I feel like this is the third or fourth time I've seen a story about Mick Foley leaving TNA, but it looks to be real this time.
Originally posted by Mick Foley via TwitterI pushed hard for changes I felt would benefit Impact Wrestling. I can understand how some would interpret that as difficult to work with.
Mick then points out that he liked working with Hulk Hogan, etc. etc. etc.
So does this open the door for Foley's return to WWE? Well...
I am getting the sneaking suspicion that many of you would like to see me come back to @wwe
Of course, what Mick wants and what WWE wants are likely two entirely different things. But I'd think that inserting Foley into the buildup for Cena/Rock would be a good idea, no?
Or Mick could, you know, retire. I would hope he's squirreled enough away by now, plus the earnings from books and other extra curriculars.
Y'know I've wondered a few times whether having Vince screaming down the headset at him doesn't seem as bad now upon reflection and perhaps, comparison.
Or he could sign a Legends Contract. Get inducted into the Hall of Fame, get "Have a Nice Day" out on Kindle, get put into the video games, get some new DVD sets. (I'd settle for the Kindle book).
Or he could become a road agent.
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I think he never found the right fit in TNA. He or they wanted him to do Commissioner Foley again which I have no problem with him even winning the title from Sting was fine. Since its one older wrestler to another old wrestler. It was just after losing the title, they really had no idea what to do with him. It also didn't help TNA had ten people claim they were in charge during his time there.
Foley could add some interest in the Cena/Rock storyline which minus an occasional Facebook snap at each other is pretty much dried up. He could be the GM or do a surprise appearance and taunt Cena or tag with Rock during the winter or Rumble til Mania. Rock is going to need warm up matches and they could do a lot worse then Rock N Sock, hell they are already doing worse.
(edited by lotjx on 6.6.11 0718) The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Rock will not have a televised match until WrestleMania. It's the whole point of announcing it one year out.
Losing Foley in this fashion is a massive credibility blow to TNA when they need to be keeping the image of themselves as a viable wrestlign alternative as strong as possible. What astonising idiocy to use a guy as a spokesman for a new wrestling-heavy product, then lose him three weeks later because said product hasn't changed at all. Foley was one of the few grand old men of wrestling involved in TNA whose motives could still be considered pure.
I think Justin has it right - Anonymous Raw GM is about to get a lot less Anonymous.
Originally posted by lotjxI think he never found the right fit in TNA. He or they wanted him to do Commissioner Foley again which I have no problem with him even winning the title from Sting was fine. Since its one older wrestler to another old wrestler. It was just after losing the title, they really had no idea what to do with him. It also didn't help TNA had ten people claim they were in charge during his time there.
Foley could add some interest in the Cena/Rock storyline which minus an occasional Facebook snap at each other is pretty much dried up. He could be the GM or do a surprise appearance and taunt Cena or tag with Rock during the winter or Rumble til Mania. Rock is going to need warm up matches and they could do a lot worse then Rock N Sock, hell they are already doing worse.
Well, it certainly sounds like TNA thought they knew what to do with Foley, it's just that like all their ideas, it sucked. Seriously, spend all this time building up the network guy as someone to fight against Hogan and Bischoff just to have him turn on the fans and team up with them after a couple weeks (what a twist!!) is just terrible terrible booking. It's not "Let's make Angelina Love and Winter the next Undertaker and Paul Bearer!!!" stupid, but it's close.
The Rock's first match will be at Wrestlemania. The minute you start putting The Rock in matches is the minute his appeal will start to drop. If he starts doing "warm-up matches" it'll be no different than when Bret Hart was on tv every week until finally WM came and no one cared.
Besides, The Rock doesn't need a single warm-up match. The entire point of this match is to get people to pay money to see The Rock wrestle. It's not to get The Rock to have some 5 star classic with Cena... or even a 2 star classic.
Originally posted by Tribal ProphetWell, it certainly sounds like TNA thought they knew what to do with Foley, it's just that like all their ideas, it sucked. Seriously, spend all this time building up the network guy as someone to fight against Hogan and Bischoff just to have him turn on the fans and team up with them after a couple weeks (what a twist!!) is just terrible terrible booking. It's not "Let's make Angelina Love and Winter the next Undertaker and Paul Bearer!!!" stupid, but it's close.
Originally posted by Tribal ProphetWell, it certainly sounds like TNA thought they knew what to do with Foley, it's just that like all their ideas, it sucked. Seriously, spend all this time building up the network guy as someone to fight against Hogan and Bischoff just to have him turn on the fans and team up with them after a couple weeks (what a twist!!) is just terrible terrible booking. It's not "Let's make Angelina Love and Winter the next Undertaker and Paul Bearer!!!" stupid, but it's close.
