Top 15 SummerSlam Sizzlers Part One

It will be here before you know it! WWE’s got their big annual summertime tradition coming up in the form of SummerSlam.

Since its inception, SummerSlam has generally been regarded as the second biggest PPV of WWE’s fiscal year. Storylines begin, climax, and end all during this time. In the background, strange one-off occurrences can also make their presences known.  Some of these accentuating angles may not seem big at first, but time can definitely measure the staying power.

By this definition, a ‘sizzler’ could very well be a synonym for ‘attribute’. In this countdown, you will see major revelations, reveals, flashes, screwjobs, etcetera, that have made SummerSlam the hottest ticket for PPV subscribers since the inaugural event in 1988.

Without further ado, time to put the meat of the article on the grill and let it… sizzle.

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15. Team WWE Got It’s Seventh Man Fit to be Tied…-SummerSlam 2010

The irony is overwhelming in the year 2013.

 

Wow, three years ago already? For a lot of us fans, this seemed like only yesterday!

As a good chunk of this audience recalls, one of the most shocking debuts in WWE history definitely belongs to the renegade group known as The Nexus. Consisting of all the NXT rookies from the first season (Wade Barrett, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater, David Otunga, Justin Gabriel, Skip Sheffield (aka Ryback), and Darren Young), their signature plan of attack would be to surround the ring, then scavenger the prey like savages.

Now notice how I “forgot” to type in someone’s else in the above description.

That last man in the equation was Daniel Bryan.

Bryan, whose real name is Bryan Danielson, was an indie darling before coming to the WWE, and also by far the most experienced wrestler the group had. On the NXT show however, he was made to look like the never-say-die guy who lost all the time.

That had no affect on Bryan going into the Nexus debut.

All eight of these rookies on June the 7th made their menacing alliance in an orchestrated, albeit unpredictable attack on John Cena. From the ramp and the audience themselves, these band of misfits suddenly looked like they were a force to be reckoned with.

A force… that literally destroyed the RAW set!

In the fracas, Bryan got to ring announcer Justin Roberts. Bryan used Roberts’ own tie to choke the bastard purple.

This caused Bryan to be “fired” from the WWE.

In an unwritten rule, apparently no chokes can be used in a WWE match. When this rule was enacted, the author doesn’t know. There were aspirations from other forces to be at hand too, but their impression wouldn’t last too long here.

By the time SummerSlam rolled around, Team Nexus (which practically was the aforementioned group with Bryan) versus Team WWE was practically announced as the main event for the show. While Nexus had seven of their guys, WWE still needed one more.

While several men, including Money in the Bank holder The Miz, applied, only one man was selected.

Say hello to the Benedict Arnold of NXT himself, Daniel Bryan!

The Los Angeles crowd were in Staples (yeah, sorry for the pun) over the choice. It was ironic given the affiliations, and yet all so satisfying because we all thought Bryan was gone from the WWE never to be heard from again. Bryan would ultimately make Darren Young tap, but also get eliminated by Wade Barrett (thanks in no small part to Miz).

To think: John Cena picked Daniel Bryan to be on their team in 2010. Now in 2013, Cena picked Bryan to be his opponent for the WWE Championship. This could be HUGE come August the 18th, but for right now, let’s celebrate the shock that was the seventh man being Daniel Bryan.

In addition, I give you the infamous ‘butthole’ promo from Arn Anderson during this time period:

14. The Winds of Change- SummerSlam 2002

 

(Author’s Note: Please read that title in Wade Barrett’s voice. It’s all part of the “bigga pitcha”, one that is never understood nor explained…)

On one corner, is devastation defined. A big brutish dude that stands 6’4”, 295 pounds, has a great mouthpiece in Paul Heyman, and that doesn’t even begin to describe strength feats that read out of a Paul Bunyan playbook. NCAA Champion and soon-to-be UFC fighter, this guy can destroy anyone!

In the other corner, is the definition of a great champion. The pride of Miami, Florida at 275 pounds. A football star turned into hereditary WWE star. A third-generation wrestler, he defied the odds of nearly being let go into becoming arguably the most successful man inside and outside the ring.

You’re damn right Brock and Rock had a lot of hype!

Brock Lesnar earned his championship opportunity by beating Rob Van Dam in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament. A tournament whose stipulation was that the winner earns an Undisputed WWE Championship match at the SummerSlam PPV. Brock’s torrid rapture through the WWE claimed that milestone only a mere three months after he debuted.

The Rock on the other hand was well… The Rock. After filming for several months, Rocky came back in-ring at Vengeance. He defeated The Undertaker and Kurt Angle to win ‘Taker’s Undisputed title.

Naturally, the stage was set: The rookie vs. the veteran. Youth vs. experience. Strength vs. agility.

The match was a grueling testament to both men. In addition was a raucous crowd of Long Islanders, who had switched their alliances during the match.

Between the crowd flipping and the inevitable, Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed Championship, and a trip to the great unknown.

It was quite a trip to see Lesnar win the title so fast and so convincingly. However, he would have to carry that momentum into the months ahead. Brock did an admirable job, setting up a face turn and more WWE title runs ahead of him.

He also paved the way for such men as Edge, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, amongst others, to creep up through the woodwork. The SMACKDOWN roster was the workhorse brand of the WWE, and with Lesnar as its main associate, the future looked very bright indeed.

