Customer Reviews

WWE: Mick Foley Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is just the same release as "Mick Foley's Greatest Hits and Misses' that was released four years ago in 2003. Only this time you will get an extra disk in the DVD set that comes with a couple of extra matches. Let me be clear...if you are a new fan of wrestling, this is ESSENTIAL!!! This has some of the greatest matches ever released. I will admit some are not as good as others, but there are some rare gems...

DISK 1:

Cactus Jack and Max Payne vs. The Nasty Boys:
Wild brawl from WCW that had the use of a lot of weapons, chairs, tables, and more than one wild spot! Cactus Jack at one point suplexes a table onto one of the nasty boys on the ramp leading to the ring in a great spot. However the Nasty Boys get the win after Cactus gets leveled with a shovel to the head...8/10

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu:
Many people actually believed one of these two would die because they were each that violent. The match is back and forth but many considered it a let down...even Mick himself. But nonetheless this is still an entertaining match and there were table spots, dont worry. Sabu at one point had Cactus on a table in the audience and did a moonsault off the top rope onto Cactus through the table! The ending was kinda cheap but Sabu wins a good fight. 7.5/10

Cactus Jack and Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk:
There was not one wrestling move in this entire match! More and more weapons were used and Stevie Richards at one point makes an apperance but pays for it! Cant remember who wins, I am doing this review based on memory [yes, I have watched this DVD set that many times] but it was a great match to watch for the violence! 8.5/10

Other matches include

Cactus Jack vs. Vader
Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman [Texas Death Match]
Cactus Jack vs. Mikey Whipwreck [Cactus' last match in ECW]

DISK 2:

Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk:
This was one of the rarest matches that had Mick wrestle as himself. These two tore the roof down and it was even better because Stone Cold Steve Austin was on commentary! Tables, chairs, trashcans, and brutality is what resulted when these two legendary figures met in the ring! Mick Foley wins...9/10

Mankind vs. The Undertaker:
The famous Hell in a Cell match that had Mankind getting thrown twice off the roof of the cage; once on top of the announce table, the other through the roof of the cage. Thumbtacks and chairs would also make appearances in the match and Taker wins. 10/10

Cactus Jack vs. HHH:
The famous street fight from Royal Rumble 2000. Anything and everything was used. Barbed wire, thumbtacks, tables, steel steps, handcuffs, chairs, trashcans, sledghammers, just to name a few! Cactus at one point was handcuffed and took some brutal chair shots to the head, but fought back and sliced HHH's head open with his trusy barbed wire 2 by 4. HHH wins after pedigreeing Cactus face first onto a pile of tacks! 11/10

other matches include

HBK vs. Mankind [Mick calls it the greatest match in his career]
Mankind vs. The Rock [when foley won the title]
Cactus Jack vs. HHH [the first time these two fought, not the best but still really good]

and finally the third disk includes:

Cactus Jack vs. Randy Orton:
This is what the wwe was lacking the most in 2004...VIOLENCE!!! Luckily this is a rare treat that had Randy proving he has what it takes to go hardcore. Orton at one point fell back first onto a pile of tacks without a shirt on! His back looked like a pincushion! A huge board of barbed wire makes an appearance, as does chairs, cookie sheets, tables, and trashcans! Great match that Randy won. 10/10

Cactus Jack vs. Edge:
This was from last year, and it was also as brutal as any Cactus Jack match was. tacks, tables, fire, and barbed wire make appearances. Edge wins after spearing Foley through the ring ropes onto a table set on fire! 10/10

Cactus Jack vs. Ric Flair:
This was an I Quit match that had both men taking huge punishment. Foley at one point gave a scoop slam to Flair onto tacks, then flair fought back and knocked foley out of the ring right to the floor! Flair even gave his chops while wearing Mr. Socko wrapped in barbed wire! Flair wins in a cheap ending as Melina comes down and starts interfering...bad ending to a great feud and match. 9/10

the last match is Mick Foley and Edge vs. Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk from ECW One Night Stand 2006 [VIOLENT MATCH]

There you have it, this is recommended if you have either lost your old copy of this previously released set or if you are a new, new fan of wrestling...This is highly recommended.

