Foley is Pod - Mick Wins TNA Title [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Mick - something I didn’t think would happen in 2009…is our topic today. It’s all about when you won the TNA Title - and also decided to write a book about it!

When you signed with TNA - did you know that you were going to end up being a TNA champion?

Was it something you were prepared for when you got to TNA?

When did the idea of writing about this come to be? Your idea? Book publisher idea? TNA idea?

Writing a book while you’re actually in the process of working a program is entirely different than what you’ve done before is that right?

Is there more pressure on you for the book to be successful to help TNA with brand awareness?

The build towards your run with the title begins at Destination X when Sting is taking on Kurt Angle for the TNA title and Jeff Jarrett and yourself are referee & enforcer. You wrote in your book that you were legitimately scared of Kurt - why was that?

There’s a ref bump in the match - which seemed like always happened in a TNA main event or title match, you slide in to check on Jarrett while Sting locks in the Scorpion Deathlock on Kurt. Kurt taps but you’re not paying attention to it - Angle comes up and hits an angle slam on Sting but only gets a 2 count from you. Kurt low blows you and grabs a chair but you take it from him and go to hit him with it but he ducks and you hit Sting. You get hit with an angle slam - Sting would eventually hit a scorpion deathdrop on Kurt and Jeff would count the pin and Sting gets the win.

When this is over - did you feel like you were ready for a big time match with anyone - Kurt or Sting - because you wrote in your book that you felt like a sack of shit going up for things?

At the time - TNA seemed to be at its highest - cracking 2 million viewers with the Main Event Mafia seemingly pushing the company to another level. Just to put into context what that means - the WWE has only cracked 2 million viewers for Raw 4 times this year. Did it feel like TNA was really going to be able to challenge WWE?

You did write in your book you didn’t feel like you were at your best - dealing with anxiety - looking back what do you attribute that to?

Coming out of the pay-per-view a match is set up where Kurt & Sting - who as members of the Main Event Mafia obviously aren’t getting along - are going to team up to take on you & Jeff. Do you know if it was ever considered for you to join the Main Event Mafia?

At the time of putting this segment together Mick - you had wrestled just one TNA match before this in January where you teamed with AJ Styles & Brother Dvon to defeat Booker, Kip James & Scott Steiner. Was your body ready for this match?

Are you surprised they were having you wrestle on Impact or was that because it was crucial to the story you’re about to tell?

You agree to the match in the promo and Jarrett tries to talk you out of it but you eventually the match is made and it very quickly is promoted as the biggest match in Impact history. Looking back - do you think it could’ve been something held off for a pay-per-view?

Somehow during this match you would even get to outwrestle Kurt - but eventually Angle’s security members get involved and Kurt hits you with an angle slam on the concrete and you wrote in your book that you were having issues swallowing. Was it anxiety?

Eventually there’s help called and Sting yells at Kurt that you’ve had enough and now you have your incentive to do what you’re about to do. In 1993 when you would wrestle Sting - did you ever imagine you’d be main eventing a pay-per-view for a not founded wrestling company for their World Title in Philadelphia?

You recover finally enough to grab a chair, roll inside the ring, and instead of hitting Kurt who rolled to the outside - you hit Sting with it and cover him for the victory.

From the Torch

“Foley’s still really crippled looking as he moves around the ring.”

Did you feel crippled?

Sting challenges you afterwards for a match and you’re in the back with Borash and you go into this tirade about Sting inspiring him to hit him with the chair when Sting whispered to Kurt that you had had enough - and ended with this:

“What you call hell, I call home!” He said he was looking for happiness and he’s found it. At Lockdown, he’ll tear him apart. “Have a nice day,” he said as the show ended.

You wrote in your book that you would’ve liked the story to breathe for another week but you knew TNA wanted to get out and get the match announced with that promo. Was that a common issue in TNA - not letting things breathe?

Vince Russo was in TNA at the time as a writer & producer - what was it like to be working with Vince again?

What was your creative process - were there any limitations with you in TNA - or were you just handed the thing we were going to do and it was your job to make it make sense type of thing?

