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Mick Foley Aims To Make A Fresh Impact

Posted: May 26th 2011 By: CMBurnham

No pro wrestler has portrayed the figurehead "commissioner" better than Mick Foley.

The newly rebranded Impact Wrestling promotion is hoping that one of grappling's all-time greats can recapture that magic in a role similar to the one he once held in WWE. Foley has gotten recast as the wrestling liaison for Spike TV, which airs the promotion's show, "Impact Wrestling," at 9 p.m. EDT Thursdays.

"I really feel like one of the biggest contributions I've made to wrestling was making the authority figure a big part of a wrestling show," Foley said in a recent telephone interview. "It seemed like from that point on, a lot of authority figures have become very prominent on just about every wrestling show."

That is one of the biggest obstacles Foley faces in trying to help the former TNA Wrestling gain mainstream relevancy in a WWE-dominated marketplace. Since Foley assumed the WWE commissioner's role following his first in-ring retirement in 2000, the overuse and ineffective portrayal of faux on-screen authority figures has destroyed whatever storyline legitimacy the position was supposed to carry.

This is especially true in Impact Wrestling, where the wretched work of lead scriptwriter Vince Russo has created a hodgepodge of characters -- most notably Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff -- being able to book matches without rhyme or reason. Foley not only hopes to convince fans to believe in what he's doing but also draw attention to younger talent in the much-maligned "X division" that the promotion plans to re-emphasize this summer.

"It is a challenge," Foley admits. "I have to believe in what I'm doing. If that means helping to put the spotlight on some of the stars who are either hiding or have been placed in the shadows, I think I can bring them some relevancy."

Foley also wants to mesh some controversial real-life topics into storylines that would play into the promotion's new "Wrestling Matters" campaign.

"I've got some ideas that might offend some people," he said. "But I think wrestling from time to time can make people think and create some water-cooler conversation."

If nothing else, Foley is once again involved in a meaningful storyline. Foley, whose in-ring injuries have limited him to non-wrestling roles, had made only sporadic on-air appearances in TNA since last summer and worked just one match against Ric Flair.

"It's been well over a year since I've had a defined role," Foley said. "I think 'drifting' is the best way to put it. I've come in occasionally and put together a couple of really good weeks, especially when I was working with Ric. But I've kind of been in flux. It's nice to have a defined role and hopefully be a positive part of the show for a while."

Foley didn't let that TNA inactivity affect his other endeavors. He has appeared at the company's non-televised live events and participated in Impact Wrestling's "Eliminate the Hate" anti-bullying campaign (www.eliminatethehate.com). There are preliminary plans being made for a biopic movie on Foley's life and highly improbable ascension to pro-wrestling stardom.

Foley also increased his fundraising efforts for RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network). Foley has generated $120,000 through gifts from Impact Wrestling and WWE, personally matching other contributions, and participating in fundraisers like auctioning some of his wrestling memorabilia. He even mowed the lawns of two donors who were willing to pledge $5,000 each for the service.

"It was shocking not only in terms of the dollars raised but the outpouring of support from the survivors that I've dealt with," Foley said. "I swear I've gotten so many new followers on Twitter who were not even aware of what I did in wrestling. They made me aware that raising awareness was as important if not more important than the money I raised. I feel I've been a major success in doing both."

Foley's success in wrestling was sparked by a rough-and-tumble style that has taken a heavy toll on his 45-year-old body. While his match with Flair probably won't be his last, Foley has no other bouts scheduled.

He isn't complaining, either. Foley said he actually received closure on his grappling days after working in the main event of "Wrestlemania 16" in 2000.

"I was good with the two-to-three matches I did each year from 2004 to 2008," Foley said. "I probably overdid it for about a year after that where I wrestled a little too often. At this point I feel pretty good, but my knees don't and that's not likely to change."