Wait, *that* was the plan? Holy cats.
Well, the Angelina Love stuff is just my impression of what they're doing, but for Foley, apparently yeah.
Unfortunately, nobody above Russo in the company knows how wrestling promotions are supposed to work and what to expect business-wise out of what you do, so it looks like his job is safe for a while.
Originally posted by lotjxI think he never found the right fit in TNA. He or they wanted him to do Commissioner Foley again which I have no problem with him even winning the title from Sting was fine. Since its one older wrestler to another old wrestler. It was just after losing the title, they really had no idea what to do with him. It also didn't help TNA had ten people claim they were in charge during his time there.
Foley could add some interest in the Cena/Rock storyline which minus an occasional Facebook snap at each other is pretty much dried up. He could be the GM or do a surprise appearance and taunt Cena or tag with Rock during the winter or Rumble til Mania. Rock is going to need warm up matches and they could do a lot worse then Rock N Sock, hell they are already doing worse.
Well, it certainly sounds like TNA thought they knew what to do with Foley, it's just that like all their ideas, it sucked. Seriously, spend all this time building up the network guy as someone to fight against Hogan and Bischoff just to have him turn on the fans and team up with them after a couple weeks (what a twist!!) is just terrible terrible booking. It's not "Let's make Angelina Love and Winter the next Undertaker and Paul Bearer!!!" stupid, but it's close.
The Rock's first match will be at Wrestlemania. The minute you start putting The Rock in matches is the minute his appeal will start to drop. If he starts doing "warm-up matches" it'll be no different than when Bret Hart was on tv every week until finally WM came and no one cared.
Besides, The Rock doesn't need a single warm-up match. The entire point of this match is to get people to pay money to see The Rock wrestle. It's not to get The Rock to have some 5 star classic with Cena... or even a 2 star classic.
Ok, so when Rock/Cena sucks, because Rock has a ton of ring rust and hasn't been on TV for a year, its ok, because the WWE did a good buy. Granted, Rock/Cena is the selling point, but if the match sucks, do you think they will do better business afterwards? Yes, every Mania is a cash grab for the WWE, but the reason it is a cash grab is because there is usually a can't miss match on the show or a MOTY on it. Rock/Cena is really one of the few dream matches they have left, they really can't afford to screw up.
Rock needs warm up matches before Mania and if he doesn't then he is going to be sucking wind by the 5 minute mark. He needs to get his sea legs and no amount of training outside of the ring is going to do that until he steps inside. Bret's match at Mania sucked for a variety of reasons none of which was Bret being on TV too much. Hell, his contract signing with Vince and Austin was one of the best moments of that year. Rock also needs to remind people why he is the great one and a few midcarders or one main eventer has to job to him then so be it.
Shawn Michaels before SummerSlam 2002: 1 warmup match in 4 years Mick Foley before Wrestlemania 20: no warmup matches in 4 years rings where wrestlers can practice a match that aren't on TV: exist treadmills: exist crowd heat and dramatic match layout: mask any warts
It's too bad that the wrestling ring only magically appears when there's a television taping. If only they could set up a wrestling ring in some other location to give The Rock the chance to knock off some of this ring rust. That would be heavenly. Alas and alack. Apparently that can't be done.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroShawn Michaels before SummerSlam 2002: 1 warmup match in 4 years Mick Foley before Wrestlemania 20: no warmup matches in 4 years rings where wrestlers can practice a match that aren't on TV: exist treadmills: exist crowd heat and dramatic match layout: mask any warts
What he said. I doubt The Rock and WWE are going to let the match suck due to lack of conditioning.
Most important, I have no idea why no prior matches = sucky match. Having said that, I wouldn't be shocked if they TEASED a match. You know, 'why don't you come get some right now?' but not a real match.
Question: Did Hogan have any matches prior to facing the Rock at WM18? I don't remember anything but him laying the smackdown on the Rock, NWO style, with his belt and then a truck.
Originally posted by dMpQuestion: Did Hogan have any matches prior to facing the Rock at WM18? I don't remember anything but him laying the smackdown on the Rock, NWO style, with his belt and then a truck.
Yeah, there was a tag match on the Smackdown before WMX8, Rock and Austin vs either Hogan and Hall or Hogan, Hall and Nash.
EDIT: Well, a quick check of the Slash archives doesn't bring that match up as being directly before WM, but there definitely was a tag match on Smackdown at some point before the event, as per the nWo Back In Black DVD that WWE released a few years back.
