Mick Foley is known among fans as the Hardcore Legend, but the former WWE Champion has no problem with WWE’s modern-day, more safety-driven era. Speaking to SportingTalk, Foley shared why the introduction of PG, a gripe among countless fans, was necessary.
“Wrestling is always evolving and we have to for survival.”
Foley highlighted how WWE changed the wrestling world in the 1980s in a manner that upset “purists” at the time. Not only does Foley not have an issue with how the industry has changed since his days in the ring, but he believes things have improved since then.
“I think the matches are better on a whole than they’ve ever been, and I see danger in a different way.”
Foley highlighted how the much quicker style of wrestling today can be just as dangerous for wrestlers, even without the use of hardcore weapons of gallons of blood being lost. Reflecting on the Attitude Era many fans hold dear to this day, Foley pointed out how the violent, risque nature of programming at the time created its own problems.
“I know how frustrated we were in the Attitude Era that our ratings were through the roof and we couldn’t get sponsors like nobody would touch us yes and so I definitely understand why WWE moved in the direction they did they.”
While many fans still hold the Attitude Era near to their hearts, wrestling’s constant evolution led to changes that have proved beneficial to WWE and its parent company TKO. While Foley’s days in the ring are over, the legend is pleased that the business is still going strong to this day.
Posted February 25th, 2025 in WWE. Tagged: Mick Foley.
It’s been over 2 decades since the end of The Attitude Era but there are many fans who still begrudge WWE for moving away from the mature themes and eccentric programming of the time. Wrestling legend Mick Foley, however, believes that it happened for a good reason.
The Wrestling veteran recently had an interview with SportingTalk to promote his 40 years of Mick Foley show. During the interview, he was asked about the evolution of WWE and things being toned down since his active years.
The WWE Hall of Famer explained that in some ways the matches today are a lot better than past and there is a different kind of danger involved because of how fast-paced some of the moves are. He also discussed how the change was required for WWE to survive because even at the height of the Attitude Era they couldn’t get sponsors:
“When you say toned down, I think the matches are better on a whole than they’ve ever been. I see danger in a different way. I see things like the fast moves coming off the ropes are things that can hurt ligaments and things like that. So these really quick moves that require lightning speed and strength, they’re dangerous for your joints and your ligaments.
But also, I know how frustrated we were in the attitude era that our ratings were through the roof and we couldn’t get sponsors. Like nobody would touch us. So I definitely understand why WWE moved in the direction they did. They made it more accessible to people not only in United States but around the world. So worldwide wrestling and WWE has never been more popular. And then I think some of the superstars are making a lot of money. And they should.”
When asked if he felt he was undervalued or underpaid during his time in WWE, Mick Foley discussed how things could have gone either way had he come up in a different era. The former champion noted that he feels lucky that people remember him after all these years:
“Well, I’m never going to begrudge anybody who gets what they deserve. Yeah, maybe if I’d come along in a different time. But if I’d come along at a different time, maybe I wouldn’t have been utilized as well. I was kind of an outside-the-box type of wrestler and I was lucky that when I got to WWE the powers would be saw something in me and used me really well.
But I’m lucky that I can come to Manchester and have people waiting in line to see me. I mean I haven’t wrestled full time in 25 years. I seriously thought I had a 18-month shelf life before everyone forgot about me. You would have told me that I’d be making more money for a signing in Manchester than I did main eventing Madison Square Garden. I would have thought you were crazy.”
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley recently revealed his remarkable weight loss journey and hinted at the possibility of entering the 2025 Royal Rumble.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Foley shared that he weighed 360 pounds a year ago and set a goal to get down to 280. Despite hitting a peak of 377 pounds, Foley achieved his target, clocking in at 279.9 pounds during a live weigh-in.
He credited his transformation to a combination of healthier eating, consistent workouts, and the use of Wegovy, a weight-loss medication.
“I did it the old-fashioned way. It was really a three-step process: healthier eating, working out, and, I’ll admit, I cheated a bit,” Foley said.
“A doctor suggested Wegovy after seeing me at over 370 pounds. I know some people see it as cheating, but I felt like it leveled the playing field. My strength was gone, my metabolism had tanked, and I was gaining weight every day. I couldn’t even handle walking up a slight incline without needing to rest. I thought, ‘I’m a heart attack waiting to happen.’”
Foley credited DDP Yoga and swimming as key components of his fitness routine, adding that he’s mindful of his age, saying, “I’m not 21 anymore. I can’t jump into things like I did back then. But I feel good—really good.”
Royal Rumble Speculation
The former WWE Champion revealed he participated in Ohio Valley Wrestling’s (OVW) Nightmare Rumble and felt strong after his performance. However, when asked about entering WWE’s Royal Rumble, Foley gave a cryptic response.
“I wouldn’t say I’m not entering the Royal Rumble.”
Foley initially said with a laugh. He later took a call from someone implied to be Triple H. In a playful exchange, Foley hinted at the possibility of a Royal Rumble comeback.
During the call, he joked, “You saw me in the Nightmare Rumble? I’ve lost some weight, yeah. I’ve been working out. Royal Rumble? Let me call you right back.” The clip ended with Triple H’s iconic theme music playing, leaving fans wondering if Foley might indeed make a surprise appearance.