13. Undertaker URNED That Turn!- SummerSlam 1996

 

As mentioned above, new storyline twists can certainly begin at the summertime tradition. This shocking betrayal is no exception.

For the most part, Undertaker has had feuds that came and went with no real continuity. With the exception of perhaps Yokozuna and the Million Dollar Corporation, Undertaker’s six-year run in the WWE by this point seemed unfestered by a continuous pest.

That was until Mankind showed up.

Mankind debuted the night after WrestleMania XII. He won his match with Sparky Plugg Bob Holly, and then attacked ‘Taker later in the main event.

This led to a King of the Ring singles match. It also led to something truly unprecedented. Undertaker, a character whose only times of loss came with humongous shenanigans, lost clean as a sheet, VIA SUBMISSION, to Mankind.

In a mini-feud with Goldust, ‘Taker came out on the losing end of a match at International Incident. Not because he lost (technically won via DQ), but it was due to Mankind pulling ‘Taker underneath the ring. After ‘Taker gets his wits about him, he starts beating up Mankind back to the locker room, THEN A BOILER ROOM!

So alas we are given a Boiler Room Brawl for SummerSlam.

In the mix lies Paul Bearer. A man who even with all this bad news going for ‘Taker is steadfast by his side, ready to take the hits when needed.

Only at SummerSlam, it was Paul who provided the hit of his own.

After a lengthy brawl in the boiler room, Mankind and Undertaker went back to the ring. The stip was that the winner had to get the urn from Paul Bearer.

Seemed natural for ‘Taker to win, right?

Nope!

‘Taker kneeled trying to get the urn, but instead was jumped by Mankind. Bearer laughed in the corner as the Mandible Claw once again choked the dead out of the Dead Man. Mankind, like a member of gang, held Undertaker like prey, waiting for more slaps and berating from the heinously fat human being. If PB is a human being…

For now, it shattered the relationship of two men who were deemed un-separable. Undertaker got his power from the urn, but now that device lies within Bearer, and new alias Mankind. This feud would continue with a Buried Alive match, a Survivor Series match where Bearer was suspended above a ring, and then a No Holds Barred match on RAW to cap 1996.

And this all happened before Hell in the Cell!

Long story short: it was a memorable turn. Unexpected and shocking, it played to a dark tune that would later be a great diversifier in the to-come Attitude Era.

12. Goldberg Loses The Game- SummerSlam 2003

 

It was clobbering time for Goldberg!

Triple H, the evil leader of Evolution, has had a stranglehold on the WHC dating back to Armageddon, December of last year.

Hunter had overcome every obstacle before him. Scott Steiner. Booker T. Kevin Nash. Shawn Michaels (again). Rob Van Dam. Kane (whom had to unmask). The list was full of talented and boisterous superstars who all fell to The Game one time or another.

Except Goldberg hadn’t really encountered HHH yet.

Sure there was a confrontation, or a match announcement, but no big deal.

Until the Elimination Chamber.

What saved Triple H initially was getting kicked right in the fucking face by Shawn Michaels. Yes, Trips was talking trash in the pod, the timer ran out, and HBK waited to deliver that present right to his kisser. It was glorious!

Goldberg not too long thereafter came in and dominated everything that moved with the subtlety of a Acela train!

Now it was down to the Goldberg and Triple H show-down!

Goldberg seemed to have his way early. He kicked the plexiglass of Triple H’s domain like Jack Nicholson with an axe. Soon thereafter, Goldberg raked Triple H’s bloody forehead against the chain of the Chamber.

Triple H would have divine intervention by the name of Ric Flair.

Flair was able to get a sledgehammer in-between cracks of the Chamber. It was a well-devised ploy by the Nature Boy.

As Goldberg ran for the spear, he intercepted the sledge instead of Trips’ body, This allowed a weak Triple H to get the pin and the win.

In most video games, the penalty for game over is by starting all the way back either at the beginning of the game or that particular level. For the bald-headed monster, it was a beat-down.

A bloody roar of a beatdown!

Trips and Flair were joined by Randy Orton, whom ironically ate a Goldberg Spear earlier in the match.

Some slaps, some punches, and some ever-lasting sledgie shots. All in a days work for the dealers.

This pissed a lot of internet fans when this happened. Primarily because the original outcome should have been Goldberg beating Triple H to become champion.

In a singles match!

Triple H legitimately had a torn groin muscle at this point. He was wearing those long pants for a reason kids, and he still had to consummate a marriage a couple of months later! Goldberg was also injured, hampered by shoulder problems for the last couple of months.

From what this author deducts, SummerSlam could have been a disaster if both of the main headliners were injured and unable to go 100%. In its wake lied a perfect excuse to add four other guys and make this a Chamber match. Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kevin Nash, and Randy Orton were added in what was essentially a disguise. A disguise to the bigger picture ahead, which at Unforgiven, finally gave us the one-on-one with Goldberg/HHH that everyone wanted.

Knowing that, it’s almost safe to say that it was the best of all worlds. WWE wasn’t playing the predictable card. The villain came out really heinous here, and it made the paying audience willing to see his execution the next month. Not only did Goldberg’s slay (as opposed to Santa’s Slay) play an important role in that time period, but it would make Goldberg’s success all the much more sweeter.

