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B&B Interview with Wrestler, Authour & Comedian Mick Foley

B&B Interview with Wrestler, Authour & Comedian Mick Foley

Posted: Jul 22nd 2010 By: CMBurnham

The lights were low and the man on the microphone called out his name. ?Ladies and gentlemen?MICK FOLEY.? The former WWE champion and New York Times best-selling author emerged from the back area to the applause of the fans in attendance. Foley was a long way from his days headlining arenas throughout the world, when he was one of the top draws during the successful wrestling renaissance of the late 90s. No, Foley walked out to a much smaller crowd, a more intimate setting ? a comedy club.

While it might not have been Madison Square Garden, the pressure and anxiety was just as high, if not higher, for the former champ to deliver a top notch performance in front of the crowd at the mega-popular Jersey shore comedy club Uncle Vinnie?s in Point Pleasant. He takes the mic, looks at the crowd and the show begins.

The move from the squared circle to the world of comedy seemed, at least on paper, as a natural move for Foley. For decades wrestling fans have loved Foley?s wit, humor and everyman quality ? whether it be on television or on the pages of his numerous books. In 2006, Foley decided to give stand-up comedy a shot.

?I spoke at a lot of Universities from 1999 to 2006, but in 2006 it really dried up and I really liked it, entertaining crowds without getting hurt.?

Stand-up comedy seemed to be the natural fit. So in 2009, Foley made his stand-up at the Improv in Los Angeles. Then later in 2009, he along with fellow wrestler Colt Cabana, went on what was known as the ?Total Extreme Comedy Tour? playing clubs and charity events around the country.

?It?s a bit tough to get the [wrestling] fans out. I was at a Trenton Thunder baseball games and there was a two hour line to get an autograph but it?s a struggle to get them out to a comedy club. They have a hard time wanting to spend money on something unknown.?

?There?s a lot more anxiety performing stand-up. The smaller crowd, the more the anxiety ? you can?t feed off the energy off the crowd when there aren?t as many people. There?s pressure on you to create the energy.?

However, you can see in Foley?s eye that this anxiety, this pressure is exciting. Foley went onto say that stand-up reminds him of his days working the independent wrestling circuit.

?It [stand-up] reminds me of the indies ? every night was the most important night of your career. A great show is not reliant on the number of people who showing up. It?s the experience, the fun they have.?

Outside of the comedy world, Foley is completing his newest book ?Countdown to Lockdown.? The book is similar in structure to his last book, ?The Hardcore Diaries,? a behind-the-scenes look at the wrestling world, although it?s much more upbeat than his prior book, which Foley admits that he was completely miserable during the writing of it due to his situation within WWE.

?The book follows the six weeks leading up to my match at [TNA Wrestling?s] Lockdown with Sting. There?s some mythology chapters in there, I explain why I left the WWE, an in-depth look at wrestler?s dying young. There?s also a random chapter about my trip to Africa.? The book will be released in October.

Yet even with a book coming out, rumors of a return to the ring (which could be a lot sooner than you think ? hint hint) and being a father of four, Foley?s main focus for the evening was providing an entertaining night. And entertain he did. Foley?s unflagging charm and wit were clicking on all cylinders. His act, while not the most kid friendly, was a hilarious mixture of stories, politics, celebrity run-ins, sex and of course, wrestling. His conversational approach makes him a natural at stand-up. You relate to Mick Foley, because he?s not all that different you, outside of the lack of his front teeth and part of ear ? he?s your neighbor, your brother, your friend. Someone you can listen to for hours and never get tired of it.

In this writer?s opinion the future looks bright for Mrs. Foley?s baby.

 

Tags: Mick Foley, WWE, TNA

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  • 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
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  • 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion

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  • 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Champion
  • 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Champion
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  • 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
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  • 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Champions
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  • 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
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  • 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
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  • 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Champion
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  • 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
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  • 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
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