What will be his legacy: Mick Foley

[Tazz Dan]

I've been wanting to do this thread for a while, but have only just got around to doing it. Also thanks for everyone who replied to my thread earlier, it has helped.

Mick Foley is without a doubt one of the most lovable and diverse characters in wrestling history. He made his mark wrestling bloody matches in Japan before making a name for himself in ECW/WCW/WWE.

My question to TPWW now is, what will be his legacy? Foley in various forms of media whether it be TV, interviews or his books seems to demand the same respect as others like Flair, Hogan, HBK, Austin etc. But does he deserve it? Nobody can deny that he portrayed himself remarkably on TV over the years, I still enjoy watching his This Is Your Life segment and his first WWF title win to this day. And no wrestling fan will ever forget his Cane Dewey promo or the night Taker threw him off the cage.

But it's the events like that HIAC that make me think, sure he's put his body on the lime countless times for numerous companies, but why? From what I can gather from his DVD's and books, a lot of the time he was never asked to take that extra step from promoters and called these spots himself. Does that make him a brave man who flat-out deserves our admiration?

Now I am a Foley fan, but I feel since his last solid run in WWE with Edge his face value has become less. What do you think TPWW? Is Foley a man who will be looked back at in years to come and be the innovator and entertainer he likes to believe he is, or will he be a guy who is remembered for a couple of moments and somebody who was OK, but not quite there. The reason for my thread earlier was for this exact reason, and only two people named him in their top 10.

Please discuss.

[Tazz Dan]

Myself, I'm kind of on the fence about it. Also I hope this thread made sense, I am extremely tired and slightly drunk :-\

[Bad Company]

Foley will be remembered as a guy who gave his all to the fans, put his body on the line more than anyone else in the mainstream, and brought hardcore wrestling to the masses once again.
He won't be remember as an in ring technician, but he is severely underrated in that respect, he could have a good match with a bag of bricks. He was very good at disguising his own weaknesses, while showing up his opponents strengths.
He was very lucky to be wrestling at the same time as some of the finest we will ever see, and his matches show that. But he was a story teller, in and out of the ring, and was very rarely carried by any one.
While he will never be regarded as a Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold, or Ric Flair, he is a legend of the ring, and his place in history is assured.

[Rock Bottom]

My opinion of Foley will always be high. Not because of any particular great matches or anything, but because of the whole "butts in seats" thing. It really speaks volumes of triumph. He was also doing a lot of things for the talent and the fans during transitional periods in the WWE. I always appreciated the idea that he's extremely intelligent, but as rugged and tough as they come.

I missed a lot of his previous stuff, I'd only ever seen a match or two of Cactus Jack. As far as what his legacy will be, I can't really say, but my guess is that when the Hall of Fame rolls around he'll be portrayed there as the 'hardcore legend.' They'll talk about the fact that he was a kid hitchhiking to MSG, etc., jumping off roofs, his hard bumps, etc.

Foley wasn't that to me. He was a wake-up call at the time that you didn't have to be the greatest thing on God's earth to get over in a huge way with the crowd. I really gave a shit less about Foley until they started giving him a lot of time, and he got over in a big way, and is largely in part responsible for one of the highest ever RAW rating scores.

There could be guys like him anywhere at the moment, that when given the opportunity, will do big things. So my memory of Foley is always going to be about the potential of a man. Ultimately, do I care in all honesty how many bumps a random guy takes, no. It's hard to just care for no reason. Foley's the kind of guy that seized my respect and made me go back and watch some of his psychotic encounters.

He wasn't even that good, and he deserves a lot of recognition in my opinion. That's very impressive. It's hard to make a big name for yourself when you're working under a roster the calibur of the attitude era and manage not to be forgotten.

[whiteyford]

Hes always going to be overshadowed by that HIAC match, which is a shame because he was better than that bump. Loved his WCW stuff with Vader and Sting and his ECW run, pretty much enjoyed everything but his TNA stuff honestly.

[Rammsteinmad]

Foley will be remembered as a guy who gave his all to the fans, put his body on the line more than anyone else in the mainstream, and brought hardcore wrestling to the masses once again.
He won't be remember as an in ring technician, but he is severely underrated in that respect, he could have a good match with a bag of bricks. He was very good at disguising his own weaknesses, while showing up his opponents strengths.
He was very lucky to be wrestling at the same time as some of the finest we will ever see, and his matches show that. But he was a story teller, in and out of the ring, and was very rarely carried by any one.
While he will never be regarded as a Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold, or Ric Flair, he is a legend of the ring, and his place in history is assured.

This sums him up perfectly. But as Whiteyford said, he'll always be remembered for the Hell in a Cell match, which isn't a terrible thing, Christ, anyone who saw those bumps witnessed something they'll never forget, but he definitely gave more to wrestling than just falling off the cage.

