Mick Foley Confirms Future WWE Return & Speaks on Undertaker/Mania 28 Rumor
Posted: Oct 1st 2011 By: mikeiles
There have been some mild ripples over the last month about the "Hardcore Legend's" return to WWE, which have now been upgraded to resounding rumblings. It goes without saying the wrestling world doesn't wobble for just anyone except a chosen few whose reputations have transcended the business.
To say the least, Mick Foley is arguably the most versatile performer in wrestling history, inhabiting not one, or two, but three evocative characters in Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love.
And as resonant as those portrayals were, we previously believed them to be exclusive to the past, not the future. To be honest, since finishing his contractual obligations with TNA Wrestling, a foreseeable return to the WWE, upon immediate thought, seemed far-fetched.
After all, it was only a handful of years ago when the sire of "Mr. Socko" parted ways on account of being shouted at via a headset in the SmackDown broadcast booth by Vince McMahon.
This, along with several other instances when McMahon apologized only to repeat his faux pas, as detailed in Foley's "Countdown to Lockdown," made WWE an irreverently suppressive environment to work in.
As the ancient cliche goes, though, time heals all wounds, or at least makes it easier to overlook grievances. In Foley's case, though, it would be wise to assume he has no intention of returning to commentating. Instead, a part-time recurring role in storylines, in the vein of a special attraction, makes more sense.
Surely, all of these musings would qualify as speculative prognostications if not for the number one best-selling New York times author actually confirming a renewed relationship with WWE going forward, per a video interview with an independent promotion called Main Event Championship Wrestling.
In the interview, Foley divulges two noteworthy items: 1) A WWE return is not a matter of if but when (potentially in the near future) and in what capacity, and 2) A match with the Undertaker at WrestleMania 28 is not only possible but welcomed.
In addressing the first topic, Foley is quoted as saying the following:
"I will end up back there in some respect. It's a matter of what I do and when and how much of what I do. Nobody knows for sure...I certainly don't."
On discussing the opportunity to revisit his storied rivalry with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28 is when a WWE return colored in abstract terms becomes intensely palpable:
"I'd love to be asked; if I were asked, I hope it would be fairly soon because I would need a long time to get in shape for that. If it was his last match and/or mine, I wouldn't want to embarrass him, the company, or me. It would make sense, but there's about five other opponents that make sense for him and I could think of a couple bigger marquee matches for Undertaker at WrestleMania than me."
What do you make of all this?
Thanks for reading.
Supplemental Information
Latest News
Jim Ross gives insight into current Aleister Black & AEW relationship
Jim Ross says he doesn’t believe Aleister Black has burned his bridge with AEW. Speaking on ... Read More
The Scoop
NEWS A&E starts back on Sundays with a WWE block. From 7-9pm will be part one of a two part biography series on the Von Erichs, followed by “LFG”... Read More
John Morrison on shaving his head, his place in AEW, Elimination Chamber, and more
John Morrison sat down with Chris Van Vliet at West Coast Creative Studio in Hollywood, ... Read More
Spotlight in History
- 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 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
- 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
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
- 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
- 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
- Americos May 2nd Today!
- Barrett Brown May 2nd Today!
- Kari Wright May 2nd Today!
- Don Fields May 2nd Today!
- Big Bossman May 2nd Today!
- Nightmare [1st] May 2nd Today!
- Lily McKenzie May 3rd
- Johnny Humble May 3rd
- Lester Welch May 3rd
- Malik Mayfield May 4th
- El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
- Dory Funk May 4th
- Jay Hazzard May 4th
- Bull Schmitt May 4th
- Maria Brigitte May 5th
- Bill Watts May 5th
- Princess Victoria May 5th
- Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
- El Gallardo May 5th
- Zane Morris May 5th
- Olivier Vegos May 5th
- Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
- El Matador Dos May 5th
- Claire Watson May 6th
- Hercules May 7th
- Richie Adams May 8th
- Jake Danielsson May 9th
- Tito Santana May 10th
- Billy Brown May 10th
- Sunny War Cloud May 10th
- Rook Tyler May 10th
- Jerry Brown May 10th
- Psycho May 11th
- Big J May 11th
- Charming Charles May 11th
- Bill Howard May 12th
- Brock Baker May 12th
- Sensei Jamo May 12th
- Sol Yang May 12th
- Dave Ryda May 13th
- Maggie Rae May 13th
- Prince Mahalli May 13th
- Payton Scott May 13th
- Little Boy Blue May 13th
- Karl Krupp May 13th
- Lars Manderson May 13th
- Pete Maguire May 13th
- Danny Hodge May 13th
- Stan Kowalski May 13th
- Big Van Vader May 14th
- Shawn Bragan May 14th
- C. M. Burnham May 14th
- Robert Fuller May 14th
- Tommy Rogers May 14th
- Scott Irwin May 14th
- Steve Williams May 14th
- Koko May 15th
- Joe Cuedo May 15th
- Oscar Amazing May 15th
- Kevin Von Erich May 15th
- Andrew Bridge May 15th
- Remy Devereaux May 15th
- Tigre Dos May 15th
Current Champions
Wrestle Against Hunger
Heavyweight Champion
Will Chambers
- Tag Team Champions: Hellbangers
- Living Hope Champion: Giganto
- Spotlight Champion: Travis Harkrider
- Hunger Dojo Champion: Tony Snow
- Womens Champion: Kyra