There are few Superstars in the long and illustrious history of World Wrestling Entertainment to have the connection with the audience that Mankind did. Mick Foley, the man behind the mask, was as beloved for his willingness to put his body on the line for the entertainment of the audience as he was for his personality and comedic value. He was unique in that he could be intensely serious or the most fun-loving character on television. After being lied to a manipulated by the evil Vince McMahon, and screwed out of the WWE title by corporate champion The Rock, Mankind became a sympathetic character that audiences could emotionally invest in. They wanted to see the formerly deranged star succeed. They wanted to see him win the title and realize his childhood dream. On January 4, 1999, in a match taped days earlier (and spoiled by WCW in an ill-advised attempt to drive viewers away from the WWE broadcast), Mankind defeated The Rock to win the WWE Championship. The match, airing opposite the dreaded Finger Poke of Doom broadcast of Monday Nitro, not only culminated Mankind's emotional journey to the top of the industry, it also essentially put an end to WCW's quest to unseat Vince McMahon's company as the tops in the business. Mrs. Foley's baby boy did it, and he did it in one of the most emotional moments in WWE history.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
