Mick Foley

AKA: Cactus Jack, Man Kind, Dude Love, and Mankind

Real Name: Michael Foley

Date of Birth: 6/7/1965

Home Town: Bloomington, Indiana

Height: 188cm Weight: 134kg

Bio:

Michael Francis Foley was born on June 7, 1965, on East Setauket, Long Island, N.Y., the son of an athletic director and a teacher (who became a full-time mum).

Mick had always loved wrestling and would imitate his idol Jimmy " Superfly " Snuka. A tape of Mick jumping of a roof managed to find it's way into the hands of Dominic Denucci. Mick starting driving the 400 miles from Cortland to Freedom, Pa., each weekend to train at DeNucci's school.

Denucci trained Mick, and "Cactus Jack Manson" debuted on June 24, 1983 with a victory over Kurt Kaufman. Cactus Jack appeared in the CWA as a member of the "Stud Stable", winning the Tag team Titles with Gary Young. However Cactus & Young, lost the belts on November 7, 1988, to Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden. Cactus & Young dropped a loser-leaves-town match on November 20, leading to Cactus' appearance in World Class.

Upon his debut in World Class on 30 May 1989, Cactus and Zodiac II defeated the team of Jeff Jarrett and Kerry Von Erich to capture the World Class tag team title. Unfortunately, the belts were lost 10 days later. A second title reign began on August 4 when Jack and Corporal Braddok beat Jarrett and Matt Bourne. After losing the belts one week later, Cactus left World Class.

Cactus then teamed with Kevin Sullivan in the WCW, and they battled Abdullah the Butcher & Norman the Lunatic. This tour of NWA was rather uneventful for Cactus, and he left for UWF. Teaming with "Cowboy" Bob Orton against Sunny Beach & Stevie Ray, Cactus appeared on UWF's Beach Brawl pay per view on June 9, 1991, but came out on the losing end of that encounter. It was around this time that Cactus began to garner a sizeable number of fans. He began to use the Double-Arm DDT in 1991, and it was so powerful that it became his finishing move for the next 5 years.

1991 Cactus Jack had a feud with Eddie Gilbert, which was one of the hottest feuds of the year. This brutal feud came to the high point when they battled 3 times in one evening, once in a falls count anywhere match, a Stretcher match and a Steel Cage a match. Shortly after these matches Cactus, left the league and headed to the Global Wrestling Federation in yet another stable, this one being the Boss's Cartel. It included Rip Rogers, Muckan Singh, Scotty Anthony, and Cactus. Their goals were the tag team titles, but they were unable to capture them. Soon after this, Cactus headed back to World Championship Wrestling.

Cactus debuted as an ally of Abdullah the Butcher, and battled alongside Abdullah, Big Van Vader, and the Diamond Studd (Scott Hall), against Sting, El Gigante, and the Steiner Brothers in what was termed the "Chamber of Horrors". A short feud with Van Hammer was followed by a brutal feud with Abdullah for Cactus. Not long after this feud ended, Cactus began a series of matches with Big Van Vader. It was this series of matches that would change Cactus forever.

Vader power bomb Cactus onto a solid concrete floor, causing a concussion and amnesia briefly after this incident Cactus disappeared without trace. A series of interviews began involving a search for Cactus Jack. Once he was found living with homeless people, he was discovered to have no recollection of ever wrestling, or of his family

In a match against Vader in Munich, Germany Cactus ' heading got caught into the ring ropes and while attempting to release himself lost most right ear. Rather than have the ear reattached, Cactus returned to the USA for a tag title match. Cactus and Kevin Sullivan defeated the Nasty Boys for the WCW Tag Team Titles, but lost them soon afterwards. This led to a feud between the two, and Cactus lost a loser-leaves-WCW match to Sullivan. Following this loss, Cactus wrestled in Japan and Tennessee�s Smoky Mountain Wrestling, as well as Extreme Championship Wrestling.