[Tazz Dan]

My god it's nice to have a thread without trolls. Wonder how long it will last?

[Rammsteinmad]

By the way Tazz Dan, is this gonna be a regular series? Coz it should be.

Fucking prick. :mad: [/troll]

[Tazz Dan]

Actually, if this first one went down ok I was thinking about it.

[Nicky Fives]

The Guy who sacrificed his body for the business..... and the guy who pulled a sock from his pants.....

[MoFo]

Best 'bumper' in the bizzz.

Can't really say I enjoyed his matches unless they were laden with gimmicks though. I guess his career defining moment was the HIAC bumps, but better than not being remembered at all right?

[LuigiD]

I think Foley will be remembered for a lot of things. A lot of matches as well. I think one of the moments that he was part of that will probably be remembered at the same level of the HIAC match is when he took the belt away from The Rock. Great at taking bumps, very very entertaining and in my opinion, always fun to watch. I think he will be remembered well.

[Theo Dious]

My god it's nice to have a thread without trolls. Wonder how long it will last?

MICK FOLLEY IS TEH SUX HE IS A GLORYFID STUNT MAN NOT A RESSLER HE SHOLD NEVR HAV BEN A RESTLER AND VINCE MCMANN IS GAY


Now that that's out of the way.

He'll likely be remembered as the guy who had such a passion for the business that he was willing to do literally anything to get past the shortcomings he was given (and the advantages he wasn't.) Probably the most unlikely WWF champion in history. He may end up being labelled as a guy who wouldn't quit, be that good or bad. I hope he has a last run in WWE to cap things off and not be remembered as a guy who, to quote Bret Hart, "washed up on the shores of TNA."

[Theo Dious]

... and the guy who pulled a sock from his pants...

And this too. I'll never forget the Royal Rumble where he was going after Orton and whipped Socko out, and Taz said "that thing's still alive?!" :rofl:

[Onyx]

I think Foley will surely be remembered as a legend, but I think the casual fan will remember him by his spots, not his matches. I will admit, when I think of the classic HIAC match, I remember him being thrown off the top of the cell through the table, I remember him being choke slammed through the top of the cell to the ring, and I remember the bag of tacks (I always loved the bag of tacks). Aside from those three things, I don't remember the match. Granted, I haven't seen it in years, but my point is his spots will be what he is remembered for, which isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, it might also lead a lot of people to remember him as the "glorified stuntman" that Ric Flair (I think it was Ric Flair) called him.

Personally, I think everyone who wants to judge Foley should watch his Mind Games match with HBK, which even Foley said was his favorite match he was ever in. That match wasn't about spots. It wasn't about weapons. It wasn't even that brutal compared to most matches Foley was in. But it was a great match from bell to bell, and very fun to watch. I will admit, it is one of my personal favorites.

Regardless of whether you remember Foley for his matches or his spots, I think people will (or at least should) remember him as a man who risked it all, lost a lot (including an ear), and didn't receive nearly enough. And he did it for our entertainment.

[Jeritron]

I think he will always be held in high regards by fans and most peers, but being back under the WWE umbrella as a legend certainly would change things for him.
I don't think the majority of fans want to see him in TNA, or wrestling into the future, but maybe I'm wrong.

[VSG]

I love the guy as a human being, and as a great performer. I haven't seen much of his work in TNA but I am sure he was 100% there as well. His legacy should be as a man great in and out of the ring.

[voncouch]

It seems like this thread is going in two directions: what his legacy will be and what you personally will remember him for.

I think the sport and general public as a whole will remember him as being "The Hardcore Legend". The man was taking dives onto concrete and powerbombs to the floor years before ECW was even a twinkle in Heyman's eye. I've seen those HIAC bumps more times than I could possibly count, and ultimately I think that will be his legacy in the same way Snuka's career is summed up by jumping off the top of the cage. Which, while it's great to be remembered and have those memorable moments that stand the test of time, is kind of a shame.

I'll remember Foley in a few ways. First, as one of the most entertaining men ever in the business. Not only could he hilarious (right up there with The Rock, Jericho and Heenan), but he was also able to show true emotion (watch any ECW promo of his). He was a fantastic storyteller inside and outside of the ring, and knew how to work a crowd and put on a great match.

He was a fantastic enhancement talent in the best sense of the word, in that he made any opponent look 10x better. His matches with Undertaker in the mid 90s brought out a side of the Deadman that the world had never seen, and a side that defines him to this day. He had phenomenal matches with so many great superstars, and two of the WWE's top guys (Edge & Orton) solidified their superstar status after having brutal wars with him.

