There was something broadly sweet about Mankind's desperation to make it into the WrestleMania main event any way he could (and it did at least provide a narrative thread to his controversial return the following year), but more impressive was Mick Foley's ardent effort to get The Big Show following a ropey first month with the organisation.
Despite his imposing size and equally massive reputation thanks to nearly four years in WCW, Paul Wight had spent his first thirty days getting bantered off by The Rock and beaten by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Kicking the f*ck out of Mick Foley - as it did for many - almost turned things around.
Foreshadowing the rest of his career, the contest concluded with him slapping gaffer Vince McMahon after getting himself disqualified by hurtling backwards into a pile of steel chairs with 'Mrs Foley's Baby Boy' on his back. A turn here was greeted with joy and surprise rather than an almighty groan.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for 10 years. Alongside the production of daily written, audio and video content covering WWE and AEW, he also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years.
As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot on the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 10,000 episodes and 70,000,000 total downloads. He also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House!, Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast, and has guested on long-running Sunderland AFC podcast Wise Men Say.
With WhatCulture, he has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. He has also been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling.
Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.