A hardcore legend in Mick Foley has his wrestling career is spotlighted here on this DVD. Foley will go down in history for being able to control the crowd, being violent & hardcore, and also being able to be one of the most loveable characters in wrestling. This DVD is a great collection of violent matches with comments form Foley himself along with his famous promos & extra matches.

Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader - During a time where Vader was just killing his opponetts, Cactus Jack was able to hold his own and go toe to toe with Vader. This also includes exclusive footage that was censored on TBS.

Chicago Street Fight: Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs. Nasty Boys - This was one of the "stiffest" matches I've ever seen as these guys were legitlity brawling & hitting each other with the weapons and you just see at one point Cactus get his head cracked with a shovel on the floor.

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu - This match was more about the post match brawl between the two than the match itself. Foley admits before the match that the hype & reputation between these two set a standard that nobody could match.

Cactus Jack vs. Chris Candido - This wasn't anything really memorable past showcasing his time in Smokey Mountain Wrestling.

Texas Death Match: Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman - Foley openily admits that this match wasn't pretty as Sandman got a concussion at the beginning & really threw everything off. Mick described this match perfectly in the beginning, it was a trainwreck.

Cactus Jack & Raven vs. Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer - The classic ECW wild weapons brawl as they had everything including the kitchen sink. It would get sick as you see things like Cactus ripping at Funk's arm with glass. With cameo's from Taz & Bill Alfonzo, this is worth watching again & again.

Cactus Jack vs. Mikey Whipwreck - Nothing special here past this being Cactus' last match in ECW against the man he took under his wing & helped make a superstar.

Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels - Mick said it himself in his own book that this was the best match of his career and WWE proclaimed as the match of the year in 1996. HBK's high flyin' lucha libre influenced style mixed with Mankind's hardcore daredevil style made for one hell of a match.

Falls Count Anywhere: Cactus Jack vs. Triple H - Tables, trash cans, and weapons galore in this brawl with an entertaining prematch promo from the "3 Faces Of Foley." One of the best matches in RAW history.

Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk - A throwback to their ECW brawls as both of these wrestlers are just using their own bodies are wrecking machines. Stone Cold on commentary just adds to the craziness of this match.

Dude Love vs. Stone Cold - The best match in the history of Dude Love as it's another brawl that goes all over the place from the ring to the outside and even the set with all the cars gets involved. McMahon, Brisco, Patterson, and Undertaker all have cameos in this match.

Mankind vs. The Undertaker - Foley's most memorable performance as he takes a beating that you have to see to believe.

Mankind vs. The Rock - One of the most emotional title wins that "put alot of butts in the seats" as Foley wins the title for the first time with help from Stone Cold. This match itself isn't as good as their Survivor Series match or their later matches like the Halftime Heat match but still, it was very emotional.

Street Fight Match: Cactus Jack vs. Triple H - This is the match that catapulted Triple H into the bonified main event superstar that he is today. Thumbtacks, barbed wire, and blood all over the place as these two took you on one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

Bonus Matches:
Falls Count Anywhere: Cactus Jack vs. Sting - This match has commentary from Coach & Foley where they talked about his storytelling throughout the match & his time in WCW. This was Cactus' best WCW match in his opinion and it really is. Action all over the ringside area along with great storytelling revolving around Sting's injured ribs.

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu - The Cactus/Sabu rematch that includes commentary from Foley & Coach. This match is better quality (both in video & in ring action) than the previous one.

"Jack" Foley & Les Thornton vs. British Bulldogs - Mick's WWE debut that results in him having a dislocated jaw thanks to the Dynamite Kid.

DVD extras across both disc include an interview a week after his match with Vader, the promo where Cactus Jack spits on the WCW tag team titles, two anti-hardcore ECW promos including his favorite one revolving around a fan making a sign suggesting that Sandman canes his 5 year old son, his ECW farewell speech, a Confidental piece on what he's been up to since leaving WWE in 2001, the early Mankind "ear" teaser promos, one of his Mankind vignettes from the "dungeon", the promo he did before his Mind Games match, the video features from Las Vegas with Al Snow, and a backstage promo between Commissioner Foley & Kurt Angle. Hidden extras include the video of a young Mick Foley jumping off the roof of his house, the Dude Love entrance video, his Chef Boyardee commercial, and the DX paraody "Have A Bad Day."

