In his latest blog entry, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross spoke about signing Mick Foley to WWE and Foley’s upcoming induction into the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame. Says JR:
“…Mick Foley is going to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday night April 6 in Madison Square Garden. Being the natural word smith that he is, I’m betting that Mick will steal the show at the speaker’s podium. I’ve heard Mick’s stand up comedy act and he’s as entertaining on stage as he was becoming the “Hardcore Legend.”
While on a dysfunctional committee in WCW, not bragging about that distinction by the way, I lobbied hard to get the man then known as Cactus Jack hired in Atlanta. Mick’s uniqueness and tireless work ethic was evident and I felt that he just needed to be cast in the right light with the opponents with who he had some chemistry and the rest would take care of itself. I originally wanted Mick to come to WCW to have an extended rivalry with Sting.
Getting Mick hired in WWE after I became head of Talent Relations was somewhat more challenging but at the end of the day we signed Mick and he, along with Vince McMahon, recreated himself with the Mankind persona. We did a sit down interview where I spoke with Mankind and did it in one take at the WWE TV studios and it turned out to be one of my fondest memories even though I ‘suffered’ at the hands of the deadly mandible claw. I’ve since recovered from the hold’s after affects and Mick has gone on to headline major PPV’s, main event arenas around the world, lose part of an ear, both front teeth, become a multi time, New York Times Best Selling author, standup comedian and tireless volunteer for many amazing charity organizations. Along the way Mick has continued to do what he has always done best and that is to be a loving and supportive father and husband.
Sometimes a talent is hired to bring a positive influence into a locker room that’s either dotted with youth or by those who enjoy traveling on the wrong side of the road a little too much. That’s one reason that I wanted Mick in our locker room back when we hired him but I also knew that hiring Mick was akin to hiring a kid who grew up in Bronx joining the New York Yankees. Being in WWE was Mick’s lifelong, wrestling dream and I’m thankful that I was in a position to help Mick, aka Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy, with the opportunity to accomplish amazing feats while in WWE.
One of my biggest career regrets was being Ill with a Bells palsy attack and not being there to call Mick’s first WWE Title win.
Plus, the Foley-HHH rivalry was one of the most intense and memorable wrestling rivalries that I’ve called in my entire career.”
To buy JR’s BBQ sauce, visit WWEShop.com.