At the start of his ECW tenure, Cactus had a bloody series of matches with Sabu. Following this, he teamed with a rookie named Mikey Whipwreck and they won the tag team titles from the Public Enemy. Not long after this, Kevin Sullivan came in to ECW, allegedly as Cactus Jack's tag team partner, but he eventually turned on him, reprising their WCW feud. He was able to eliminate Sandman from competition for a while due to a concussion, but was later attacked by Sandman, along with DC Drake and Terry Funk. After defeating Funk, Cactus embarked on a series of brutal title matches with Sandman, one of which was a barbed-wire rope match. Although Cactus won this match and was declared ECW World Champion, Bill Alfonso reversed the referee's decision. Cactus was popular with the fans during his ECW stint, until he teamed with Tommy Dreamer & the Pitbulls in August of 1995 and DDT'ed Dreamer. Not long after this, Cactus defeated 911, breaking the giant's unbeaten streak.

Mick Foley, continued to wrestling as Cactus Jack in the ECW until April 1996, when he defeated Mikey Whipwreck in his farewell match. After doing the Fargo Strut with Stevie Richards & the Blue Meanie, Cactus cut an interview stating that he was no longer going to wrestle as Cactus Jack.

With Monday Night Raw after Wrestlemania XII Mike Foley began then for the first time in the WWF. As Man Kind and defeated Bob Holly with its new Finishing move, the Mandible Claw. Mankind ran out during the Undertaker/Justin Hawk Bradshaw match and attacked the Undertaker, setting off a brutal feud.

The feud continued through to King of the Ring and summer slam in 1996, where "Boiler Room Brawl" match, which began in the arena's boiler room and was won by the first man to retrieve Paul Bearer's urn. No holds barred, it was one of the most brutal matches in WWF history. At the end, the Undertaker beat Mankind to the ring, but Paul Bearer refused to give him the urn. Bearer attacked him, then handed the urn to Mankind, turning on his longtime protege.

After the Summerslam 1996 Man Kind is called as it in the WWF to number 1 the challenger. Mick received his first title fight agaisted Shawn Michaels, however was defeated, with the Undertaker's interference. Mankind and the Undertaker were set to battle in an "unsanctioned" match that was entitled a "Buried Alive" match. The only way to win was to incapacitate your opponent to the point at which you could put him in a "grave" and bury him alive. The Undertaker won this match, but Mankind got the last laugh, as he and several other heels buried the Undertaker alive. The Undertaker was "reborn" following this match, leading to another showdown between him and Mankind.

King of the Ring was the beginning of Mankind's face turn. Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated him after a Pedigree through a table, setting off a brutal feud. They battled it out at the In Your House: Canadian Stampede, ending in a double count-out. Neither man was satisfied, so they continued battling throughout the arena and out into the parking lot.

Not long after this, Mankind, who had been lobbying to be chosen by Steve Austin to be his tag team partner, was attacked by Austin. The next week, Austin was to wrestle with a mystery tag team partner for the WWF Tag Team Titles. This partner turned out to be none other than Mick Foley, but not as Mankind, as his old persona of Dude Love!

Dude and Austin won the tag team titles, and held them until In Your House: Ground Zero, when they were forced to relinquish them due to an injury to Austin. At Summerslam, however, Mankind and Hunter Hearst Helmsley wrestled in a cage match. During this match, Mankind dropped an elbow on Helmsley...FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE! The crowd was stunned. This signalled the virtual end of Mankind, as he wrestles as Dude Love more now

On WWF Raw from Madison Square Garden, Dude Love was to wrestle Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a Falls Count Anywhere match, but he came on the TitanTron saying he doesn't do that style of match, but knew someone who did. When he made this statement, Mankind walked out and sat beside him. He said that he didn't wrestle those kinds of matches either, but that he too knew someone who did. As he said this, out walked none other than CACTUS JACK, who proceeded to defeat Helmsley in a brutal, brutal match.

Later, on Raw, Kane assaulted Dude Love. The next week, Mankind requested a match with Kane at Survivor Series. When Commissioner Slaughter denied this, Mankind slapped him with the Mandible Claw. Mankind eventually secured an "un-sanctioned" match with Kane, where Kane eventually defeated him.

