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One Dude That Fans Really Love: Mick Foley

One Dude That Fans Really Love:  Mick Foley

Posted: Jun 9th 2008 By: CMBurnham

This guy's had more alter-egos than Sybil.

Whether you know him as Mankind, Dude Love or Cactus Jack, if you're a wrestling fan, Mick Foley has taken his lumps in the cause of entertaining you.

It was the "Ouch!" heard 'round the world when — during a 1998 match called "Hell in a Cell" — Foley took a 16-foot fall that, shall we say, didn't go exactly as planned; he was knocked unconscious and lost a tooth.

Now a wrestling commentator, Foley has written eight books, including three memoirs and three children's books. He is anticipating a June 21 appearance at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood. "I'm a huge baseball fan," Foley tells CELEBS. "I only get the chance to be a guest at a couple of baseball games a year, so I'm really looking forward to this one."

The Indiana native, 42, spoke with CELEBS via telephone.

CELEBS: In Lakewood, you will be a "celebrity barber" cutting volunteers' ponytails for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a group that makes free wigs for women who lose their hair to cancer treatment.


FOLEY: I feel great about it. I'm involved in a lot of groups that work with people who are facing some pretty tough challenges. Both my wife and my daughter have cut their hair for Wigs For Kids. I intend to do the same thing, although I'm not sure if I'm going to do it on June 21st or not.

CELEBS: Well, you can only do that once in a great while.

FOLEY: Exactly (laughs). Actually, my goal was to grow my hair out long enough that I can clip the 10 inches and still have some left over.

CELEBS: This month 10 years ago, you took a 16-foot fall in perhaps your most famous match. How certain were you that you were going to walk away from that?

FOLEY: You know what, that was a really wild night. I went back and watched the match in its entirety for the first time in a long time just a few days ago. I don't think I could ever do something like that again. It may not have been the smartest thing to try, to begin with. But for some reason, 10 years after the fact, it's really stuck in our fans' memories.

CELEBS: So re-watching it as a more mature person, it now looks riskier than it did when you were younger?

FOLEY: No; I realized how risky it was once I climbed up on the top and looked down (laughs). I wasn't confident or fearless at all. I was scared to death. But the odd thing about that match was the fall through the cage, which came as a complete surprise. That actually hurt me far worse than being thrown off of the cage.

CELEBS: Mick, if I turn the wrong way in the shower, my neck may be shot for a week.

FOLEY: (Laughs) Right.

CELEBS: How are your aches and pains these days?

FOLEY: Well, like a lot of people who performed in athletically based professions, I've got a lot of pain in my knees, a little bit in the neck and back. But all in all, it wasn't too large a price to pay for everything that being involved in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) gave to me.

CELEBS: Good for you, Mick. Where do you stand on the (WWE honcho) Vince McMahon issue? Is he the greatest entertainer since P.T. Barnum? Is he a megalomaniac?

FOLEY: You know, Vince is a lot things, and I believe most of them are really good. I've often said — even when I've been at odds with the company — that I consider him on the level with U.S. presidents. Certainly, I've had some differences of opinion with him. I've been pretty open about expressing them. But he and I are on very good terms right now.

CELEBS: Is there anything in the world of current events that has got your attention?

FOLEY: My heart really goes out to the survivors of the cyclone in Myanmar (on May 2) and the earthquake in China (on May 12). I was just in Shanghai last summer. Events in developing countries are very close to my heart. As a matter of fact, when I appear in New Jersey, I will have just gotten back from Sierra Leone (in West Africa), which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Those things weigh pretty heavy on my mind. Hopefully, whoever wins this presidential election will be able to pay a little closer attention to developing countries.

CELEBS: Thanks for those words, Mick. Now that I've spoken to you, I am my nephew's hero.

FOLEY: Well, I'm glad I could help out with that.

 

Tags: Mankind, Dude Love, Cactus Jack, Mick Foley, WWE

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  • 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Champion
  • 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
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  • 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
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  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Champion
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
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  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
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  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
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