10 Precise Moments Wrestlers Should Have Retired

4. Mick Foley - WWE WrestleMania 22

Finn Balor Kane
WWE.com

Mick Foley did a dreaded TNA run and it was both damn shame and merciless self-own.

A genuine legend treated like a low-level staffer who had caught Vince McMahon minutes before he ate his din-dins, Foley left his commentary role under the defiant, understandable - but wrong - notion that he still had something to leave behind in the ring. And then he left the ring during a World Title match to treat himself to a quote "restaroonie" in what was a very pointed metaphor for a very, very postmodern run that eroded both his in-ring legacy and his legacy as the man behind the performer.

Foley was always so switched on. He always communicated, to the fandom he was always dialled into, that he wasn't going to embarrass himself in the ring. He was anti-establishment in mentality - he walked out after Montreal, he excoriated WCW in ECW - but in TNA became the establishment, wallowing in entitlement.

He should have hung 'em up - his wrecked body told him to no less than six years earlier - after doing the job to Edge at WrestleMania 22. It would have allowed his ingenious legacy to best register; there were none better at making stars.

Even bookers, half the time.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!