(Now the following matches 4 matches are on the Hardcore Edition disc & all have commentary with Joey Styles & Mick Foley. Keep in mind for this review that I already had the original 2 disc version & caught the 3rd "Hardcore Edition" disc on a WWE 24/7 replay so I don't know the bonus material or hidden extras on this third disc.)

No Holds Barred Match: Mick Foley vs. Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton - Foley in this match did what he did for Triple H in 2000 & Edge at WM22. He put Orton in his hardcore enviroment & heavily put him over as it showed that Orton can take some serious punishment that most wrestlers can't & still go while telling a good story in the ring as well. Also hear how Mick Foley felt about how his match a month earlier at WrestleMania was his motivation for this match along with how honored he felt that Randy Orton kept referencing this match years later.

Edge vs. Mick Foley - This was about Mick Foley getting his "WrestleMania moment" and he did because I felt like this was the best match of the night & one of the best hardcore matches in WWE history. The spear though the flaming table at the end is really something that has to be seen.

w/Mick Foley & Lita vs. Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, Beulah - This match was like an updated version of the November 2 Remember '95 match...only replace Raven with Edge. Just great hardcore action with Funk stuck in barbwire, Dreamer & Edge brawling, the catfight with Beulah & Lita and even Foley on fire. Just great non-stop action...plus it was nice to see Beulah again (you can never get enough of her). The commentary is interesting here as you hear how Mick was disappointed with the setup to this match along with his feelings about how Vince McMahon viewed Terry Funk.

"I Quit" Match: Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley - Seeing Ric Flair take these hardcore spots in his shape & age in the ring is really to see. It got a little weak towards the end with Melina running in but still, the match is something to see as we hadn't seen Flair act this psycho since his matches with Terry Funk. During this match, you'll hear why Mick Foley felt so negative about this encounter from the match itself to how Flair was booked afterwards.

In the end, after releasing the bonus disc full of his last runs in WWE along with his personal thoughts, this is truely an ultimate Mick Foley collection that any true fan would cherish so I recommend.

I wanted this DVD so much when it first came out and when i got it was surprised just how good the matches were on this DVD in their full length.

WCW

Cactus Jack Vs. Big Van Vader - A brutal brawl like no other, Cactus takes a horrible beating and hearing Vader break his nose is just sick. You see unseen footage not shown in WCW of Cactus being busted open and the ending which is a surprise brilliant battle. 8.5/10

Chicago Street Fight
Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne vs. The Nasty Boys - My favourite tag match ever!! Who could have thought WCW could have put on such a violent match in 1994!! Alot like ECW with the use of lots of weapons and tables. (Watch out for some nasty chair shots and Cactus being pushed off ramp onto cold concrete!) 10/10

SMW

Cactus Jack vs Chris Candido (RIP) - For some reason i never liked this match and didnt get into it even though it is a decent technical affair, Cactus shows he isnt just a hardcore wrestler. 5/10

ECW

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu - This match had way too much hype going into and was never going to deliver to its full anticipation. Like Mick says most people expected him and Sabu to kill each other in this match and people were bound to be dissapointed. This said i think this match is a good hardcore bout with both taking some good bumps and hits. 8/10

Texas Death Match
Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman - One of the misses on the DVD and a very wierd match. Sandman is mainly a brawler who can put on a good hardcore match but he was out of it for this match so it was all Cactus and the ending was messed up alot of times by the fact Sandman didnt know what to do, hard to watch at times but some good weapon spots. 5/10 (For the good weapons and Sandman continuing even though not really there in mind)

Cactus Jack and Raven vs. Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer - What we all remember ECW for! Best match on DVD for ECW and was what we all expect it to be. Weapons everywhere (Even a VCR!!)and just an all out brawl to remember, finish was a little messy but doesnt ruin the match. 9/10

Cactus Jack vs. Mikey Whipwreck -His last match in ECW and second best match ive seen Whipwreck in (No.1 is against Billy Kidman Uncensored 2000)this match was good and solid with some good spots from both men.