While Mick Foley stopped short of confirming his participation, his improved health and training have reignited speculation among fans about a potential Royal Rumble entry.
Mick Foley surprised fans at Ohio Valley Wrestling’s Nightmare Rumble event this weekend by reviving his Dude Love persona for a surprise appearance. Not only did the three-time WWE World Champion appear, but he used Mr. Socko at the event.
Foley is no stranger to the world of Ohio Valley Wrestling and appeared for the promotion in June of last year. That appearance would turn sour for Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy, who was attacked by a mystery assailant backstage.
Last week MICK FOLEY was attacked backstage and was left a bloody mess…will we get some answers THIS THURSDAY on OVW: RISE?!
OVW Nightmare Rumble also marked a special anniversary for ‘the Micker.’ As the show took place on January 4, it marked 26 years since his iconic first WWE Championship victory in 1999. The win is infamous for WCW giving away the result, with Tony Schiavone quipping “That’ll put butts in the seats” only to watch its audience tune from Nitro to Raw to see Mick dethrone The Rock.
JBL in OVW
Foley wasn’t the only notable name at OVW Nightmare Rumble as John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield served as a commentator for the show. Later on in the night though, the Texan got physical and helped his former Cabinet ally Danny Basham capture the OVW National Championship.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mick Foley and JBL as the two continue to surprise fans in wrestling, even with their days active in the ring being in the past.
John Cena: Hour-Long Showdown With Shawn Michaels.
Considered one of the best Raw matches in history, John Cena and Shawn Michaels battled for an hour in London during the April 23, 2007, show. Though Cena didn’t win, the match, which had fans on the edge of their seats, remains a highlight of his WWE career.
Sean Waltman: Defeating Razor Ramon
The 1-2-3 Kid’s win over Razor Ramon was Raw’s first big upset, but would hardly be the last. Over three decades later, Waltman’s shocking victory over his Kliq ally is an all-time Raw classic.
Mick Foley: First WWE Championship Win
Mankind’s historic win over The Rock in January 1999 didn’t just see Mick Foley win the big one, but also a notable shift in the Monday Night War. Tony Schiavone on Nitro spoiled the result, mockingly adding “That’ll put butts in seats,” only to see hundreds of thousands of fans switch from WCW programming to Raw.
Randy Orton: Home Invasion By Triple H
Randy Orton made his feud personal with Triple H in 2009 by RKO’ing Stephanie McMahon and sealing his dastardly deed with a kiss. On the March 9, show, Triple H showed he could make things personal as he invaded Orton’s home, culminating in throwing the Viper through a window.
R-Truth: First WWE U.S. Title win
Over a year before they’d be ‘Awesome’ allies, R-Truth defeated The Miz in May 2010 to win his first U.S. Championship. The win “meant the world” to the veteran Truth, who wanted to show “people like me, that they can do it too.”
Rey Mysterio: Eddie Guerrero Tribute Show
Mere days after the tragic passing of Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio competed on the November 14, 2005, Raw where he battled Shawn Michaels. Mysterio was not “in the best state of mind” but is pleased he was able to deliver with HBK on such an emotional night.
Carlito: First Night Title Win
In 2004, Carlito made his WWE debut on SmackDown by winning the U.S. Title in his first match from John Cena. The following year, Carlito would prove this was no fluke by defeating Shelton Benjamin to win the Intercontinental Championship in his first match after being drafted to Raw.
Big E: Dethroning Bobby Lashley
After years of speculation and fan support, Big E finally became WWE Champion in September 2021, cashing in Money in the Bank on Bobby Lashley. Though Big E’s in-ring future remains uncertain, winning WWE’s richest prize on Raw is a pivotal moment for the Superstar’s career.
Fans can look forward to many more iconic moments from Raw once the red brand debuts on Netflix. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE’s big move as a new era on the streaming juggernaut continues to draw near.
There’s the cliche that it’s a “fine line between love and hate” but that line Jim Cornette drew between he and Donald Trump is wider than the Mississippi River his home state rests alongside.
A rightful WWE Hall of Famer, Cornette clearly despises Trump, a 2013 celebrity inductee, who aims to reclaim the Oval Office once again this November. With Election Day less than a week out, there’s a fine line between politics and pro wrestling, and while an immense amount of hate is harbored from Cornette to Trump, Donald pulls quite a bit of promotional tactics from the world of wrestling. The distinct difference is one is just selling merchandise, the other is doing that and campaigning to be the next leader of the free world.
Two well-known no-no’s in the wrestling business have been to steer clear from politics and religion. If you’re currently in the ring or under a promotion’s umbrella, that notion (for the most part) still holds true. Very rarely do you see an AEW name, a WWE name or a “name your promotion” name take a political stand because when you’re in between the ropes, your goal should be to unite the people in an effort to make money.
The late great George Carlin said division is what makes the government run off the backs of the lower and middle classes. “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it,” unless you buy a ticket to take the ride, something those classes do in droves for pro wrestling. While the First Amendment gives everyone the right to speak their mind, doing such under a wrestling company’s eye could garner some repercussions. Good or bad, you’re not just representing yourself, but the promotion you work for.