Let’s also not forget that it also made the single-brand PPV’s the thing to watch due to that foresight.

Here’s an added video of Chris Jericho dying for his sins:

OUCH!

11. Liz Flashes Her Mega Bucks- SummerSlam 1988

Now for something a little more innocent. If a woman flashing her covered undercarriage is considered that…

At the inaugural SummerSlam, the main event consisted of The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage) versus The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase & Andre the Giant). The WWE Championship was not up for grabs, but pride certainly was.

Let’s also add in a special referee, Jesse Ventura, who had dollars slipped into his pocket by DiBiase to ensure the match was rigged! This was before the days of…

The powers that be were certainly aligning to make sure this match was going to be memorable!

But not in the way you expected.

Later on in the contest, Savage tried to drop the elbow on Andre. Sadly for the Macho Man, he took a size 20 boot to the kisser and flew out of the ring like a Frisbee! Hogan tried to use DiBiase’s own finisher, the Million Dollar Dream, against him. Before it took real effect, Andre attacked Hogan from behind. Andre’s headbutts to Hogan’s neck sent Hulk packing to the ringside area.

Both the Mega Powers are down! Jesse tried to start a count, but Elizabeth was standing on the ring apron. So were the managers of the Mega Bucks, Virgil and Bobby Heenan!

In an act of defiance, Liz ripped off the skirt of her dress to show red undies!

This stopped EVERYTHING in its tracks!

At least just long enough to where Hogan and Savage can do a power shake and recover!

Hogan comes back in and Andre goes for him. What Andre doesn’t see is Savage flying with an axe handle to the back! Andre lumbers out the ring while DiBiase gets the crap beat out of him. Hogan slammed DiBiase, Savage dropped the flying elbow, then Hogan capped it off with the leg drop. Hogan made the pin, but Savage forcibly threw down Ventura’s hand to the canvas for a ‘3’.

Before you go asking yourself why I included this on the list, consider the following:

In 1988, women were merely footnotes in wrestling. They were either wrestling in macabre matches, or they were valets. Rarely did they speak, and rarely did they do anything of significance. Sure Cyndi Lauper made things exciting a few years before with the Rock n’ Wrestling stuff, but no actual woman on the wrestler had the power to fully convince an audience of their endeavors.

Elizabeth was a ground-breaking woman in this regard. Either a heel or a face supporting Randy, her doting eyes at ringside could tell a story like almost no one else. She was classy, dignified, and also irresistible. Men wanted to be with her, and women wanted to be her.

Which leads to this.

This was the one time where she intentionally objectified herself in the open so she could help her men overcome the battle at hand. It made a regular match memorable certainly, but this was also unheard of!

This took place years before women wore intentionally skimpy clothing to elicit a pop from the crowd. Hell, I think some men forget Lita was a legit good wrestler. All they remember is whatever color strap of thong she was wearing that week.

Sure Kaitlyn might have popped a nipple on RAW a while back, or Sable had hands painted onto her breasts, but don’t forget how they all started. It was a result of desperation tactics from the person you’d least expect.

Freaking Hulk also managed to throw that piece of cloth into the audience! Spunk bunk indeedth!

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In the next installment of ‘Sizzlers’: A dose of Attitude, but not in the way you expect. It was the beginning of a run, and the start of the end for one superstar in particular. The most hilarious unprofessional overselling of all time is discussed. This and more in the next post!

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Quick trivia tidbit: What do the first installments of WrestleMania, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam all have in common? Other than Hulk Hogan being WWE Champion, it should be noted that the WWE Championship was not up for grabs in any of these events!!! At ‘Mania and SummerSlam, Hogan was in big-time tag team matches. Survivor Series is self-explanatory as he was the captain of his team. At the inaugural Rumble, Hogan had a contract signing with Andre the Giant for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but did not wrestle!

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Madison Square Garden Moments Part Two

(Author’s Note: You can view part one right here.)

To truly understand the existential importance of Madison Square Garden to present day WWE, you must go back to the era of the territories.

In 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance formed. It pretty much aligned all the major promotions within the United States together. While there were regional bookers who had their own clientele of talent, they all had to share one recognized World Champion.

This seemed dandy until two major federations broke away later on.

One of them would be Verne Gagne and the Minnesota-based AWA (American Wrestling Association).

The other would be Vincent J. McMahon and the WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation).

McMahon, the father of Vincent Kennedy McMahon, would run shop in the Northeast. For all the towns and all the venues, only one place would hold the major cards, feud-enders, and everything in-between: Madison Square Garden.

Located in New York City on 34th & 6th Street, MSG held the trials and tribulations of many a superstar over the years.

It’s history is so vast that a singular list of moments would do this invaluable establishment injustice.

In this continuing retrospective, we’re gonna look at just a few of MSG’s greatest contributions to WWE’s history.

One of the reasons why The Garden is so important is because it can link the lineage of WWE with mentions of newly-announced Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino and  sooner-than-later Hall of Famer John Cena in the same breath. MSG has always been a hotbed for wrestling, and this is another in a series of small articles to prove it.

So here we are, another sampling of why MSG so great. (Note: These are not in chronological order!)

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Jimmy Snuka Takes A Leap of Faith. October 17th, 1983.

There are some ways the WWE has changed a lot since 1983.