WWE/WWF

WWE Title
Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels - Brilliant best match of 1996 and didnt even have a proper storyline to back it up. This match proves that Mick is not just a hardcore wrestler who brawls but is someone who can put on a good technical match with someone like HBK. Brilliant but deserved a proper ending. 9.5/10 (Would have been 10 but for the run in)

Falls Count Anywhere
Cactus Jack vs. HHH - Classic Raw match which was the turning point into the attitude era and a more aggressive style. Good match which goes throughout the arena and the ending is excellent, the first match between HHH and Cactus who always seem to work well together. 9/10

No Holds Barred
Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk - Only match on DVD as Mick Foley.A ok solid match but it felt like the crowd didnt care until near the end. 6/10

WWE Title
Dude Love vs. Stone Cold (c) - Only match as Dude Love but is a good example of the infamous attitude era. Good brawl and Vince McMahon and Undertaker help this match along. 8/10

Hell In A Cell
Mankind vs. Undertaker - WOW most famous Hell In A Cell match ever and most fans have seen many times. You all know that Mick takes some crazy bumps and both give their all in this brilliant and brutal match, Undertaker had a broken foot and Mick was messed up aftr the fall from the top so to create such a match from that makes this a classic. 10/10

WWE Title
Mankind vs. The Rock (c) - Micks first title win shame it had to be on Raw. This is not the best match these two have had but was a decent match with lots of interference. 7/10

Street Fight WWE Title
Cactus Jack vs. HHH (c) - WHAT A MATCH! Best street fight ever! This match is full of weapons and blood and they put their all in this match. HHH and Cactus were at their best here and put on a performance that keeps you on the edge of your seat BRILLIANT! 10/10

Buy this DVD most of the matches are top class and are worth their money, this DVD proves that Mick is one of the best in the business.

Mick Foley's Greatest Hits and Misses is no doubt one of the greatest superstar profiles WWE has ever released. Here's whats on it.

Disk One:
Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader WCW Saturday Night 4/17/1993
Some of the latter day hardcore fans may not like this one, but it was good for its time. Cactus wins.

Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs. Nasty Boys in a Chicago Street Fight
This one took place at WCW Spring Stampede 4/17/1994. I was very impressed with this match. I never thought I would see something like that in WCW (especially in 1994!) Nasty Boys win.

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu ECW Hostile City Showdown 6/24/1994
Cactus was sent to ECW by WCW to wrestle this match. Very entertaining with some nice spots. Sabu wins.

Cactus Jack vs. Chris Candido SMW 11/18/1994
Nice match for Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Cactus Jack wins.

Cactus Jack vs. Sandman in a Texas Death Match ECW 2/4/1995
Not as great as I thought it would be, but still good. You could tell in some spots that Sandman wasn't in his right mind! To win this one, you had to pin. Then he had to stay down for a ten count (kind of a mix between a regular match and a Last Man Standing match.) Cactus wins.

Cactus & Raven vs. Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer ECW November 2 Remember
This match was AWESOME! Many weapons used including a VCR, a cheese grador, and a frying pan! Funk and Dreamer win.

Cactus vs. Mikey Whipwreck ECW 3/9/1996
This was a cool match. It was Foley's last ECW match. Cactus wins.

Extras for Disk One
Post-Match Vador Interview
Cactus Jack vs. Sting WCW Beach Balst 6/20/92 Foley and Coachmen on commentary.
Cactus Spits on the WCW Belt
"Cane Dewwy" Promo (Mick's favorite.)
"Anti-Hardcore" Promo
Cactus vs. Sabu rematch Hamburg, PA. Foley and coachman do commentary.
ECW Farewell speech
"Jack" Foley & Les Thornton vs. British Bulldogs 9/13/1986
WWE Confidental: Foley explains his absence.

Disk Two
Introducing... Mankind!

Mankind vs. HBK World Title WWE Mind Games 9/22/1996
Mick calls this his favorite match. It was a good match. HBK wins by DQ.

Cactus vs. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley Falls Count Anywhere Raw 9/22/1997
This match was sweet! It was also cool to hear the Raw fans start chanting ECW ECW! Cactus wins.

Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk Raw 5/4/1998
Nice to see these two friends battle it out. Foley wins.

Dude Love vs. Stone Cold World Title Over the Edge 5/31/1998
This was Foley's greatest match as the Dude Love character. Add Vince McMahon as special guest referee and Undertaker at ring side during the entire match and your in for a treat! Austin wins.

Mankind vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell King of the Ring 6/28/1998
This is the match that Foley will be remembered most for. Him falling of and through the cage was amazing. Add a steal chair and some thumb tacts and you get one of the greatest Hell in a Cell match ever. Undertaker wins.