But most importantly, I think Foley's legacy is that you don't have to be carved out of marble or be a great mat technician in order to be a superstar. The guy looks like he just crawled out of the gutter, but he proved that as long as you have heart, talent, and work ethic, you can excel in the business.

And btw, I am very much okay with this being a regular series of posts.

[whiteyford]

being back under the WWE umbrella as a legend certainly would change things for him.

I agree with this, i think if Vince wants you to remembered as a great you will be, at least with mainstream fans, especially since he owns pretty much every bit of footage ever shot in the western world.

[Jordan]

I feel like pretty much anything after the Hell in a Cell with Triple H lessened his legacy in my eyes.

He is the guy who got thrown off the top of the cell, and took 10 chair shots to the head from The Rock. I personally wish WWE would have kept his title record to 1, as it was very memorable but even so HE didn't win the match, Austin did.

TNA has absolutely hurt his reputation with me, so has his desire to not lose weight and still get in the ring.

[Nightwing]

TNA has killed his legacy like pretty much every veteran who has gone there. Once he goes back Im sure McMahon will make sure he is greatly remembered once again. To me though hes the guy who busted his ass, sacrificed his body to hell and gave us some entertaining matches/ tv.

[Jordan]

I agree Nightwing... I was watching TNA last night and RVD just blows now... Anderson, same story. These guys are fools for letting TNA fuck them like this.

[GD]

Taylor Swift looks slutty.

[Aguakate]

Mick Foley will be fine.

[dingdongyo]

i think i liked his promos better than i liked his matches.

that's not meant to be backhanded. he was pretty entertaining to me. when he was a maniac, he was genuinely disturbing. when he was a goofball, he was pretty funny. i enjoyed his one-off lines and ad-libs more than i enjoyed his static gimmicks. those are honestly the first things i think of about mick's highest point of exposure in the wwe, before the hiac spot or anything else in the ring.

haven't seen him in tna.

[Rammsteinmad]

I haven't seen much of Foley in TNA, but in WWE, he was also one of the few guys who would come out of retirement without missing a beat. His feud with Randy Orton and his feud/partnership with Edge were fantastic.

[BigDaddyCool]

I use to like him. But he turned into a fat sack of crap.

[NormanSmiley]

I measure a legend on three criteria. did you make the best effort with your opportunity, did you give more to the business than you took from it? and did you try to help others carry on the future of wrestling.

Mick is a big yes on all three accounts. He ate up any character given even that bullshit dude love fiasco. we all know he gave all he could to the business, and mick made alot of guys past and present look good

[Rammsteinmad]

Al Snow disagrees with Mr. Smiley. :D

[Emperor Smeat]

I seem him a bit similar to Terry Funk in always having the desire to wrestle and putting his body on the line more times than he should. Not counting his time with TNA, he seems to be the type who enjoys entertaining the crowd and the passion of wrestling (ex. Jericho, The Rock) more than having to wrestle because he was horrible with money (ex. Flair, Hogan).

He had a hand in helping Triple H rise in becoming a big star in a similar way of The Rock helping Foley become a star. Could also argue he had some role in helping Orton and Batista rise as stars during Orton's legend killer gimmick and the tag match at Wrestlemania with the Rock.

He might be more well known for his spots but he was involved in some of the best moments of the Monday Night War era.

[St. Jimmy]

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[St. Jimmy]

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[Lara Emily]

I seem him a bit similar to Terry Funk in always having the desire to wrestle and putting his body on the line more times than he should. Not counting his time with TNA, he seems to be the type who enjoys entertaining the crowd and the passion of wrestling (ex. Jericho, The Rock) more than having to wrestle because he was horrible with money (ex. Flair, Hogan).

He had a hand in helping Triple H rise in becoming a big star in a similar way of The Rock helping Foley become a star. Could also argue he had some role in helping Orton and Batista rise as stars during Orton's legend killer gimmick and the tag match at Wrestlemania with the Rock.

He might be more well known for his spots but he was involved in some of the best moments of the Monday Night War era.

Wait what The Rock helped Foley, no no no, Foley helped The Rock

Mick Foley was the first major feud for Austin, Rock and HHH after they won their respective first WWF titles. He put each over huge

[St. Jimmy]

I hate to agree with this man, but Lara Emily is right.

[Fox]

Foley should be remembered as the ultimate underdog: a guy who, by traditional standards, never should have made it to the main event. He was fat, fairly slow, and not a pretty sight to look at, but he still made it against the odds.

He's always been selfless inside the ring as well. He's put over everyone from Sting, HBK, Undertaker, Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H, Randy Orton and Edge, and done it all in big ways. Some of the matches he had with those guys (Rock, HHH, and Orton especially) are legendary no holds barred matches, the likes of which have not and probably will not ever be replicated in their storytelling and intensity. And Foley never went over in those feuds - he was always used to make someone else a bigger star and he never bitched about it or seemed to have a problem with it.

