10 Pivotal Mick Foley Moments From The Monday Night Wars
9. Standing Up To Vince McMahon's Creative
It was Jim Ross, not Vince McMahon, who wanted Foley in WWE. McMahon was not a fan, seeing the wrestler as someone who could take bumps but do little else and has stated on the record that he wouldn't have brought him in of his own accord.
Ross got his way, however, and in Foley came in January 1996. The only problem? Vince didn't want Cactus Jack. He wanted something new for the rotund grappler. This was the era of clowns, pig farmers, dentists and anthropomorphic cockerels after all. McMahon was prepared to give Foley a shot.... but he was going under a mask, dammit!!!
The original plans were for 'Mason the Mutilator', basically a Hannibal Lecter rip-off complete with leather mask and straight-jacket. Most incoming wrestlers took what they were given. Luckily for us, Mick Foley felt he had nothing to lose and stuck up for himself. He argued to be called 'Mankind' rather than 'Mason', giving him scope to address humanity in the first person in promos. It was a small tweak in theory but would end up making a huge difference.