Mankind vs. The Rock World Title Raw 1/4/1999
This was a emotional one for Mick Foley and a decent match. Mankind wins his first of three World Titles.

Cactus Jack vs. HHH in a Street Fight World Tile Royal Rumble 1/23/2000
This has to be one of the greatest street fights of all time! Barbed wire, steal chairs, thumb tacts, handcuffs, and other weapons are used. Lots of blood. HHH wins

Extras for Disk Two
Mankind Teasers. WWE fans get their first look at a disturbing newcomer.
Music to My Ear. Mankind talks about his symphony of destruction.
J.R., Mankind, and Paul Bearer prior to his Mind Games match against HBK.
J.R. interviews Mankind Raw 6/9/1997.
The Birth of Mr. Socko. Mankind visits Mr. McMahon in the hospital. Very funny!!!
Mick and Al Snow in Las Vegas.
Commissioner Foley and Kurt Angle

Disk Three
All of the following matches can be viewed with regular commentary or special commentary with Mick and Joey Styles

Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton No Holds Barred for the Intercontinental Title Backlash 4/18/2004.
This match was sweet with lots of thumb tacts and barbed wire. Orton wins.

Foley vs. Edge Hardcore match Wrestlmania 22 4/2/2006
This match was great. Most shocking moment is win Edge spears Foley through a flaming table. Edge wins.

Foley, Edge, and Lita vs. Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and Beulah ECW One Night Stand 6/11/2006
This match, in my opinion, was the greatest one from one night stand. Barbed wire, fire, and other weapons were used. Foley, Edge, & Lita win.

Foley vs. Ric Flair I Quit match SummerSalm 8/20/2006
It was so sweet to see these two legends battle it out in the ring. Lots of blood shed. Ric Flair wins.
No extras on disk three.

NOTE: All matches within the body of both discs of the 2 DVD set are complete (ie: unedited) & introduced well by Mick himself. Some of the introductions also include fascinating promos or interviews.

vs BIG VAN VADER (April '93): This television bout is from 'WCW Saturday Night'. Vader was the heel World Champion at the time & Cactus got a big countout win in this 10 minute (excluding commercial time) brawl. And it most definitely was a brawl, as Vader just pummeled Foley over & over with legitimate punches & forearm shots. There was the occasional wrestling move, but not a lot. There is also a lot of outside the ring action. Note that the family friendly WCW version is mixed with Mick's uncensored personal footage. Match Rating...6

with MAXX PAYNE vs THE NASTY BOYS (April '94): This was a 'Chicago Streetfight' at the 'Spring Stampede' pay-per-view, and took place not long after Mick lost his ear. No tags here, as it was predominantly two sets of 1 on 1 matches taking place all over the arena, and very rarely in the ring. Fairly fun to watch, but nothing too hardcore or special. And don't even think about any psychology being used here. It's simply prop shot after prop shot. Foley gets pinned at the 9 minute mark after a shovel shot to the head. This type of match later became synonymous with WCW's Uncensored ppv. Match Rating...6

vs SABU (June '94): This bout was from the ECW 'Hostile City Showdown' event & Foley was basically on loan from WCW at the time. In his intro, Mick explains why he didn't show any offense in the first 4 minutes. Unfortunately, that ploy didn't really work & threw the match off kilter a little. When Mick did finally fight back, it turned into the prototypical early ECW style bout. Extremely spotty, yet not a drop of blood was seen. Nowhere near their best match, but still a fascinating watch. Sabu wins at the 13 minute mark with help from Paul E. A 6 minute aftermath is included & helps get the rating up a notch... Match Rating...7

vs CHRIS CANDIDO (November '94): Terrific match from Smokey Mountain Wrestling with an excellent performance by Candido (who I had previously only seen as Skip, or was it Zip, in the WWE). Unfortunately, it's only 8 minutes in length, but the action is non-stop for that entire duration. It's also a great mix of technical & aerial wrestling, with a little hardcore action thrown in. Cactus wins with his patented double arm DDT. I'll be a little kind on the rating due to Candido's surprising all-around talent & the length of the match. Match Rating...8