TNA at the time was pushing Sting as a heel - but Sting never really acted as a heel - in my opinion. Is that tough as a babyface?

Do you think Sting didn’t want to play heel or didn’t know how to play heel?

There’s an interview in the back and I want to read you what Wade Keller would write:

–Lauren interviewed Foley. She said the world is still shocked about his actions toward Sting last week. He said he ready to talk about the question on everybody’s mind—the controversial finish of “The Bachelor.” He said he didn’t really love her ever. Foley said in all seriousness, he’s watched a replay and realized he was wrong. He said he will apologize and shake hands and do what fans love—“watch two men hug, yeah!”

What’s with that “yeah!” deal he does? Lauren brought up that Sting is bringing his baseball bat. Foley sarcastically said Sting is silly and there’s no need for violence. I don’t get Foley’s character and I don’t think he does, either, these days. He’s all over the place, but maybe this will make sense once it played out.

Mick - did you get your character - with these tweaks - or do you think it was too early for anyone to understand what you were doing with it?

You’re acting obnoxious backstage as you & Sting are to enter the ring to discuss things. Sting with his world title belt and baseball bat - and you come out acting like Dude Love. It would lead to Sting saying you’re broken down and your body is battered and your retort…

From the Torch

Foley talked about the stock market, job market, and housing market. He said a lot of people could use his help, but he’s not one of them. “Who in the hell are you to pity me?” he asked. He said he was happy just reliving his past with Hardcore History memories, but now things have changed. He said since that chair made impact with his skull, the tables of time turned. He said you can feel it in the air. “No one’s talking about that other wrestling show in April anymore, Stinger. They’re talking about Lockdown. They’re talking about you versus me, Icon vs. Legend, which is exactly the way it should be.” He said when that cage door slams shut, they’re not going to be reliving history, they’ll be making history. He said he has a couple big dives left. That would sound better if they didn’t spend so much time explaining that Foley has trouble standing up out of his chair. Why not try to convince viewers that Foley has a lot more in him rather than drawing attention to him being a virtual cripple? Good delivery by both Foley and Sting.

The creative is all over the place and I agree with Wade on the fact that describing you as broken down doesn’t help - but that line about the other wrestling show in April - you wrote in your book that you were upset with yourself as soon as you said it. Why?

Icon vs. Legend is how the match is being promoted - did it feel that way for you?

Was Sting excited to be working with you again do you know?

This is going to be your longest singles match since SummerSlam 06 and your I Quit match with Ric Flair. You’d done a 5-way at Vengeance as we’ve covered in the archives but this is a whole different beast is it not?

You’re involved with Jeff as a “co-owner” of TNA but Jarrett is questioning your decisions and having regrets on bringing you in and your response is, “All we need to worry about is having fun. Fun fun fun until the daddy takes the T–Bird away.”

What did you think of this story?

You would do a sitdown with Mike Tenay later on to continue the story - what did you think of working with Mike Tenay?

You wrote in your book that you were upset that Abyss & Matt Morgan’s program was being worked into yours and after discussing with Dewey you decided to tell Vince Russo it wasn’t a good idea. What made you feel strongly about this?

During the talk it’s transitioned to Alex Shelley - and the Motor City Machine Guns have a special place in TNA as always being relied on to provide great matches but it took forever for them to be elevated into a top spot. Do you think it was their size or their issues with creative that would hold them back?

Do you think this diluted your program with Sting or helped?

From the Torch

Alex Shelley said they were in back playing “Resident Evil 5” and “Street Fighter 4” (West should have said, “Those are videogames, Tenay.”) He said they couldn’t help but hear Sting and their hearts go out to them. He said it was unfair that he had to fight Joe last week, “but I suppose that’s what happens when Mick Foley is the boss around here.” Shelley said the Guns aren’t just the most attractive tag team in TNA, they’re a tag team for hire tonight. He said Thanksgiving Eve 2008 was one of the worst days of his life because he was humiliated. He said he had to put on a turkey suit that was itchy and smelled like burnt hair.

