Since he entered the 1998 Royal Rumble he became one of my all-time favorites. Today I was stunned that finally after 27 years Mick Foley who started his career teaming with Les Thornton to take on The British Bulldogs to winning 3 WWE titles and later while being semi-retired defeated "The Icon" Sting for the TNA world heavyweight championship. Mick has been one of the most successful legends in the history of the wrestling industry. When he was Mankind, Cactus Jack or Dude Love he was one of the main elements of the Attitude Era.
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| Mick is a three time New York best-selling author |
Mick started his major role as Cactus Jack in WCW where he feuded with Van Hammer, Sting, The Nasty Boys, Big Van Vader and Kevin Sullivan. By the name Cactus he also had some extensions. Like Cactus Jack Manson and with that ring-name he went against Mil Mascaras in an outstanding match at Clash of Champions 1989. He also formed a team with The Barbarian but the duo wan't as successful as when Cactus Jack decided to team up with Kevin Sullivan and his brother Dave. Later Cactus and Sullivan picked up a huge win against the WCW world tag team champions, The Nasty Boys at Slamboree 1994. Cactus also had a documented rivalry with Vader which also caused him to lose an ear in a match at Munich, Germany. He also had his nose broken once by Vader.
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| Kevin Sullivan and Cactus Jack as the WCW world tag team champions, being accompanied by Dave Sullivan |
Once WCW decided to tour with the new rising promotion in Philadelphia known as Extreme Championship Wrestling. In that tour Cactus Jack took on ECW's Sabu in what was build as a dream match between two of the most hardcore wrestlers of all-time. Sabu got the victory that night which encouraged Cactus to go to ECW for revenge, after he lost a loser leaves WCW match against Kevin Sullivan he mad his debut in ECW. When Cactus debuted it was still know as Eastern Championship Wrestling, and he soon formed a tag team with the underdog Mikey Whipwreck and beat Public Enemy for the ECW world tag team titles. Him and Mikey were a good duo and it also helped Mikey to learn a lot into becoming a great star. They later lost the belts back to Public Enemy. While with ECW Cactus also wrestled in Japan for IWA where he won the King of Death matches 1995 by beating Terry Funk in the finals. He also won the IWA Japan version of the world tag team titles with Tracy Smothers. He also won the ECW world tag team titles again with Mikey Whipwreck. Yet Whipwreck won the belts by beating 2 Cold Scorpio in a singles match and then Cactus ran in and called himself Mikey's partner.
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| Cactus Jack as one half of the ECW world tag team champions |
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| Cactus Jack wrestling in IWA Japan |
Mick left ECW for WWE in 1996. In WWE he became Mankind, a schizophrenic freak who liked to assault himself and shrieked "Mommy" every once in a while. He debuted by beating Bob Holly using his new move which later became the most feared move in the WWE known as The Mandible Claw. He had major rivalries with Undertaker, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Steve Austin and The Rock. Mankind was Mick Foley's most successful persona in the WWE. Winning three WWE championships, winning six world tag team titles with The Rock, Kane and Al Snow and also became the first Hardcore champion. He also won a Slammy Award for Loose Screw. Later it was Dude Love's turn who debuted to win the World tag team championships with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin defeating Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. Dude Love also had his own talk-show known as The Love Shack. Later Cactus Jack debuted in the WWe defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a falls count anywhere match. Cactus Jack went on a feud with The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn). He later brought his role model Terry Funk as Chainsaw Charlie to the WWE. The Duo of Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie defeated The New Age Outlaws at Wrestlemania winning the World tag team titles in a dumpster match. Cactus Jack went on to wrestle Triple H in a Career vs.Title Hell in a Cell Match losing to The Game and taking another famous fall like the one he took in 1998 King of The Ring against The Undertaker. Yet losing that match didn't stop Mick from main-eventing Wrestlemania 2000. Later Mick disappeared for a while and started came back as the WWE commissioner, Commissioner Foley. He took over both Raw and Smackdown having his office in awkward places like Storage rooms and work shops. He later became the co-general manager with Eric Bischoff. Mick made several appearances since, including a great match against Randy Orton at Backlash 2004, Getting awarded the WWE Hardcore title in 2003, Teaming with The Rock at Wrestlemania XX, Facing Edge in a Hardcore match at Wrestlemania 22 and doing color-commentating for Smackdown! in 2008. His last match to this date was the Royal Rumble 2012.
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| Mankind with the Urn |
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| Mankind wins his first WWE championship |
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| Mankind with a Mr. Socko on Mr. McMahon |
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| Mick Foley as Smackdown's color-commentator |
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| Mankind is awarded the WWE Hardcore title |
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| Mankind wins the WWE Smoking Skull belt |
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| Dude Love and Stone Cold Steve Austin as World tag team champions |
While being smi-retired Mick enter Total Nonstop Action. He had feuds with Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Eric Bisschoff, Hulk Hogan and Immortal. He won the TNA Legends Championship in a tag team match where him and Bobby Lashley took on Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash ( Nash was pinned by Foley so he lost his belt not the world champion Kurt), becoming the fourth champion. Later he lost it back to Kevin Nash in 25 days. Then Mick chased the TNA world heavyweight championship which was held by Sting. He defeated Sting at Lockdown 2009. This reign lasted 63 days until he lost it to Kurt Angle at Slammiversary in a King of the Mountain match.
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| Mick Foley as the TNA Legends champion |
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| Mick after winning the TNA world heavyweight title at Lockdown |
Mick has been successful outside the ring too. He's a successful Comedian, Voice-actor, actor and is also active in many organizations such as RAINN.
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| Mick Foley voice acting as Thunderclap in Squidbillies |
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| Mick doing a comedy show |
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| Mick promoting RAINN |
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| Mick starring as Mankind in the hit tv show 30Rock |
In the ring or out the ring I'm just so happy for Mick Foley to enter the Hall of Fame. I hope he can continue his successful life and do what he does best and that is to entertain the people.
