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Steve Austin
All right, we're doing it family friendly here on the Steve Austin show because it's Tuesday and Tuesday is the family friendly show and you're going to dig this show. So thanks for listening at podcast one and thanks for subscribing at itunes. And hey, thanks for saving yourself some money while enjoying a clean clothes shave by joining dollarshaveclub.com Steve. Y' all know I do this podcast for the working man and woman. And to show my appreciation for your support of this podcast and the sponsors, I've made a special arrangement with the fine folks@dollarshaveclub.com they're going to give all new members a month of the executive razor for free when you buy a tube of Dr. Carver Shave Butter. And if you want to know why millions of others have joined the club, let me give you a few of the reasons. DollarShaveClub.com Steve delivers amazing razors right to your door for a third of the price of what those big corporate razor companies charge. Joining the dollarshaveclub.com Steve means you can afford to shave with the fresh blade anytime you want. And then there's Dr. Carver's Shave Butter. Using this stuff with the executive blade will give you the smoothest shave ever. And Dr. Carver's shave butter ain't your average shaving cream either. This stuff is a unique conditioning formula made with high quality natural ingredients. So your skin is going to love you too. So what are you waiting for? Sign up@dollarshaveclub.com Steve buy a tube of Dr. Carver Shea butter and get the executive razor for for fr. Free Dollar Shave Club has never done a giveaway like this before, so take advantage of it. Go to dollarshaveclub.com Steve right now.
Mick Foley
The following program is a podcast one.com production from Hollywood, California by way of the Broken Skull Ranch. This is the Steve Austin Show.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Give me a Hell yeah. Hell yeah.
Mick Foley
Now here's Steve Austin.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
All right, everybody.
Steve Austin
Welcome to Steve Austin Show. I am coming to you from the main streets of Los Angeles, California. I've tried to start to open to this show five times. Every time I get cranked up and on a roll, five minutes in, sirens keep whirling by. I don't know what the hell's going on out there on the streets of Los Angeles, but I'm fixing to load up into my trusty 1995 Ford Bronco with Hershey the Wonder Dog and go out there and patrol the streets of Los Angeles and get some of this crime off the damn Streets. I'm trying to win a damn award with this podcast, but I can't win nothing with all the damn sirens, helicopters and BS happening. Hell, I'm about halfway cranking to begin with. Nonetheless. God dang it, I got a hell of a damn show for you today. Like I said, I've been in Dallas for five days. I'm a little bit jet lagged. Got up off that damn jet when we landed. My wife picked me up, we went and ate some sushi. I took a little cat nap, purring like a kitten. And now here I am sitting here doing the open to this show. My guest today is going to be the hardcore legend, Mick Foley. You're going to hear the audio version of the Stone Cold podcast I conducted live on the WWE Network just a few days ago. Enjoyed talking to Mick, enjoyed it very, very much. And speaking of Mick, at WrestleMania, got a chance to do a little business with Mick Foley, the hardcore legend and Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid. As we walk down that ramp in AT&T Stadium in front of 100,000 business, did a little piece of business with the League of Nations. And then back again with Xavier Woods. Hit him with the stunner. And then they threw Wade back in, gave him a little stunner after he took a mandible claw and a superkick. And then of course, Xavier woods from New Day took a great stunter as he was teaching yours truly, the toughest SOB in the history of the business, how to dance. It was a great time. I want to thank everybody involved. League of nations, thank you, New Day. Thank you. Appreciated it, had a lot of fun. I'll tell you what, man, I came back from walking up that ramp and I had a cold beer in my hand. There wasn't a whole lot left in that can. And we don't really make cans at El Segundo Brewing. We make our beer in 22 ounce bottle bombers is what you call them. And we had those specially made for Wrestlemania. I think we made about 200 some odd cases of them. I took a couple of cases up there so they could throw my beer to me squared circle. I was very proud to go out there and be receiving Steve Austin Broken Skull IPAs brewed by El Segundo Brewing Company. It was an absolute blast. And I can tell you one thing, that beer tasted good. Here's a quick story. Mick Foley, who I've known forever, I don't recall ever seeing Mick drink a beer. And of course, you know what? Through him and Sean, those beers, they drank them and Me and Mick were sharing a dressing room and then a John Cena came in and we were shooting the breeze forever. And he goes, steve, I gotta tell you, I don't drink a whole lot of beer. But your beer is delicious. I said, well, thank you, man, I appreciate it. He goes, do you mind if I have another one? And I had brought a bunch of extra for my dressing room. I said, well, sure, make help yourself. And as I was making my way back to the dressing room as well, Seamus comes up to me and he sees my beer in my hand. He goes, is that your beer? I said, yeah. He goes, well, can I have one? I said, yeah, follow me. So Seamus comes into the dressing room with me and that big red haired bastard drinks three beers in about five minutes. You talk about a beer guzzling machine, Seamus. It was good hanging out with you and shooting the breeze. John Cena was in there with us. We were just talking about the business and watching the pay per view. I think John had a beer with us. He enjoyed his beer. He still looks phenomenal. But it was just a blast going down there with 100,000 people getting a little bit of a pop, drinking beer out there and having a good time. One dude sent me a tweet the other day while I'm talking about my beer. You get these idiots on Twitter and they'll use an avi, like an egg or something, they'll hide behind the egg. And the dude tweeted at me, he goes, hey man, just because you got a beer and slap your name on the side of it, you think you're a brewer? No, you idiotic dipstick, I don't think I'm a brewer. I collaborated with the brewer Rob Croxel and El Segundo Brewing Company. I helped formulate the beer. Rob created it, they brewed it. I ain't no brewer. I'm an ex professional wrestler who hosts different shows. But I have a piece of a beer. I'm not a brewer, you idiot. Some of these simple minded simpletons that do stupid things on Twitter really chat, my ass. I won't waste any more time talking about that cat. Because cats like that, you don't even answer them back. You just hit the block button, end of story. So here's the thing. I was thinking, okay, I'm five days in Dallas, Texas. I'll probably be able to interview at least three to five WWE Superstars. I wanted to talk to Arn Anderson, I wanted to talk to Ted DiBiase, wanted to talk to a lot of guys, but when you get there, it's like a bunch of ants walking around doing work, doing business. It's very organized, but everybody has stuff to do and all the superstars are making deadlines, appearances, doing this, that, whatever. So it's hard to track anybody down. But I did. I got a chance to meet Enzo Amore in an elevator and my first time to really see those guys work was a couple of pay per views ago at nxt and I believe they worked with Dash and Dawson. I was impressed with all four guys. So I asked Enzo and Big Cass if they wanted to do the show and they said, yeah, but man, we're jammed up all day long from sunup to sundown. And I said, well, what time you guys start tomorrow? And they said at 10:30. I said, how about 9:00am and Joe said, I'll bring you coffee. How you like it by 9:15, here they come knocking on the door with a big old cup of Starbucks coffee for stone cold Steve Austin. I was talking with a certified G and a bonafide stud. Two guys, Jersey's finest, realest guys in the room. Big cash, seven feet tall and you can't teach that. I had a great time talking to Enzo and Big Cass. I think they have an unlimited amount of talent and a bright future ahead of them. If they're booked right, they do the right things and get over. I wish them all the best in the world. I really enjoyed talking to them. I'm probably going to play that podcast coming up this Thursday while it's still relevant. I'll see fit to break down WrestleMania. I want to break down WrestleMania. Talk about some of the matches. Speaking of WrestleMania, I thought from what I saw, because I was busy doing my thing and getting ready to go out and work with the League of Nations and New Day warming up, I didn't get a chance to see the entire pay per view, but I did see 99% of the women's triple threat match between Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Sasha Banks and thought it was completely off the charts. I'll re watch that and comment on that as well. Those three women kicked ass. And I'll tell you what, I left the pay per view a little bit early to get out of that traffic because if any of you guys and gals have been out there to AT&T Stadium or any stadium to begin with, when the show's over, it's hell to get out of there. Shut my window, there's too much noise coming in there. So I sidled back into the hotel, beat the crowd there and I see a blond head and it can be only one man. His name Nature Boy, Ric Flair. So I went over and said hi to Rick and I started drinking Crown and Cokes and I must have had about six or seven with him. Finally wrapped it up. Listen, those sirens in the background, can you hear that shit? Let me open my window. Now the dogs are barking because they don't like the sirens either. I'll never win in a world with this kind of atmosphere. Let me shut the damn window. Me and that damn Ric Flair sat there and shot the breeze and talked about old times and new times. And we're gonna do another podcast together. We brought up some new material that I think you'll find highly interesting. So, Nature Boy, love you to death. It was great hanging with you and Wendy and look forward to talking to you real soon after that, I sidled up to my room. Hell I didn't. God dang it. What's going on over here? Maybe there's emergency and they're bringing me a case of Broken Skull IPA because they know I'm thirsty. Anyway, I lost my train of thought. It was great hanging out with Ric Flair. And today's podcast, you are going to hear my conversation that I had with Mick Foley, the hardcore legend on the WWE Network, the Stone Cold podcast. And with that being said, before I get into some business, if you want a badass T shirt like I've been wearing on Broken Skull Challenge at Redneck island, just go tobrokensullranch.com. if you want to order my beer online, go tobrokensullranch.com. if you want to order the cold steel Broken Skull Steve Austin knife, which is badass, go to broken skull ranch.com and you can also go to prowrestlingtees.com to get the shirts and the caps. But enough of that stuff. I'm going to talk more about my time in Dallas. Let's get on with this so I can turn this into Stacy. Sorry if I sound a little bit clogged up. It's been a long ass weekend. I was holed up for five days. I'm glad to be back home in the state of California temporarily. I plan on going to Texas real soon and getting down there to the Broken Skull Ranch and. And doing some work.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Sam. Oh, hell yeah. Hey, if y' all ready to kick this thing off, give me a Hell yeah. If y' all ready for WrestleMania 32, give me one more. Hell yeah. It's good to be here in Dallas, Texas tonight. Long time ago. Down to Sportatorium. I kicked off my illustrious wrestling career, AKA sports entertainment here in Dallas, Texas, all these years later. It's good to be back home. Right now, without any further ado, I'd like to bring out my friend, my former tag team partner, my arch nemesis, at times one hell of a guy, WWE hall of Famer, the legendary hardcore champion, Mr. Mc Effen Foley. It. The question is, can you say holy on the Stone Cold Podcast? Work with me, people.
