Mick Foley was born Michael Francis Foley on June 7th, 1965 and was a wrestling fan almost instantly. It has become a legendary story in wrestling that Mick Foley hitched a ride to Madison Square Garden for the famous match between Superfly Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco that saw Snuka leap from the top of the cage to come crashing down on the Magnificent One. Foley was indeed bitten by the wrestling bug. Foley went home and began putting together backyard wrestling videos, playing the role of Dude Love, where Foley jumped off a garbage to come crashing through a pile of debris. Wrestling legend Dominic Denucci got a hold of the video and Foley began training in earnest. 

    Mick Foley made his wrestling debut in 1986 as Jack Foley, even appearing on WWF Superstars to job to WWF superstars like the British Bulldogs. Before too long, Jack Foley became Cactus Jack and began appearing in the Southern States, Japan and Africa. In 1989, Cactus Jack joined World Championship Wrestling for a time period, teaming with Kevin Sullivan, Bam Bam Bigelow and Sir Oliver Humperdink in several matches. WCW came under new management and Cactus climbed to the main event, feuding with Sting throughout 1991. At Halloween Havoc 1991, Sting, El Gigante and the Steiner Brothers defeated Cactus Jack, Abdullah the Butcher, the Diamond Studd and Vader in the infamous Chamber of Horrors match that saw Abdullah zapped in an electric chair. Cactus headlined his first WCW pay per view in February of 1992, losing to WCW World Champion Ron Simmons. He would also feud with Van Hammer and former partner, Abdullah the Butcher in WCW while making appearances in Japan and on the independent scene in the United States. 

    Cactus Jack turned face in 1993, feuding with Paul Orndorff and Harley Race's WCW World Champion Vader. Cactus defeated Orndorff at Superbrawl III in February of 1993 in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Cactus would go on to challenge Vader on WCW television for the WCW World Title, but Vader proceeded to power bomb Cactus on the concrete floor, thus sending him out of WCW and into the streets as a derelect with amnesia. Cactus Jack was "found" and rehabilitated before returning to WCW to defeat Yoshi Kwan at Fall Brawl. At Halloween Havoc in 1993, Vader successfully defended his WCW World Title against Cactus Jack in the infamous "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" match that became a Texas Death Match. Cactus Jack ended up having to team with Vader in the Lethal Lottery of Starrcade in November, defeating the young Harlem Heat. Cactus would become the regular tag team partner of Maxx Payne and together, they defeated Texas Slashinger and Shanghai Pierce, who would eventually become the Godwinns in the WWF, at Starrcade 1993. The pair almost won the WCW World Tag Team Titles at Superbrawl IV in February of 1994, beating the champion Nasty Boys by disqualification. The Nasty Boys defeated the challengers soundly at Spring Stampede in a Chicago Street Fight but when Kevin Sullivan returned to WCW as Cactus Jack's new partner, the Nasty Boys were tkaen down in May at Slamboree. Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma took the belts a few months later at Bash at the Beach, leading Sullivan and Cactus to engage in a bitter feud. Cactus was not popular with the upper brass and jobbed out of WCW, losing to Kevin Sullivan in a Loser Leaves Town Match in September of 1994. 

    Cactus showed up in Extreme Championship Wrestling, after appearing for the organization several times while part of WCW and against WCW's wishes. Cactus feuded with Sabu and Terry Funk before teaming with Mikey Whipwreck to win the ECW World Tag Team Titles from Public Enemy in August of 1994. They lost those titles back, leading to a Cactus-Whipwreck feud. Tommy Dreamer began teaming with Cactus Jack in his feud with the Sandman and Tommy Cairo, and Cactus headlined ECW Hardcore Heaven 1995 in a losing effort to ECW Champion the Sandman. Cactus began feuding with Raven's Flock before joining them. In the mean time, Cactus Jack won the King of the Deathmatch Tournament in Japan, becoming close friends with Terry Funk in the process. He signed on with the WWF in 1996, but before leaving ECW he engaged in a storyline where he sold out to the big promoters that was well received and cushioned the "you sold out" sentiments. 