He said he was also sucker punched by Foley. He said not one day has gone by that he hasn’t thought about that. He said he’s been waiting a long time for revenge. He offered that Foley fight the both of them in a handicapped match. He asked Jarrett if he should talk to him because he’s the one “with all the stroke.” Jarrett said he got the right guy and he’s got the match.

There was a ton of heat on Shelley after the Turkey suit match is that right? What did you think of all that?

You saved their job essentially is that right?

From the Torch

–They went backstage to Jeremy Borash interviewing Foley. He said he doesn’t know what to say, so he’s going to borrow lyrics from “K.C. and the Sunshine Band.” He said: “Because that’s

the way, ah ha, ah ha I like it.” Foley said

he’s looking forward to the match because the Guns are sizzling hot these days. Foley said he’s going to tweak the match a little, though. Foley approached Jarrett backstage and said he’s got one heck of a main event. He said he wants to tweak it a bit. He began strumming a guitar and singing “Tweak it! Tweak it!” to Michael Jackson’s “Beat it! Beat it!” Foley is finding his stride as a character in TNA now because he’s obviously trying to be agitating and annoying rather than cool and funny, leading up to a “surprise” turn (but one that has a backstory that will make it make sense in retrospect) when he joins MEM. Jarrett threw his arms up and said whatever he wants. He yanked the guitar away from him. Foley walked away.”

Was there hope for you & Jarrett to have a one-on-one match major main event at some point?

“Foley stood mid–ring and talked about tweaking his match later against the Guns. He said the Guns are great wrestlers who would push him to his limits. He held a notebook and said it’s the beginning of his next book, “Crossing the Line.”

Was that the original title of the book? Why did it change?

From the Torch

5 –– MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS vs. MICK FOLEY

First out were the Guns, then Sting, then Foley. Foley wore a leopard print shirt and sweat pants and tennis shoes. Foley said he’s upset because he wants to be his kids’ idol, not have them be fans of the Guns instead. When Foley went after Shelley at ringside, Sabin leaped off the ring apron and nailed Foley with a dropkick. Foley bumped hard to the floor with a thud. The Guns hit Foley with a double dive through the ropes onto Foley. Shelley and Sabin posed in the ring as they cut to a break. Back from the break the Guns dropkicked Foley’s head from two sides, crushing it between their feet. Ouch. Sting didn’t like Sabin imitating his yell mockingly, so Sting yanked him to the floor and gave him a Scorpion Death Drop. Foley then gave Sabin a double–arm DDT. Foley pulled out his trademark sock and shoved it into Shelley’s mouth. Shelley flung himself to the floor. The ref said he thought he saw blood on the sock and was about to call of the match. Foley stopped the ref, who was intimidated and didn’t call for the bell. Foley then suplexed Shelley on the concrete. Foley then said: “This is not what I promised, this is not what I’m delivering. I told you I was gonna bust somebody wide open.” He said he plans to make Shelley suffer. He picked up a barbed wire baseball bat as the crowd chanted, “Foley, Foley.” Sting stood up with his baseball bat in hand. Foley put the barbed wire up to Shelley’s head, but then Sting hit Foley in the head with a chair. Foley began to bleed, so the ref called for the bell and awarded the match to the bleeding Shelley. Leave it to TNA to somehow even complicate and convolute a First Blood stipulation.

WINNER: Motor City Machine Guns in 8:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4*”

I mean Mick - this is all over the place. You get concussed from the dropkick bump to the floor - how bad did that one hurt?

Were you feeling that match afterwards?

Was the finish too complicated & convoluted?

Do you think fans had a tough time tying to figure out who to cheer for in this program?

You’re to cut a promo on the go-home Impact to do the final build for you vs. Sting. There’s two chairs in the ring in the Impact Zone which you credit to Vince Russo. You interview yourself…

From the Torch

“He asked the fans to put their hands together for his guest, Cactus Jack. He looked to the entrance stage as if Jack was walking out. He then broke into his Cactus personality. Foley got into an argument with Cactus. We got to hear more about his ear in Europe. Then Comicon. Cactus complained about Foley writing books about his career. He said Mick’s days as a wrestler are over. He said he can be a shareholder and executive if he wants, but not a wrestler. He told him to keep his sweat pants in his closet because Cactus Jack is showing up at Lockdown. “I will not let you have my moment of glory when I vanquish my greatest rival.” Foley began hitting himself in the face.