Mick Foley
Yes, I just, I want to feel like we deserve it first, right? A pretty easy audience here. As long as we're getting reactions for no apparent reason. Can I just say, Steve, that first time we've done this live, and it's a pleasure to be your guest here right here on the Stone Cold Podcast.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But you've got to say something about this town. You got to kick this thing off with the cheap pop, if you will. And by the same token, let me just go ahead and get this out.
Steve Austin
Of the way, Mickey.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Welcome to the Stone Cold Podcast. I am not a professional broadcaster. I am an ex professional wrestler who has a podcast. This is Stone Cold Podcast. So sometimes I miss cues. I screw things up. So we're on the WWE Network, coming to you live and in living color from Dallas, Texas. I'm here with Mick Foley. This week is kicking in hardcore. It's WrestleMania 32. I'm happy to be here. Thank you guys for tuning in all over the world. Thank you guys for showing up here locally, here in the great city of Dallas, Texas, people from all over the world speaking many different languages coming down here to see the event, the spectacle that is WrestleMania. With that being said, Mick, could you please lead these people in with a cheap pop?
Mick Foley
You're right, I did not include the gratuitous name of the town. A city that means a lot to both of us. City here, right here in Dallas, Texas.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
That was almost anticlimactic. Come on, work with me, people. We're right here in Dallas, Texas. That's as good as it's gonna get, Steve.
Mick Foley
You know, it was here, right here in Dallas, Texas, on the corner of, hold on, the corner of Cat is and Industrial. I'm gonna talk about the first time I saw you. A few people out there may know the story not, but I needed a little time off. I was in world class championship wrestling. I hadn't been home in about seven months and I couldn't just take off. So we needed a reason for me to go home for four days. So. So Eric Embry hit me with a cowboy boot. I went off backwards, you know, Flat on my back, spitting up blood, was carried off. And I just didn't feel like in that age and time, like, fans could watch me leave, you know, I just didn't feel comfortable. Fans at that time would stay and they'd picnic and they'd be out there for several hours. So I went up into a part of the sportatorium there that called the Crow's Nest. And after a couple of hours, it.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Was a kayfabe area with a fence.
Mick Foley
Around it with families and friends would sit and gentleman Chris Adams had his first ever wrestling class. And I thought, this should be fun to watch, how bad everybody is. And there was some bad wrestling out there. But there was this one guy, long blonde hair, heck of a build, and it was like, right away I sat up, I was like, well, don't give away the ending. Yeah, it was stunning. Steve Austin. But I was like, you know, we talk about that it factor, and, man, it was like I just sat up and it was like, this kid's gonna be something. He's gonna be something. And I. And I left the territory within a few months. But I kept my eyes out and my ears open, and sure enough, you know, you kind of fulfilled that prophecy and you did okay for yourself.
Steve Austin
Thank you, kid.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I appreciate that. Hey, could someone in the back turn my earpiece down? I can't hear nothing, but everything's so loud in my ear is. I hear voices and they're too loud. You're blowing me out. Hey, let's talk about you for a second. I appreciate the plug. And I remember those back. Those days, back in the day and you dropping the elbows off the apron. I want to get to all that, but as I saw you coming down that ramp. You're looking good. Did you lose some weight? What are you doing? Because, you know, we used to travel together. We used to go to the gym.
Mick Foley
You can prove it. I was there, right?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Hey, no, he wasn't lifting the heaviest weights, but he was there. But no, you look, you stopped by my crib about a year ago and you was tired. You was pretty broke down.
Steve Austin
You very, very tired.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But you look like a million bucks now. What are you doing, man?
Mick Foley
Yeah, I didn't want to say anything until I really achieved something, but I'm officially, I'm down, down £50. And I'm not going to give away my secret, but I will just say one word.
Steve Austin
Bang.
Mick Foley
Now, I've been eating better. When. When I saw you, I mean, I. I was, you know, working really hard mentally. I was doing my own Shows. I'd always been doing some writing, but, you know, the stuff I'd done had some consequences. And, man, I'd been, you know, basically told that there was no hope for me as far as my. My spine went, you know, and you were asking me, is there anything but he can help you, anybody that can work with you? And I was like, Steve, you know, I'm. I mean, I'm honestly not going to bring this show to screeching halt because there's kind of a happy, a joyful conclusion I don't want to give away. I don't want to go into a dirty area there. But. But I. I just started working about five months ago and started making some progress and realizing that I wasn't going to be the guy to go back in the gym and impress anybody. And so, you know, I've been doing a lot of swimming, incorporating the DDP yoga into the swimming. And so even if you see a guy like me, you know, he's not a big weight man. I think I used to bench room 4:25, quarter to five in the evening, something like that. That still works.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
He's only been doing that for 20 years.
Mick Foley
But the guys in the gym see me come in and they think they're expecting me to be out on the bench. And after about 20 minutes, like, well, where is he? And they look out in the pool. And I'm in the pool going bang. But it's been. It's been working for me. I got a long way left to go, but it's nice that people are noticing that. And it's the lightest I've been since I wrestled Randy Orton at backlash in 2004.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
So, hey, you've been on my podcast many times. We've rode down many roads together, stayed at many cheap hotels. Before I go to my point, let's talk about those cheap hotels. You're one of the cheapest guys in the history of the business, and I was, too.
Steve Austin
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
So how are you now saving all the money?
Steve Austin
Did it.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Did it pay off now being so frugal? Because were you frugal before you got into the business or did the wily veteran scanned our Actboard bronco Lubitz, say, hey, save your money.
