Icon? It's spelled: M-I-C-K F-O-L-E-Y
This year has been one of my most enjoyable as a wrestling fan. This is because I have witnessed one man's hard work paying off. I've been glued to the t.v to behold gallons of blood shed, dozens of concussions, broken bones, stitches, bruises, sprains, falls and just plain hard work payoff...TWICE…
Yes, two times now Mick Foley "the master of pain" has reached the status of Federation Champion. As much as I've grown to respect Foley, I never in a million years expected that he would reach this standing. I knew he had the ability, I knew he had the work ethic, but I truly did not think he would ever be given the opportunity.
Let me elaborate and clarify. Since Foley's arrival to the WWF, his death defying actions and hardened potential have not always been fully appreciated by the average wrestling fan. There now should be no denying that Foley is the hardest working performer in the business. Among the list of evidence is Foleys now infamous 1998 Hell In The Cell Match versus The UnderTaker. The fact that he can still physically fall through a table, take a chair shot or even stand up after that match is a testament to his sheer guts, perseverance and love for the business. The sad reality is that even after all he has accomplished and all his done for the WWF in the past two years most people just don't care about him. Too small an amount of fans care that should. You may say I'm over reacting (as Foley is starting to get quite the following) but the fact of the matter is that the memories of the boo's as he used to walk down that ramp, after he nearly killed himself, still sting like iodine on a fresh wound. There should have been cheers and chants of "Give Foley the belt!" - because he more than anyone else deserved it. I remember telling friends and anyone who would listen (as they snickered and grinned in disagreement) that Foley must win the WWF title! They argued that he wasn't a "Marketable Champion", gibberish I'd say, the man deserves it!
The question now becomes; have these two short stints as champ done the man justice? In my opinion no! As far as I'm concerned, he still has not escaped the boos! So the quest now becomes not to make Mick champ, but to see him to a legitimate and lengthy title reign! Is this realistic? Well if you ask me there's no reason to believe otherwise. Just look at the recent additions to his resume upon returning to the Federation. He's gone through three different gimmicks (sometimes all in one night). He has amazed viewers with gruesome chair shots, falls into dumpsters, spills from ladders, broken countless Spanish announcer desks and has stood toe to toe with every major name in the WWF. Also (at the risk of overtaxing this achievement) has taken the two most impressive bumps in WWF history at Hell In the Cell. If you saw this match you must have realized that he wrestled hurt for most of it. As a result he came away with a grocery list of injuries: lost three teeth (driving them through his lip & nose!), cracked ribs, filled his back with hundreds of puncture wounds from thumb-tacks, and separated his shoulder, only to appear the following night on Raw!
Enough said - Screw that prissy ballerina The Rock, and that played out Stone Cold, Foley is the true champ and that's all I have to say about that topic!
Rock..you can't do this!
Now on to a more serious yet related point….heed my words, watch as much of MICK FOLEY as you can while it's still possible. Why you ask? Well at the rate he's going Mick won't make it to the millenium! He is after all a human being; as such he's just as prone to injury as the next guy! That may be a bit of an overstatement, but it's not like we haven't seen similar things happen to a lot of wrestlers as of late. Steve Austin's career indured a close call, Marcus "Buff" Bagwell is in the same boat and Shawn Michael's career is now apparently over due to a back that's just endured way to much abuse. The point is that it seems Foley will have the shortest shelf life of all these stars. How long will it take for Foley to take another insane bump, land wrong and either kill himself or suffer an injury that ends his career? Time may be running out!
In conclusion I'd like to say, yes Steve Austin may be one tough s.o.b, yes the Rock might be the peoples champ and yes Kane is an awesome physical specimen - but Mick Foley is a legend and deserves your respect!
I encourage your feedback, whether it's in agreement, disagreement or just a big fat f*ck off. Send Your comment here, and I'll do my best to post them on Tucker 3:16
Column author and editor:
Matt Tucker
Credit: MJJnWo@aol.com-"The wrestling booking sheet",DON BECKER,
& JENNY for helping me type!...thanks!
