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The Foley Files - January 1, 2010

The Foley Files - January 1, 2010

Posted: Jan 12th 2010 By: mikeiles

Here we are - an old year ends, a new year begins, and a new chapter in the history of TNA is about to be written. I think this Monday's live ?iMPACT!" has all of us excited, and I am looking forward to a great show, which will hopefully be looked back on as a landmark event for TNA. This live Monday show is a pretty gutsy move; personally, it's not a move I would have made. But great gains are never made without a willingness to take risks, and the truth is, if wresting companies were to rise or fall according to the risks I would have been personally in favor of, there would be no wrestling business as we know it today.

I remember talking to Jerry Jarrett on the phone many years ago, when the concept of TNA as a weekly pay-per-view entity was not even publicly known. Despite what I may have said on a couple of our ?iMPACT!? shows last spring, I had always liked Jerry Jarrett, and appreciated the break he gave me in Memphis in 1988 - my first full-time wrestling job. Maybe I didn't enjoy my time in the Memphis territory all that much - a subject I covered in 1999"s "Have a Nice Day" - but I learned a lot, and was always grateful for the experience. I respected Jerry, but I thought this idea of his sounded crazy. I wished him luck and really did hope for the best for him, but the idea of launching a national wrestling promotion seemed like a good way to waste a lot of time and money.

Some time later, when I heard about this Dixie Carter person purchasing the company, I wondered about this woman's mental state. Who would want all the headaches and heartaches that go along with running a full-time wrestling promotion? Well, luckily for everyone - the wrestlers, their families, the millions of people who enjoy TNA around the world, I wasn't the guy calling the shots at those pivotal times. And I didn't call the shot as it pertains to this Monday night. Anyone can see that WWE is taking this move seriously; they have the great Bret Hart hosting, and a lineup that looks stronger than some of their PPV's. Ultimately, it's a difficult decision for wrestling fans to make. Back in the glory days of the Monday night wars, the miracle of digital video recording was either non-existent or in its infancy, (this is a wrestling web-log, not a history lesson) so difficult choices had to made on a weekly basis. This seems like a situation custom made for the Tivo.

Wrestling fans can make up their own minds, but I know I am personally motivated about my upcoming moment in the ring (or backstage, or somewhere) with Hulk Hogan. I know I've been critical of the Hulkster in the past; not just on recent ?iMPACT!? episodes, but in books and interviews as well, but as a guy who appreciates the history of our business like I do, I have always looked forward to the prospect of doing business with one of the greatest stars in the history of the business.

Hope you point that remote control our way this Monday night.

Now, on to some sad news.

The wrestling business lost one of its great performers with the passing of Dr. Death, Steve Williams. For those who were fortunate to see Doc in his prime - in Bill Watts old Mid-South/UFC promotion, in early 90's WCW, or especially in late 80's-early 90's All-Japan Wrestling- you know what a huge loss this is. For those of you not as familiar with Doc, take a little time out to see how great some of his classic matches were - especially those with All-Japan. Those were truly some of my favorite matches to watch; by combining a world-class amateur background (an All-American at Oklahoma) with a rugged Bruiser Brodyish propensity for brawling, Doc had some of the wildest, most believable matches of his, or any era. At a certain time, I felt like his singles matches with some of the great stars of All-Japan were the absolute best in the business, even if the "backdrop driver" he used for a finish used to make me jump up out of my chair during late night viewings at my old house in Atlanta.

I only had a chance to actually wrestle Doc on one occasion; a little exercise in pain and fear in Saginaw, Michigan, in early 1990. I happened to be Doc's opponent on an evening where he had received some bad news concerning his contract negotiations with WCW. Eddie Gilbert tried to talk to Doc on my behalf before the match, but I'm guessing it didn't do much good. Anyone looking to see a retrospective of my Mick Foley's greatest offensive moves probably doesn't need to seek out the Saginaw match for their collection. I took quite a pounding in that match, but Doc never forgot it, and he always respected me for taking such a good beating on his behalf.

It was a respect that I was proud, a respect that lasted almost twenty years. I will always remember how well Doc treated me on my one tour of Japan; a time when he and Terry Gordy made up what I felt was the best tag-team in the business. He and Gordy had a thrilling match with Stan Hansen and Danny Spivey to end the tour at a sold-out Budokan show, and even though I was in something of a preliminary match on the show, Doc took the time to watch my match and offer feedback, which I've never forgotten. I dropped a big elbow off the second rope onto either Dory or Terry Funk (my actual first in-ring encounter with the Funker) and came up selling the move big-time, doing what I thought was the best thing to "get over" the pain involved in such a move. But my selling of the move brought about laughter from the Japanese audience. Doc told me to "sell" it stronger. "Brother, you just pulled off a strong move", Doc said. "It' your time to shine! Don't sell weakness...sell the strength!"