Mick Foley
I had those guys. I mean, you know, if I had fallen in with a different crowd and said, you, you know, you need the the to impress people. You need the Cadillac, Things may have turned out differently. I had Akbar and I had Lubitsch. I mean, I remember even when I came back to the Sportatorium, When I was with wcw, like, ACT brought me into that back room and he lectured me, you know, like, not that I was making any expenditures, but he lectured me about saving my money and not to go out there and buy that car, you know, And I made my, my share of mistakes like everybody has, but it was always went back to, it's not what you make, it's what you save. And hopefully when, when the, the, the younger guys and talking to a lot of the NXT guys, you know, backstage, they might take a look at me, go like, he did pretty well. And he's wearing Skecher slippers, you know, like, and sweatpants at 50. So yeah, I, I like that lifestyle. And you and I like, would duel it out to see who could stretch a dollar the farthest. I think Owen and I actually had a contest with a $20 bill to see how many days or weeks we could last on $20. And you know, I, Owen finally tapped out at about the two week mark, the Steve Austin Show. Steve Austin Show.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
As many times I've traveled with you, there's, there's a lot of things that I never did ask you. And growing up back where you grew up, you created this character of Dude Love. I mean, you were backyard wrestling, you were jumping off the roof, your house, doing all this stuff. And then ultimately you get into business, you do a couple of favors, you pay some dues, and you turn into this guy named Cactus Jack. Now, how do you go from a guy, how do you go from a guy who's all about love and lava lamps to Cactus Jack, who's one of the most vicious, insane, although you're extremely intelligent characters to ever hit the ring. How did that happen?
Mick Foley
Why, Jude Love was absolutely what I wanted to be, you know, is chick magnet. I wanted, I wanted wrestling in his escape from all the things that I wasn't in real life. And I would. It might sound, you know, odd and, you know, outside the me borders of mental sanity now, but I'd actually go out, you know, with the wig and like the glasses and the orange headband and felt like I was more comfortable being that guy than I, I was as myself. And I thought once I start wrestling, like, I need to establish myself, I need to learn some things. I can't just jump in there as, as Dude Love. So in the interim period, I decided to become Cactus Jack as a tribute to my dad, who was the original Jack Foley. And it just, along the way, like, it was clear that Mother Nature was not going to cooperate with this Dude Love. Character, and I kind of embraced the Cactus Jack thing and, and kind of celebrated what, you know, Terry Taylor had taught me, which was, if you can't look better than the average person out there, then you got to work as hard as you can to look different, you know. And so everything I did was predicated on looking different and acting different, you know, sizing up situations, reacting differently than the average person would. And that's what Cactus Shack was based on.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Okay, Jack then came from your dad. But where did the cactus part of it and where the. The maniacal ways of Cactus Jack? The vicious streak.
Mick Foley
Yeah, well, like I said, you know, at that time, like, in the mid-80s, you know, nobody was looking for a guy with my, you know, my build. I remember Dominic Denucci calling, personally calling awa, which was a territory prided itself on its wrestling, and talking to one of the main people there and saying, you know, I got a boy. He's a good boy. And I knew the question because he answered, well, he's a tall. And he waited another few seconds, and he repeated again, well, he's a tall. Because they were wondering, what's the body look like? And I'm convinced I was one of the first people to actually, like, invest a little bit of money at the time, like $120 into some decent studio photos, you know, and I had the baby oil, and I had the barbells, and I was doing, you know, three, four sets of curls. I managed to squeeze off a couple of decent photos and sent them out to Jerry Jarrett and whoever was running full time in the. In 1987, 88, to the point where when I showed up at the studio in Memphis tv, I was told that, like, Randy Hales and. And people like that were gathering together, looking at the photos, looking at me, and wondering if we were actually the same guy, because I showed up in the studio and just, like, the slightest suggestion of muscle on the deltoid and, like, that's trick photography. It was. And I just said, you know, the foresight, you know, to put a little bit into that. But I was booked basically on the way I. They thought I looked in Memphis, and then I ended up keeping the job because I was willing to go to some pretty extreme lengths to make the matches entertaining. And I realized that if I was going to have to connect, I was just telling one of the younger women backstage about how one of the things, biggest threats I, I. I faced was trying to be aggressive as a. When I was not a naturally aggressive person, like, trying to get that real heat and the lesson that Terry Funk imparted on me after I wrestled Norman Lunatic Muckam Singh, where he came up to me and it taught me about the parable of the angel and the devil, you know, where, you know, the angel said, without me, without you, there is no me. And he goes, cactus Norman, was that angel out there. But were you the devil? Were you the devil? It doesn't matter what you do, you know, the moves didn't matter if that real anger and the. You know, the. The getting the heat wasn't there. And at that point, it wasn't. So I had to work really hard to be that guy who get the type of heat that would merit the type of response, you know, when the big bump started happening.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You were talking about back in Dallas in the crow's nest, watching me when I was in Chris Adams wrestling school. But tell me another story, because you were Cactus Jack, you're in Dallas, Texas, and you met a girl.
Mick Foley
Yeah, yeah.
Steve Austin
Can you tell that story?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I know you're happily with me with.
Mick Foley
My son in the front row. I'm not sure if I can tell that story. Earmuffs, buddy.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
What happened?
Mick Foley
Well, one of the. One of the problems I ran into when I was in Tennessee, Robert Fuller was one of my mentors and said, son Jack O, you're gonna have a heck of a time with that accent. Because I still had a couple of telltale gives. You know, the Long island accent, it wasn't strong, but, like, ball and mall, things like that. So I would go out at night and I'd work on my accent, you know, and I'd be in character all the time. Like, there was no question when you went out in public, you were going to be that character. So I went out to the. Whatever. The Roadhouse was about a mile away from the Sportatorium, and I met a young lady, and she liked me, you know, and it was, you know, kind of an instant thing. And we started dating, and I thought, all right, I'm at a crossroads. Do I tell her I am not who I appeared to be, that I don't have the same name, that I don't actually ask? You act that same way. And I thought to myself, well, she didn't. She wasn't attracted to Mick Foley. She was attracted to Cactus Jack. And so the answer I came up to myself, with myself, was, oh, hell, no. I don't tell her who I actually am. And she never really knew. Like, I would have to force myself. As we were driving, get to the airport. I'm like, oh, there's the University of Dallas. And I remember that's where I would go. I had a couple of friends, I would stop off and I would get into character at the University of Dallas. I would drive over to Duncanville and I would essentially put on an extended performance, you know, for the entirety of my time there. You know, again, it was great character building, wasn't great necessarily for building a quality relationship.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
So what happened to this relationship that enjoyed demise because she found out you were actually Mick Foley?
Mick Foley
She never, never found out.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
She knows now because she's watching the WWE Network. Never really? How did you break up this engagement or did she break up with you?
Mick Foley
No, you know what? She, she did briefly break up with me. And then, and then there was a phone call where she had seen on television that I was going to be wrestling Eric Embry in a scaffold match at the Fort Worth Sam. Sam Rogers, Sam Houston Coliseum, and begged me not to do it. I said, well, am I supposed to tell, tell, you know, the powers that be, that I can't do it because my ex girlfriend asked me not to? And she said, yes, just tell them anything. And I was up on top of that scaffold and, you know, I, you know, like my grip gave way, like even, you know, without the considerable weight gain, I was never really a great pull up guy. You know, my grip gave way and I hit that canvas and man, I was, you know, I was in a rough way and I'd fractured my, my wrist. And I saw her there crying at ringside and she's like, will you take me back? I was like, yeah, okay. And that night I, I remember specifically, like denying the request of her children, like to have soft drinks with their meal. I was like, kids, I think you better have the water. You know, it's free. So even in or out of character, I was always looking to save a couple dollars.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Talking about that scaffold match with Eric Emory. Everybody has a style that they develop, you know, as a wrestler, I was really influenced by nature, boy, Ric Flair, I just thought he was the greatest of all time. I know you're a big Terry Funk guy.
Mick Foley
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But how did you go about developing your hardcore style which would basically last the rest of your career? How did you come upon that? Because I remember in Dallas, man, I was in the wrestling school. I was just now coming in and watching you come into the sportatorium and run down that apron and dropping that elbow on the guy. That was the hardest wooden floor in the history of the business. And it Might as well have been harder than concrete. But tell me about developing your style, because I'm sure when you were in school or learning to wrestle, I mean, you're doing the things in the. In your backyard, but when Dominic Denucci formerly trained you, yeah, he didn't train you to do that. So.
Mick Foley
Yeah, what.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
What drove you to come up with the style you created?