Soon after his confrontation with Kane, Dude Love was brutally attacked by the New Age Outlaws, breaking his ribs on a table. The next week, as Mankind, the Outlaws locked him in a freezer. This was the final straw, and his mind finally snapped, releasing the persona of Cactus Jack once again. In his return as Cactus Jack, Foley brought along some "help" against the Outlaws...Chainsaw Charlie, also known as TERRY FUNK!

After fights with HHH and Kane then attacked the new Age Outlaws over weeks, which caused it to it again as Cactus Jack with Terry Funk to begin, which naturally led to some harder Matches with the NAO. With in Your House: NO Way Out defeated Cactus Jack, Chainsaw Charlie, Steve Austin and Owen Hart in a 8-Man day team Main Event HHH to terminate Savio Vega and those new Age Outlaws in an extremely hard match to end the feud once and for all. But it would not be the last match. At WrestleMania XIV on 29 March 1998 a further match should take place between the hardcore legends and the NAO. They could win these, the following with RAW lost them however, with which also the feud finally ended.

At King of the Ring '98, Mankind and the Undertaker put on a great show. Mankind took some amazing bumps. Some of the best spots in the match was when Undertaker threw Mankind OVER the top of the cage and through the Spanish Commentator's table. Mankind was also choke slammed THROUGH the cage and landed in the middle of the ring. The end came, when Undertaker choke slammed Mankind on some thumbtacks and then Tombstoned him for the victory. After the match Foley got a standing ovation for his performance. Foley lost three teeth during the match

Mankind was thanked on TV by Vince McMahon on his efforts at King of the Ring. Kane and Mankind would battle the New Age Outlaws on the July 13 episode of Raw. Mankind and Kane defeated the NAO and won the WWF Tag Team Title with a little help from the Nation's D-Lo Brown. Later that night they had a rematch due to the controversy, but it ended in a draw. Mankind and Kane also had a little confrontation when Kane stopped Mankind from hitting the Undertaker with a chair. Then problems started in the ranks of the tag team champions, during a handicap match against Austin, Kane hit Mankind with an elbow drop.

Mankind and Kane weren't able to hold on to the WWF Tag Team Title for long. They lost the title to Steve Austin and the Undertaker at Fully Loaded, July 26. The problems between Mankind and Kane continued. During a run-in on Austin and the Undertaker, Kane hit Mankind with a chair instead of the Undertaker.
At Sunday Night Heat, August 9, Mankind trashed the fans for their failure to show him due respect after his performance at King of the Ring. Mankind also stated that he would not ever wrestle again for the acceptance of the fans. Later that night he was tombstoned on the concrete floor by the Undertaker, who was disguised as Kane.

Kane then aligned himself with the Undertaker, which spelled trouble for Mankind, who tried to rescue Paul Bearer from a beating from the two brothers, but ended up the receiving end of a spiked Tombstone. Mankind then challenged Kane to a match in the Hell in the Cell. Mankind promised he would provide the thumbtacks. During the match, Mankind was clearly on the receiving end and got Tombstoned on a chair. Mankind and Kane then went up against the New Age Outlaws at Summer Slam for the Tag Team Titles.

At Summer Slam, Mankind couldn't find Kane, McMahon suggested that Mankind faced the New Age Outlaws by himself. This, McMahon claimed, would give Mankind a spot in the Hall of Fame. The match was a No Holds Barred/Pinfalls count anywhere Match. Mankind, again, was on the receiving end of a spiked piledriver. This time, on top of the Tag Team belts, and was then dumped in a dumpster. Kane suddenly appeared from the dumpster and bashed Mankind with the sledgehammer.

Mankind got his first taste of revenge against Kane. He hit Kane with a sledgehammer during a match between The Rock and Kane, on RAW a few weeks later. This got the Undertaker to challenge Mankind to a match. The match with Undertaker took place later that night. It was a brutal encounter where the sledgehammer was used together with chairs and tables; Kane also got involved in the match. When the Undertaker was going to use the sledgehammer on Mankind, The Rock emerged from the dumpster (which Mankind brought to the ring), and saved Mankind from further damage.