That doesn’t stop the retired names from talking, however. Dave Bautista made it known he’ll be voting for Kamala Harris. She got the Venn diagram of pro wrestling and Juggalos with ICP’s support. Mick Foley shot a video believing America will have a “Nice Day” if you go to the polls for Harris/Waltz. Same goes for Kevin Nash, always an outspoken Clinton Democrat, “sidewalk slams” Trump’s bluster on a weekly basis. However, his fellow NWO member Hulk Hogan notoriously tore off his shirt for Trump and JD Vance at the Republican National Convention. Right after Bautista voiced his vote, Trump literally sat in between Undertaker and Kane for a TikTok video. “The Brothers Of Destruction” called out “The Animal,” making it known they’ll be voting for Donald on November 5. Trump was then the next guest on Undertaker’s podcast.
Jim Cornette Pulls No Political Punches
While Jim Cornette has never been one to mince words, he makes a point to saw off the end of the double barrel and fire away at anyone who evokes the name of Trump. He did just that with Undertaker and Kane.
“Another former great wrestler on the list of alien pod people duped by the world’s most repugnant con man. Mark & Glen, you made it this long with everyone admiring you, then in the end you ruin your reputations AND try to destroy the country along with them. I’m ashamed FOR you.”
Cornette was so motivated by many of his colleagues speaking their minds, the legendary manager ended up doing the same. Very rarely does Jim Cornette put himself on video (his podcast clips are mostly adorned with Hannah-Barbara like illustrations), but he made clear that “we’re all idiots” if we as a country put Trump back in office.
Cornette has been out of the mainstream pro wrestling spotlight for years, but has created his own relevancy via his podcasts and his undeniably astute takes on the business. Because of his brashness, particularly when it comes to AEW, Jim Cornette has created a fine division amongst the cesspool that is social media. Jim has cultivated his own “Cult of Cornette” that backs him and there are plenty of wrestlers (plenty) that agree with his philosophy on the business. I too find myself nodding along in agreement with a good deal of his thoughts. Granted, how he sometimes expresses said thoughts can cut deep and raise eyebrows, but that’s always been what made Cornette the legend he is in the business.
In a lot of ways that willingness to verbally flamethrow is what helped his ultimate heel become president. Before he was ever a primetime factor on “The Apprentice”, Trump’s ties to the WWE have been long-standing since WrestleMania 4. Lavie Margolin’s “TrumpMania” does an in-depth job at showing Donald’s continuous ties to pro wrestling before he became the 45th President covering his beef with Rosie O’Donnell, the potential influence of Dutch Mantell’s Zeb Colter. For basically a decade now, the “cult of personality” conjured up Donnie’s own passionate fanbase, filled with all types of wild merchandise to show your MAGA support.
However, there is a very distinct difference between Trump’s rise to power and Jim Cornette’s impact on the business. Cornette has been a bricklayer for how the house of pro wrestling has been presented while Trump is the result of a broken system courtesy of both parties. The lack of attention to the middle class in favor of what’s going on overseas, gave Americans an ax to grind and a division that is fiercer than anything ever exemplified in our lifetime.
Many Legends Don’t Let Politics Divide
While Cornette is more than willing to draw a line in the sand between he and his colleagues, others aim to not torch their longstanding relationships over political sides. On his podcast, Nash said despite Kane fully putting the “red” behind “Big Red Machine” he didn’t bury him alive for his stance, same with Hogan, who “Big Sexy” checked in on following Hurricane Milton. In Mick Foley’s ballot backing for Kamala, Mankind didn’t throw his friendship with The Undertaker off the cell either despite disagreeing with him, but much like Cornette did to him, Undertaker took a light jab at Bautista for backing Harris and Waltz.
Pro wrestling fandom sure has its fair share of tribalism and the political contention is quite thick between everyone with less than a week away.
“I can count on one hand the number of friends I lost over politics. Friendships are stronger, family is stronger, the things that draw us together are so much more meaningful than the things that divide us,” Foley said in an interview with CNN, noting how much respect he has for Undertaker despite their political differences.
“When I see him for the next time, we’ll hug it out, we’ll agree to disagree and we’ll do the best we can to keep a 30 year friendship going strong.”
Mick Foley is regarded as one of the most popular WWE stars of all time, thanks to his willingness to put his body on the line for the fans and affable personality. Now, fans can expect to see more of the WWE Hall of Famer as he’s reportedly signed a new contract with the promotion.
Foley has signed a new Legends Deal with WWE, Fightful Select reports. The deal will see Mick’s name, image, and likeness be used for merchandise, action figures, video games, and more as per the terms of his contract.
While Mick hasn’t appeared on WWE programming in person for some time, he did appear via video for WWE NXT on the show’s November 7, 2023, episode. Foley’s most recent appearance for WWE saw him announce Iron Survivor qualifying matches pitting Tiffany Stratton against Fallon Henley and Tyler Bate against Dijak.
Mick Foley Won’t Wrestle
While some fans may hope that Foley’s new contract could lead to an in-ring return, the three-time WWE Champion has made it clear that he won’t be stepping back between the ropes. Earlier this year, Foley floated the idea of having one final deathmatch before his 60th birthday in June 2025. The proposal garnered interest from several prominent wrestlers, including Matt Cardona and fellow Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam.
Foley called off the idea of wrestling again in April, after suffering concussion symptoms that left his family worried about his safety in the ring. While we can’t count out a potential Royal Rumble cameo for the Hardcore legend under his new deal, don’t expect a fully-fledged match, never mind a deathmatch, from Mrs. Foley’s baby boy.