Mick Foley
Yeah, you learn the, you know, the letters, and then you create your words, and you create your sentences and then your paragraphs. And they said, if you want to do that other stuff, you can do that on your own. And so I did start adding those things. I basically took what I wanted to see as a fan and tried to make it come. Come to life in the ring. And two of my biggest influences before I ran into Terry Funk, before I became familiar with stuff, was Bruiser Brody and the Dynamite Kid. And I knew I could never be as wild as Brody, and I sure as hell knew I wasn't the athlete the Dynamite Kid was. But I thought, what if I could combine, like, the brawling style with kind of that, like my own, but using my own body as a weapon, If I could combine those two elements, you know, and come up my own patterns, that I might have something original to offer this business. And so what you saw in Texas would be kind of like me finding my own way. So that instead of being yelled at and lectured as I was in Tennessee, that when I got to Texas, I did have Eric Embry saying, whatever you want to do. You know, I had these guys like Akbar going, baby, that's be. You do whatever you want. You know, Jack, you. That's. Just try things, you know, go out there. It doesn't matter if you fail, as long as you try. And I would, you know, have to talk these veterans into maybe stay taking a look at it. I was about 265 at that time, coming out about 15ft on that elbow, and no one had done those type of things before. Poor Al Groznick, who ran the Sportatorium, was afraid that I was going to go through the floor, right, because it was coming down with a lot of force at that time. But I felt like I needed to do those things. You know, structurally, maybe dropping an elbow off the ring apron from that type of height and distance wasn't a very sound idea. But I was building a reputation. Word was getting around. Guys like Jim Ross and Jim Cornette were seeing the. The. The show, and, you know, I was kind of, like, building up a name, and that proved to be really helpful for Me, you know, a year or so down the road, you were working.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Man, all the times that I worked in the ring with you, all of your stuff looked very vicious. But you were always a fun guy to work with because, one, you always want to have the best match on a card. It didn't matter what night of the week it was, what town we were in, whatever you were going to give 100%, but. But you were always very safe. Early in your career when you were kind of learning the chops coming out of Denucci School, before you turned into Cactus Jack, you worked with Dynamite Kid.
Steve Austin
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
He hit you with the clothesline. I think it damn near knocked you out.
Mick Foley
Yeah, yeah. It would be three weeks before I would chew solid food again. You know, I didn't know at the time you wouldn't get those things checked out, but basically dislocated my jaw. And at that time, for about a year, maybe more, that was kind of like the Achilles heel. Every time time I got hit on the point of the jaw, that jaw would come out of alignment and I had a lot of trouble chewing. Thought maybe I'd have to, you know, you know, give it up because I couldn't chew food very regularly.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But you're one of the toughest guys I know. And ultimately after. Was it before or after you left wcw, you go to Japan and, dude, you're in some of the craziest matches of all time, barbed wire matches, matches with C4 explosives, working with Terry Funk, work with some of the Japanese guys. And I believe in my research you did. It was one night of events. I think you worked three times. You damn near got killed using C4 and explosive. I believe you made 300 bucks. And you said that was one of the most. Your defining moments, one of your proudest moments in the business.
Steve Austin
Why?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Yeah, well, it was, you know, do you like pain? No. Because back in the day, you would ask. I mean. I mean, I thought you did. Now, as we were talking backstage, I know you don't like pain.
Mick Foley
Yeah, it was. I mean, it was something I worked through, something I accepted from the very beginning. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to have to learn to live with a lot of pain, you know? And then my definition of what a lot of pain was, we kept getting more extensive to the point where, you know, as I got older, it's like, maybe this, some of these things were not a good idea. I never liked it. I'd say it motivated me. Like I was a guy that, especially as I got Older, I needed to be jolted into, like, almost an alternate reality, you know, like, to become that character for a while. The character. Me. Me and the character were. There was a time when there wasn't much difference between Cactus Jack and myself. Right. And that was when things are really going smooth. And I'd say that was when in the Attitude era, you had guys who were really close to the bone. Well, whether it was you, a Stone Cold, me as Mankind, Triple H, the Rock, you know, everybody just basically themselves dialing it up, you know, to 11, you know, but as I got older and I wasn't really that guy, I would need those shots, definitely. I'm talking about, like, you know, whether it's a frying pan from Edge or, you know, cookie sheet with Edge to kind of remind me that I was Cactus Jack. So I definitely responded to it. I wouldn't say I liked it, but I'm not sure I could have done what I did without it.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But you weren't seeking pain, but that was your desire and your MO Using your body as a weapon and then taking the blows as well. That. That was your style of satisfying the crowd, giving them every damn dollar.
Mick Foley
Can I. Can I jump off for a second, talk a little bit about Dean Ambrose?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Yeah, I want to talk about Dean Ambrose, but I just got one more thing before we jump into Dean Ambrose. I can understand you wrestling the style that you wrestled, and I enjoyed wrestling you. But when you were doing the matches in Japan, were you married to your current wife?
Mick Foley
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
So how do you call up your wife, say, hey, I damn near got killed, almost got blown up by a C4, and on top of it, I made $300. Okay, you can deal with it. How does your wife deal with it?
Mick Foley
I think in the interest of fairness, I think it was $400 a day.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Hey, when you count a buck like.
Mick Foley
Mick Foley does, yeah, it was about $3,000.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
How does your wife cope with that?
Mick Foley
Well, we got to remember, my wife had already been on the receiving end of the phone call from Germany, where I said, I've got some good news and some bad news. All right, what's the good news? Hey, I'm coming home early. She said, what's the bad news? I said, one of my ears is not going to be coming with me. So she was used to some of those phone calls already. And, you know, the. The one that, you know, this was very close to the time I got the phone call from wwe. Like, my dad picked me up at the airport after that infamous tournament. It was then Known as a Kawasaki Dream Tournament, it's become known in wrestling lore as the King of the Death Match. And I mean, I was in rough shape. Terry left. You know, Terry came over and people can read into this what they want. You know, I like to make it so you guys can read between the lines. You know, Terry just came up to me before that last match and he said, I wouldn't do this for many people. And then we went out there and did what we thought we had to do to kind of live up to the, you know, the standards that people had set. And, and I was in a rough way but didn't realize it because I still had that kind of post match glow. And Terry left, you know, you know, in an ambulance to a, you know, a hero's farewell. And then I did all the interviews, you know, for a couple hours and then I started realizing and man, I'm, I'm in, I'm in need of some medical attention. You know, like hands were need stitching. The good ear had nearly been lost, you know, stitches above the eyebrow and in the head. And within all that, I'd completely lost that, you know, that a good deal of my skin had been burned, you know, off my arm from that explosive, like, didn't even ask about that. And then it was not until the next day on the flight that that arm started turning colors, you know, started drying out, started peeling. And when I got home, you know, I, I walked in, we had a little apartment in Long island and my wife, first thing she did was she went, oh my God, like, was it a smoking flight? And I said no. And I had my dad with me. I didn't want my dad to worry about me too much. And all she kept saying was the smell is just awful. Like what was it like? And then my, the moment my dad left, she goes, mick, seriously, what smells? And I rolled up my sleeve and I went, it's me. You know, it's me. And a couple days after that, WWE had their SummerSlam and I'm working a independent show and I run into Kevin Nash and Scott hall and xpot and I was working a match with Sabu and just all that skin just, it just kind of came off.
Steve Austin
You know, I understand that you've got.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
A project coming up with the WWE Network involving your family.
Mick Foley
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
What is this project?
Mick Foley
Well, you know, I could, I could tell you, but I think it would be more beneficial if I introduced my co star at this point. Please say hello to my daughter if you know, since infancy. Ladies, gentlemen, say hello To Noel Foley.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Oh, hell, yeah. Come on in here, honey.
Steve Austin
There you go.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Thanks.
Steve Austin
See here?
Mick Foley
Do I sit here next to you? Okay.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Noel Foley, ladies and gentlemen. Noel, welcome to the Shizzo. Hey, how are you?
Noel Foley
I'm doing great. How are you?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Here's the thing. I've known Mick for years, and I knew Noelle when she was a baby, and she didn't know me because she was a baby.
Noel Foley
Yes, I did.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But now, all these years later, and here we are, a tall drink of water. Six feet, beautiful. I would never guess that Mick is your dad. I mean, Mick and me are close friends. Welcome to the show. Tell me your thoughts and tell me the process and what's going on with. The name of the show is Holy Foley.
