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Wrestler Mick Foley Draws A Packed Crowd

Wrestler Mick Foley Draws A Packed Crowd

Posted: Aug 27th 2013 By: CMBurnham

Charles Volkert, 26, of Hawthorne, has been a fan of wrestling ever since his father introduced him to the sport at a young age.

He has also been a lifelong fan of pro wrestling champion Mick Foley and the personas ? Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love ? that Foley has assumed over his long career as a professional wrestler.

Volkert even won most original Halloween costume during his freshman year at Hawthorne High School for donning the misbuttoned shirt, iconic Mr. Socko hand puppet, and injury-induced limp that Mankind was known for.

Volkert said he likes Foley because he?s not a stereotypical wrestler.

?He?s not a bodybuilder,? he said. ?He?s (the) average joe, essentially. And he?s one of those people (who) shows that if you put your mind to it, (and) if you want something bad enough ? regardless of what anyone says or what the stereotype might be ? you can definitely break that.?

Mick Foley, also known as the Hardcore Legend because of his ability to withstand pain in the ring, spoke, answered questions and signed autographs during an event at the Alachua County Headquarters Library on Saturday.

In addition to being one of the most widely recognized names in professional wrestling, Foley has also written four autobiographies, including the New York Times bestselling ?Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks? and ?Foley Is Good: And the Real World Is Faker than Wrestling,? four children?s books and two novels.

In addition to his writings, Foley entertains crowds across the country with his comical spoken-word performances. He also is a volunteer and advocate for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), which was co-founded by singer-songwriter Tori Amos ? of whom Foley is a big fan.

Fans, many of whom were carrying Foley?s books or DVDs, gathered in the library?s lobby recounting Foley?s most famous matches and personal stories, while others perused the library?s offerings while eagerly waiting for access to the fourth-floor meeting room where the event took place.

Once the stairwell and elevators were unlocked, the fans hurried to obtain good seats. The chairs quickly filled, and some of the almost 200 people who attended had to sit on the bench that ran along the walls of the room.

Foley walked in with his thick beard and shaggy, shoulder-length hair, wearing a black Santa-themed Hawaiian shirt over a red Santa?s Village T-shirt ? quite a contrast from his wrestling personas.

In an interview after the event, Foley explained that he recently earned his bachelor?s degree in SantaClausology from School4Santas in Atlanta.

?I was very close to the characters when I was involved,? he said. ?I?m much closer to being Santa than I am Mankind these days ? I barely can even wear the mask. The best characters are just an extension of someone?s real personality, and I am very Santa-esque.?

Foley took to the lectern as the crowd applauded and cheered loudly, then quickly began making jokes at crowd members? expense and telling funny stories that had the crowd cackling.

Foley told a story about one time when he visited Tallahassee and did what he calls the ?craziest, stupidest thing? he has ever done in his career ? going out to the crowd and doing the Gator Chomp.

?Someone told me it was a good idea,? he told the crowd. ?I said I don?t really get it, and they said ?Oh, just go out and do it. Trust me, it?ll be excellent.??

He spoke about his career, injuries, writing and many hysterical personal experiences.

Not all of his stories were funny, but even his dramatic stories were littered with humor. Highlights included recounting his departure from WWE, becoming speechless while on camera as the WWE commissioner and losing his ear in a match with pro wrestler Vader.

Concerning his work as an author, Foley recounted his experience working with a ghostwriter for two days. He said it was surprising to learn that most athletes used a ghostwriter.

This might sound a little strange coming from a wrestler,? he said to the crowd. ?But that sounded awfully fake to me.?

He pointed out that when his first book hit No. 1 on the NYT Bestseller List, it sat above the 2000 presidential candidates? autobiographies. With one exception, all of their autobiographies were ghostwritten, he told the crowd.

?When we live in a world where the president of the U.S. is having his book ghostwritten, but a professional wrestler is writing his own ? we?re all in a lot of trouble,? he joked.

Foley discussed some of his other interests. He told the crowd that he trained to be a volunteer for Survivors of Sexual Assault, and that he was once named the RAINN volunteer for the month, which he includes among his highest honors, such as becoming WWE champion and being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

?You don?t have to be a big tough guy to perform great acts of courage in life,? he told the crowd. ?Am I correct??

To which the crowd answered with a resounding ?Yes!?

 

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Supplemental Information

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
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  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 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
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-30
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  • Lester Welch May 3rd
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  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
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  • Billy Brown May 10th
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  • Psycho May 11th
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  • Brock Baker May 12th
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