Posted September 23rd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: Mick Foley.
Since Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE in January 2024, many names have condemned the billionaire who is accused of sexual harassment of Janel Grant. While McMahon is persona non-grata on WWE TV, some current Superstars have spoken about their former boss. Cody Rhodes has called the situation a “dark cloud” while Seth Rollins has said that if the claims are true, he hopes everyone involved gets what they deserve.
One name that worked closely with McMahon for years is Mick Foley who has not been among those condemning the 79-year-old billionaire. At a Q&A panel at Comic-Con Northern Ireland, Foley shared his take on the McMahon situation.
“I feel really bad that someone I care about got into something that seems pretty unsavory. I’m gonna hold off judgment until I see the [Mr. McMahon Netflix docuseries.]”
Foley went on, saying that regardless of “whatever he did or did not do,” the McMahon scandal won’t “mess with our memories” of the former WWE CEO.
“He was instrumental in creating some of those memories, so I’m choosing to appreciate him until I learn more about what may have gone down.”
This isn’t the first time Foley has taken something of a softer approach to McMahon compared to his contemporaries. During a February 2024, edition of his Foley is Pod show, the former World Champion again expressed his hope that fans remember the good from McMahon despite the disturbing allegations.
“I hope it doesn’t take away from people’s amazing memories of all the things that Mr. McMahon created or helped create including my character and the programs that I was in.”
That same month, John Cena shared his love for McMahon despite the “super unfortunate” allegations against him, but added he’s an “advocate of accountability.” McMahon has consistently claimed that McMahon’s relationship with Janel Grant was consensual, and his legal team has gone as far as to say McMahon was her ‘best friend’ in WWE.
Actor Paul Walter Hauser is excited at the prospect of playing Mick Foley and is ‘literally talking to him right now’ about turning this dream into reality.
Hauser is no stranger pro wrestling himself. He’s graced the squared circle on several occasions and boasts a record of 3-0. Many of his matches are hardcore in nature, involving weapons and violent stunts. During an interview with Mike Roe for The Wrap, Hauser reveals that he’s trying to secure a role that is near and dear to his heart.
“I’m literally talking to Mick Foley right now about the potential of playing him in a movie or limited series,” Hauser tells The Wrap.
“I don’t know which and I don’t know how, but he and I have become friendly, and I think he knows that that could be a really great stroke of genius in casting me to play him.”
Hauser shares that he’s received offers to play wrestlers before. While he’s excited to work on a Mick Foley project, he won’t just sign on to play a wrestler because he likes the sport. He takes his work very seriously and takes pride in selecting roles that truly resonate with him and stories that he wants to share.
“If TNA or AEW or MLW wanted to sign me, I would literally take that into consideration to be part of a contracted role somewhere,” Paul Walter Hauser to The Wrap.
Hauser says that Mick Foley doesn’t look like the typical ‘bodybuilder wrestler, which works in his favor. He joked that his own body type is more similar to stockier wrestlers like Foley and the late Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart.
In an industry overflowing with larger-than-life personalities, Mick Foley’s life story remains among the most captivating. There’s a reason his life story is a New York Times best-seller, which would make getting a project like this greenlit a lot easier.
Hauser keeps a busy career in Hollywood, but he always makes time for wrestling and tries to blend those worlds whenever he can. Earlier this year, he brought pro wrestling to the Emmy Awards by name dropping the nWo, the Dudley Boyz and more during his acceptance speech.
Paul Walter Hauser returns to the ring when he competes in the 40-person MLW Battle Riot event on Saturday, June 1 from Atlanta, GA.
It’s believed that the injury occurred when Morgan slammed Ripley’s arm against a wall. WWE fans have noticed that once the champion’s arm hit the wall, she immediately grabbed her arm. She revealed in the following episode that she was injured in the altercation and vowed to return stronger to reclaim the WWE Women’s World Championship. While it’s unclear what Ripley’s timetable is for a return, it could be a few months.
As she hopes to recover fully, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley wishes her a swift return.
Mick Foley Talks About Rhea Ripley’s Injury
Foley shared his thoughts on Ripley’s injury on his YouTube channel. He also spoke positively of WWE booking for Ripley and has been impressed with her since 2019.
“…We’ve here at the Foley family really thought highly of her since the first time she premiered when we saw her, Royal Rumble 2019. I’d written stories about her saying WWE really had to treat her like the special entity that she is. I’m the first to say, look, I knew she needed special treatment. I didn’t know it would be this good,” said Foley.
‘The Hardcore Legend’ continued to praise Ripley’s growth in WWE and believes she’ll gain more popularity when she returns.
“…We watched Mami just grow from a superstar into an iconic entity. I have to believe she’s going to come back better than ever and more popular than ever,” said Foley.
Although the injury is unfortunate, WWE is moving forward and ready to crown a new women’s champion.
New Champion To be Decided On 4/22 Episode of WWE Monday Night Raw
WWE has announced that the vacant women’s world title will be on the line in the next episode of Raw. The championship will be decided in a Battle Royal Match, including Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Morgan.
It’s unclear how many participants will compete in the match, but it seems to be exclusively members of the Raw brand. The timing of the title opportunity is also interesting as WWE plans to shake up the rosters with the WWE Draft starting on April 26.