vs THE SANDMAN (February '95): This was an ECW 'Texas Death Mach', which is basically a 'Last Man Standing' match, except you have to get a 3 count pinfall before the 10 count (if that makes sense). In his intro, Foley admits this isn't a great bout (saying he didn't choose it for the DVD), but notes that he & Sandman were both badly injured during the match. I just thought Sandman was drunk or stoned, rather than concussed. A bit of a mess & more like an ECW undercard bout, than a main event match. Still fascinating in some strange sort of way though. Cactus wins with 3 DDTs to the floor at the 16 minute mark of this too slowly paced bout. Match Rating...5

with RAVEN vs TERRY FUNK & TOMMY DREAMER (November '95): This was from the ECW 'November 2 Remember' show & is preceded by a Foley story of setting Funk on fire, which almost made Mick quit wrestling. Simply put, this is a 14 minute prop-fest. Name an object & it's used as a weapon here. There are far too many to name. Everyone hits, everyone gets hit, everyone bleeds, everyone has fun... I think. Not exactly my cup of tea, but the pace was kept up & it included a hilarious moment when Dreamer pulled Foley's shirt, which had a picture of Eric Bischoff on it, to head level, just so he could pummel it over & over again. No real wrestling or selling is anywhere to be seen. Match Rating...6

vs MIKEY WHIPWRECK (March '96): This bout was from the ECW 'Big Ass Extreme Bash' show & was Mick Foley's last ECW match. In the intro, Mick actually admits that the cheers from the crowd during this bout may have been his most memorable moment ever! Solid match which I think best sums up ECW. There was a decent mix of hardcore, high-flying, brawling & technical wrestling for the 18 minute duration. There was also a good 'never-say-die' feel from both competitors, as it genuinely appeared like they were both striving to get an important win. Cactus ended up leaving ECW victorious. Match Rating...7

POST VADER MATCH INTERVIEW: Decent little interview including Jack mentioning turning face & using his family to help the turn along.

vs STING (June '92): This is from WCW's 'Beach Blast' show & was a 'Falls Count Anywhere' match. It also has voiceover commentary from Mick himself & Jonathan Coachman. This is a gem of an 11 minute match. Most of the encounter takes place outside of the ring, but that actually helps these 2. It's difficult to explain, but the 2 play off of each other really well & their styles mesh superbly. Non-stop action & a whole bunch of great moves, without being too spotty. It's also easy to see why Sting was destined for big things as a youngster; There is just an electricity about him here. A forgotten gem. Match Rating...9

CACTUS SPITS ON THE WCW BELT: Terrific & classic ECW promo relating to the Sabu feud. It was actually conducted at the time Mick was on loan from WCW & that played heavily in the promo. This extra also includes a Paul Heyman interview as well.

"CANE DEWEY" PROMO: Mick introduces this well. Truly one of the greatest promos ever! Directed at Tommy Dreamer, Foley uses a crowd sign to deliver an emotional speech which difficultly is 100% heel. Using the fans, ECW & WCW, Cactus hits absolutely every correct nerve. Sensational.

"ANTI HARDCORE" PROMO: Another excellent 8 minute promo in the same vein as the last one, but a bit more specific towards Tommy Dreamer. This time Foley uses some of his own history, as well as Dreamer's.

vs SABU (September '94): This also includes commentary from Mick & The Coach. The ECW rematch, this is pretty much more of the same, except it's a tad longer because a break is needed not long after the start of the bout, because Sabu almost kills himself on the guardrail. Entertaining, as per usual, with Sabu's spots & Mick's craziness. Includes some wicked glass bottle shots to Mick's head, and this is definitely real glass! Match Rating...7

ECW FAREWELL SPEECH: Heartfelt speech thanking the ECW fans & putting over ECW as a possible future threat to the big 2, with great people involved in it.

with LES THORNTON vs THE BRITISH BULLDOGS (September '86): The second ever Cactus Jack match is introduced by Mick & is from the 'WWF Superstars' television show. I have to be honest & say that I was being far too much of a Bulldogs fan to worry about what a young & skinny Mick was doing here. Usual 'Superstars' squash that lasted less than 4 minutes. I won't rate it, but watching the Bulldogs was great fun.

WWE CONFIDENTIAL FEATURE: Ok 6 minute feature detailing Mick's 19 month absence from the WWE, what he did during that time & how he felt upon return.