A Triple Threat match between Shamrock, Rocky Maivia and Mankind was announced for In Your House:Breakdown. The match would be a steel cage match. During the match Mankind again, emulating his hero Jimmy Snuka, attempted to do an elbow drop off the top of the cage on the Rock but saw nothing but canvas. The match ended when Mankind struck Shamrock with a chair. Mankind then started to climb out of the cage, but Maivia went for the easy win and pinned Shamrock.

The three teamed up at Raw is War the next day to take on the Undertaker and Kane in a handicap match. Mankind's team started fighting among themselves. Mankind and Ken Shamrock teamed up to take on the DOA at Oct. 4's, edition of Sunday Night Heat. During the match, Shamrock turned on Mankind and waffled him with a chair.

At Raw on October 5, Mankind visited Vince McMahon at the hospital (McMahon was sent to hospital due to an attack of the Undertaker and Kane). Mankind brought a clown and a sock puppet (Mr. Socko). McMahon then told him to leave.

On Raw the week later, we witnessed the return of Mr. Socko, who helped Mankind defeat Mark Henry in the 1st round of a tournament for vacant Intercontinental Title. The 2nd round was the end station for Mankind as Ken Shamrock attacked him, using a chair on Mankind's ankle.

Mankind wrestled Ken Shamrock at In Your House: Judgement Day and came away empty handed. The match was declared over when Mankind passed out due to giving himself the Mandible Claw when Shamrock put the ankle-lock submission on him.

On RAW 11/2/98, Mankind and Al Snow lost their match against the Oddities when Mankind deserted Snow when he couldn't find Socko. Later in the show, Vince McMahon asked Mankind not to interfere in the match between Shamrock and the Rock. In return, McMahon gave Mankind a beat up looking belt, and declared him the Hardcore Champion. The belt had duct tape across it and had "Hardcore Champion" written on it. The belt was the same one Mr. Perfect destroyed a few years back.

This is the first singles belt that Mick Foley has gotten from the top three feds. Mankind got a makeover courtesy of Vince McMahon on 11/9/98's edition of RAW. Mankind also successfully defended his belt against Ken Shamrock when The Big Bossman nailed Shamrock with his nightstick.
At Survivor Series, Mankind advanced to the finals in the tournament by beating Duane Gill, Al Snow, and Steve Austin. In the finals, Mankind wrestled The Rock.

Before the match, they cut to the back where Vince and Shane are telling Bossman to watch for Austin. They said that they wanted to "take care of this one themselves". Four minutes in, the McMahon�s came out to ringside. The first six minutes were slow before they went out and brawled in the crowd. Mankind took a nasty backdrop over the barrier back into the ring area. 11 minutes in, he went through the announcer's area as Mankind leg dropped Rock on the table, but this time it was Ross' table! Psycho Mick bump came when Mick went for the big elbow off of the second rope and (finally) went through the Spanish announcers' table when Rock moved. Rock took him back in and set up for the People's Elbow. Only got a two. Mankind got a double arm DDT. He slapped on Socko and got the claw. Crowd got behind the Rock. The Rock hung in there and came back with the Rock Bottom. When he finally made the cover, he only got two. The Rock gave Vince the People's Eyebrow and slapped on the Sharpshooter. Vince called for the bell right away, in 18 minutes, and Rock won the belt. Vince presented the belt to Rock. Mankind was then beat some more by The Rock. Austin cleared house, then stunned Mankind.

During the weeks that followed, Mankind joined the JOB SQUAD (A group of "jobbers" led by Al Snow) and began feuding with Shamrock and Big Bossman.

Mankind defended his Hardcore Belt against the Big Bossman in a ladder match on RAW 11/30. The match went back and forth. During the match, Mankind fell from the ladder to the ring, back first. At one point, both Mankind and the Bossman were exchanging blows at the top of the ladder. Mankind then pulled out Socko, and gave Bossman the mandible claw. Mankind had the match won, but the Rock came and pushed Mankind off the ladder, landing on the ropes. The Rock then gave Mankind the Rock Bottom. Bossman climbed the ropes, and won the Hardcore Belt from Mankind. The Rock, Bossman, and Shawn Michaels (who was the WWF commissioner) then attacked Mankind, until the JOB SQUAD came to his aid.