After injuring Ripley, Morgan has set her sights on becoming the new WWE Women’s World Champion. Fans seem to have picked her as the favorite to win, and she could be in line for a big match with ‘Mami’ when she eventually returns.
Mick Foley won’t be wrestling in a final match due to a concussion but the Hardcore Legend and WWE Hall of Famer has been able to see the silver lining in all this.
The three-time WWE World Champion recently revealed that he was calling off plans to have one final match after suffering from the effects of a concussion he couldn’t even recall experiencing. Foley had wanted to compete in one last death match for his 60th birthday and hoped the match would motivate him to lose weight.
In his latest YouTube video, Mick gave some great news about his current health.
“When I resumed my work schedule, I was a little out of it. But over the next three days, wow, really felt the fog lifting. It’s kind of like coming to the surface after you’ve been swimming.”
Mick added that he was happy in a way that this situation has been a ‘wake-up call’ for him to recognize that he isn’t the young man that he once was.
“I am no longer going to be taking on the deadly duo of Father Time and Mother Nature, because they commenced to kicking my butt, and it’s not a rematch I’m looking to have.”
While it would’ve been interesting to see Mick lace up his boots one final time, it wasn’t meant to be. Given the health complications that arose during Ric Flair’s last match, it’s for the best that Mick does not wrestle again if he is to prioritize his health. Nevertheless, Mick had an incredible career in the ring, one that he can be proud of.
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley no longer plans on competing in one final match after recognizing the symptoms of a concussion he unknowingly experienced.
Unfortunately, that match is no longer in the cards. Taking to YouTube, Mick explained why he is no longer planning on having one more match.
“I had to miss a couple of weekend appearances because of dizziness and lightheadedness. After consulting a couple of doctors and also using my own experience with concussions, the symptoms, seem to point to a concussion that I did not even know I received.”
Foley added that he experienced lightheadedness after a recent workout, which he was hoping would go away, and said he’d done “a little bit” in the ring. Given how even a small bit of wrestling affected him this badly, Mick said it was in his best interest to not compete.
“It just seems like the wisest move and one that’s strongly supported by my family is to call off that final match. If I can get concussed from something I’m not even aware of, and some of the things that I was thinking of doing and hoping of doing in a big match would not be smart. So with my family’s urging and after careful thought, I’ve decided there will be no final match.”
This comes as a huge blow for Foley who had been eager to have one final match. It also serves as a reminder that injuries faced in wrestling, no matter how big or small, are not to be taken lightly.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Mick Foley has been impressed by The Rock’s return to WWE as it would’ve been easy for him to have stuck with his popular, if not predictable, face persona.
After the fans rejected The Rock trying to be in the Undisputed WWE Universal title picture over Cody Rhodes, WWE corrected course, turning The Rock heel in the process. On the March 25, episode of WWE Raw, The Rock delivered an emphatic beatdown on Rhodes, leaving him in a pool of blood outside Chicago’s All-State Arena.
Mick Foley on The Rock
In a video shared on YouTube, Foley watched in amazement as The Rock delivered his beatdown to Cody Rhodes. Speaking after watching the end of Raw, Foley noted how easy it would’ve been for the Final Boss to have avoided the risk of this heel turn.
“I like that other side of The Rock. It would have been really easy for him to just lean back into what was comfortable. That’s like an EasyChair for The Rock right? Like a great Barcalounger because he knows that character so well.
“To sort of put a twist on it, come out with a harder edge, a little blood in the right place never heard anybody. I think it was really good and only is going to pique interest. It certainly piqued mine.”
Mick Foley & The Rock
Foley certainly knows all about what’s it like to be on the receiving end of a beatdown from The Rock. At the 1999 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, The Rock beat Foley in an I-Quit match, though Foley would not actually utter the two words (a recording was played instead.) The match is infamous for the beatdown Foley took which was documented in the film Beyond The Mat. To this day, questions remain as to whether The Rock (who did not visit Foley in the hospital after the match) went too far.
What’s Next for The Rock?
The Rock will make his return to the ring at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday to team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. Those in WWE are of the opinion that this will not be The Rock’s final match and many remain hopeful that a match between The Rock and Reigns will happen one day.
Mick Foley aims to have one more match with part of his goal was losing weight in the process and he’s gotten a little help from an old friend in Al Snow.
As of recent, the WWE Hall of Famer has gotten himself involved with Al Snow’s OVW and Foley found a little more than just the squared circle while working with Snow and his talented Ohio Valley Wrestling roster.
In a new Instagram video, Foley revealed that he is receiving help from two OVW talents in cutting weight. Crystal White and Katie Gannon have taken Foley under their workout wing and have assisted ‘The Hardcore Legend’ to drop over 24 pounds.
In the video, Foley talked about he happened to love the Netflix series, Wrestlers, which spotlighted the talent in OVW, prompting Mick to reach out to Snow. Foley wanted to get himself involved with an ongoing storylin and being there is where he met White and Gannon.
One Last Match For Mick Foley
Before he ended his “Foley Is Pod” podcast, Mick Foley happened to drop the bombshell that he planned to shed 100 lbs in order to have one last match and he has a desire to make it a deathmatch. Just turning 60 years old, Foley has been serious in that desire and he’s had several interested parties in obliging him.