One big example is the treatment of cage matches.

Today, cage matches are nothing more than a no-disqualification match stuck inside four sides of mesh and no blood. They are usually feud-fillers and lead to something greater.

However, back in that era, cage matches were usually the culmination of a feud. Whether that struggle was for weeks, months, it didn’t matter. Cages were usually the last resort.

On that particular Autumn day, Jimmy Snuka did the leap of faith.

Literally.

This cage battleground was a bloody and vicious affair. Both men had the battle scars to prove it.

Jimmy Snuka hit Muraco with a head-butt. Only this tactic unintentionally allowed Muraco to fall out the cage door and win the match.

To say Snuka was unsatisfied would be a general understatement.

By bringing Don’s ass back into the cage, Snuka proved to the world two things.

One: Muraco’s win was a fluke.

Two: SUPA, SUPA, SUPAFLY!

While Snuka had attempted this stunt before, it was usually meant with little fanfare or missed.

This time, THE ROCK hits the spot!

MSG popped in awe over this moment!

Especially one disobedient, hitchhiking Mick Foley. Donned in his now-signature flannel apparel, his jaw dropped to the floor when Snuka performed career magic. From here on, Foley would dedicate his life to the sport of professional wrestling. For the next 20+ years, Foley would execute a career grand enough to be considered an induction into WWE’s Hall of Fame.

Where you ask? Madison Square Garden!

With a little hitchhiking and imagination, one match with one moment can spawn one spectacular career.

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Randy Orton Kicks Mick Foley Down a Case of Stairs. RAW, June 23rd, 2003.

Amongst other moments in the history of Madison Square Garden, smaller moments are usually overshadowed in the grand scheme of things.

Take this little nugget from time.

Evolution (Randy Orton and Ric Flair for this instance) jumped Foley backstage after Flair took insult to a supposed compliment from Mick. It would ultimately lead to Orton and Foley brawling near a set of stairs.

Then Foley was sent down the stairs via a vicious punt to the skull. And no, it was not like the punt Orton would later make his signature.

Off and on for the next several months, Foley would appear to be the thorn on Evolution’s prickly ass.

Whether it was as an interim General Manager.

Or just a guy who got a loogie spat on him.

Foley was waiting for his revenge.

Only problem was that he wasn’t going into WrestleMania XX on his own against three gentlemen.

CUE THE ROCK!

Now it was still a handicap match, but a star-studded one nonetheless. Rock n’ Sock vs. Evolution (with the addition of Batista) was on!

In an ironic twist of fate, Orton was the one who got the duke after scoring a clean RKO on Foley. This would set up a feud-ending No Holds Barred match at Backlash for Orton’s Intercontinental Championship.

While some MSG moments are just that, moments, some are turning points that have lasting ramifications. This was case in point.

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Cactus Jack Debuts in the WWE. RAW, September 22nd, 1997.

 

Austin stuns McMahon is the moment that inaugural RAW from MSG will be remembered for.

However, I will be completely remiss if this is completely ignored.

This wasn’t exactly a blow-off that Mick Foley was going to have against Hunter-Hearst-Helmsley. As a matter of fact, it felt like a side-step to not only bigger feuds at the time but also matches down the road.

What did transpire before the match is legendary, and definitely is a moment affiliated with The Garden.

Tony Chimmel introduced Hunter, along with Chyna. Both looked focused, determined, and confident to whoop some ass.

Chimmel then announces Dude Love who was supposed to be HHH’s opponent.

NOT SO FAST!

Dude appears on the titantron. His hippie dippie weather man appearance can’t stand the weapons and other miscellaneous warfare.

He then introduces a kind man.

For all of you who didn’t get it, IT WAS MANKIND! Old-school non-Corporate Mankind.

Mankind says as much as he would love to beat up Helmsley again, he knows of someone who not only shares that feeling, but could probably do a better job.

ENTER IN CACTUS JACK!

Armed with a garbage can, Jack ominously threatens Hunter with how this will be the darkest day in his life.

Wouldn’t be the only time that’s happened in the Garden.

With Love signing off as “Ohhh, have mercy,” Cactus came out to the roar of the crowd.

The two would then have the best match of both of their 1997 calendar year.

Chyna even got a few licks in before Cactus gave Triple H a piledriver through a wooden table on the stage! Cactus expressed a disturbed, psychotic smile as he conquered the King of the Ring.

Via some old-school video trickery, WWE pulled off a once-in-lifetime promo that only Mick Foley could execute. Along with a reaction from Triple H likewise.

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Undertaker Returns! Survivor Series, November 17th, 1996

 If a feud went any longer than, let’s say, three months nowadays, the internet would be complaining about WHEN WILL IT END??!?!?!

Back in this time however, feuds were allowed to breathe.

And elaborate.

And sometimes procrastinate.

By the time November of 1996 rolled around, Undertaker and Mankind went through several wars together.

Two consecutive PAY-PER-VIEW victories went to the newly-arrived Mick Foley. A shockingly clean victory at King of the Ring, coupled with the steepest of betrayals from Paul Bearer at the Boiler Room Brawl at Summerslam, meant that somewhere down the line, the big guy would get his revenge.

In a way.

Undertaker would face off against Mankind in a Buried Alive match on the gimmick-named pay-per-view.