EASTER EGGS:

DUDE LOVE VIGNETTE: On Disk-1, go to the 'Chapters' menu & highlight 'Cactus Jack vs Chris Candido'. Then press 'right' twice to see a 1 minute long Dude Love vignette.

FOLEY'S FIRST LEAP: On Disk-1, go to the 'Extras' menu & highlight 'Main Menu'. Then press 'left' twice to see the infamous footage of Foley jumping off the roof of a house as a teenager. I'd actually never seen the "busted wide open" ending before.


NOTE: Before we get into the matches, Mick introduces the Mankind character by talking about Vince's idea & that stinky mask. We also see an excellent introductory vignette including George The Rat.

vs SHAWN MICHAELS (September '96): Foley calls this his "greatest match ever". Taking place at the 'Mind Games' pay-per-view, this is a truly superb match which proved that HBK could get the job done in the ring against practically any type of opponent. On his DVD, Shawn said that Mick's style gave him the opportunity to do something a little different & show the fans something new in his matches. I think it's probably the best ever mix of 2 different styles in the 1 bout. Intense, well-paced & very psychological, the Disqualification ending (Vader running in) is the only real low point of this bout. Match Rating...10

vs TRIPLE H (September '97): This is a 'Falls Count Anywhere' match from Raw. This was the WWE arrival of Cactus Jack & was introduced by a great 3 character promo by Foley. Entertaining ECW style match with a great array of spots all over the arena. Worked a treat & the fans really got involved. Excluding commercial time, this was 10 minutes in duration. Practically a pay-per-view main event on free television. Match Rating...9

vs TERRY FUNK (May '98): 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin guest commentates on this Raw 'Falls Count Anywhere' match where Mick wrestled as himself. Slower paced hardcore bout which took a real long time to get going. But these 2 worked extremely hard to make it very much worthwhile after all was said & done. Nothing special, but as a television match, this was more than sufficient. Excluding commercial time, this lasted 15 minutes. Match Rating...7

vs 'STONE COLD' STEVE AUSTIN (May '98): From the 'Over The Edge' ppv, Vince McMahon was the special guest referee, but The Undertaker was at ringside to make sure he did his job properly. This is one of those rare times where gimmicky overbooking actually helps the bout a little. I get the feeling a couple of times during this match that Foley & Austin are attempting to replicate the 'Mind Games' HBK bout, but it's very much a poor man's version. But with help from gimmicky ringside props (especially 2 cars) & various Vince/Brisco/Patterson shenanigans, we get what is a very good all-around entertainment package. Stone Cold wins by pinfall at the 23 minute mark when he lifts Vince's unconscious hand up & down for the 3 count. Match Rating...8

vs THE UNDERTAKER (June '98): This is the infamous 'Hell In A Cell' match from the 'King Of The Ring' ppv. In his intro, Foley states that when it comes to the memory of fans, what he did in this match pretty much overshadows everything else he did. It's really hard to argue with that opinion, as I know his 2 huge bumps will forever be etched in my mind. I actually wouldn't have minded the match ending at the 1 minute mark, as the commentary table spot has to be seen to be believed. How Foley survived that & the subsequent mat bump, which genuinely knocked him out for a little while, is amazing. And to think that after all that, an actual match took place..... including thumbtacks! I'll say it was 18 minutes in total, although I can't actually recall when the opening bell rang. Almost impossible to rate, as it's hardly a wrestling match. Entertaining in a rather sadistic sort of way & really has to be seen to be believed. Match Rating...9

vs THE ROCK (January 1999): This is the Raw 'No Disqualification' bout where Mick (as Mankind) won the WWE Championship. Nothing really special about the match, except that Foley caused the huge upset & won the title. It works as a television bout with that upset win & a huge ending (where Stone Cold comes out & clocks Rocky with a chair). However, I have to be honest, and state that it would only just scrape a pass rating on pay-per-view (especially without a Foley win). Still, the match had to be on this 2 disk DVD set & is fun to view. At only 9 minutes in length, it needs the entertaining celebrations afterwards to cap it off. A generous rating for this television bout. Match Rating...7

vs TRIPLE H (January 2000): This is the 'Streetfight' from the 2000 'Royal Rumble' ppv. 27 minutes of brutal hardcore action. But to call this just a "hardcore" match is not giving it enough credit. It was intense, pretty much non-stop & very hard hitting. Hell, it even told a story. Make no mistake that this was the moment that truly elevated Triple H to a main event superstar. Complete with thumbtacks, chairs & a barbed-wire covered 2x4, this match had it all. Probably fairly easy to find faults when viewed under a microscope, but the entertainment value was too high to do that. A classic. Match Rating...10

4 MANKIND TEASERS: All are short snippets at about 20 seconds each & focus on Mick's bad ear.

MUSIC TO MY EAR: Another Mankind introduction vignette, this one focusing on his injured hand & how he used to be a concert pianist!