Becky Lynch’s new memoir is proving to be a hit with WWE Superstars and legends alike with glowing reviews pouring in for the new book.
Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girlis due to release later this month, and will tell the tale of how young Rebecca Quin became the internationally recognized WWE Superstar she is today. The book is 384 pages long.
The Reviews Are In
Lynch’s memoir will hit shelves on March 26 but some WWE stars have been able to get their hands on an advanced copy of the book. In reviews from Simon & Schuster Publishing WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was impressed with how well The Man writes about her life.
“Becky’s writing style is infectious and contagious. Just like her personality. From hard times and hard decisions, to changing the landscape of sports entertainment, the self-described ‘underdog’ has always been destined to do great things. I’m sure there is more to come.”
John Cena, somebody Lynch shared the ring with for a segment in 2018, believes the memoir shows the merits of a three-word mantra of his.
“Her authenticity allows us to feel her struggles and mature alongside her as the story unfolds… It might just be the new Underdog’s Guide to the Galaxy. A trailblazer, a groundbreaker and a great example of my 3 favorite words, Never Give Up.”
Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins said that the book shares plenty in common with its author.
“Effortlessly authentic, poignant without ever trying too hard, and a little rough around the edges—that’s my lovely wife, and it’s also her lovely book… Between being a full-time WWE Superstar, a full-time mother, and a GOAT life partner, my one and only somehow casually found the bandwidth to pen a perfect memoir…because of course she did.”
Mick Foley, who knows a thing or two about writing a gripping memoir, was very impressed with the tome.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read… I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”
Stephanie McMahon is confident about how the book will fare once readers get their own copies.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is the story of a remarkable woman who had the guts to put it all on the line… Becky Lynch defies every stereotype. The crowd loves her because she is vulnerable and real, and I have no doubt you will too!”
The Man at the White House
One person who may be reading the book soon is U.S. President Joe Biden. The Man was recently a guest at the White House as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Lynch even left a copy of her book in the White House, as she made clear with a tweet.
It’s fitting that Lynch was at the White House this past week as she’s been feeling a lot more American as of late. After this week’s Raw, Lynch had some big news to share with the WWE Universe.
Matt Cardona wants a piece of Mick Foley. Not just that, but he wants to be the man to send the Hardcore Legend packing for good.
Before his ‘Foley Is Pod” series ended, Foley legitimately expressed an interest in having one final match and made an added note that he’d like for it to be a deathmatch. Enter “The Deathmatch King” Matt Cardona.
The Indy God has truly set the bar for how to establish oneself on the independent wrestling scene and speaking with Sports Illustrated, Cardona makes the case for him being the man to put an end to Mick Foley’s in-ring career.
“It’s no secret I’ve been politicking for this match. Go back to the Hammerstein ballroom a couple years ago, I was wearing a flannel that said ‘F— Mick Foley’. If he wants a deathmatch, it would only be fitting to have one against the deathmatch king. It would be the biggest match in the history of independent pro wrestling.”
Cardona happens to not be the only star to make a pitch to be Foley’s final opponent.
A fellow WWE Hall Of Famer in Rob Van Dam laid out a compelling case as to why he should face Foley. RVD noted that he and Foley never competed against one another in singles action despite being notable main eventers in ECW. RVD also added that while he was the man to actually retire the WWE Hardcore Championship, Foley happens to have it in his possesion.
The rivalry between The Undertaker and Mick Foley was one of the defining feuds of the Attitude Era. In many ways, the extreme matches between these two helped signify the start of a new era for WWE. With each new stipulation, they took the violence to a new level and gave the fans many memorable moments that are still etched in the minds of people more than two decades later.
The Dead Man reflected on his various extreme encounters with The Hardcore Legend on the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast. He mentioned the various stipulations they choose for their matches and explained that the violence made sense because of their characters:
“It was just so violent, for the time period and what they had seen up to that point. I mean, the violence that we projected on each other. There wasn’t anything really that matched that.
I think with Mick and I everything that we did because of our characters it all made sense. You would expect us to be in a Boiler Room Brawl because of his character. You would expect a buried alive, you would expect a body bag. It all made sense to where we were at in our story and what we were doing.”
‘Next Level Commitment’: The Undertaker
The Undertaker explained the motivation of Mick Foley’s character that led him to endure extreme pain in order to take down The Last Outlaw. The former World Champion also praised the wrestling veteran mentioning how it was Mick’s commitment to the craft that made it all possible:
“With Mick and Mankind always, my image and my understanding of it is like, ‘I will do this to myself. Just so that I can do this to you.’ That was Mick’s mentality, right? That was the story that he was telling. I’m going to endure this much pain, which is going to be…it’s going to be monumental pain, just to inflict a little bit of pain on you.
When you started thinking about that kind of mindset, how deranged an individual does he have to be to do those kind of things? I would wear him out. And then he would get on the apron and take a stick or a pencil and jabbing into his leg and he’d pull his hair out. That’s just next-level commitment.
But it all made sense into his tormented mindset and that’s what made it so believable. Then you have this indestructible force called the Undertaker. Like this guy is going to kill himself. This guy will torture himself to torture this person.”