The Phenom had the deranged one finished off with a Tombstone, and barely covered him in enough dirt to be called the winner.

Post-match, Undertaker was jumped on as if this was the 1994 Royal Rumble casket match again. Several heels came down to partake in a gang beat-down of ‘Taker complete with dirt coronation.

After it was all said and done, Undie laid waste under more than the proverbial six feet of dirt.

In one of the greatest visual tricks the WWE had ever seen, a lightning bolt hit the mound of dirt. Shortly afterwards, a hand rose out of the grave like a freshly incubated zombie. This would set up Survivor Series.

Sure there wasn’t a stipulation applied to the match itself, and sure Paul Bearer was inside of a cage HIGH above the ring, but the entrance is one sadly forgotten amongst time.

You see, Mark Calloway was temporarily the WWE equivalent of Adam West.

He was…

THE BATMAN!

As the above picture can attest, it had wings. Wings that made it look more like Wile E. Coyote’s aerodynamic costume than a wrestling stunt.

What the entrance also portrayed was perhaps a brand new character. ‘Taker was decked out in black leather, an outfit an replaced the shaggy old shindigs of years gone by. It also represented a different albeit more aggressive style in which Undertaker would step up his game tremendously over the coming year or so.

‘Taker and Mankind would brawl as soon as the dead man forcibly put the big fat lardass Bearer inside the cage.

Undertaker would ultimately gain his true first clean pinfall victory over the demented kind man. The joy would be short-lived as once again he had to endure surprise attack. This time it was by a short-lived character known as The Executioner (played by well-out-of-his-prime Terry Gordy RIP).

The less said about that feud the better.

It wasn’t the first or last time Undertaker would battle Mankind.

It wasn’t the only time Undertaker made a dramatic return at MSG.

Hell, it wasn’t the only time a manager would be hoisted up inside of a cage above the ring either.

However, it needed to be said: that entrance was awesome!_________________________________________________

CONCLUSION

That wraps up another installment of Madison Square Garden moments.

Unlike the first list where it was four random moments put together, this list had a running theme to it.

All four moments, one way or another, centered around Mick Foley. Foley as a fan, Foley as Cactus, Dude, or Mankind. Or Foley as the man who wanted to say hello, but got much more than that.

As mentioned earlier, Foley’s inspiration into becoming a wrestler morphed from a chance viewing up close and personal of the bloody war between Snuka and Muraco. Complete with the leap of faith.

The same arena where Foley’s new leash on life began will culminate in a Hall of Fame induction alongside other men and women whose inductions are more than justified.

Foley’s career was spiced by the interactions of other interesting characters mixing with his own. Madison Square Garden’s character was more than great enough to house these special moments.

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Dude’s Love: Mick Foley in the WWE Hall of Fame

The New York Post was the first to report the story.

WWE confirmed it.

Mick Foley is the first announced member of the 2013 class in WWE’s Hall of Fame. He will join multiple other personalities who have contributed to the organization one way or another in a commencement ceremony at the hallowed Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April the 6th. It is the night before WrestleMania XXIX at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The spot for Foley to be inducted is ironic because not only will he be inducted as a member of the Hall of Fame there, but it’s also the same arena he went to where he had a life-changing experience.

Like any wrestling fan in his youth, Foley wanted to see a huge show bad. Any means necessary. That meant hitchhiking his way to the Garden.

He is perched…fifteen feet high!

The main event of that show, which took place in 1983 when Mick was just 17, pit Don Muraco against Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka inside of a steel cage. Muraco won the match, but it was Snuka’s post-match leap of faith off the cage which inspired Foley to take up a career in wrestling.

Trained by Dominic Denucci, Foley had a penchant for taking dangerous-looking bumps. This specific physical trait set the stage for not only Foley’s in-ring style, but also some of the most outrageous stunts in professional wrestling history.

While he did work the rounds as a jobber at first, Foley would first strike national attention as Cactus Jack Manson, later shortened to Cactus Jack.  In the early 1990’s, Jack brought an unorthodox style completely unbefitting of an organization whose roots were down in technical/methodical teachings. Simply put, Foley was ahead of his time.

His matches with Vader were infamous. Not only were they hard-hitting, but they also led to an infamous Foley fable. While overseas in Germany, Cactus accidentally lost half an ear during a routine hangman stunt in the ropes. For a man whose rap sheet of injuries is as long as War and Peace, this physical discrepancy was probably his most disfiguring one. Later in the WWE, these two would also be a short-lived tag team. Who knew?

During his time in WCW, Jack was introduced to ECW as part of a talent exchange. Shortly thereafter, the Philadelphia-based promotion run by mastermind (and former WCW co-hort) Paul Heyman would be Foley’s full time job.

Between ECW and numerous stints of hardcore Japan, Foley’s reputation as a death-defying risk-taker were cemented ten-fold. It didn’t matter if it was a VCR or barbed wire, Jack’s uncanny ability for violence left him a figure both beloved and belittled by fans.

WWE came a calling in early 1996. While it was a sad goodbye for Cactus to leave ECW, there would be no looking back from here.

Foley would transform into Mason the Mutilator Mankind. This deranged alter-ego had a dark past while his in-ring persona played off the indication he loved pain. On a side-note, Foley would later appear as a third alter-ego Dude Love. That gimmick wasn’t as well received, but still get recognized as one of the triumvirate of Foley’s faces.