Then Sting’s music interrupted. Foley looked to the stage as Sting walked out with his title belt over his shoulder.

Sting entered the ring and said, “You are turning a 20 year friendship into an out of control three–ring circus, Mick.” Mick was bleeding from his temple due to the punching of himself. Sting said what’s scary is he thinks he believes what he just did. He asked him if he’s lost his mind. “Is this an act, Mick? No, I’m convinced you really believe what you just did, Mick,” he said. Sting said it doesn’t really matter to him. Foley said, “That’s the Sting I want to see because you were never intimidated by me.” Foley quoted Ross touting Foley’s insanity back in the day, yet noted that Sting was never afraid. He said the chants of “Cactus Jack” didn’t scare him, but it threw him off his game. He asked him what it will be like to be trapped inside the steel cage, with fans chanting “Cactus Jack, Cactus Jack.” The Main Event Mafia music then played. Sting turned to the stage. Foley attacked him from behind before anyone showed up on the stage.”

This is one of the last great pieces of business I think you ever did. Is that fair to say?

Eventually it would go into comedy - probably not as intended - as you ask to play Curry Man’s music then Shark Boy and then Sting’s music before you pull out a barbed wire baseball bat and hold it up to his face as the show goes off the air. Do you think you could’ve done without the music and Curry Man stuff?

You wrote this in your book:

“The rapid punches are a tactical mistake. They come in such quick succession that not one of them has the impact it should. Each one should have been followed by a several- second pause, a way to let the viewers digest what was being done on-screen. Instead, that great entrée was just wolfed down, like a Big Mac at a stoplight.

Up until the moment I threw that first punch, I was sure I was going to go under the eye, create a little swelling, irrefutable evidence in the whole fake-versus-real debate. No way to claim the punches weren’t real if you actually see the swelling—which, in a best-case scenario, will actually get more pronounced as the promo goes along.”

The fact that there’s a science to this just tickles me Mick.

Was it special for you to have this be in Philadelphia?

What were the expectations of the business of the match? Buyrate, etc?

Were you happy with all of it when you got to Philadelphia? Do you know if Sting was? The office?

You get to the arena late - ask a cameraman if you can dropkick him - and then ask Sting if he was OK with you punching yourself in the face to start the match…just a normal day at the office right?

Sting gets a backstage promo ahead of time putting over the importance of you not winning the title for what may happen to TNA if you do get it. How different was Sting here in 2009 in putting things together or was he still very much the same guy from the early 90s?

From the Torch

–Borash interviewed Foley. Foley turned around and said Mick couldn’t be there because he was at a corporate shindig. As Cactus Jack, he cut a promo. He said he doesn’t need the barbed wire baseball bat. He said their fans don’t pay to watch someone climb out a door, so it’ll be locked.

Was this something about cage matches that irk you?

You wrote this:

“Ten minutes before bell time and I’m nervous as hell. I have no idea how long my legs are going to hang in there. The possibility of dry mouth is a legitimate concern. At least I’ll be able to punch myself in the face soon. I have that much going for me.”

Mick - were you mentally ready to go out in that ring that night?

From the Torch

8 - STING vs. CACTUS JACK - TNA World Hvt. Title match

Borash did his big–match ring intro. After all of that, he introduced Mick Foley as “Mick Foley” instead of “Cactus Jack.” Cactus punched himself in the face to open his wound on his face, so he bled before Sting executed even one move.

Were you Cactus Jack in this match or Mick Foley?

You would need 25 stitches after this match because of something you did to yourself without a razor blade - that’s gotta be a record right?

You would take a bump that really rings your bell and you wrote that you had failed to tuck your chin again - looking back - should you had been wrestling?

