Mick Foley’s first time capturing a World Championship felt all the sweeter as he never dreamed he’d be put in such an elevated position.
Foley would win his first WWF Championship 25 years ago on January 4, 1999. The win would see Foley (as Mankind) best The Rock in a No-Disqualifcation match. With DX and the Corporation brawling at ringside, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin would ultimately aid Foley with a chair shot to the skull of The Rock. Post-match, Foley dedicated the win to his family.
Mick Foley Wins the ‘Big One’
Speaking in a recent video for WWE, Foley reflected on his WWF Championship win on the January 4, episode of Raw. The Hardcore Legend admitted that while he knew he’d be winning the gold, it didn’t feel quite real until after the pinfall.
“It set in for me the moment I held the title. Because I had never seen that coming for me, so I never made that my goal. I wanted to have memorable feuds, I wanted to try to move people up the ladder, I wanted to try to create great moments. But never once did I think one of those moments would be holding the WWE title. So because I never let it define success for me, I never felt bad when I did not have it. But I have to tell you, when they handed it to me, it felt more like a lifetime achievement award than it did a WWE title.”
Foley’s title win would prove to be historic for far more than just his win. On WCW Monday Nitro, Tony Schiavone was directed to spoil the result, as Raw had been taped the week prior. This strategy backfired as fans tuned into Raw in their droves to see Foley finally win the big one.
“They made a tactical error in giving away the results of the Mankind Rock match. And so I believe within seconds, up to 500,000 homes or fans switch channels, and the rest is history.
“What should have been a solid victory for WCW turned into a route by WWE, almost specifically, almost exclusively, because they made so many people wanna watch our show to see history being made.
“Even among the WCW fans, there was a feeling that I had been a hardworking guy who had never quite gotten to the top. And there were a lot of fans, even their fans, who wanted to witness it.”
Working With The Rock
Foley’s victory over The Rock wouldn’t be their first time facing off and it would not be his last time sharing the ring with the Great One. In the video, Foley recalled feuding with the Hollywood star and later teaming for segments such as ‘This is Your Life’.
“The Rock and I had this great rivalry and a great chemistry. We’d later see it play itself out as tag team partners but we wouldn’t have been those great tag team partners without the rivalry and the chemistry as opponents.
“There’s a phrase I use, it’s called embracing the ridiculous. And some people, they’re just a little short of being able or willing to do that. I think it’s those who embrace the ridiculous, who sink their teeth into every opportunity they are given, that really make a difference.”
Foley would become a three-time WWF Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BahE2IpVptw
Mick Foley recently took his love of Santa Claus and Christmas to the world of indie wrestling. Click here to find out more.
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