That table bump still makes me cringe!

Undertaker, from what this blogger understands, requested to be the opponent for Foley’s first WWE program. Mankind’s first WWE appearance sure enough was jumping the Undertaker after a match on RAW the night after WrestleMania XII. These two would feud on and off for the next three years, setting the stage for some of the most dangerously unbelievable matches perhaps ever in the history of sports-entertainment. At the same time, the style in which these two worked complimented them. Those battle tactics would translate greatly into their other opponents.

Foley would be a big catalyst during WWE’s Attitude Era. He brought a hardcore edge, one refined from his days in Japan and ECW. As a matter of fact, it was not uncommon to hear ECW chants during various no holds barred encounters. The leap of faith off the Hell in the Cell from King of the Ring in 1998 is widely considered a crowning achievement in WWE. Although this blogger notes getting a Pedigree face-first into thumbtacks is quite badass too.

December 28th, 1998 was the day WWE taped the RAW in which Mankind won the WWE Championship from The Rock. Airing on January the 4th in 1999, this was the show that went up against the “Fingerpoke of asses in the seats'” edition of WCW Nitro. Foley’s title win captured the hearts of millions, while WCW’s title swap broke the hearts of millions. This was the true turning point of the ‘War’, one which WCW could never recover from.

After winning the coveted title two more times in 1999, Foley would ‘retire’ from full time competition in early 2000 after a loss inside Hell in the Cell against Triple H.

While Foley would co-main event WrestleMania of 2000, his next major role in the WWE was that of  the lovable goof Commissioner. His rule was always final as the gavel on the desk illustrated. “MICK JUST GAVE YOU SODA” was as important to his character as getting chucked off a cage.

In later years, Foley would turn up to work the occasional program. Whether it was to make a star out of Randy Orton, or to make Edge the most hardcore son of a bitch as opponent or ally, Foley’s presence in either program highly elevated his opponents’ stature.

Foley also endured a tour of TNA. He did indeed win their big gold strap once, but the run was mostly forgettable.

“WILL YOU BE A LEGEND OR A STATISTIC?”

Foley re-signed with the WWE in 2011. His appearances are sporadic, but he makes them count. Whether it was a comedy spot in the Royal Rumble, or to have a verbal joust with champ CM Punk, Foley’s enigma never wore off with audiences and fans alike.

For a man whose contributions in the WWE could be measured in multiple ways, it is a great honor for Mick Foley to be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame. MSG is not only where will history will be forever implanted, but it’s also where it all began for a hitchhiker wanting to see a leap of faith.

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Foley has a number of great products written or filmed on him. If you are new to the man and need to pick some stuff up, here are some links to do so:

Mick Foley’s Author Page @ Amazon – This features all the books he has ever written, ranging from autobiographies to novels.

Beyond the Mat – Barry W. Blaustein’s labor of love revolving around the real world of “fake” wrestling. Mick’s role is painful as he tries to juggle his death-defying antics with family. The original 2000 DVD, which is linked here, features an exclusive commentary track with Foley and Terry Funk.

Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops – WWE’s first full-hearted DVD presentation on Mick Foley. Sure there is Three Faces of Foley (and Madman Unleashed which was A&E’s Biography on him) that was released earlier, but it is nothing but fluff. Released in 2001, it’s a split format of documentary/matches. The documentary is over an hour long, and covers material from later 1999 to the end of 2000. Be aware that the Kennel from Hell match from Unforgiven 1999 is on here with exclusive commentary from Foley and Kevin (not Kelly) Kelly.

Greatest Hits and Misses, A Life in Wrestling – WWE’s second foray into presenting Foley’s career. This is all matches, albeit with some awesome bonus features added in. The version linked is the 2007 “Hardcore Edition”, which is an expanded third disc option. If you’re new to the wrestling biz, get that one as it contains more recent matches in there as well.

Wrestling Legend - If you need a ‘best of’ compilation of Foley’s TNA work, it is all there. I’ll admit I missed most of it, but some of those matches look pretty darn good.

For All Mankind – Not to be confused with a History Channel documentary by the same name, this is the new WWE project chronicling Foley’s life and career. As of this writing, the DVD and Blu-ray are scheduled to be released April the 16th. The format is expected to be documentary/matches. The documentary is planned around Foley’s life, while the matches may have a lot of repeats. At least the repeats won’t be censored this time, as some of them on recent sets are blur-fests.

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It wouldn’t be a Foley article without this:

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The 10,000th View Post: Street Fight at the Royal Rumble!

(Just a fair bit of warning: This post has more disturbing content than usual, so if you’re someone squeamish, turn away. If not, then enjoy!)

In celebration of 10,000 views on the blog and the 25th Anniversary (ahem, edition) of the Royal Rumble, today there will be something very special covered. A match that is not only an epic war, but also a match selected as a top match in a prior entry.

In case you didn’t look at the above graphic, it’s the Street Fight for the WWE Championship from the 2000 Rumble.

For a man whose body was screaming for him to retire (or his wife Collette for that matter), Mick Foley whipped himself into top shape as possible for this epic encounter. Losing some 20 pounds while being kept off the road (i.e: house shows), Mick further built the myth and legend of his hardcore alter-ego, Cactus Jack.

