Thoughts on Mick Foley?

StoneCold91 · 10-31-2009, 06:55 PM

What are your overall thoughts on Mick Foley? Flair called him a stunt man once, and some people say he wasnt great in the ring. I found Foley to be an excellent worker personally in the ring, while his speciality was hardcore matches, his particular matches had a lot of depth to them as oppossed to the style over substance hardcore matches you would see in the WWE in 1999, or some ECW matches. His matches always had me involved, most of the time. Personal favorites were Mindgames against Michaels, Over the Edge against Austin, Street Fight and Hell in a Cell against Triple H. I would also say he helped to bring out a better style from The Undertaker, because Undertaker started to change his style more and become more fast paced against Foley. Mic work is incredible, no complaints there.

Tommy Platinum · 10-31-2009, 06:59 PM

People who say he was nothing but a stuntman neglect to mention 2 things.

1) mic skills
2) psychology

He made you care about his matches through his tremendous PPVs, and in the ring, while not the most naturally gifted wrestler ever, his knowledge of psychology, often combined with his willingness to take painful and dangerous bumps in the name of entertainment, allowed him to tell great stories.

Also he was simply a good wrestler. It's not all about athleticism or having a ton of moves, and it's not all about matwork. Foley is one of the best brawlers ever, as well as one of the best mic workers ever and one of the best storytellers ever.

horrorfan_1986 · 10-31-2009, 07:04 PM

Mick Foley is a stunt man. All you have to do is watch some of his more well known matches to see that. However, that being said, he has other qualities about himself that made him valuable. Foley was hands down one of the best mic workers of the 90's. I'd still rank his Anti-Hardcore promos in ECW as some of the best ever. I don't know why it is, but he had such a strong connection with the fans. Foley is hardly a good looking guy for the ladies or someone the guys could strive to look like, but he still somehow has the fans caring so much about him. Although he is a stunt man, I don't feel he ever had to be one. It seems as if Foley doesn't realize how good he was. I'll take some of his brawls in WCW over his huge spot matches in the WWE. My favorite spot of his was going head first into a table from the ring apron. That is far more effective than an incredibly dumb move like explosions or falling from on top of a Hell in a Cell.

Foley is proof that you don't need model good looks or a chiseled body to make it in wrestling. Sometimes the average Joe can become one of the most popular stars.

StoneCold91 · 10-31-2009, 07:13 PM

Jim, whats your favorite Foley match in the WWE? I personal favorite was the Austin match at Over The Edge 1998, it was overbooked but incredibly entertaining. Best is Mindgames in my opinion or Street fight with Triple H

King Steventon · 10-31-2009, 07:20 PM

Flair says a lot of things. "Workers know best" is a poor mindset to have.

Outside of the '98 HIAC, I don't see where the "Foley is a stuntman" point comes from.

I really enjoy his WCW work, certainly him in his prime. His matches with Sting, Vader and the Nastys stick out as favourites. Not as big on his matches with HHH as most, but still quality. The guy also has a tonne of "good little matches" that are't stand-out but just enjoyable. He was around mostly during a time where a lot of guys were also really great, so saying he was the best at the time is a stretch, but he was a great brawler. Awesome punches, willingness to take huge bumps and weaponshots, a general sense of wrecklessness and most importantly he was PASSIONATE. The Orton match is a classic and one of the real stand-out performances from the decade by Foley.

And yeah, for my money, the best promo I've ever seen too.

Tommy Platinum · 10-31-2009, 07:43 PM

Yeah the word passion is also important when discussing Foley, not just in his willingness to endure pain for the fans but in everything he did. Too many wrestlers nowadays give the impression that they just don't really care about the business.

Quality Foley matches, seeing as I'm bored...

vs Sting - WCW Beach Blast 92
vs Shawn Michaels - Mind Games 96
vs Triple H - RAW 97
vs Terry Funk - RAW 98
vs Steve Austin - Unforgiven: IYH
vs Steve Austin - Over The Edge: IYH
vs The Rock - Royal Rumble 99
vs Triple H - Royal Rumble 2000
vs Triple H - No Way Out 2000
w/Rock vs Evolution - Wrestlemania XX
vs Randy Orton - Backlash 2004
vs Edge - Wrestlemania 22
w/Edge and Lita vs Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk and Beulah - One Night Stand 2006
vs Flair - Summerslam 2006

I'm sure there are many I'm forgetting, plus I'm not particularly familiar with his pre-WWE stuff.

As for the stuntman claim, I would agree with Steve, although a lot of his matches do contain a ridiculous bump even if they arn't as memorable as the HIAC ones.

The Pope · 10-31-2009, 07:45 PM

One thing about Foley I love, he seems so willing to put over. I mean, legends tend not to want to put other people over, Foley is always willing, no longer how long Hogan is in TNA, I can't see him putting many, if any people over.

King Steventon · 10-31-2009, 07:48 PM

I don't see how being a good bumper makes you a stuntman.

StoneCold91 · 10-31-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy Platinum
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Yeah the word passion is also important when discussing Foley, not just in his willingness to endure pain for the fans but in everything he did. Too many wrestlers nowadays give the impression that they just don't really care about the business.

Quality Foley matches, seeing as I'm bored...

vs Sting - WCW Beach Blast 92
vs Shawn Michaels - Mind Games 96
vs Triple H - RAW 97
vs Terry Funk - RAW 98
vs Steve Austin - Unforgiven: IYH
vs Steve Austin - Over The Edge: IYH
vs The Rock - Royal Rumble 99
vs Triple H - Royal Rumble 2000
vs Triple H - No Way Out 2000
w/Rock vs Evolution - Wrestlemania XX
vs Randy Orton - Backlash 2004
vs Edge - Wrestlemania 22
w/Edge and Lita vs Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk and Beulah - One Night Stand 2006
vs Flair - Summerslam 2006

I'm sure there are many I'm forgetting, plus I'm not particularly familiar with his pre-WWE stuff.

As for the stuntman claim, I would agree with Steve, although a lot of his matches do contain a ridiculous bump even if they arn't as memorable as the HIAC ones.

Good call on that Terry Funk match, really liked that one.

Tommy Platinum · 10-31-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Steventon
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I don't see how being a good bumper makes you a stuntman.

Not saying it does, I'm saying that people who claim he's a stuntman may be thinking of his lesser bumps as well as the famous ones.

As I said, I agree with you. He wasn't a stuntman by any means.

I love how we are talking about him as if he's retired. He sucks now though.

Thoughts on Mick Foley?

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