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Mick Foley Interview from Wrestlemag.com

Posted: Apr 23rd 2007 By: CMBurnham

Earlier today, WrestleMag.com grabbed the opportunity to speak to former WWE champion and best-selling author Mick Foley in the middle of a busy promotional tour around the UK and Ireland. We armed artist Chloe Cumming with a plethora of questions to put to the Hardcore Diaries author, and after he commissioned her for a painting sometime in the future, here?s what the former WWE Champion had to say?

Chloe: We?ll get to the book in a minute, but I actually want to start the interview out by talking about the news this week that WWE have ended their relationship with Deep South Wrestling. When you broke into the business, young guys had a lot of places to work and learn all aspects of the business before they made it to the big leagues. Nowadays, we?ve seen WWE pick up guys and put them on TV when its clear that they?ve not had enough experience?.do you think WWE need to re-evaluate how they bring wrestlers up from the training camps?

Mick: I did not know that the relationship with Deep South had ended?. I do think that the nurturing of talent is one of the big challenges that WWE will be facing in the future. There?s no real answer as to where that talent is supposed to come from. there are a lot of guys, with untapped talent out there. the problem is finding guys who are close to being a finished product to come to WWE. I was lucky that it took me eleven years to get there. It took a guy like Stone Cold eight years to get there. When we got there, we had not only had made our mistakes in the smaller territories, but we had the confidence to not only perform express our ideas too.

Chloe: Ok On to the book?Now, you?ve not had much time to take in the UK on this trip yet, but since you?ve got here, how do you think your new book has been received this side of the pond?

Mick: Well, I think it?s only been out for a few days, but from what I can gather, people are really enjoying it. I don?t go out of my way to go looking, behind people backs, I don?t check the reviews online? but I do get the feeling that people really like it.

Chloe: I enjoyed it.

Mick: Thank-you. And I?m pretty sure I would have enjoyed it if a similar book had come out when I was a big fan.

Chloe: It?s very emotionally up and down?

Mick: That was not the intention originally?

Chloe: But it was obviously an honest reflection of where you were at the time?

Mick: Yeah, and I guess that standing back and looking at it as a finished product, I am glad that there were ups and downs. But during the course of those six weeks, it certainly was frustrating to write about.

Chloe: Looking at the book, we saw throughout Hardcore Diaries that you?ve no problem with being honest and frank when it comes to your displeasure with creative aspects of WWE at times?and I think its fair to say that if somebody lower down the ?pecking order? had made similar comments that they wouldn?t have been so well received by the company?.would you agree with that?

Mick: Probably? but I?m not sure that a guy lower down would be in a position to say those things in the first place. I was given a opportunity to express my displeasure with the creative staff? and I think there?s a possibility that the creative staff are currently expressing their displeasure with me.

Chloe: Right. That?s interesting?

Mick: Good way to put it, right?

Chloe: How has the book been received by your colleagues and in the locker room?

Mick: Well, I don?t know that that many of the wrestlers have read it. Those who have? Mr. Kennedy stands out. Melina I know is working on it? have really liked it. Even three of the main writers appreciate that I have understood what they go through on a daily basis. I think they were glad somebody got to shed some light on that.

Chloe: How did it come about that WWE would give Michael Pena the chance to be the RAW GM?

Mick: It?s really to WWE?s credit. Make A Wish have been working with us for twenty-five years. WWE has really never sought any publicity whatsoever. And in this case, Make A Wish approached WWE and asked if one of their kids could actually be part of the show. And at this stage the National Football League and the National Basketball League had done things with Make a Wish similar, but not with the child as front and centre as we did. I was thrilled to be part of it, and the boy was thrilled and his family were thrilled, and I?ve received really positive feedback from fans. And I know that some people speculated that there was some kind of further storyline. But as far as I know, it was just a really nice one-off, and everyone came out well out of having done it.

Chloe: How did you enjoy working with Ring of Honor, and what are Colt Cabana?s chances in WWE?

