100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
71. Mick Foley’s Main Event Dream Comes True (WrestleMania 2000)
People bought Mick Foley's retirement following a brutal Hell In A Cell loss to arch nemesis Triple H at No Way Out 2000. Foley retired as Cactus Jack, then returned around a month later as himself. Linda McMahon reintroduced Mick as the fourth worker in a Fatal-4-Way main event for Hunter's title at 'Mania. It'd be a 'McMahon In Every Corner' (Linda in Foley's, Vince in The Rock's, Shane in Big Show's and Stephanie in Triple H's).
All of that was background noise behind the real dangling carrot for Mick: His first ever WrestleMania main event spot. According to Chris Jericho in one of his books, it was 'Y2J' who was initially slated to bag the fourth slot. Then, Foley decided he wanted in on the action and Jericho was bumped out of the picture. Welcome to the WWF hierarchy, eh?!
Despite being the last name announced, Mick wasn't eliminated first. Show stared at the lights following a Rock Bottom just five minutes in, then Foley lasted another while before Triple H smashed him with a Pedigree onto a nearby steel chair. Being honest, at this point in his career, the war weary Foley/Jack/Mankind/Dude Love would've settled for anything so long as he was on the marquee in the featured match at 'Mania.
This was a teenage dream come true for Mrs. Foley's baby boy. He must've thought he had no chance of main eventing the show after taking the latest of his frightening bumps at No Way Out and saluting fans on the way out. Pro wrestling moves fast though, and it's sweet that Mick had his moment after all.