    Cactus Jack gave up his persona to become Mankind, showing up on RAW one night after Wrestlemania XII to debut in a victory over Bob Holly before attacking the Undertaker. Mankind made his first WWF pay per view appearance at In Your House 7 where he lost to the Undertaker, but defeated him at King of the Ring in 1996. Mankind kept interfering in the Undertaker's matches, costing him the Intercontinental Title when he helped Goldust defeated him in a Casket Match at In Your House: Beware of Dog. The two agreed to settle the score at Summer Slam 1996 in a Boiler Room Brawl and in the match, the Undertaker's manager Paul Bearer turned on the Undertaker to become the new manager for Mankind. Mankind headlined his first WWF pay per view in a losing effort to Shawn Michaels for the World Wrestling Federation Title. At In Your House 11, the Undertaker technically defeated Mankind in a Buried Alive Match but after the match, Mankind, Terry Gordy as the Executioner and several other WWF superstars beat down the Undertaker and buried him six feet underground. The Undertaker took time off and returned at Survivor Series to defeat Mankind with a tombstone. Mankind began feuding with Steve Austin and others, before taking part in the 1997 Royal Rumble where he put on a great display with Terry Funk. Paul Bearer became the manager of Vader during this time and paired the former WCW enemies together to unsuccessfully challenge Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith for the WWF World Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania XIII. On the same card, the Undertaker became WWF Champion and it would be Mankind unsuccessfully challenging him for the title at In Your House 14. 

    Mankind began receiving a favourable reaction on WWF television. He entered the WWF King of the Ring tournament and defeated Jerry Lawler in the first round before losing to Triple-H in the finals. Mankind began a violent feud with Triple-H and his manager Chyna, as well as the Hart Foundation including Brian Pillman. Mankind and Triple-H wrestled to a draw in July's Calgary Stampede pay per view and within the month shocked the world. Stone Cold Steve Austin was set to challenge Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith for the WWF Tag Team Titles but needed a partner. Mankind didn't show up, though... DUDE LOVE, however, did! The two went on to become the new Champions. Dude Love teamed with old enemy the Undertaker and Steve Austin in a losing effort to Bret Hart, Owen Hart and the Bulldog in a Flag Match on RAW before dropping the gold back to the Harts Foundation members. At Summer Slam, Dude Love beat Triple-H in a Steel Cage Match where he reproduced the famous steel cage leap by Jimmy Snuka by coming down on Triple-H. Jim Ross helped Foley become the beloved "Mrs. Foley's baby boy" but in September, Dude Love and Mankind refused to show up on RAW for a match with Triple-H. In a classic moment, CACTUS JACK re-emerged, thus formally establishing the 3 Faces of Foley gimmick where Foley would alternate between the three gimmicks depending on his mood and the needs of the match. 

    Dude Love would be Kane's first victim at the 1997 Survivor Series before beginning a feud with the New Age Outlaws, bringing Terry Funk back to the WWF as Chainsaw Charlie. At the 1998 Royal Rumble, Foley entered three times with all three personas and took the very first chairshot in Royal Rumble match history. The legendary team of Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie teamed with Owen Hart and Steve Austin to defeat Triple-H, the New Age Outlaws and Savio Vega at No Way Out in February of 1998 before defeating the Outlaws in a Dumpster Match for the WWF Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania XVIII. The two were stripped of the titles one night later, and Dude Love re-emerged in a psychotic frenzy to help WWF Owner Vince McMahon in his feud with the new WWF Champion Steve Austin. Dude Love jobbed to Austin at Unforgiven in April before feuding with Dustin Runnels and Terry Funk. 