Mick Foley
Holy Foley.
Noel Foley
It's a great name.
Mick Foley
You know, we talked about Dude Love a little bit earlier, Mr. McMahon. You and I used to ride up the roads, you know, and we've always been said that you couldn't really become a superstar in the company until Mr. McMahon was sold on you as a character. And then he became sold on Stone Cold. Even though I was doing some main events with the Undertaker, I'd done Mind Games with Shawn Michaels. Still not completely on board until he found out about the Dude Love character. Had found out that I'd wanted to be this guy and that I actually had footage of me being this guy. And Vince saw the footage and saw something into that and had a vision in the same way Vince saw some footage of, you know, my interactions with my daughter. So when. When it was announced in the press release of his very unique relationship with his daughter, like, it's nothing creepy, it's just 22, and we've had three arguments, three little fights. Three little fights like the cat. There's a lot of some great chemistry. Like, we play off each other. And Mr. McMahon saw this, and he thought it was. I got the word that he thought it was a shame that I'm gonna do my Vince here for you, you know? And the word I got was, it's just a shame that Mick doesn't like me and wouldn't want to work with me because he'd think I'd ruin everything. And I turned to Kevin Dunn. I said, I don't think. I think I like Vince more than he thinks I like him. And I was told, then you need to tell him that. And that was what changed my relationship with Mr. McMahon. And he said, so you. You know, you'd like to work with us? Yeah. Yeah, man. I would. I would welcome that opportunity. And so Noel Is here. We're going to try to capture some of that magic and kind of a, you know, a reality slash, you know, drama comedy on the network.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Okay, that being said, then, Noel, what is basically the gist of the show? What will it capture? Because I've known you for forever, you're beautiful, you've been doing some modeling, but now also other sights set on maybe something in the business.
Noel Foley
We're not your average family. We do things a little differently. So it's gonna be like him doing his thing and me doing my thing. Me training to become a diva.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You are gonna train to be a WWE Diva. You're going to get in this squared circle 20 by 20 ring and wrestle.
Noel Foley
Yes.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
And make your thoughts or what? Because.
Mick Foley
I thought that the way I walked would be the greatest advertisement against following my footsteps. Right. But she loves it. She's been drawn to it since she was a little child. It was never something she, like, phased out of all my kids, I say that my home is accompanied by the sounds of human agony. Because my son Hugh has been, like, having matches with his action figures. Like, you know, I just wake up to the words, let's take another look at that, junior. Like, it's just the house we live in. It's just a wrestling home. And if she's dead set on becoming a wrestler, then I'm going to have a hand in her training, make sure that she gets trained the right way and that she has a shot at doing what it is that makes her happy.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Noah, you grew up with your dad being who he is and being around the business your entire life. So what are your aspirations? What. What are your goals as you go into the squared circle? To be a diva. And will you try to mimic his style?
Noel Foley
Am I going to follow his style?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Yeah. I mean, they're big shoes to fill following in his footsteps.
Noel Foley
I maybe won't follow his style because I don't want to walk like that, but I can. He can teach me some good stuff.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But what was it like being a kid? Because I father of two and I was never home. Your relationship with your dad, you guys are so close. You've only had three arguments. What was it like growing up with him always on the road? And are you ready to get on the road and live that life? Because, as you know, it is a tough life.
Noel Foley
Yeah, he did a really great job. As much as he traveled, he would. Even if he had a day free, he would come back and see us. He would take us on the road. So he did the best that he could. And I think, I think we turned out pretty good, so.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But it was okay when he was missing all the major functions because, you know, he was on the road trying to make a living, pay the bills. So you were okay with him missing out on a lot of your milestone events as a kid growing up?
Noel Foley
Yeah, because he made up for it and you did your best.
Mick Foley
I was always, I was always home on a 6am flight. I was, I did, I did the best I could and they appreciated that. They appreciate they got to do things. I mean even, you know, going on the, you know, the Wrestle vessel cruise, you know, and we look back and here's these autographs like from the big show from 1999, you know, Eddie Guerrero signing to Dewey and Noel. Like, you know, they were around it so much, like it was just part of their lives. And there always a trade off, you know, like you wish you'd been home. And I have been home a lot more with the younger kids. But she sees, oh, that's a good picture there. The Foley family there. Pretty good, pretty good photo there. And, and then she, she's done a lot of thinking about it and it's, it's really. Wrestling's kind of the love of her life and she wants to give it her best shot.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
So when will you guys start filming this project?
Noel Foley
In about two weeks. Yeah, so it's coming up really quick.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You've been around cameras all your life now invading, so to speak, your home. Are you, you down with that? You cool with that? Are you ready? Because, I mean, when the cameras start.
Noel Foley
Rolling, I mean, we're ready to show people the real us.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Would you consider the, the Foley family to be quote unquote normal? Whatever normal is.
Noel Foley
We're like a weird normal.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
It's kind of like weird normal before I move on. What is weird normal?
Noel Foley
Weird normal is like we're your normal, normal, average family, but at the same time, like having him, he's just a weird dad. We make weird noises.
Mick Foley
Do you remember the monsters?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Are you well, Noel? Are you all as frugal as your father?
Noel Foley
I. I really am.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I. You're not a shopaholic.
Noel Foley
I'm not, no. Maybe a shopaholic, but I get the best deals.
Steve Austin
All right.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I dig it. All right, we're going to wrap this thing up. Noel, thanks to for coming out. I'm looking forward to seeing the show. Good luck with the filming and good luck with your in ring career. It's going to be a tough one as you know it. I look forward to seeing what you can do.
Noel Foley
Thank you. And don't forget, Holy Foley is coming right here to the WWE Network this August.
Mick Foley
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Yeah. And you heard it first right here in Dallas, Texas. Thank you. Thank you, Noel. All right, here we go. I was going to listen to the music. Waiting on the queue. Hey, let's talk a little bit about going back into the square circle. The. The Mankind character.
Steve Austin
How. How was that born?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Who came up with that idea? Because didn't events initially want to call you Mason the Mutilator? Yeah.
Mick Foley
When I showed up for my meeting there in Stanford, there was an illustration. I didn't know what in the world it was there.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Talk to.
Steve Austin
Talk to us about the.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
The meeting in Stanford. Because if you're in the. The leagues coming up, if you're trying to be, you know, get to the big leagues, and that's wwe. Make no mistake about it. It was back in and still is. Well, it's the only game in town now. But every now and then you get that invite to the house.
Mick Foley
I never got the invite to the house.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Okay, or you got the invite, but. But you're going to see the man.
Mick Foley
I was going to see the man, but I didn't.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You're pitching him or he's pitching you?
Mick Foley
Did you go to the house?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I went to the house.
Mick Foley
Ah, son of a gun. I'll tell you why. There were a lot of. A lot of guys got the invite to the house who do not currently reside in the WWE hall of Fame. So when I was there, when you were there, there was a list of four or five guys that were supposed to be the future of wwe, and you and I were not on that list. So. Mr. McMahon, the ability to adapt. And at the time, and I told this story on the Cheap Pop special I did. Luckily, I didn't hear it until just about two years ago from Bruce Prichard. But it seemed odd to me at the time that Mr. McMahon would want to take, you know, a mask that had been made for the Undertaker. When had he fractured his orbital bone? It was an idea was on the table for the Undertaker. They eventually went with like kind of a Phantom of the Opera type white mask look, which is actually pretty eerie. The Undertaker can make just about anything work for him and had this look and I. And I. And he had a reason for wanting to put me under the mask that he gave me. But it turns out that at a booking meeting in 1995, in the fall of 1995, that after JR had come aboard, director of talent relations and he began this steady push for me, slow, steady campaign that finally Mr. McMahon slammed his hand on a table and said.
Steve Austin
All right, damn it, I'll bring him in.
Mick Foley
But I'm covering up his face. That's the secret behind the Mankind mask, really.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But here's the thing. When, when Mick gets all trimmed up, you're actually a good looking dude. And I'm going on record of saying that, so why.
