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WWE Classics: Remembering Edge vs. Mick Foley at WrestleMania 22

Posted: Sep 6th 2012 By: mikeiles

Two legendary performers forced much of WrestleMania 22's focus onto themselves with seared flesh, open wounds and a succession of weapons.

Rey Mysterio's unlikely championship win is well remembered, but much of that talk after that night in the Allstate Arena was about the wondrously violent show Edge and Mick Foley put on.

Edge vs. Mick Foley is the type of match you can pop in for a non-wrestling fan, a way to get them intrigued by the strange, macabre world of WWE. It is not though just a series of intense spots, two dudes just randomly whacking each other with weapons.

Besides being the best match of 2006's rendition of WWE's premier event, it told a compelling story.

Foley and Edge?s feud began in banal fashion. Edge was frustrated with The Hardcore Legend after it was Foley's refereeing that he believed caused him to lose his WWE title.

The buildup that followed brought out the best in both men.

Edge taunted Foley into the match, offering him a chance to create a defining WrestleMania moment. He called him soft, past his prime, a teddy bear.

Foley reminded fans why he has been so respected on the mic for so long.

In his interviews leading up to WrestleMania 22, Foley talked of unleashing his old, hardcore self again.

"You've awoken something inside me that was sleeping for too long."

Edge and Foley delivered upon that compelling buildup.

Edge stormed down to the ring with a baseball bat in hand and Lita at his side. Foley surprisingly appeared to be unarmed.

Fans soon saw that he had outsmarted the Ultimate Opportunist by fashioning a belt out of barbed wire and goading Edge to spear him. The first bloodshed of the night came early courtesy of that wicked fashion statement.

Blood trailed from a gash on Edge's arm.

What followed was a series of shots to the head with cookie sheets, barbed wire whippings, a stomach-churning brawl that continually wowed the Chicago crowd.

The combatants told a story of two maniacs willing to put their bodies through anything to win, to endear themselves to fans.

They took each other on a journey of pain and torture.

Foley lived up to his reputation of a man who does not fear pain, whose imagination often steers toward savagery. Edge had stepped into a python's pit thinking the snake had been tamed by age.

They proved their toughness and their capacity for cruelty to each other.

Edge slung Foley around. He hip tossed him awkwardly into the steel steps. He smacked Foley's head onto the entrance ramp with a resounding echo.

When Edge poured lighter fluid on Foley's flannel, fans had to doubt that WWE could follow through with that bit of foreshadowing. Setting a man on fire was too far, right?

The gruesome action may have put those thoughts out of many minds. Foley and Edge ground barbed wire into each other's brows until both men were busted open.

Foley as always, wore the crimson mask like few others, enjoying it, grinning through the smear of red.

As the match carried on, Foley became a professor of sadism. His student Edge felt tacks pierce his back, the teeth of a barbed bat on his forehead.

Lita played a vital role, interfering several times.

Her first attempt to help Edge got her flipped over the ropes as Foley Cactus lotheslined both her and Edge at the same time. Later, she'd regret stepping in as Foley gave her mouth full of sock and barbed wire.

In the end, she did manage to shift the advantage to her man.

The climax to this personal war stands out among all the bloodshed, stands out from the rest of WrestleMania 22.

Lita set a table on fire and Edge speared Foley through the flames.

There are precious few WWE wrestlers past or present who would conceive and execute such a dangerous spot.

Foley and Edge's legacy will be heightened by that moment and defined by their willingness to go farther than everyone else, to view their bodies simply as props to use in the theater of violence.

Their WrestleMania 22 hardcore match was far more than that single gasp-inducing moment. It was the culmination of a well-told story, a stunning achievement.

Mick Foley got his WrestleMania moment. Edge was seen as a survivor, able to face Foley's strength head on and come out the victor.

Fans received the gift of a compelling, brutal match that we'll never forget.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

09-18

Titan Yin Sep 18th Today!
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th Today!
Angel Reed Sep 18th Today!
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th Today!
Billy Robinson Sep 18th Today!
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Ka$haNova Sep 26th
Lone Eagle Sep 26th
Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
Chris Matthews Sep 26th
Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
BB Sep 26th
Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
Ben Miller Sep 27th
Angel Camacho Sep 27th
Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
Scott Lee Sep 28th
Trey Count Sep 28th
Rip Tyler Sep 28th
Tommy Prince Sep 28th
Kamille Sep 28th
Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
Ann Casey Sep 29th
David Sammartino Sep 29th
Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
Raymon Downey Sep 30th
Lady Starwind Sep 30th
Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
Fred Urban Sep 30th
Seth Coburn Sep 30th
Hector Guerrero Oct 1st

1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Texoma Pro Wrestling

Dynasty Champion
Rook Tyler

Heavyweight Champion: Exodus Prime
Tag Team Champions: RevolutionX
Red River Champion: Phil Shark

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