10 Unlikeliest WWE WrestleMania Main-Eventers

When Mick Foley had his sole WrestleMania main event in 2000, he had already accomplished almost everything in WWE. Heck, he was already retired, and he only wrestled the match because Vince McMahon wanted him to have a WrestleMania main event just once. The fact that the boss of the company personally requested him to participate shows how much respect Mick Foley had earned from the big man.

It wasn't always like this, though. During his career, Foley was anything but the superstar you'd expect to be... well, a superstar. With his rough look and even rougher hardcore wrestling, Foley certainly carved a fine niche for himself and earned a cult following, but the glitzy, showbiz-centered WWE didn't want to touch him, at least not until prodding and convincing from those inside. Even then, Vince McMahon only took on Mick begrudgingly, and insisted that his face be covered. With the Leatherface-esque Mankind gimmick, Foley was more monster than man.

But even with that start, the man still got over. He was just too good in ring and too engaging of a personality not to earn the opportunities he got. By the time he got his swan song main event at WrestleMania 2000, he was already a bonafide legend who was on many fans' Mount Rushmore. Sometimes, try as a company might, they can't deny someone's talent forever, even if they don't fit a certain mold.