Mick Foley
Well disguised for many years. And, and you know, I bought into the idea that I was the most hideous wrestler. I mean, I had photos that, you know, Mick Folk, Cactus Jack, world's ugliest wrestler. And it was, it took me a long time. It was actually on the Today show in 2001 where I was like, I kept replaying the footage of me and Katie Kirk and I'm like, I'm not a bad looking guy, you know, but I had really played into it because that was kind of my strength. And the facial expressions, the, the tongue through the teeth, doing whatever I could with whatever I had to make, you know, whatever impression I needed to.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I was talking to Vince and I don't know, I don't know if you know this, but Vince was against you coming into the wwe and it was, in fact, Jim, lobbying for you. And Vince actually didn't like your work style.
Mick Foley
Yeah.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
How hard was it to overcome that barrier? Because you, you would go on to become, what, three time world champion? One of the top guys. Yeah.
Mick Foley
Three time WWE champion, One of the.
Steve Austin
Greatest runs in the history.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But I mean, what I'm saying is you came in, the man saw nothing in you, and you made something.
Mick Foley
He saw nothing in me before I came in. I think it's. You cannot ever overstate the importance of the Undertaker in your corner, you know, figuratively speaking, because 20 years ago tomorrow, April 1, 1996, I debuted on Raw. And later on in that program, I came out and attacked the Undertaker. And not at my entire life changed. You know, the fact that you had a guy, even at that point 20 years ago, was one of the most respected guys in the locker room in the business who wanted to do business, who maybe was tired of just being matched up with guys who were taller or heavier than him and wanted to do something maybe with some, you know, like some, you know, like some mental dueling and thought that he could do that with me. And we were able to go out there and Vince took a chance, you know, he went against his better judgment, went with what Jim Ross thought, with what the Undertaker thought. I mean, he went around to a lot of the guys like Kevin Nash and said, what do you think about this guy? And he came away with a little bit different perspective. Enough, you know, enough rope to hang myself, so to speak. And, and fortunately for me, you know, the, the character just kind of took off and you and I would drive down those roads and you know, we had this bond, you know, kind of formed out of some of the frustration we felt that like the push other guys are given or contracts we heard that other guys had and like we kind of pushed each other to be better. And I think that was one of those secrets. You know, we were kind of the underdogs there against wcw. Everybody wanted to make each other better. We all wanted to steal the show when the time was right. You know, it was a really healthy, healthy atmosphere. You know, there was definitely the competition. There was also kind of like a brotherhood as well.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
In your career in the wwe. And I want to go back to the Undertaker here in a minute. And a Hell in a Cell match. But in your career in the wwe, you played three different characters. You were Cactus Jack, you were Mankind, you were due to Love. Did you ever get the three of them confused? Did you ever morph one into the other? Because I thought there, there was a little crossover. But by and large they were separate characters. I mean, are you a schizophrenic? Because we always talk about a lot of good guys are themselves turned up. Are you three people turned up or one?
Mick Foley
Well, you know, Jude Love later, you know, I was able to explore that kind of like nerd zone, you know, when I became the Commissioner and they like lose all pretense of being a tough guy because I think felt like I had enough of that on video, you know, as proof. And so dude, Love would later kind of come in, you know, and usher in like the, the Commissioner Foley era where I just, anything goes, nothing's too stupid, nothing's too foolish. The stuff we did with Edge was just kind of like magic being created out of thin air. And then Mankind, it was like the darker. Like even my son Mickey, who's 15, Mickey Godad, you know, like the Mankind. Like, no, I'm not talking about the tortured Soul Mankind. Like 1997 Mankind, he talk about the lighter hearted Mankind. But I would have to like to get into those matches. I would have to find a way to become that kind of dark person. And I would spend hours in that boiler room. I spent four of like my first seven nights underneath the ring, you know, like under that ring coming out like. And I didn't Thought nothing of it. I thought that's a perfectly acceptable place to get into character and be, you know, rocking. Like even as I talk about it, I kind of rock as the old mankind would.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Well, it's interesting because we were talking about acting backstage of which you and I really don't care for, but you were Daniel Day Lewis back in the day because you were doing all the things that he does to get into a role. You realize that now, right? I, yeah, I do, because I never had to just work into getting the character.
Steve Austin
Boom. Glass hits.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
I'm me jazzed up.
Mick Foley
But this mankind was definitely a stretch. It was a stretch and I had to work really hard for it. Later, latter day.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But that's, that's one reason I think it was so successful, because it was, it was damn near shoot. Because I believed everything that you were doing. I believed everything you were saying and that was a conviction to the character.
Mick Foley
So there was a defining moment for me when I did a multi part interview, extensive interview with Jim Ross in the spring of 1997. And I mentioned that I was told you could never really become a true star in WWE until Mr. McMahon became sold on you. And it was when I was doing that interview with Jim Ross, completely in character, like, yeah, I was locked in. Everything I said was on it. You know, it's honesty from honesty as Mick Foley, but in the character of Mankind, you know. And there was like, I was just locked into a role as probably, you know, a Hollywood actor would be. And they went to change a tape at a certain time and I just heard a voice in the darkness and it said, this is outstanding. And it was Mr. McMahon. And to me, that was the deciding factor. Like everything after that was, you know, was pretty easy. I think it was that night that kind of brought him over to my side.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Hey man, let's. Let's go back to the Undertaker and Because that promo helped define you and get you over with Vince, the old man, as we say, affectionately, also a big part of that. And your success really parlayed in fast forwarded in the Hell in a Cell match, I guess it was. 98 was the king of the Ring and it was you versus Undertaker. And it was a match no one would have ever envisioned. I had to follow that match. Me and the wonderful Kane. Yeah, in a first blood match. And we did the best we could, but you can't sometimes, some nights you can't follow what two guys or four guys or whatever the deal is does. The brutality of that match was off the charts. And that plays in going back to the in ring style that you created. And now all of a sudden there you guys are. But before, let me go back, before then you were thinking about this match and what could you do in a hell in a cell? You'd been in many cages, you're there talking with your dear friend Terry Funk and take it over from here because.
Steve Austin
That'S how this, I'm watching.
Mick Foley
The, the, the first ever match between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, to me was still the best cell match ever, in my opinion, the best cell match ever. These guys are off the charts. And I, and I looked at Terry and I said, what, what am I going to do? I was never a great cage match guy. Didn't play to my physical strengths. You know, pulling up, it just wasn't physical strength for me. And Terry kind of jokingly says, cactus, I think you should start the match on top of that cell. And we both started laughing and then I said, I think I can do that. You know, I think I, Terry tried to talk me out of it, but I already had that image in my head, you know, and that's when I started like getting into, you know, the promo zone and just like thinking about it. And you know, part of the challenge for me was driving down the road and like visualizing things and then trying to bring them to life, you know, on the microphone or in the ring. And that was, I was a real big believer in like seeing the picture, picture, thinking the picture, becoming the picture and the visualization. What's that?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Visualization?
Mick Foley
Yeah, yeah. And the most important part of that equation is number four, like, don't be afraid to make mistakes. And fortunately in my case, like the mistakes I made ended up being career makers for me. You know, like the mistakes I made happen when the cameras were on, captured, you know, for prosperity and turned out to be like the milestones of my career. All things that didn't work out quite like I'd hoped they would.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Sometimes when you start a match, you know, it's the lockup is so important. If it's a snap lockup and things look intense and it could be a sign of good things to come. Starting that match grabbed the attention of the audience from the get go. And as soon as it started over the top, you go. I sent out a question on my Twitter account and hey, send in questions.
Steve Austin
I'm talking to Mick Foley.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Everybody wants to know about that bump. You're not a scientist, you've never done this bump before. How do you prepare for something like that? What Was it like in the fall? What do you remember? Let's just go anywhere with this because it was one of the damnedest things I'd ever seen and someone giving their body to try to entertain the masses.
