5 things you did not know about Mick Foley 

Mick Foley has put his body through so much damage, as he risked his life on a weekly basis for our entertainment, that the effects are obvious. He's had more surgeries than most other human beings have, and sometimes, as we have seen on television, he has trouble remembering his lines, because of the multiple chair shots to the head, sustained over several decades.

However, all said and done, Mick Foley is a multi-faceted man who has done much since he retired from the ring. He transitioned amazingly into an on-air authority figure and is the author of several books as well. Of course, he's been a part of several film and television roles too. He's been one of the biggest supporters of women's wrestling and has played an important role in helping the Women's Revolution reach its potential.

This piece is a tribute to one of the greatest entertainers of all time. One that did not know the meaning of the word 'fear' and lived broke the mould of the traditional WWE superstar 'look', allowing superstars like Kevin Owens to thrive in WWE. One that immortalized three diverse personas and still made them his own.

Here are five things that you did not know about Mick Foley. Read on, folks.

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#5 Reason for the 'Mankind' character

Mick Foley revealed the reason why he wrestled in a mask!

As we discussed previously, the traditional WWE superstar does not look like Mick Foley does. Foley was on the stockier side, not clean shaven, missing a few teeth and also, missing an ear. Vince McMahon was not a fan of his at all, initially. It was only at the insistence of Jim Ross, a man who saw a lot of potential in Foley, that he was brought into the company.

When McMahon agreed to hire Foley, he had one condition, though. He would cover up Foley's face! This story was confirmed by Bruce Prichard to Foley, quite recently.

However, thanks to Vince McMahon's reluctance to show Foley's face on television, one of the greatest characters in history was born. Foley embraced the persona of the deranged Mankind, and the rest, as they say, is pro wrestling history!

#4 Searching for the perfect chair

Mick Foley would not settle for an inferior chair

In an interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley admitted that he would go around the arena and look for the perfect chair, to make his matches special. The chair that they would be provided with in WCW, would not be of the 'folding' kind, and while they would actually hurt a lot more, the audience would be underwhelmed by the overall impact.

So, at Beach Blast in 92, Foley watched Sid use one of the cushioned chairs and was similarly underwhelmed. He went across the arena to find a steel folding steel chair which became the central focus of his legendary match against Sting, from the same card. The match is still talked about among WCW Fans, and one attributes the many chair shots during the explosive contest to the popularity of this match.

The match was instrumental in establishing Foley as a hardcore legend and that was because of how he wielded and took a lot of punishment from this one steel folding chair.

#3 First words after creating history

What did Mick Foley say immediately following the sensational match?

If there is one memory that people remember from the Attitude Era, it is the visual of Mankind being thrown off the side of Hell in a Cell, and crashing through the announce table. At the conclusion of that match, head writer at the time, Vince Russo, was concerned about the welfare of Foley, especially considering that his kids were in the audience.

Russo went up to Foley and asked him if he was all right. Without missing a beat, Foley replied asking if his match was better than the one between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell, from the year before. This was a testament to the kind of dedication that Foley showed towards all his matches.

#2 The cheapest guy in WWE

Mick Foley would try to make every dime count, on the road!

Stories of sports entertainers doing extravagant things are a dime a dozen. Despite the fact that Mick Foley was one of the top guys in the most popular era of sports entertainment, he preferred to live a frugal lifestyle on the road. So much so, that one he booked a hotel with a bed, that could not support his weight and sagged underneath him.

Foley cursed out loud and upgraded himself, not to a good room, but to a marginally better room only. Mick Foley did not expect to last long in WWE, and as a result, saved every bit of money he could!

#1 Grudge against The Rock

Today, Mick Foley has forgiven The Rock!

Remember Royal Rumble 1999, when Mick Foley and The Rock took on one another in an 'I Quit' match for the WWE Championship? The Rock went overboard during the contest, handcuffed Foley and hit him with chair shots to the head, eleven consecutive times in a row!

It was a ghastly sight to behold, and Foley was furious with The Rock for going overboard in the heat of the moment. However, over time, he has mellowed down and forgiven The Rock entirely. Today the two men are fast (and the furious) friends, and they lived happily ever after.

Do you know any Mick Foley incidents that we may have missed out on? Let us know in the comments. Once again, thank you for the years of entertainment as Mankind, Dude Love and of course, Cactus Jack, Mr Foley!

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