You can check out the full episode of Undertaker’s podcast below:
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
“I think I saw the headline, you know, something like that, and heard a little inside chatter on it.”
Van Dam noted that he and Foley were possibly on tap to have a match while in TNA together, but it never came to fruition. It was around the time when Abyss was answering to someone or somebodies as “they” and that “they” was slated to be Foley. That match never did happen with rumor being that Foley decline to work with Rob.
However, when RVD heard of Mick wanting one more match, Van Dam thought about his history with Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy.
“My first thought was, ‘Dude, that should be me.’ That’d be a huge draw because we have never wrestled each other and we’re both, you know, kings of hardcore.”
The only time RVD worked with Mick in a ring happened to be in Peach State Wrestling where the two were in a battle royal together.
Not only does RVD and Foley have strong ECW ties, but there’s something else that Mick Foley has which Rob Van Dam thinks should be in his possession.
“This is very relevant. When I was in WWE and I won – well, first, even before I got to WWE, like when I started watching the product before I got there, I was a little insulted by the Hardcore Championship because I felt like they were kind of making fun of ECW. And no offense to Crash [Holly], but he would do things to make them laugh. They would fight in the pit of balls for the kids and knock the taco cart over and fight at weird places. And when I won the WWE Hardcore Championship, I was Rob Van Dam. Just kept being me and, and, uh, and having great f***ing matches, and I loved it.”
WWE Hardcore Championship
RVD goes on to say that he established the Hardcore Championship as a must-see title in WWE, much like he did with the Television Championship in ECW. He made the belt so relevant that he’d main event house shows with it.
“I was f***ing loving it, and then it meant too much. So that wasn’t their plan. So what do they do? They retire it. They retire the f***ing championship while I’m wearing it while I’m having these kick ass matches. Me and Tommy Dreamer had a match I think to retire it.”
RVD won that match against Dreamer to become the Intercontinental Champion, putting an end to the Hardcore Title. However, Van Dam made that valuable to the fans and himself, but surprisingly enough it doesn’t sit in his trophy case.
“Did they give me the Hardcore Title? Do I have that hanging in my Rob Van Dam room of outstanding f***ing accomplishments and memorabilia? No. You know who has that Hardcore Championship? Mick Foley.”
That gives RVD further incentive to have a “one of a kind” go-around with Mick Foley.
“So deep inside, there’s a little bit of resentment on my behalf. Not resentment, but I would like to have it.”
Subscribe to RVDTV.com for full episodes and exclusive clips of “1 Of A Kind With RVD.”
Please credit “1 Of A Kind With RVD” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
Mick Foley hopes that the scandal around Vince McMahon doesn’t make fans forget the highly entertaining character and accomplishments of the ex-WWE Chairman.
McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.” .
Mick Foley on Vince McMahon
A WWE Hall of Famer, Mick Foley worked with McMahon for years and in the past has described the ex-Chairman as like a father figure to him. Speaking on an episode of his Foley is Pod show, the three-time World Champion addressed the allegations.
“I don’t know all the facts but man, it’s really ugly. I feel very similar, just like that ‘dead inside feeling’ the way I had in 2007 after the Benoit murders and man, I hope it doesn’t take away from people’s amazing memories of all the things that Mr. McMahon created or helped create including my character and the programs that I was in and was such a big part of it.
“I wish he really just stepped aside, you know, the first time and we just heard a little hint of these allegations.”
During the show, Foley also reflected on how much McMahon’s approval meant to him during his career.
“His belief in me made all the difference in the world from just being another guy to being, you know, one of his main guys during that Attitude Era.”
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is hoping to mark his upcoming 60th birthday with one final match, over a decade after he last competed.
During the latest edition of his Foley is Pod podcast, the Hardcore Legend’s birthday came up in the conversation. It was then that Mick shared the news that he is eager to step back into the ring for a very special kind of match.
“60’s right around the corner. I’m thinking about doing one final match, for my 60th birthday. Deathmatch. I’m not kidding. I think it’ll be a great incentive to drop those hundred big ones [lbs]. And I think it might be fun.”
When asked if the match would happen in a WWE ring, Foley was sure that the promotion wouldn’t wish to host the level of violence and gore that he had in mind.
“No, no, I don’t think so. Because I think it’d be a pretty gory spectacle. [I’m] just thinking about it. I put it out there to my kids and they were like ‘Would you get hurt?’ Yeah probably.”
Mick Foley in the Ring
If Foley does indeed have this one final match, it’ll be the first match for the three-time World Champion in close to a decade. Foley’s most recent match to date took place in February 2015 and saw him defeat Mickey Gambino at an event for OMEGA Wrestling, the promotion founded by Matt & Jeff Hardy. This match was Foley’s first in three years, with his previous contest being the 2012 Royal Rumble match won by Sheamus.
Did WCW make the biggest error by spoiling Mick Foley’s WWF title win…
The Undertaker may have faced giants, kings, and even himself, but nothing could have prepared him for the enigmatic Dude Love persona.
The oldest of Mick Foley’s iconic characters, the WWE Hall of Famer first crafted Dude Love while still in his youth. The fun-loving character was brought to the WWF years later after Foley had competed around the world as the ultra-violent Cactus Jack and the tortured soul known as Mankind.