Mick Foley
I just, I was really thankful when Jericho wrote his book and he talked about, about the potential for doing something off the top. And he said, I went up there earlier in the day and he said, and the people below looked like ants. He said, I'm not exaggerating. They looked like ants. And I was so thankful. I was like, that's exactly what they look like, you know. And so when I got up there, this is the worst idea I've ever had, you know, the worst. And I was just trying to think like, how do I very gingerly climb back down that cell after I'm on top of there? And it was just that, that, that solution was worse than anything else I could come up with. And so we carried forward, you know, had no idea, you know. You know, after that kind of epic landing that things were actually going to get worse for me that night. But they did. And you brought up something when we were talking backstage that like 99% of you that didn't know or forgotten. But, like, even after I laughed, you know, like, even after I laughed like I wasn't done for the evening, like, I was not done, I. I hugged Stephanie McMahon. I know. I smiled at Stephanie McMahon. First time I'd ever seen her. Pat Patterson had had a, you know, personal, real life tragedy. And I hugged Pat Patterson, looked at stat young Stephanie McGahn, gave her a smile, you know, teeth were all scattered across my face. And then I went back out there.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Well, you went back out there to interfere in my match, the first blood match with Kane. But here's the thing. You take the choke slam on the top of the cage. Someone tweeted me, why did you go back to the top of the cage? You just got thrown off. Why would you go back? But you did. The ca. The cage gave way. You landed in a heap. You could have been killed. Finally, the match was over. It was one of the best matches in the history of the business. And then you come running down and really, when I watched the film back, I watched it.
Mick Foley
Would you describe that as running?
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You were doing the best you could it, but you had this kind of gate. You kind of had this smile on your face, whatever it was or played. Bit a little at this. There it is right there. Man, that's like a puppy dog running after a bowl of food.
Mick Foley
And look, you can see look what.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
You did to me. But see look there's. There's a little bit of where's the humanity but there's a little discombobulation here because we would do this before we go go into. See now I'm kicking you. I'm going offense here. I normally would just hit the stunner. I don't think you're all there. Do you remember this?
Mick Foley
Not a, not a, not a moment of it.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Boom, you're done.
Mick Foley
I still have this attacks in my shoes. That's where the junior should have. They should have just replayed him. Say would somebody stop the damn match there.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Let's talk about a guy you wanted to talk about. Let's talk about Dean Ambrose. He's got a big match coming up.
Steve Austin
He's going to be.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Man, who's Dean Ambrose? Who's going against Brock Lesnar in a was a street fight match. Dean Ambrose, your thoughts on this kid?
Mick Foley
We got a few minutes to talk about Dean.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Short time.
Mick Foley
There's a takeaway I like people to take this away, you know is that I had when I talked to Mr. McMahon I said, you know, I don't care if I'm on once a year, every two years as long as when I come back it's something that has force to it. And I thought when I'd come back October of 2014 with Dean and Seth Rollins, that had four force. So when I was asked about coming back to do a backstage promo, you know, my at first said like I told you, I wanted to do something that had force. And they said well we think this could be effective. And just in the back of my mind, every wrestler I think has this idea that in order to be important that promos be delivered in ring and if there's a lesson to be learned, it's like I certainly learned it. You know, I went back there and I just, I wanted to get along. I didn't want to create waves. You know, when I was given a structure and I didn't think it was great, but I didn't want to make waves. And it was only about like 10 minutes before we went on air. And I just had this, you know, this thought which was it's not my job not to make waves. It's my job to do the best job that I can while I'm here and to portray a guy like Dean who deserves it in the most positive light I can. Like that's my job. So when the writer asked me I said I just, I think the overall tone's too humorous. I don't think anything is nearly as effective after I hand him that bat as the real deal. And it just felt like I felt like all these things were returning to me. Because if you'd asked me earlier that afternoon, or even leading up to it, how do you approach a backstage promo? I wouldn't have known, because you can't be 100% dialed in, turned up to 11. I'm not a guy like the Rock who, like, through the sheer force of his personality, kind of raises everybody. You know, like that tie. That tie just raises. And everybody benefits. Like, I have to approach it in a different way. And I didn't know how I was going to do it until we went on that camera and I'd thrown out a line to Dean, and I just given this line about, I'm Mick Foley. That's what I did. Dean Ambrose, this is what I do. And I threw it away. Like, I didn't think it would work in that setting. And then he looks at me, goes, I like that. And I said, what do you like? I like that line about you being Mick Foley, me being Dean Ambrose. I said, you do. And I'm so thankful we did that promo live like that. We didn't go back and pre record it, because we would have been nitpicking it and saying, all right, Mick messed up a word there. And it was so rewarding because I said that line, right? And I could hear the audience respond. And then Dean gives that line. He goes, yeah, there you have it. I'm Dean Ambrose, and I feel this wave. And Steve, I'm not kidding, you know, people could look in close. Every time I talk about it, it starts here, the hat, and it goes, sweeps down the arm. It's like 30 years later, like, I still get emotional when I talk about this stuff. And we. We finished that promo, and I had this, like, distinct feeling, which was something really important just happened here, you know? And I walked away that evening, and I thought that was one of the most important things I've ever done. And I don't think I will never look at a backstage promo. The opportunity to do a backstage promo, the same. And I'd like to think that if there's a lesson learned that any wrestler, any guy or anyone who wants to aspire to be in wwe should never look at a backstage promo as a throwaway or anything less than the most important thing it can possibly be. Because that night I thought it was. There was no place I could have been more effective than with Dean Ambrose for Two minutes backstage.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
He's got his work cut out for him, as he has in WrestleMania 32. The task and hand this to be to defeat Brock Lesnar. He's going to have all the toys there to play with. Good luck to him. The hall of Fame coming right up. I know you had a Stan Hansen story and a Freebird story. I'm so happy to see the fabulous Free Birds go in because you were in Dallas when they were hot. Yeah, I was here in Dallas when they were hot. We got about three minutes left. Yes. Dan Hansen, our Free Bird story. But yeah, I do proud of these guys and the whole class.
Mick Foley
I saw Buddy Roberts wife, Janice. She was great when she was in Texas. She did the merchandise. I have a photo somewhere. Brandon, I believe is Buddy Roberts Jr. Is going to be inducting his dad. I got a photo of him, Buddy helping me move. And BRANDON at age 2 or 3, you know, eating an ice pop with me in 1989. I love those guys. Michael Hayes, one of the most influential guys, you know, on the mic or in the ring, you know, couldn't speak more highly of Michael. And when it comes to Stan, man, like, I tell you how highly I thought of Stanley, like, my son Dewey, like, came really close to being called Hanson or Stan, because Stan had that much of an effect on me. When I met him in Japan, he talked so highly of his family and what his children meant to him that I called my wife at home and I said, you know, would you like to make a baby? And so Stan had an influence on me. You know, I still don't think it's wise to give a guy who is legally blind a clothesline as a finishing move. Like, a lot of people paid a price for that, you know, I'm not advocating that at all. But he was a guy who hit hard. And I'll just. Just one thing is like, you know, everyone out there has an idea of how a wrestling match compiled. To me, it doesn't matter how it takes place, just as long as you get to the finish line. And, you know, the how you get there is up to you. I went up to Stan on the.
Steve Austin
First day of the tour.
Mick Foley
I said, stan, I got some. An idea for some spots. I heard we're going to be tagged. He goes, I don't do spots. And I said, no, but these are some good spots. He goes, I don't do spots. And he like, what do you mean? You don't say a word? And he didn't before his match. Nothing. Yeah. And then when that bell rings, man. He just takes off and he creates out in the ring. And he's one of those guys that brings the best out of you. And not because you're fighting for your life. You're fighting for your life. Not everybody. Everybody prospers, you know, you sink or swim.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Last question. We're going into WrestleMania this Sunday. What are you looking for out of this event?
Mick Foley
Oh, man, there's. So I just look for. The exciting thing for me is that everybody out there enters with the same goal. If they're not out there to steal the show, they're in the wrong line of business. You know, I look like there's four or five matches that can do it. You know, you got the people that are supposed to do it. You know, you got Undertaker and Shane. They're supposed to steal the show. You got Triple H and Roman. They're supposed to steal the show. But then you get the women. Three women. Sasha Banks, Becky lynch, you know, Miss Charlotte. 100,000 fans. Like, I like to think 10 years from now, we'll look back on this as one of the most important days in the history of our business. The day that women's wrestling, like, just arrived completely and finally. And you got maniacs like Kevin Owens out there who don't know, and a guy like. Who hasn't had a chance at a mania like Zack Ryder. You put those guys in that match and there's no telling what could happen. It's. It's just. It's a wonderful event. Everybody's focused on trying to have the best match they possibly can. You want that mania that you're involved in to be spoken of and like the reverend tones of like a WrestleMania 3 or WrestleMania 12, that when you and Brett were involved in WrestleMania 17, so guys are going out there, they want their Mania 32 to be up there in that type of league.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
About 30 seconds left. Did you ever think back in the day from WrestleMania 1, that it. That it would progress and become at the. The epic magnitude that it is now?