    Mankind re-emerged to join Kane, taking back Paul Bearer as his manager, and together they feuded with the Undertaker, Steve Austin and other WWF fan favourites. At the 1998 King of the Ring, Mankind wrestled in the Undertaker in the WWF's most famous Hell in a Cell match where Mankind was thrown off the top of the cage and through a table. Apparently, Foley was legitimately knocked out during the match but kept coming back for more and doesn't remember the match first hand. Mankind and Kane went on to win the WWF Tag Team Titles from the New Age Outlaws in July of 1998 but lost the gold to the Undertaker and Steve Austin. The pair regained the titles in August, but lost them finally to the New Age Outlaws when Kane no showed the match. 

    In October of 1998, Mankind debuted Mr. SOCKO at the bedside of Vince McMahon and was proclaimed the WWF's first Hardcore Champion. Mankind's awkward alliance with McMahon lead into the WWF World Title tournament at the 1998 Survivor Series, which Mankind was being set up to win according to the Corporate team of Vince McMahon and his stooges, Patterson, Brisco and the Big Bossman. In the finals, McMahon reproduced the Screwjob from the previous year to turn on Mankind and help the Rock become WWF Champion. This set of a series of bouts between Mankind and the Rock, leading to Mankind defeating the Rock on RAW on January 4th, 1999. Mankind held on tot he title only until the Royal Rumble, where the Rock beat Mankind in an I Quit Match when he played a recording of Mankind saying the words "I Quit". Mankind regained the title on February 1st on RAW and went to a draw with the Rock at St. Valentines Massacre. Mankind dropped the title back to the Rock when Big Show Paul Wight interfered, setting up Big Show versus Mankind for Wrestlemania with the winner becoming the guest referee in the main event Title bout between the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Mankind won by disqualification but was injured afterwards and was unable to perform the referee duties. Mankind continued to feud with Vince McMahon, the Rock and Triple-H, leading to the creation of the Union with Mankind, Big Show, Test and Ken Shamrock, as they feuded with the Corporate Ministry that now included the Undertaker, Triple-H, and others. 

    Mankind upset Steve Austin and Triple-H at the 1999 Summer Slam to become WWF Champion for a third time, with Jesse Ventura as special guest referee. Mankind began teaming with the Rock against McMahon's Corporation and quickly won the WWF Tag Team Titles as the Rock-n-Sock Connection. They went on to drop the belts to the Undertaker and his new partner, the Big Show in September of 1999, but regained them in a handicap match where Viscera and Mideon replaced the Undertaker after he took another sabbatical. They dropped the belts to the new Age Outlaws in September, hosted "This is your Life" for the Rock later in the month. The Rock-n-Sock Connection reunited to defeat the Outlaws aon Smackdown, but lost them to the Holly Cousins. Mankind went on to form teams with members of the JOb Squad and feuded with the returned British Bulldog, Val Venis, New Age Outlaws, Chris Jericho, the Dudleys and others. 

    Cactus Jack returned to challenge Triple-H for the WWF title at the 2000 Royal Rumble, unsuccessfully, in a Street Fight, as rumours swirled that he would be retiring soon. Cactus was responsible for introducing Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddy Guerrero and Perry Saturn to WWF fans, but was quickly double crossed and attacked. He joined with the Rock, Rikishi and Too Cool to defeat Malenko, Saturn, Benoit, X-Pac and Triple-H on RAW in February, leading into No Way Out where Cactus Jack put his career on the line against Triple-H in Hell in a Cell. Triple-H won the match and Cactus Jack's WWF career was seemingly over... until the next month, when he wrestled his LAST STAND with Linda McMahon in his corner in a losing effort in the 4-Way World Title Main Event with a McMahon in each wrestler's corner. 

    Foley returned to the WWF under his real name in June as the new WWF Commissioner, replacing William Regal during the WCW/ECW Invasion Storyline. During this time, as well, Foley began promoting his books "Have a Nice Day", "Christmas Chaos", "Foley is Good", and others as they were released. In November, Foley and McMahon had a real-life falling out leading to Foley leaving the WWF. 

