Ranking Mick Foley’s 10 Most Extreme Moments

Under all of his personas, Mick Foley put his body on the line, leading to some of professional wrestling’s most extreme moments.

As Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind, he shaped almost all major promotions.

Many of Foley’s extreme moments involved other hardcore wrestlers, such as Terry Funk. On the other hand, Foley also performed hardcore tactics on up-and-coming stars, including Randy Orton.

No matter the details, each moment helped earn Foley the nickname “The Hardcore Legend”.

How’s that for a Stage Dive? – WWE Backlash 2004

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=RcjrsHUnU7Q

Randy Orton was the Intercontinental Champion at the time, and Cactus Jack wanted the title. So prior to Backlash, Orton vowed to show why he was called “The Legend Killer.”

Cactus and Orton utilized barbed wire bats, as well as barbed wire boards. Both men were very bloodied up.

And to capitalize on his momentum, Cactus threw Orton off the stage. But even better, Cactus came crashing down onto Orton, pushing the thumbtacks further in his back.

Jim Ross’ commentary was priceless because even he had never seen Foley performed such a move.  

The Infamous Clothesline – WWF Superstars – Sept. 13, 1986

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=Ez5YQUWPP7Y

This was at the very start of Foley’s career. Before the match, he was told that he would be jobbing against the British Bulldogs.

Foley later stated that he knew he was going to get hurt. However, he was not expecting to severely injure his jaw, and also suffer a concussion.

What’s interesting about this is that it was his first major match, and despite the nasty result, Foley still worked his way to the top.

Getting Funky With Barbed Wire – ECW One Night Stand 2006

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=-epYDsMisUg

For this one, Foley, Edge, and Lita took on the team of Beulah, Dreamer, and Terry Funk.

It started off fairly even until Foley took a rope of barbed wire and dragged it across Funk’s face. This move was so brutal that Funk yelled, “My eye is gone! My eye is gone!”. Now it became three-on-two, so Foley and Edge targeted Dreamer.

Later on, fans cheered as Terry Funk, holding a barbed wire 2×4, marched through the crowd. He set his eyes on Foley, hitting him with it, then setting it on fire. Funk hit Foley with the flaming wood, to the point where he fell onto barbed wire-covered boards.

Foley would stay there until the end of the match. This marked the start of the final chapter of Foley and Funk’s brutal and lengthy feud.

Chair Shots Central – Royal Rumble 1999

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=SLkmo00AdUM

Mankind and The Rock were vicious to one another, verbally and physically. They used their fists more so than usual, but there were still weapons, of course.

The two foes scrambled throughout the crowd, beating the hell out of each other.

Things got, even more ugly when The Rock handcuffed Mankind. Rock proceeded to chase him, repeatedly hitting nasty chair shots to Mankind’s head.

Overall, the match was a true display of what can happen when two competitors truly hate each other.

Pedigree of Doom – Royal Rumble 2000

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=GrRfXrTscdI

Triple H and Cactus Jack brutalized each other in this Street Fight.

During the match, there was steel, barbed wire, and of course, thumbtacks. Cactus and Triple put their bodies on the line. Stephanie McMahon was screaming at ringside because she knew someone was really going to get hurt.

After kicking out of one Pedigree, Cactus suffered another, this time onto a pile of thumbtacks.

Cactus would continue to fight Triple H in the coming months, in some of both competitors’ best matches.

5. Hell in a Cell Nightmare – King of the Ring 1998

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=-6YkniDLa80

From the start of the match, Mankind, and The Undertaker were angrily mauling each other.

The most notable part of the match was Mankind’s 20-foot fall from the top of the cell, crashing into the announce table. Also, Mankind feels through the top of the cell, onto the ring. The second fall was so nasty that Mankind was legitimately unconscious.

Once again, Mankind showed his determination and continued to fight. Finally, after two chokeslams (one onto thumbtacks) and a Tombstone Piledriver, the referee counted to three.

To everyone’s amazement, Foley was able to walk. And he would continue his fiery feud with The Undertaker.

Spear Through the Flaming Table – WrestleMania 22

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=jMxDL-bnXxU

The buildup for this match was executed properly, making the match even more exciting. Promos and other segments were the keys to the success of the overall match.

Foley and Edge manhandled each other with barbed wire, bats, and steel. Foley even gave Lita a taste of barbed wire.

Foley was ready to capitalize on his momentum but was stopped by a low blow from Lita. This prompted her to set the table on fire. Edge bounced off the ropes and speared Foley right through the flaming table.

This would end up being one of Foley’s last matches in WWE, and it proved to be a great one.

The Flaming Branding Iron – Extreme Warfare Volume 1

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=_KRtUZJDqFs

Shortly before Japan, Cactus Jack had a run in ECW, where he feuded with both Terry Funk and The Sandman. So, Cactus teamed up with Shane Douglas to take on Funk and The Sandman.

Right before the match ended, Funk returned to the ring, carrying a flaming branding iron. Funk burned Cactus, hit a piledriver onto the flame, and pinned Cactus.

Now this was one of the most intense “Oh my God!”s Joey Styles ever yelled.

Cactus Jack wasn’t always over with the ECW fans, but they admired his will to compete in more vicious matches.

Barbed Wire, C4 Explosive, Time Bomb Match – King of the Deathmatch Tournament

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=TFI3gG_POCk

The name says it all. Cactus Jack and Terry Funk took part in Japan’s “King of the Deathmatch” tournament, and this was the final stage.

During the match, these two icons destroyed each other with barbed wire, and then C4 explosives. Both Cactus and Funk walked out of the arena with serious burns.

At this time, both wrestlers were known all over the world. And this match, as well as the whole tournament, brought Funk and Cactus Jack to infamy in Japan.

No more Ear? – WCW in Germany 1994

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=SJPLkrfW-KY

In his autobiography, Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks, Mick Foley discusses his infamous ear incident.

Mick Foley performed the “Hangman’s move”, a very dangerous take on the Cactus Clothesline. Foley’s entire head (including his ear, of course) became trapped in the ropes. Blood came gushing out his ear, but Foley decided to continue the match.

Later in the brutal bout, a hard forearm to Foley caused his ear to fall to the mat.

Although this incident took place before his vicious WWE matches, it helped define Mick Foley’s overall career.