Mick Foley
No, it's crazy. It's crazy that people from around the world give me a. If you're from a different country, give.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Me a hell yeah. Yeah. Y' all ain't all from a different country. That's bullshit. All right, maybe you are. But anyway, some good stuff. But I would have never imagined way back in the day when he started this damn thing, because you went out on a. He put his balls on the line and it paid off. And again, the count of me down is 15 seconds. 14, 13, we're at WrestleMania 30.
Mick Foley
Finish with a Mr. McMahon.
Steve Austin
WrestleMania.
Mick Foley
Bigger, better.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Hey, I'm Stone Cold Steve Austin. This is Mick effing Foley. We're here on the Stone Cold podcast. We're here live in Dallas, Texas. WrestleMania 3 2. Right around the corner this Sunday on on the WWE Network. I believe it's for fr. I ain't down with that, but check it out. My name is Steve Austin. We sign it off and that's the bottom line. Because I said so.
Mick Foley
Said so.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Hey, if you guys are ready for WrestleMania 32, give me one more. Hell yeah. That's what I'm talking about. It's good to be back here in Dallas, Texas, Mick Foley. Thank you very much, my brother.
Steve Austin
All right, everybody, give me the go home cues. Time to wrap up his podcast and ride off into the sunset. When I say ride off in the sunset, I'm going to walk my ass to the refrigerator and grab a Broken Skull IPA and drink it down. But I got something for you to watch. It's free on the WWE network. It's called WrestleMania 32. I didn't get a chance to see all the matches like I said in the beginning of the show, but I'm going to watch the rest of it. Break it down. Coming up real soon, that podcast will be up and running. Stay tuned for Thursday's show. Enzo Amore. Big cash. Realest guys in the room. You can't teach that. A certified G and a bonafide stud, and you cannot teach that. I'm talking to those two cats coming up this Thursday. I enjoyed talking to them. Two real good kids. I wish them all the best. Hey, man, new T shirts, new hats, new beer, new knives@brokersgolranch.com and whatever you want that I got, you can find it@brokenskullranch.com and you can read all the details about Broken Skull Challenge and swig of beer to Redneck island, the final episode this past Thursday. Riley and Becky, congratulations. But hey man, we're still rolling strong. Redneck island has been completed, but the Broken Skull Challenge only gets more intense. And that's the truth. This show continues to kick ass. The roughest, toughest show on television is on CMT at 8, 7 Central. Do not miss it. It keeps ramping up from here on out. And one more thought about The Broken Skull IPA. You can order that insidethecellar.com. go to my website to order it as well. And in California, you can find it at Whole Foods and Total Wine. I'll be down at El Segundo brewing sometime this week. Having a couple of cold ones. So maybe I'll see you there if you stop by. 140 Main St. Tulum Austin sent you. Hey gang, I appreciate all the word of mouth advertising you guys are doing on behalf of the podcast because I I ain't got no advertising budget. It's all you guys spreading word, talking to your buddies, telling them about the show and supporting the sponsors of the show. I appreciate that very much. So big thanks to DDP Yoga and the DDP Yoga now app to dollarshaveclub.com Steve to weebly.com Austin to workswitchdriver.com use.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
The promo code Steve to get 10%.
Steve Austin
Off and free shipping to CMT's new Dude Perfect show, Scott's Roundup and of course a big thank you to Amazon who've been supporting this podcast since day one. Just use my Amazon links whenever you're doing any online shopping and Amazon will kick back a few bucks to the podcast. Doesn't cost you nothing extra. There's no hidden fees or charges. You can buy whatever you plan on buying and help out the podcast in the process. This is how we pay our production cost. If you want to find my Amazon links, all you got to do listen to this. Go to podcast1.com, click on the Killer Deals button in the top right corner of the page, and then hit the Steve Austin show button. All my Amazon links are there for usa, UK and Canada. All my sponsors are there. That's the best way to keep this show on the air for free anyway. If you bookmark it, you can find it in one step and do everything a lot easier. And help us out in the process by helping us pay our production costs. We ain't asking for no handouts, but anyway, keep listening folks. The 62nd AP news headlines are coming up next. Until next time, I'm coming back with Enzo Amore and Big Cash. You can't teach that. My name is Steve Austin and I will catch your ass down the road.
Mick Foley
This has been a Podcast one production. Download new episodes of the Steve Austin show every Tuesday@podcast1.com that's podcastone.com. Pluto TV has thousands of free movies and TV shows.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
This is the mindset free.
Mick Foley
This is the mantra free.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
This is the.
Noel Foley
With movies like Joe.
Steve Austin
Dirt, pixels and 50 first dates, this is awesome.
Mick Foley
And TV shows like Survivor, SpongeBob SquarePants.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
The fairly odd Parents and Ghosts.
Mick Foley
Pluto TV is always free. Huzzah.
Noel Foley
Pluto TV stream.
Steve Austin
Now pay Never. You're welcome.
Noel Foley
Thank you for calling the Bombas Comfort line.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Bombas make socks, slippers, tees and underwear.
Noel Foley
Made with the highest quality materials.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
Press 1 for comfort, 2 for style, 3 for donation.
Noel Foley
You chose Style Bombas styles for whatever you enjoy. You can run in Bombas, lounge in.
Mick Foley
Bombas, dress them up, dress them down.
Interviewer / Host (likely Steve Austin or a co-host)
But always give back in Bombas because.
Noel Foley
With every item purchased, another is donated Bombas comfort worth calling for? Go to bobas.comaudio and use code audio for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B A S.com and use code audio.
Podcast: The Steve Austin Show (PodcastOne)
Episode: Mick Foley - SAS CLASSIC
Date: January 29, 2026
Location: Live from Hollywood, CA via Broken Skull Ranch (recorded in Dallas, TX at WrestleMania week)
Guests: Mick Foley, Noel Foley
Host: Steve Austin
This episode features a special live edition of the Steve Austin Show, as Steve interviews WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley in front of a Dallas, Texas crowd during WrestleMania week. The conversation is wide-ranging, covering Foley’s career evolution, hardcore wrestling philosophy, legendary matches, personal stories, and a deeper look at his new WWE Network reality show with his daughter Noel Foley. The tone is friendly, candid, humorous, and at times deeply reflective, with both men sharing stories from the road and inside the ring.
| Segment Theme | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|---------------| | Austin on beer, backstage tales | 05:00–10:00 | | Mick recalls first seeing Austin | 16:45–17:35 | | Foley’s weight loss, wellness | 18:50–20:56 | | Becoming Cactus Jack | 23:11–24:30 | | Hardcore style, pain, and Japan | 31:01–39:15 | | Noel Foley joins, “Holy Foley” show | 40:28–47:23 | | Mankind character, Vince’s skepticism | 48:06–50:48 | | Jim Ross interview “defining moment” | 55:19 | | Hell in a Cell match | 56:15–61:44 | | Dean Ambrose promo lesson | 62:18–65:41 | | Dallas memories, Freebirds, Stan Hansen| 66:09–68:04 | | WrestleMania reflections | 68:08–70:33 |
The conversation is a combination of deeply personal, behind-the-scenes wrestling insight, comedic stories from the road, and the raw energy of two close friends (and rivals) riffing together. Austin plays the straight-shooting Texan host; Foley is self-deprecating, reflective, and wry. Together, they offer a genuine, unfiltered look at the hard work, creativity, and wear-and-tear behind pro wrestling’s spectacle.
If you’re a fan of wrestling’s golden eras, want to understand the craft behind classic characters, or simply crave stories of resilience and camaraderie from two of the industry’s icons, this episode is as fun and informative as wrestling podcasts get. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes—psychologically and physically—to survive the ring, or how larger-than-life wrestlers stay grounded as family men and mentors, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.