The Undertaker Reacts to Dude Love
On a recent episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about the Dude Love persona. The Phenom recalled seeing Dude Love for the first time and questioning how he’d ever sold for Mick.
“I remember when he started doing Dude Love. He passed me in the hall and he could tell by the look on my face…I’ve sold more for him than anybody ever. We’ve been through hell and back together. Then here he is…Dude Love and all this tie-dyed stuff.
“He was getting into character and he was walking down the hall. Then he’d seen me and then he’d seen the look on my face. I’ll never forget him just dropping his head and walking by [like] ‘I’m sorry.’ It’s like, ‘I can’t believe I sold for you.'”
Mick Foley & The Undertaker
The Undertaker and Dude Love never faced off, but Mick Foley shared the ring several times with The Undertaker. The pair’s most iconic match came in Pittsburgh at the 1998 King of the Ring event, where the pair battled in, and on top of Hell in a Cell.
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has conquered several daunting match stipulations and moments in his wrestling career, but which was the scariest? On episode 12 of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker provided an answer, pointing to one of his most memorable appearances inside Hell in a Cell.
The moment in reference happened during The Undertaker’s Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley (Mankind at the time) at the 1998 WWE King of the Ring pay-per-view.
While many remember this match for Foley’s thunderous plunge through the announce table, The Undertaker considers another part of the match to be even more terrifying.
Mankind / Mick Foley and Hell in a Cell (1998)
“I think probably the scariest moment was when Mick went through the Cell. When I choke slammed him through it. Not when I threw him off, but when I choke-slammed him through the cell. The way that he landed. I was legit like, ‘Come on, please move,’ because I didn’t know that he was going to. That was pretty tense there for a little bit,” Undertaker said.
“And I’m thinking the worst because of just the way that it looked from my perspective. From my perspective, it looks like he landed on his head. And regardless of the reason why or how, in my head, it’s like, ‘You’re the one that just choke slammed him through it.’ So if he doesn’t get up, all those things are already going through your mind like ‘Are you going to be the guy that crippled Mick Foley?’ Yeah, that was pretty gnarly.”
Another ‘Scary’ Moment
Outside of his Hell in a Cell match against Mick Foley, The Undertaker says another scary moment occurred during his 2019 WWE Super ShowDown match against another fellow WWE Hall of Famer — Goldberg. At one point, Goldberg set The Undertaker in position for a suplex. However, when the two crashed onto the mat, The Undertaker then+ experienced what he described as an “incredible lightning bolt of pain” in his back.
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.
Mick Foley has always been an amazing storyteller, but he’s making the decision to close a chapter in his post-wrestling career.
On this week’s episode of “Foley Is Pod” Foley and co-host Conrad Thompson revealed that they’d be ending the series after they complete one final episode with “Mick-A-Mania.” The two plan to finish off the series strong. “I can’t wait. I had such a great time,” added Foley when the announcement was made.
“Foley Is Pod” first started up in 2021 and he along with Thompson and producers Dave Silva and Kris MacDonald, did a video format for the show. Initially, the duo actually joined each other in person to record episodes that featured a fresh new format for recording wrestling podcasts.
The latest episode of the show has Foley covering his on-air relationship with The Rock, but the two have covered all facets of Foley’s career since he started the show including his time in ECW and WCW. They also did a very special episode after the legendary Terry Funk passed away in August.
Before Foley signed off to celebrate his Christmas holiday, he said that he and Conrad plan to pack a punch with the final episode.
“Tell your friends to tune into the last episode. We’re gonna try to make it something special. It’s been a great experience.”
Since its launch, “Foley Is Pod” has been a major player of the AdFreeShows.com podcast network. AdFreeShows.com hosts “Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard,” “83 Weeks With Eric Bischoff,” “My World With Jeff Jarrett,” “The Snake Pit With Jake Roberts” and more.
Mick Foley is known for his Hardcore Legend persona and iconic characters like Mankind and Dude Love in WWE. He left a lasting mark on professional wrestling with his dedication in the ring. All the while, Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy never stopped loving Christmas.
While Mick Foley gained fame through death matches as Cactus Jack in Japan, WCW, and ECW, his WWE roles are perhaps the most memorable. He took on a variety of faces for WWE, and continues as a positive light in the pro wrestling business to this day.
Mick Foley Is Coming To Town
Mick Foley is also good at surprising fans, as the WWE Hall of Famer made an unanticipated appearance at the ICW No Holds Barred event. He was dressed as Santa Claus, and attacked fellow wrestler John Wayne Murdoch, delivering a double-arm DDT and a barbed wire back. The match concluded with Tara Zep securing the victory.
Foley’s occasional appearances and unexpected in-ring moments continue to keep fans intrigued. He remains connected to the wrestling world, so you truly never know when he will show up next.
In 2019, Mick Foley made his latest appearance on WWE television, and he also featured on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions show in 2021 on Peacock. In 2022, Foley ventured into the podcasting world with “Foley is Pod,” a weekly show with Conrad Thompson, reflecting on his extensive wrestling career. Although he hasn’t been actively competing in the ring, he remains vocal about his perspectives on various aspects of the wrestling industry.
We will keep a close eye on Mick Foley’s whereabouts to see if he surprises any more fans at indie shows. He can do as he pleases at this point in his career, as he continues spreading his own brand of holiday cheer wherever he goes.