When I look back on my career, I so often think of people who took time out of their lives to help me -- to offer encouragement or advice. Doc was one of those guys. The wrestling business lost a hell of a performer with the passing of Steve Williams...and the world lost a hell of a man.

Dawn Marie wrote a very nice piece about Doc, a man she'd come to look at as an inspiration and an angel of sorts. I hope some of you will click onto WrestlersRescue.org to take a look.

 

Tags: Mick Foley, TNA, WWE, Steve Williams, Bill Watts, MSW, WCW, Bruiser Brody, Eddie Gilbert, Terry Gordy, Stan Hansen, Dory Funk, Jr., Terry Funk,

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  • 1962 Danny Hodge & El Gran Lothario def. Hiro Matsuda & Don Kent for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1979 Mike George def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 1982 Kevin Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1988 John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk def. The Simpson Brithers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 2008 Tim Rockwell became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 Cold Blooded Chris def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 2019 Lake Hefner def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2020 Brixton Barricade def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Father Padge def. Duncan Kincaid for the ASP All Time Title
  • 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Father Padge for the ASP All Time Title
  • 2025 Merc became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2025 Cappuccino Jones became the CPW 918 Champion
  • 2025 Skylar Slice became the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 2025 Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2025 The Sweet Life (Jake Swayze & Killbane) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the CPW Tag Team Titles

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  • 08-30 2025 Remy Devereaux def. Gluttony for the RWE United States Title
  • 08-30 2025 Psychotic Messengers (Malachi the Mad & Tank Bryson) def. The Family Affiliated (Riki Wildlee & Gluttony [substituting for Athan Sorrow]) for the RWE Tag Team Titles
  • 08-30 2025 Bishop Simon def. Skidz for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
  • 08-30 2025 Block Party (Mr. Wobble & Billie the Kiid) became the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 08-31 1954 Joe Christie became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 08-31 1986 Eddie Gilbert & Sting def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 08-31 1987 Ted Arcidi became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 08-31 1998 T. C. Gold def. J. J. Mustang for the OPW Turnpike Title
  • 09-01 1958 Mad Man Martin def. Bill Longson for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-01 1982 Bill Irwin def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-01 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-01 1986 Buzz Sawyer & Matt Borne became the WCCW World Tag Team Champions
  • 09-01 2007 Damien Morte def. Shane Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-01 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Hardcore Title
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  • 09-01 2016 The Canadian Red Devil became the PWTV Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-01 2018 Tommy Dean def. Jerry Storm for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-01 2018 Randy Price def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 09-02 1963 Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak def. The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-02 1985 Brian Adias & The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Kerry Von Erich) def. Mark Lewin, One Man Gang, & Jack Victory (substituting for Tim Brooks) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 09-02 1985 Gino Hernandez def. Brian Adias for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-02 1987 Terry Taylor def. Shane Douglas for the UWF Television Title
  • 09-02 2005 Jack Legacy def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 09-02 2022 Sam Stackhouse def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-02 2022 Fly Def (Warren J & Zack Zilla) def. The Unit (Charlie Haas & Big Fitz) for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-03 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
  • 09-03 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Mike Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-03 1984 Chris Adams def. Jake Roberts for the WCCW Television Title
  • 09-03 2005 Outlaw def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 09-03 2011 Kareem Sadat def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-03 2022 Hornsby def. Rhett for the WFC Drillsville Title
  • 09-04 1972 Duke Myers & Terry Garvin [1st] became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-04 1978 The Von Erichs (David Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. Gino Hernandez & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-04 2015 Mr. Nasty def. Abel for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-04 2021 Hornsby became the WFC Drillsville Champion
  • 09-04 2021 Duncan Kincaid def. C. M. Burnham for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-05 1962 Danny Hodge & El Gran Lothario def. Hiro Matsuda & Don Kent for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-05 1979 Mike George def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-05 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 09-05 1982 Kevin Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-05 1988 John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk def. The Simpson Brithers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-05 2008 Tim Rockwell became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-05 2009 Cold Blooded Chris def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 09-05 2019 Lake Hefner def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-05 2020 Brixton Barricade def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-05 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 09-05 2021 Father Padge def. Duncan Kincaid for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-05 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Father Padge for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-05 2025 Merc became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-05 2025 Cappuccino Jones became the CPW 918 Champion
  • 09-05 2025 Skylar Slice became the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 09-05 2025 Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-05 2025 The Sweet Life (Jake Swayze & Killbane) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
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