Why did Mick Foley rank #1 on this list of esteemed Godfathers? As was mentioned earlier, Sabu didn't get the credit he deserved and one of the reasons could be he didn't get as much main stream exposure as others on this list. Mick Foley had the character to get over with a global audience and took more risk than most on a main stream stage. Ultimately, Foley exposed hardcore to a world wide audience during his run in the WWE and as a result, hardcore drew more money than ever before. He wasn't just at the right place at the right time, though. He earned his spot on this list with some of the most dangerous bumps in pro wrestling history. Foley's career captured many of the different aspects of hardcore that were mentioned here, his matches with Vader in WCW, one of which resulted in the loss of Foley's ear, were brutal. His matches with his mentor, Terry Funk, were extremely dangerous and resulted in second degree burns for each competitor. The bump that he took from the top of the cell in 1998 raised the bar for risk taking and it was a level that was rarely revisited after that. Those matches were in Foley's prime, but he had an impressive series of matches in 2006, including a Wrestlemania match with Edge that showcased the WWE's first flaming table. The fans recognized Foley's sacrifice and it made him one of the most popular competitors in the pro wrestling business. Foley is another example that hardcore isn't about the gimmicks, it's about leaving an impression on the fans, which is what made the hardcore style an art form.