In terms of storyline, it all began on the 1.10.00 edition of RAW. Foley as Mankind was squaring off against Triple H, but only the two were in the middle of a eight man tag war (Triple H had D-X buddies New Age Outlaws and X-Pac, while Sock had Rock and the APA).

Once the two were the legal men however, the floor was all theirs. Triple H, and I don’t say this lightly, beat the living shit out of Mankind. Coupling ring-bell shots with a Pedigree through the announcer table, Mankind was suddenly a bloody mess. A mess that stretched from his head, down through his mask, and onto his shirt! A disgustingly horrific sight for sure.

Back in the ring, Triple H notched a second Pedigree for a clean win. After the loss, it seemed as if Foley was reborn.

Knocking down The Game, the deranged alter-ego of Foley did the pistol-like right hands, with the knee to the face following. Apparently that running knee had so much force it legitimately bruised Foley’s sternum!

Making his point known, Foley tops off his rage with chucking the steel steps into Helmsley’s grizzled face. Although Triple H was declared the winner, it was the perfect definition of a pyrrhic victory. BANG BANG!

The following Thursday on SMACKDOWN, Mankind stated that after the beating he took at the hands of Helmsley, he wouldn’t be able to face the champ in a Street Fight. There would be a substitute named however, and that name was...

CACTUS JACK!

Removing the bloody button-up dress shirt to reveal the newly-printed Cactus shirt below, Foley went down to the ring while Triple H looked on in horror as this mythic figure was coming down.

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Pardon me for the sidetrack, but there is one elephant in the room that deserves to be mentioned.

A few years prior, Cactus Jack was introduced to the WWE in a Falls Count Anywhere environment. Guess who was his opponent? Triple H!

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Back to your regularly scheduled special edition post.

As noted earlier, the next few shows of WWE programming had Mick building up this Cactus character, one of Japanese death fare and exploding rings. Mick also described Cactus as the type of guy who went to cheap hotels, and trying to save a few bucks, his cuts would stick to the sheets! HE’S HARDCORE!

January 23rd, 2000 would be the day where the war would be battled. The field in which this epic fight occurred was no other than Madison Square Garden, Add in the pomp and circumstance a Royal Rumble usually brings, and it equals something very special in the making.

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Since this Rumble had the Street Fight theme, there was a special entryway. Using the “hidden” entrance that is unique to the mecca, decorations of a taxi cab, bricks, wooden pallets, etc., were used to mimic a NYC street.

Cactus Jack is introduced first. Greeted to big pop from MSG, the hardcore legend looked to start 2000 on a huge note.

Coming out second is the WWE Champion, Triple H. Dastardly and despicable, the Cerebral Assassin looks to make a name for himself at the expense of his opponent.

Although Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley accompanies her husband down the aisle, she gives him a quick kiss and goes to the back. This is certainly no place for a lady, or in Jim Ross’ dictionary, a jezebel!

Cactus is so set on destroying Triple H, Earl Hebner has to hold him back while the champ makes his entrance!

After Helmsley makes his presence known, Hebner quickly holds up the title. There is no time being wasted here!

On the Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops DVD, Mick states that he and Triple H are doing some serious jaw-jacking. Helmsley’s cologne of choice to the match was so overwhelming, Cactus asked Triple H what was the brand? Not liking the answer, the two then traded right hands.

“I don’t know what the challenger had to say to the champion, but the talking has stopped. The action has begun, and the Street Fight... for the WWF Championship... is underway!”

Cactus dominates the match early, with a swinging neckbreaker on the floor followed by a leg drop on the ropes as exclamation points.

Over the timekeeper’s table, Triple H quickly turns the tide with a timely shot. The ring bell is once again gracing the face of Foley. As Foley recovers, Triple H rolls back into the squared circle with a chair.

Like a matador to a vicious bull, Triple H has the chair ready to swinging on Cactus’ proverbial horns.

Triple H unloads with a VICIOUS chairshot, only for Foley to pop like up like it was nothing!

After pretty much giving Helmsley his free shot, Cactus gets one in of his own: a legdrop on top of a chair that was placed over Helmsley’s head! This earns the first near-fall of the contest.

Back to the outside, Helmsley charges into Cactus, only to be back-bodydropped into the audience.

“THESE ARE CACTUS’ FANS,” exclaims Jerry Lawler who tries to explain why this match isn’t fair to Hunter.

After brawling in the first six rows, the two land right in the aisleway from the stairs.

Foley, using the environment to his advantage, sets up two broken pallets in the aisle. This sets up a NASTY suplex on the wood, and now a gash appears on Hunter’s leg. Helmsley also eats some trash can for his troubles.

After the wood meeting, Cactus sets up another meeting. Mr. Helmsley, Mr. WWF door. Go meet it! He does, a lot of times in quick succession!

“This has gone too far,” JR notes. So far this feels tame!

In a sense of desperation. Hunter snags in a quick suplex on the trash can.

After more brawling which results in Hunter eating steel steps, Cactus retrieves a weapon from underneath the ring.

What is it you think?

How about this?

Laced in barbed wire, this piece of wood sure seems to be stiff on impact!

(leaves room)

After that innuendo, Cactus attempts to use it, but Hunter snags a nut shot.

Picking up the proverbial loaded gun, Hunter unloads on Cactus.

