WWF Wrestler of the Month - Wrestling - http://maxpages.com/wwfusa/Wrestler_of_The

Michael Francis Foley was born on June 7, 1965, on East Setauket, Long Island, N.Y., the son of an athletic director
and a teacher (who became a full-time mom).

Upon graduating from Ward Melville High School, Foley enrolled at the State University of New York at Cortland in
upstate New York.

A lifelong wrestling fan who once hitchhiked to Madison Square Garden to see Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka take on Don
Muraco in a steel cage, the seeds of his future career were planted while he was a college student. One night, Mick
met up with a girl he had a crush on, and he wound up walking her home. They kissed, and afterwards, she
responded with "the words that buried my heart, but launched my career: 'Good night … Frank'."

A dejected Foley returned to his room and decided to document his misery. He and his college buddies came up
with a photographic essay they called "The Legend of Frank Foley" (it was later filmed on an eight-millimeter
camera). As part of the production process, Foley took a dive off his bed onto a Teddy bear, and spit out a mouthful
of red food coloring.

In his book, "Have a Nice Day!" Foley describes what happened next:

Again my wind was knocked out, but even in my pain I heard a female voice cry out, "Ooh, that's the most
disgusting thing I've ever seen." I vividly remember thinking, "I've got to get some more of that response."

In September 1985, Mick met former World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champion Dominic DeNucci through a
Long Island wrestling promoter. Still in college, Mick in early 1986 began driving 400 miles from Cortland to Freedom,
Pa., each weekend to train at DeNucci's school. He would sleep in the back of his car and eat peanut butter
sandwiches to save money. After months of training and working in independent promotions (where he competed as
Cactus Jack), Mick got the opportunity to work at a few World Wrestling Federation television tapings -- and to be
squashed by well-known Federation Superstars, including the British Bulldog. He wrestled under his real name and
was what can politely be called an "enhancement talent." For fear that he would become a full-time jobber, Mick
began declining invitations to attend TV tapings when fans started recognizing him.

In the summer of 1990, Mick was handing out flyers for an upcoming independent show he would be wrestling in on
Long Island when he met a beautiful model named Colette Christie. It was the woman he would go on to marry.

Over the years Mick competed as Cactus Jack all over the world -- mainly in Africa and Japan -- and also in WCW
and ECW. In 1996, the day after WrestleMania XII, he made his debut in the Federation as Mankind.

Since then, he's been Mankind, Dude Love and Cactus Jack.

On February 27, 2000, the career of the "Three Faces of Foley" came to an end when Foley, as Cactus Jack, put
his career on the line for a chance at the main event at WrestleMania. When Triple H pinned Cactus after a brutal
Hell in a Cell bout, Cactus left the Federation forever, as did Mankind and Dude Love.

However, on the March 20, 2000 edition of RAW IS WAR, Linda McMahon proved that dreams do come true in the
World Wrestling Federation. Linda turned what was supposed to be a Triple Threat main event at WrestleMania into
a Fatal Four Way, and the fourth participant was Mick Foley! This time, for one night only, Mick competed as
himself. Unfortunately, he was pinned after two brutal Pedigrees by Triple H. But Foley was able to accomplish his
dream of main eventing the biggest show of the year. Foley's career as an active wrestler ended on April 2, 2000 in
Anaheim, Calif.

Whatever the persona, Mick Foley is one of the most respected competitors in the history of sports-entertainment.
He has the reputation for enduring more pain that anyone. His maniacal personality is not just on display in the ring.
Consider that he wrote his own autobiography -- but since he doesn't own a computer or even a typewriter, he filled
up 760 pages of notebook paper writing freehand! That book would go on to become a No. 1 New York Times
bestseller.

Mick Foley lives in Florida with Colette, as well as his young children Dewey and Noelle. He enjoys going to
amusement parks, eating ice cream in bed and watching Nickelodeon.

wwfusa@hotmail.com

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Page Updated Mon Aug 28, 2000 4:11am EDT