    Foley made his return to the WWF in June of 2003 as the special guest referee for the Hell in a Cell main event at Bad Blood between Triple-H and Kevin Nash. Soon after, he began teasing a feud with Randy Orton and members of Evolution. In December, Foley returned to the Commissioner role, except now he was named the CO-General Manager alongside Eric Bischoff. Foley would announce his return to the ring in December to answer Randy Orton's challenge on RAW... but instead, Foley walked out of the arena and left the WWE. This storyline walk-out set the stage for Evolution repeatedly calling Foley out. Foley finally answered and returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble to enter and eliminate himself and Orton simultaneously before beating Orton down outside the ring. Foley gave one of the most passionate interviews in his WWF career, setting the stage for Orton versus Foley in the ring. Foley brought back his friend the Rock to take on Orton, Ric Flair and Batista at Wrestlemania XX, but Foley felt the match was not his best. He tried again, teaming with Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit and Shelton Benjamin to defeat all four members of Evolution on RAW and redeemed himself at Backlash 2004 by wrestling a classic Hardcore Rules match against Orton. 

    Foley went on to challenge Toshiaki Kawada in Japan for the Triple Crown Title before appearing on several editions of Ring of Honour Wrestling. Foley took part in the WWE's tour of Iraq in 2004 before feuding with Ricky Steamboat and Samoa joe in Ring of Honour. He would referee many legends bouts on the independent circuit before making his WWE return at ECW One Night Stand as the co-host alongside Joey Styles. He wrestled as part of the WrestleReunion tour in 2005, teaming with Dory and Terry Funk in a losing effort to Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane of the Midnight Express, but soon found his way back to WWE after a bidding war with TNA. 

    Mick Foley was Rowdy Roddy Piper's guest on Piper's Pit in October of 2005 at WWE Homecoming on the USA Network and during the interview was attacked by Randy and Bob Orton. A tag team bout was to follow, but nothing came of it. Foley ended up feuding with Carlito instead and beat him at Taboo Tuetsday in 2005. When Eric Bischoff was outgoing as RAW's General Manager, Foley served as the District Attorney in a "Trial of Eric Bischoff" series that resulted in Bischoff's firing. Foley returned to the ring for the WWE Tour of Afghanistan, defeating JBL in a No Holds Barred match. 

    Foley made his formal return to help John Cena in his feud with Edge and Lita. A match was set for Wrestlemania XXII between Edge and Foley, which was presupposed on the notion that Foley had never had a great Wrestlemania moment. Some would argue he blew that idea out of the water when Foley defeated Edge in a Hardcore Match at the big event. When the WWE decided to resurrect ECW, Foley and Edge took their war to ECW and shocked the world by joining together to feud with members of ECW, including Tommy Dreamer. Foley beat up his mentor, Terry Funk, on RAW and declared himself and Edge co-Hardcore Champions of the WWE. At ECW One NIght Stand, Foley teamed with Edge and Lita to defeat Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer and Beulah in a bloodbath but soon returned to the main program, RAW, to feud with real life political enemy Ric Flair. Edge joined the feud as well, helping Foley but it wouldn't help enough as Flair beat Foley in 2 straight falls in a 2/3 Falls Match at Vengeance by disqualification when Foley beat Flair down with a barbed wire baseball bat. The two would continue to feud until Summer Slam 2006 when Flair beat Foley in an I Quit Match when Foley gave up to "save" Melina from an attack. 

    Foley continues to appear sporadically for the WWE and is almost always in mind for Wrestlemania and a future induction to the WWE Hall of Fame. There is no doubt this great legend has clawed his way from nothing to become one of the most recognizable fan favourites in the history of wrestling. He was there for the WWF Attitude explosion and he remains one of the most giving wrestlers in the business, helping giving young talent a boost every time he appears. There is no doubt... Mick Foley, you are a Hardcore Legend and now a Hall of Famer.