Almost getting in a head-shot, Helmsley gets a strike to the gut. Cactus then sets up for a low-blow of his own, but instead uses Stick Stickley as his alibi!

Cactus nails the double-armed DDT as Hebner gets that wood out of here. So far, the removal of the plank got more heat than Helmsley!

Jack got a near-fall from said DDT, but now is looking for the wood again. He bullies Hebner into telling him where it is. Poor Hugo Savinovich doesn’t get a break, and receives a right hand! Carlos does the drug deal, and gives Cactus the wood back. Isn’t he a nice guy or what?

Cactus is ready to swing, but the ref is holding him back. As Cactus switches sides, he moves out of the way so Hunter gets to Hebner, As Hebner goes down, so does Helmsley, but H got his courtesy of the home run swung by Cactus!

Both Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler go batshit crazy, and assumingly, both their undershorts will need changing.

A near-fall occurs, but even with Triple H kicking out, the blood loss from Hunter is now very much evident. One huff, and a cut turns from a cut to a near-crimson mask. Gruesome stuff up-close.

JR noted these two had a license to maim. That’s what this match should have been underscored as, “Street Fight: License to Maim”! Instant money!

In the following sequence, Cactus sets up Hunter on the announce table. A piledriver is called for, but instead, H bodydrops the hardcore persona. The table collapses under the weight, and another look of the blood loss is accrued.

Attempting a Pedigree, Hunter instead eats the steel post, and then is given a modified Bulldog on the barbed wire wood that just so happened to lie there!

After yet another near-fall, Cactus does his double-clothesline on Hunter over the top. Cactus tries to charge Hunter into the steps again, but Jack instead gets slammed onto the steps, with his knees slamming onto the metal! OUCH! Triple H then whips Cactus into the steps, the momentum of which sends Jack FLYING over the steps completely!

Another humorous part to mention. Lawler asks about how Triple H has the stamina to endure to much pain, in which JR replies he is a stud. Simultaneously, a whole bunch of women do that whistling thing while Hunter rolls into the ring. Gotta love Attitude crowds!

Hunter gets the better of Jack in this portion, with a few stiff barbed wire shots to the left leg.

Staggering like a punch-drunk fool, Hunter yanks handcuffs away from Howard Finkel. With visions of 1999 dancing in his head, Hunter got punched in the head a couple of times before finally fulfilling the warrant on Cactus.

With Cactus cuffed, Hunter gets some free shots in.

Hunter then gets the steps what there cocked ever so slightly by a hurling Cactus from earlier. With evil intent, Trips tries to deck Cactus in the head, but Cactus hits the drop-toe-hold, and Triple H is now spitting up Chiclets!

Gaining some momentum, Cactus gets out of the corner with a kick to Triple H’s face, a falling low-blow, and then some biting that would make Hannibal Lecter proud. Yes, give that man some fava beans and a nice chianti as well!

Hunter swings the tide yet again with a clothesline. A close-up shows Cactus’ mangled ear, which JR claims was lost in ‘combat’. When we mean combat, we mean WCW, Germany, 1994.

Grabbing a chair, the blood-caked Game delivers some spine-tingling shots. The third shot was so hard that a flap of the chair went flying down the aisle as Cactus fell out the ring! Cue the holy shit chant! Sadly it never happened.

Triple H catches up with Cactus in the aisle, delivers a headshot with the chair.

With a scary visual of a bloody mouth, Cactus dares for Triple H to hit him again. Instead of Cactus getting knocked down like a railroad spike, he gets something else.

THE ROCK!

THE ROCK!

CHAIRSHOT! GAME DOWN!

While the crowd goes nuts, a NYPD officer frees the Long Island native from the cuffs.

Both men are up as Cactus brawls with Triple H to the Spanish announcer table. Let’s not forget the WWE one was eliminated earlier in the bodydrop.

Cactus successfully executes the piledriver, BUT THE TABLE DOESN’T GO DOWN! That has to be the first time, the last time, and the only time the Spanish table gets the free pass.

With both men back in the ring, Cactus gets a bag. Not just any bag though. A BAG OF FUCKING THUMBTACKS! YES I SAID THE ‘F’ BOMB AND I’M PROUD OF IT!

Stephanie comes rushing down, trying to reason with Cactus, but to no avail. Cactus gives right hand after right hand to Triple H, trying to make him fall into the tacks.

Gaining some momentum, Triple H senses the urgency, and drops Cactus like a bad habit into the tacks! A close-up reveals that Cactus has almost a new layer of wardrobe.

Cactus walks right into a Pedigree. This should be over, right?!?!?!

NO!

CACTUS KICKS OUT, AND THE MSG FAITHFUL HAVE GONE APESHIT!

As the crowd chants ‘FOLEY’, Cactus walks yet into another Pedigree. This time, onto the TACKS!

This finally kills Cactus, as the 1-2-3 is counted down. So after nearly a half hour of brawling, blood, guts, and mischief, Triple H is STILL YOUR WWE CHAMPION!

Before the post-match buffoonery begins, let’s look at Stephanie McMahon, shall we?

That’s better.

Yuck.

Triple H is helped onto a stretcher, but a tack-induced Cactus Jack is not done with him. Throwing him back into the ring, Cactus delivers yet ANOTHER barbed wire shot into the face! After Cactus’ music hits, this finally ends it.