SLAM! Wrestling Editorial: A heartfelt letter to Mick
By MATT GARDNER -- For SLAM! Wrestling
Sunday night at WWF No Way Out, Mick Foley under the guise of his
immensely popular Cactus Jack character, poured out his heart and soul
to the fans and gave us all everything that he had left in his badly ailing
body. In front of a jam-packed crowd live in Hartford and a
massive nation-wide pay-per-view audience viewing from homes across the
world, Cactus Jack and Hunter Hearst Helmsley put on one the most
impressive brawls in sports entertanment history.
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Bang! Bang!
Cactus Jack
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After putting up a
valiant and bloody fight, Cactus Jack was pinned following a Pedigree by
Triple H. Just as WWF honcho Vince McMahon likes, Foley went out with traditional WWF method of putting over younger star, while saving face.
The match will be remembered, and talked about at length for years to come. Mick Foley's 15-year career as a whole will become a thing of legend, and in
a way it already has. The following is an open letter to Mick, straight
from me to him. Even though I am aware he is not an internet user, I
hope he gets it. I know WWF employees visit our site, so if you know
Mick, please see that this finds its way to him.
Dear Mick,
I want to thank you for putting your life on the line night after
night after night for the entertainment of your fans. You are done now.
You lost a worked match to the top wrestler in the business and still
came out the best man in the feud. You promised to retire and I hope you
stand by your word.
I hope to never see you wrestling ever again. And that is not because
I dislike you or your matches. It's because I am scared something
terrible may happen. As we have seen recently with people like Darren
Drozdov and to a larger extent Owen Hart, anything can happen inside the
ring, or in your case outside. To say I was worried about you in
Sunday's Hell in the Cell match is an understatement.
Thankfully, after countless chairshots and a mind-numbing amount of beatings you are still in good enough condition to return home to
your wife and two children and can lead a happy life. You
have made your millions, and I imagine with talk of another book or a
behind-the-scenes or non-wrestling role in the WWF you can continue to
rake in the dough. But please, Mick, stay away from the ring. Never let
another chair hit your head, never take another nasty bump. Buy a
comfortable armchair, elevate your feet and rest.
I think I speak for every self-respecting wrestling fan in the world
when I tell you that we are proud to have been able to watch you
perform.
I saw you live only twice, I will never forget those incredible
evenings. I touched your scarred arm once, for the briefest of seconds,
something I will also never forget. You have left an indelible mark, Mr.
Foley.
You have won the WWF Heavyweight title three times, Tag Team
titles eight times, you were the first (and most worthy) Hardcore champion,
you have won numerous titles in other promotions and I still sit in
amazement at my IWA Deathmatch tape, a tournament that you won after
defeating your friend Terry Funk. You wrote one of finest books I've
ever read, all by yourself, and have become known worldwide. You have
done it all, and there is really nothing left to do. Please leave and
never look back.
Thanks again, Mick, with respect and gratitude I salute you and all of
your accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Matthew Gardner