Originally posted by lotjxRock also needs to remind people why he is the great one and a few midcarders or one main eventer has to job to him then so be it.
If only they owned the rights to his past matches so they could put together some form of highlights package.....
Originally posted by lotjxRock/Cena is really one of the few dream matches they have left, they really can't afford to screw up.
Injudicious use of the phrase "really can't afford" methinks.
Originally posted by lotjxRock also needs to remind people why he is the great one and a few midcarders or one main eventer has to job to him then so be it.
If only they owned the rights to his past matches so they could put together some form of highlights package.....
Originally posted by lotjxRock/Cena is really one of the few dream matches they have left, they really can't afford to screw up.
Injudicious use of the phrase "really can't afford" methinks.
They can show all the highlight packages they want against guys who are no longer there, but fans want to see him do something now. There is a difference between training and getting in the ring in front of people. Foley was also having brawls with Evolution before Mania and Shawn was getting physical with the talent. Also, neither match was for the title. We are talking about someone going after the title that has not even had a match in what will be 8 years. He has to show the fans fans more then some video packages, hell during his run all it was video packages and he was getting killed for it.
I think not. What other dream matches do they have out there that can make the type of money Cena/Rock is going to do? Answer very few. If they don't book this well, it will be a real disaster for this company. I think it will do good buys on name alone, but it needs to be a huge buyrate for this to be considered successful. I am also not on board with lower our expectations in this feud. If they can't get something as easy as this right then they are pretty well fucked for the next few years when it comes to money matches.
Originally posted by HokienauticIt's too bad that the wrestling ring only magically appears when there's a television taping. If only they could set up a wrestling ring in some other location to give The Rock the chance to knock off some of this ring rust. That would be heavenly. Alas and alack. Apparently that can't be done.
If only The Rock owned a wrestling ring in his home and worked out in it all the time, this coupled with The Rock being a gifted, third generation, once-in-a-lifetime natural at professional wrestling. If only those two things were true, which they are.
But let us concern ourselves with a more likely scenario: The Rock spends the next six months eating donuts and sitting on the couch. January rolls around and The Rock panics, suddenly realizes he promised he'd main event at WrestleMania, and needs seventeen warm up matches on television to get back in shape. Damn this ring rust!
Hey, wasn't this thread about Mick Foley? I ain't got nothing to say about Mick Foley.
(edited by John Orquiola on 6.6.11 0815) @BackoftheHead
This is a good split. TNA had no idea how to use Foley and was likely paying him WAY too much.
He should never have gotten in the ring. I don't think he had one match in TNA over ** and it was sad to see. Wouldn't have minded him as an announcer instead of Taz.
Another problem with Foley is he played yet another "boss" role. There really needs to be a break from Commissioners, Owners, Network Execs, and every other match making character. This is a small thing TNA could do to set themselves apart from WWE.
The logical step for him is now WWE. I just wish he'd have been gone a few weeks ago so he could've shown up for Rock's birthday. I don't want to see him involved in the Cena/Rock feud though. That should be completely 1-on-1.
Random Thought: Foley as anonymous Raw GM. It would make sense why he stayed anonymous, and make TNA look like idiots for having a "double agent".
Originally posted by lotjxThey can show all the highlight packages they want against guys who are no longer there, but fans want to see him do something now.
They do! But instead they're going to make them wait until WM where the fans will have to pay cash money to see it. The rascals.
Originally posted by lotjxHe has to show the fans fans more then some video packages,
He has to show the fans' fans? This asks a lot. I mean, I'm a fan and I never even knew I had fans. If I did have fans I'd like to think they'd enjoy video packages of The Rock.
Also - than, THAN, THAN. FUCKING THAN! For the love of fuckity.
Few people are sillier THAN lotjx. If you can find many THEN I will be very surprised.
Originally posted by lotjxI think not. What other dream matches do they have out there that can make the type of money Cena/Rock is going to do? Answer very few. If they don't book this well, it will be a real disaster for this company.
They can make an absolute pig's ear of this and they'll still be a successful, profitable company. Which is to say they "can afford to". They will not want to screw it up and they will make less money if they do, but the only place in which they can't afford to, never mind "really can't afford to", is in lotjx's Land of Hyperbole and I'm not sure they care how their P&L looks in that particular locale.
I think showing packages of Rock beating Austin, Undertaker, HHH and Mick Foley would do more to get him over with the current fans than Rock Vs. Dolph Ziggler.
Honestly, from what I'm getting out of him, there is a bit of HBK vibe, but much more of a Flair circa late 80s vibe.. the HBK vibe only exists because HBK borrowed from Flair when he was working out what his character should be..