They fought to the top rope at 3:00. Sting yanked Cactus to the mat. A minute later Sting threw Cactus off balance and twisted his leg around the top turnbuckle. Tenay said it was grotesque how his ankle was contorted.

You wrote that this was a legitimate issue and that you were really concerned about your knee and ACL and that the guys in the match - Sting & Earl Hebner - thought you were just selling. Walk me through that moment.

You have a submission spot where you & Sting trade moves and you wrote that you had to race through it and no one picked up on what you were trying to accomplish. What do you credit that to?

“Sting went on methodical offense for a minute. Cactus made a comeback at 7:00. He gave Sting a neckbreaker and scored a near fall. Cactus gingerly tried to climb the ropes, but he decided he couldn’t put that kind of stress on his leg. He instead gave Sting a DDT. A minute later he demanded that they open the door. He shoved the ref. West said because he can’t climb the cage, he wants to be able to win by leaving through the cage door.”

This is a genius bit of story telling about you being part owner changing the rules to benefit yourself - are you happy to be in this spot at this point in the match?

“He basement dropkicked the cameraman who had the camera stuck through the small filming hole. He tried to escape through that hole. Sting recovered and yanked Cactus back into the ring. Sting applied the Scorpion Deathlock. Cactus reached for his barbed wire bat. The cameraman handed it to him, then tried to take it away. West said the cameraman gave it to him out of fear. It was just awkward.”

Looking back - was it awkward?

“Sting backed up at the sight of the barbed wire. Cactus swung it at Sting. Sting ducked three times. Sting punched Foley to the mat, then began to climb the cage wall. Cactus hit Sting with the bar in the leg. He hit him a second time, which dropped Sting to the mat. Sting used a drop toe hold to send Cactus face–first into his own barbed wire bat. Sting picked up the bat and used it against Cactus several times. Cactus mule kicked Sting to stop Sting from raking the barbed wire against his face. Cactus dropped down onto Sting with the bat. Sting came up bleeding. Foley pulled out his sock. He then wrapped barbed wire around the sock and punched Sting with it. Tenay called it one of the most violent and brutal World Heavyweight Title matches they’ve ever seen. Foley then climbed to the top of the cage. Sting climbed another corner. Foley dropped down to win.

WINNER: Cactus Jack in 16:00 to capture the TNA World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: 3/4* - There were some good moments, but mostly a dismal performance by Foley, er Cactus, er Foley who had no business being the no. 1 contender, much less adding what is a meaningless title to his resume in this fashion. The crowd didn’t know what to make of Foley which took any emotion—positive or negative—away from his win.”

Mick - Wade is harsh on you - but as you wrote in the book - you were running out of time - and still pulled it all off.

From your book:

“The TNA World Heavyweight Championship Belt (I’ll call it a belt if I feel like it) is handed to me. I give the belt a kiss... and... cut, we’re off the air. Wow, we finished the match with literally seconds to spare.

I’m tired but I’m happy, relieved, maybe even ecstatic. I know I’ll be hurting tomorrow: my knee, my ankle, my eyebrow, my hands, will all pay the price. But backstage I just kind of bathe in the warm glow of a job well done. By both of us. Sting’s happy, I’m happy. In a moment of most sincere sappiness, he thanks me, I thank him, there are a few awkward hugs, maybe even an ultra manly “I love you, brother.”

The Stinger really wants to know what I think—he really respects my opinion. “You know, Steve [and I rarely call him Steve, even backstage], maybe we could have done a few things differently, but all things considered, I think we did pretty well.”

I honestly felt like my days of making a difference in WWE were over. TNA has given me that chance. My opinion is respected, my contributions are appreciated, and my boss looks like a movie star. And she’s never dropped an F-bomb on me.

So, if I knew then what I know now, would I have gone through with this whole Lockdown thing? Absolutely—it was one of the best experiences of my career. I wouldn’t have tweaked a thing.”

Do you feel the same all these years later?

Was it a success in your mind?

Are you happy you got one last run with a World Title - even if it was TNA’s?

What say you Mick, thumbs up on everything?