Mick: I loved working with Ring of Honor. I just went to their local show on Long Island, and brought my four and six year old with me. So yeah? the guys work very hard, and put on a great show, and a lot of the guys have the potential to move on. I understand that their style is not for everybody, they?re a very wrestling-oriented company. But just to clear something up? I never intended to ?steal? any Ring of Honor talent. I did tell Gabe Sapolsky that it was my intention to talk to WWE about certain guys, and his feeling was always that the better Ring of Honor looked to the fans, the better his chances of getting his live wrestling noticed. So I never felt like I was trying to sabotage his company by mentioning Samoa Joe or CM Punk or Homicide to Vince. As far as Colt Cobana, I think he?ll do well, because he?s not only a very good wrestler, he?s got a great personality. Timing is always essential; personality certainly doesn?t hurt?so if he came along at the right time and with the right character, he could make an impact. Or they could just give him Faarooq?s old blue helmet. And that might not be such a good thing.

Chloe: After the Nitro/Melina kiss my ass/You?re fired angle last year, were you ever approached to work a match?

Mick: No, I don?t know of any plans at that time. I honestly didn?t see very much in Nitro? then he came on so well. I really began to see the potential in a match. I think I made it pretty clear in the book that WWE not progressing with that whole Melina storyline was a huge disappointment to me. I don?t think I?d ever had someone putting so much faith in one of my ideas, and it obviously didn?t amount to very much. I?m really confident though that if WWE had any interest in revisiting that possibility, that it?s really just one or two interviews away from being a relevant story.

Chloe: Was there any talk of bringing you back earlier or using you at WrestleMania?

Mick: No, and I never really asked about being a part of WrestleMania. I thought that Hulk Hogan was returning, and I was pretty sure that Stone Cold was playing a role. And I kind of know my own role in the returning wrestlers pecking order. I figured that wasn?t the best place to make a return. If I didn?t have the book coming out, I probably wouldn?t have showed up at all. I felt the need to get a gratuitous plug in, so when the opportunity arose to be the fake guest referee, I did jump at it.

Chloe: (Speaking on behalf of Phil): In the run towards WrestleMania, for me, WWE programming was really hot?and now WrestleMania is out the way, for me as a fan, I?m finding myself frustrated with the product once again. During the spells where you?re not involved with WWE and sat home watching RAW or Smackdown, do you get frustrated with WWE?s creative team over the direction or content on shows?

Mick: Certainly not in the lead up to WrestleMania. I think they really hit their stride. I know there are times when the shows are more interesting than others, but I haven?t picked up on a post-WrestleMania slump. Then again, I?ve been over here and travelling around. I loved doing the one show I was on where we decided on the Backlash match. I think you guys are being too picky.

Chloe: It wasn?t me, it was Phil!

Mick: I personally haven?t picked up on this ?slump?. I?ll be on the lookout for it.

Chloe: We?re currently in the middle of putting together an interview with Bill DeMott, who - like many others - is of the belief that some of the TV writers need to have experience of being in a wrestling ring and travelling on the road. Would you agree with that?

Mick: I?m not sure, because I know they?re surrounded by people who have been in the ring and on the road. And it?s not like anything gets OK?d without a final stamp of approval from the big guy. There are times when I think that wrestlers? input should have a little more merit, but I will stand by the writers as people who work hard in an ungrateful position, and don?t get a lot of credit.

Chloe: In the book you talk of how you came close to signing with TNA after meetings with Jeff arrett. Since then, have you ever re-considered the offer to work there?

Mick: I think I said in the book, I treat it like President Bush treats Osama Bin Laden, which is.. not that often. I did feel guilty, maybe for a few months, but I sometimes honestly think?what would have happened had I joined? I would have had four matches, a few of which might not have lived up to expectations. I would have made a third of the money on twice the amount of time. I would have burned a bridge? I would have abandoned the guy who gave me everything I have? and I?d be sitting back wondering just how many chair shots I?d taken. On the other hand, I think about how I could have played a part in helping this small group succeed. But I don?t spend that much time thinking about the decision I made.

Chloe: What do you make of TNA?s current product?

Mick: I?m not the right guy to ask, because I honestly don?t watch it that much.

Chloe: I keep meaning to!