Mick wrestled the Rock at In Your House: Rock Bottom. During Sunday Night Heat, Mankind attacked the Rock injuring his ribs. Before the match started, Mankind offered to remove the injury clause from the match contract if McMahon would admit that he screwed Mankind at Survivor Series. McMahon wouldn't, so the match went on as scheduled, with the Rock having to fight with injured ribs. Mankind defeated the Rock with the Mandible Claw, but Vince McMahon ruled that the WWF Championship could not change hands because Mankind's victory did not count as an actual submission. Mankind then gave the Mandible Claw to Vince McMahon. Shane came from behind and hit Mankind with the chair twice. Mankind then gave him the Mandible Claw too. Out came Patterson and Brisco, but Mankind was able to hold them down. Out came Shamrock and the Big Boss Man and proceeded beat up on Mankind.

On RAW the next day, Vince McMahon ordered Mankind to wrestle Kane in a "No Holds Barred" match. Mankind then challenged Vince to a fight. Mankind and Kane only wrestled a few minutes before Vince came out, and accepted Mankind's challenge. Vince said that the match would be under his rules. He told Mankind to meet him in the parking lot for a good old' fashion "Street Match". Mankind then proceeded to assault Vince McMahon in the parking lot. Patterson and Brisco came out and tried to save Vince, but failed. Mankind then put the Mandible Claw on Vince, and proceeded to stuff Vince into the trunk of a car. The Rock then came and started brawling with Mankind. The Rock then threw Mankind on top of the hood of the car, and gave Mankind the Rock Bottom there. The Rock continued to beat up on Mankind.

The next week on RAW, Shane McMahon challenged Mankind to a match as revenge for attacking Vince. The match started when Shane threw a few jabs at Mankind. But Mankind quickly took control of the match. He clothelined him and gave him a Double arm DDT. He then got a chair and dared Shane to hit him with it. Shane did, but paid the price by getting the Mandible Claw put on him.

On Dec 28th edition of RAW, Vince McMahon ordered Roaddog to defend his Hardcore Title against Mankind. Their match went through the arena floor. The bump of the night occurred when Mankind set up Roaddog on a table. Mankind then climbed up to the first bleachers, and gave an elbow-drop, which sent Roaddog through the table. The Rock (who was doing commentary) then came, and gave the Rock Bottom to Mankind on the concrete floor. Roaddog then went for the pin, and won.

On RAW from Jan 4th, Mankind asked McMahon for a title match against the Rock at the Royal Rumble. Vince told him that he's given him enough opportunities and failed each time. Vince told him that because of that, he might not qualify for the Royal Rumble, unless he defeats HHH later in the show (with Shane McMahon as the special ref). HHH won the match with a little help from Shane who helped get Mankind in a pinning position and made a fast three count. After the match, HHH said he�d take the win. He then kicked Shane, gave him the "Pedigree", and told Mankind, "Happy New Year". Mankind put Shane in a submission hold. Vince McMahon then came out and pleaded with Mankind to let Shane go. Mankind told Vince that he'll let go of Shane if he gives him a title match against the Rock later in the evening (No DQ). Vince agreed and Mankind let go of Shane. During the match, the Rock came out with the rest of Team Corporate, while Mankind came out with DX. The match went back and forth. The biggest bump of the match happened when the Rock put the Rock Bottom on Mankind through the announcer's table. The match continued even when Shamrock nailed Mankind with a chair. Soon, both DX and Team Corporate started brawling by the announcer's table. Steve Austin then came out and nailed the Rock with the chair and put Mankind on top of him.

Mick Foley went on to become the best commissioner the WWF has ever seen, before being FIRED by Vince McMahon. However due to contracts signed by Linda McMahon, Mick seems to have a limitless amount of excuses to keep turning up in the WWF to sign matches, be guest referee, or just annoying Vince.

As of late 2001, it was reported that Mick Foley was not going to review his WWF contract, as he didn't like the direction the company was taking.

Maybe only time will tell.