Foley should also be remembered as the guy who opened up communications between the literary world and the world of professional wrestling. "Have a Nice Day" was a huge accomplishment and paved the way for pretty much all of the wrestling autobiographies that have come after it. And it's a solid read.


I do wish he hadn't gone to TNA though. I know he'll probably come back to the WWE in a few years and it'll be a "big moment" or whatever, but he simply never needed to go to TNA for anything and he really hasn't done anything to help raise them up out of the ground (though that's not really his fault as TNA can't seem to get anything right). He'll be a Hall of Famer one day.

And he has a hot wife.

[Sixx]

Probably that he was a part of the SlutWalk and is all for feminism.

[Tazz Dan]

Apparently he'll be legacy will be as a HOFer

[Kris P Lettus]

LEGEND

[whiteyford]

There should be more of this series.

[Tazz Dan]

I think I may do so.

[VSG]

Man I didnt realize this was an old thread and when I saw Jerry's post from nowhere, it hit me a bit hard :'(

[mike adamle]

Mick Foley was awesome at the 2009 TNA Slammiversary World Heavyweight Title King Of The Mountain Match.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Guy who makes it harder for others get over because he was too violent and took too much risk. Now wrestlers have to put themselves at greater danger and the fans believe it less. Typical ECW business destroying mentality.

Bang bang.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

He was the best fall-off-stuff-into-other-stuff-er ever.

[rob11]

"That will put some butts in the seats." His feud vs The Rock really put the WWE over WCW ratings wise. I don't think WCW won after that night? Am I right? I will also remember Foley for brniging the best out of his opponents. If Foley was on the card I knew there was going to be at least one entertaining match. Maybe not 5 stars but entertaining.

[whiteyford]

Guy who makes it harder for others get over because he was too violent and took too much risk. Now wrestlers have to put themselves at greater danger and the fans believe it less. Typical ECW business destroying mentality.

Bang bang.

Foley had his biggest success when he toned his stuff down and introduced Mr Socko, his hardcore stuff isn't that extreme compared to what a lot of other guys of that era were doing he just knew how to make it work better. Hell he wasn't even the most violent guy in ECW, a place he's remembered more for promos than matches.

[Keith]

First of all, he'll definitely be remembered as a guy who put his body on the line for the fans, and for the business in general.

He'll also go down as a guy who loved the business and didn't care what he had to do in order to "make it", he had no boundaries.

Not the greatest technical, pure wrestler in the world, but had his own style and made it work. He gave his all, and in turn, the fans decided he should be one of the top guys by reacting favorably to his work (even if it meant booing him when he was a heel, a reaction is a reaction).

[VSG]

lol I could never ever buy Foley as a heel anymore.

[Keith]

Well, not now. But back when he was "Mankind", and then "Dude Love" back in '98.

[XL]

Man I didnt realize this was an old thread and when I saw Jerry's post from nowhere, it hit me a bit hard :'(

Just did the same thing. The thread seemed so current, what with Foley going into the Hall Of Fame and the line about trolls.

[whiteyford]

I want more of this series TD, rep and pics will be your reward.

[Tazz Dan]

Fuck, this was probably my best thread ever, and I'm not sure I have the patience anymore to put my mind to it. I might do another sign up thread, as I do kinda have another person in mind though.

[whiteyford]

Bo Dallas?

[Tazz Dan]

Well it's not a surprise now is it.

[whiteyford]

Sign me up regardless.

[Tazz Dan]

I'll start a thread and get people to name their top 10 superstars of all time, and go from there.

[mike adamle]

Why don't you just have a personality of your own and go as you please instead of waiting to make a thread about a thread your gonna make.

[Kris P Lettus]

Foley had his biggest success when he toned his stuff down and introduced Mr Socko, his hardcore stuff isn't that extreme compared to what a lot of other guys of that era were doing he just knew how to make it work better. Hell he wasn't even the most violent guy in ECW, a place he's remembered more for promos than matches.

For real.. His spitting on the WCW belt the thing he is remember for most..

[Tazz Dan]

Why don't you just have a personality of your own and go as you please instead of waiting to make a thread about a thread your gonna make.

Because it's interesting to get people's thoughts on things first, like I did before I made this tread.

[mike adamle]

No it's not

[Kane Knight]

GOAT man. TRUE wrestling is about how many body parts you can lose.

[Classy and Gassy]

COMMISSI
O
N
E
R

[Classy and Gassy]

That didnt come out right- he was a hardcore legend and deserves alot of credit for the boom in the Attitude Era but personally I will remember the ridiculous comedy... loved the commissioner role and messing around with E and C