Mick: Well that?s the problem. I think even people who like wrestling don?t feel compelled to watch their shows. It?s not that they don?t have great guys. They do. But it?s awfully hard to feature those great guys having great matches when they try to fit so much into a one hour programme.

Chloe: It?s difficult to put your finger on exactly what?s?

Mick: Something?s missing.

Chloe: Can they become legitimate competition to WWE?

Mick: I think their mistake would be trying to become legitimate competition to WWE. For wrestling fans to accommodate both groups? I think TNA needs to be a big success on a smaller level, instead of a disaster on a big scale.

Chloe: Its no secret that you recommended Samoa Joe to WWE before he signed with TNA. How much of an impact do you think he could have had in WWE?

Mick: I think if he was portrayed in the right way, and given a showcase, and not treated as just another guy, that he could have done very well. If he was given a couple of matches on Heat, and brought in with no fanfare or build-up, he would certainly just become another guy.

Chloe: How do you think TNA are handling him? Although? if you don?t watch it very often...

Mick: Well, from what I?ve heard, he?s in danger of becoming just another guy there. Which is a shame. But I know that he had been doing really well and producing on the PPV shows. But you know, he?s got my number, if he?s looking for another job, I?ll put in a good word for him. If he?s picking up the book.. I do mention him in there, in a flattering way, in the book. I think I mention everybody in a flattering way in the book. I?m not really down on any of the guys.

Chloe: Well, I can see why you would refrain from criticising the younger guys, because their opportunities to break out are limited as it is?

Mick: Yeah, and I know how hard they work, and how bad they want? and they have to make their mistakes in front of millions on international TV instead of in front of hundreds in house shows all around America.

Chloe: CM Punk came to WWE after working in Ring of Honor, and Colt Cabana has just signed a contract with WWE also. Are there any other names from ROH or elsewhere who you think WWE - or TNA - could benefit from signing?

Mick: there are a lot of guys who could do well given the opportunity.

Chloe: Yeah? pick a favourite!

Mick: I try not to give names because I?ll inevitably leave people out. I think that top to bottom, the ROH card have shown that they can wrestle.

Chloe: Looking ahead, have you got an idea of how long you?ll be back in WWE for?

Mick: You know, I don?t think it?ll be too long. The last run was five or six months and that may have been a little too long. I?m not sure. I have no idea what I?m doing tomorrow night. In the past, I?ve had a good idea of where I was headed.

Chloe: I could sense your struggle, through a lot of the book, and I can see that it takes a lot of energy and resolve to tackle expressing your creativity through the medium of WWE.

Mick: Yeah, and in the past they?ve been more open to ideas I?ve had. They don?t seem quite as open to those ideas now.

Chloe: Why do you think that is?

Mick: I think it?s because I?ve been a bad boy and written a book that criticises the company.

Chloe: You?ve given the impression that they more or less asked you to write such a book? like they wanted some controversy?

Mick: I think Vince wanted me to be brutal about people. I don?t think he thought that the guy I was going to hammer would be him.

Chloe: I thought you were quite restrained.

Mick: I think that anyone who read the book will know that I like Vince and that I respect him. but I obviously thought he made a couple of mistakes during the period that I document.

Chloe: Do you have any plans away from wrestling, currently?

Mick: Yeah I do have some plans. I know I?ve mentioned a reality show before, and I said specifically in my book that I wasn?t interested. But it looks like A&E, a network in the States, is going to do a reality show pilot. they seem to want to do a good show, that isn?t sensationalised, they seem to think my life is fairly interesting?

Chloe: A show about your family life?

Mick: Yeah? It?ll be about my life both inside and outside of wrestling?

Chloe: So that could be like a whole different kind of fame?

Mick: Well, I?d like to at least try it. Instead of sitting around, wondering what could have happened.

Chloe: Any more books planned?

Mick: I?m not sure about the books. I think that this book, the Hardcore Diaries.. (I?ll just put that in for promotion?s sake)? has proved that you don?t have to write an autobiography to write a worthwhile story about professional wrestling. The Al Snow story, that would be taking it too far.

Hardcore Diaries is out now and is available in all good bookshops, while for more on Chloe Cumming, head on over to her MySpace page at myspace.com/chloepaintings