability that proved a top WWE star could be vulnerable, beat-up, comedic, and humanized, while putting their life on the line in manners few would ever dare to consider.
Mount Rushmore of Foley Moments
Whether it was the violence of Cactus Jack, the haunting mask of Mankind, or the groovy aesthetic of Dude Love, Foley made each version timeless. In 1998, all three entered the same Royal Rumble in a both hilarious and surreal reminder of just how many layers his career contained. When RG asked the former WWE Championship and WWF Hardcore Championship holder to narrow it all down, the question wasn’t about titles or highlights, but about which four moments, across all identities, he’d etch into the Mount Rushmore of his career.
"In no particular order, defeating The Rock the first time for the WWE title [in 1999], being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame [Class of 2013], the way I felt following my match with Randy Orton [in 2004], and then I'd say having my kids watching TV not knowing that I was winning the title with The Rock and being able to celebrate that with them," Foley shared.
One omission likely stands out immediately, which would of course be his legendary Hell in a Cell match with The Undertaker. For many fans, that night at King of the Ring 1998, where Foley was thrown from the top of the 16-foot cell and later even crashed through it, continuing the contest despite multiple jaw-dropping impacts, is the moment that cemented his legacy. Going even further, it's easily among the most iconic matches in wrestling history. So, naturally, it might raise eyebrows that such a career-defining spectacle didn’t make his cut.
However, not to overlook the historic night, it's quite hard to celebrate something you barely recall experiencing.
"Well, I don't remember parts of that," Foley admitted. "I mean, that was the most memorable moment for people, but I'm going to go outside the box with those other four."
Hard Lessons to Hard Wisdom: Foley's Regrets And Guidance
It was his authenticity and creativity that resonated with fans, paving the way for more unconventional aptitudes to be embraced. However, in a new generation with added emphasis on branding, presentation, and marketability, would it be harder for Foley’s unique blend of chaos and character to survive the current landscape, compared to getting over his prime?
"Oh, I think it would be harder," he said. "Yeah, it would be harder."
Foley may have successfully leveraged his hardcore nature into an undeniable mark on the industry, but it unfortunately still took a serious toll on his body over the years. Respected for enduring countless brutal matches and the long list of injuries those entailed, Foley is open about his regrets related to the punishing effects of such a career (although the list is still concise).
Inspiring many wrestlers who followed him, Foley also thoughtfully shared some advice for the new wave now stepping into the spotlight.
"There's not room at the top for very many people," Foley noted. "You have to be happy with your performance and how performing makes you feel without allowing your promoter to define for you what your career was."
With three faces, one heart, and a legacy no mask could hide, wreckage from one of the most unlikely icons left wrestling with more madness, mayhem, and one hell of a nice day.
