Podcast Summary: The Steve Austin Show — SAS CLASSIC with Mick Foley
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
Overview
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.
Key Discussion Points
1. Reunion and WrestleMania Atmosphere
- Steve Austin opens discussing the electric WrestleMania 32 atmosphere and his return to the ring alongside Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels.
- Austin tells backstage stories about his special wrestling beer and interactions with stars like John Cena and Sheamus backstage.
- Quote: “Seamus… drinks three beers in about five minutes. You talk about a beer guzzling machine.” (08:09)
2. Mick Foley’s Texas and Wrestling Roots
- Foley shares a nostalgic story about first seeing Austin at the Dallas Sportatorium (“crow’s nest”) during Chris Adams’ wrestling class (16:45).
- Quote: “It was like I just sat up and it was like, this kid’s gonna be something.” (17:17)
- Discusses influence of Texas mentors on his in-ring persona and frugal financial habits.
3. Foley’s Physical Transformation and Wellness
- Mick reveals he’s lost 50 lbs, credits “eating better,” swimming, and DDP Yoga.
- Quote: “I’m officially… down 50 pounds. And I’m not going to give away my secret, but I will just say one word: Bang.” (19:09)
- Shares struggles with his spine and how prioritizing health and family changed his training approach.
4. Transition of Wrestling Characters
- Deep dive into Foley’s evolution from Dude Love (his idealized persona) to Cactus Jack (inspired by his father, “Jack Foley”), emphasizing the importance of “being different” in wrestling (23:11–24:30).
- “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.” — Mick Foley (23:53)
- Anecdote about maintaining “kayfabe” even in his personal relationships.
5. The Hardcore Style and Its Consequences
- Foley unpacks why and how he pioneered his hardcore brawling style, blending influences from Bruiser Brody and Dynamite Kid with his own willingness to take risks for the crowd (31:05).
- Shares story of serious injury early in his career and the pain threshold needed to continue (“dislocated my jaw… three weeks before I would chew solid food again.”) (33:28)
- Japan deathmatch stories: barbed wire, C4 explosives, infamous King of the Death Match tournament, and calls home to his wife.
- Quote: “I walked in… and my wife, first thing she did was she went, 'Oh my God, like, was it a smoking flight?'… and I went, 'It’s me.'” (36:52–39:15)
6. Introducing Noel Foley and “Holy Foley”
- Mick brings his daughter Noel on stage to talk about their WWE Network show “Holy Foley,” focusing on their “weird normal” family dynamic and Noel’s desire to become a Diva.
- Noel’s take: “We’re like a weird normal… just a weird dad. We make weird noises.” (46:40)
- On growing up Foley: “He did a really great job… even if he had a day free, he would come back and see us.” (44:51)
7. Birth of the “Mankind” Character
- In-depth segment on Foley’s WWE debut and Vince McMahon’s reluctance, including how the original idea was “Mason the Mutilator,” and the mask was intended to cover his face.
- Quote: “I’ll bring him in… but I’m covering up his face. That’s the secret behind the Mankind mask.” (49:57–50:01)
- How a key interview with Jim Ross (“extensive interview with Jim Ross in the spring of 1997”) finally convinced McMahon of Foley’s star power (55:19).
8. Hell in a Cell: The Epic vs The Undertaker
- Foley recounts the creative process and vivid memories leading up to and during the legendary 1998 King of the Ring Hell in a Cell match.
- Visualization: “Picture, picture, thinking the picture, becoming the picture and the visualization… and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.” (57:18–58:25)
- Foley describes the pain, the aftermath, and being so disoriented post-match he remembers nothing of coming back to interfere in Austin’s match (61:13–61:44).
9. Modern Hardcore: Dean Ambrose and the Legacy
- Foley explains his role in helping “pass the torch” to Dean Ambrose and the importance of taking every backstage promo seriously.
- Quote: “Never look at a backstage promo as a throwaway or anything less than the most important thing it can possibly be.” (65:25)
10. Dallas Wrestling History and WrestleMania Reflections
- Stories and praise for Stan Hansen, the Fabulous Freebirds, and the unique culture of Dallas wrestling.
- Foley expresses excitement for women’s wrestling and up-and-coming WWE talent at WrestleMania 32.
- Quote (on women’s triple threat): “I like to think 10 years from now, we’ll look back on this as one of the most important days… Women’s wrestling… arrived completely and finally.” (68:24–68:36)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Mick Foley: “If you can’t look better than the average person… you’ve got to work as hard as you can to look different.” (23:53)
- Steve Austin: “You were always a fun guy to work with… you always want to have the best match on a card… but you were always very safe.” (33:02)
- Mick Foley’s take on pain: “Never liked it. I’d say it motivated me… needed to be jolted into, like, almost an alternate reality to become that character.” (34:43)
- Noel Foley, on her dad: “I maybe won’t follow his style because I don’t want to walk like that.” (44:25)
- Mick Foley on Vince McMahon: “It was when I was doing that interview with Jim Ross, completely in character… 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.” (55:19)
- On WrestleMania’s legacy:
Steve Austin (69:43): “Y’all ain’t all from a different country. That’s bullshit. All right, maybe you are. But anyway, some good stuff.”
Important Timestamps
| 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 |
Tone and Style
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.
For New Listeners
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.