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Retired WWE Star Mick Foley Wrestled With His Comedy Act At First

Posted: Dec 1st 2013 By: CMBurnham

There are plenty of wrestling fans who probably would like to see Mick Foley, hard-core wrestling icon and former WWE superstar, hoist gold above his head again.

The pain he's endured in countless brutal matchups ? particularly his famous "Hell in a Cell" match versus The Undertaker ? and characters he's embodied, including Cactus Jack, Dude Love and the mentally unstable Mankind, are the stuff of legend.

Fans still can see Foley put his body through extreme circumstances in a quest for a championship, just not in the way you might expect.

"I put it out there that I was going for the title one more time, and wrestling fans were clearly disappointed I was talking about fruitcake," Foley said.

The man who arguably has taken more punishment in the squared circle than anyone walking the planet will be competing in the International Fruitcake Eating Competition in Santa Claus, Ind. Needless to say, Foley's daily duties have changed.

But shoveling holiday sweets into his mouth in the spirit of friendly competition is just a one-time occurrence. When he's not writing best-selling memoirs, children's books and generally serving as a worldwide ambassador for the WWE, Foley, 48, takes the crazy stories from his nearly three decades in the wrestling business and brings them to comedy clubs across the country. He comes to Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington for a one-night stand this week.

Foley became interested in performing these types of shows after numerous college speaking engagements. When those started to dwindle, he hooked up with 30 Rock actor Judah Friedlander to hash out a comedy set and began performing onstage in 2009.

But where most comedians have to work tirelessly to come up with a seamless five- to seven-minute set to get their foot in the door at comedy clubs, Foley's problem was the opposite.

"If the phone rang and I was offered a four-minute slot on The Tonight Show, I wouldn't know what to do," Foley said. "I have thus far not been able to put an accurate label on what I do."

Foley would go on to earn critical acclaim performing at prestigious comedy festivals like Just for Laughs in Montreal and the Edinburgh Fringe Fest in Scotland. It was in Montreal that he acquired an agent to book him in clubs, but it was also where he came one step closer to finding his strengths as a comedic performer.

"I saw there were hundreds of funnier people in the same hotel," Foley said. "It was my stories that made me unique. As soon as I accepted that I was the wrestling guy, the shows almost immediately became better and more rewarding."

Generally speaking, Foley's show is centered on the more humorous parts of his wrestling career with a few other topics woven in. It's more spoken word than setup-punchline. With each performance, Foley tries to personalize the experience by touching on the physical injuries and absurd circumstances that have taken place when he's wrestled in each location.

"I try to think of occurrences that took place in particular cities to give each stop a unique show," he said. "Anyone who has read my books knows I had a unique journey, an unlikely journey. I had to keep my eyes and ears open to appreciate the surreal circumstances of people and places around me."

Foley continues to get rave reviews and positive crowd feedback when he performs, both from hard-core wrestling fans and the women who often get dragged to see the show. Foley said that even though he no longer is diving off a steel cage or getting slammed on thumbtacks, getting laughs in this intimate setting is its own thrill.

"It's so close to the way I felt when I was inside the ring, especially on nights that it's going really well, but without the bumps and bruises," Foley said. "As long as there are faces in the crowd and they are responding, I feel like I'm in the middle of Madison Square Garden."

IF YOU GO

Mick Foley, Kyle "Short Bus" Kincaid

When: 7 p.m. Dec. 4

Where: Comedy Off Broadway, The Mall at Lexington Green, 161 Lexington Green Cir.

Tickets: $25. Available at (859) 271-5653 or Comedyoffbroadway.com.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-11

Summer Thunder Sep 11th Today!
Vic Nichols Sep 11th Today!
Bash Sep 12th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Satine Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th

1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

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