MIND GAMES: A Jim Ross in-ring interview of Mankind before his 'Mind Games' title shot.

JIM ROSS INTERVIEWS MANKIND: A sit-down interview where Foley shows a human side to his heel Mankind character. Again, Mick walks a tightrope with this promo & gets safely to the other end. Of course, it all ends in JR getting the mandible claw.

THE BIRTH OF MR SOCKO: The hilarious skit where Mick & his clown friend try to cheer an injured Vince McMahon up in hospital. Does not show the Austin ending.

MICK & AL SNOW IN VEGAS: Short skit of Mick & Al wandering around a casino getting heckled by a Rock fan.

MORE MICK & AL SNOW IN VEGAS: Pretty much the same again, but this time a gentlemen's club gets involved.

COMMISSIONER FOLEY & KURT ANGLE: Short little backstage segment which pretty much sums up Mick's face commissioner run. It includes his nonsensical booking of a match & the usual cheap hometown pop.

EASTER EGGS:

CHEF BOYARDEE COMMERCIAL: On Disk-2, go to the 'Chapters' menu & highlight 'HBK vs Mankind'. Then press 'left' twice to see Mick's Chef Boyardee television advertisement.

DX's "HAVE A BAD DAY" SKIT: On Disk-2, go to the 'Extras' menu & highlight 'The Birth Of Mr Socko'. Then press 'right' twice to see a DeGeneration X comedy skit entitled 'Have A Bad Day', where a rather thin Mankind goes to the unemployment office to be berated by Triple H. The funniest thing here is Triple H wearing a fake big nose!!!

This collection features not only some of the greatest Mick Foley matches of all time, but also some of the greatest moments in all of wrestling.

Much like Ric Flair did on his DVD, Foley introduces the matches with an almost "shoot" like quality. He is rather candid on his thoughts ranging from his real life issues with Vince McMahon (which culminated in Foley taking a nineteen month hiatus from the WWE) to his nearly quitting professional wrestling over his accidentally setting Terry Funk on fire in a wrestling stunt gone awry (perhaps thankfully, that footage is NOT included on this set).

While not featuring as many five-star classics as "The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection", this set, nevertheless, serves as a reminder of one man's dedication to the sport of wrestling and the oft-times disturbing sacrifices he has made along the way.

This set acts as a perfect companion to Foley's biographies, "Have A Nice Day" and "Foley Is Good". Readers of these two books will instantly recount various chapters as they watch Foley's ancedotes play themselves out.

The reason I am only giving "Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses: A Life In Wrestling" a near sacreligious four star rating is because of the questionable decision to include (and exclude) a few select matches.

One can almost sense the disdain in Mick's voice as he makes it a point to mention how NOT all of the matches in this collection were hand-picked by him. Case in point, the Texas Death match against the Sandman from ECW. Unfortunately, the first disc is slightly blemished by the inclusion of this match which disrupts the flow of an otherwise great series of matches. Foley does not hide the fact that said match is extremely bad (he refers to it as a "train wreck"). Then again, it is a Sandman match, so what can you expect really? Still, I would have much rather WWE include footage of FMW's 1995 King of the Death Match Tournament, since footage of it has been used on WWE TV in the past. The absence of the 1999 Royal Rumble match and Halftime Heat, both against The Rock, are also noteworthy. The exclusion of the former is especially striking since it is referenced later on in the Cactus Jack/HHH match from the 2000 Royal Rumble.

Rare interviews and promos such as the now-famous "Cane Dewey" and the "Cactus spits on WCW tag belt" promos *almost* more than makes up for the lack of a few important matches.

Also, look for Foley's second official match (footage of the first official match doesn't exist according to him)as a VERY svelte Foley and Les Thorntan battle the British Bulldogs from a 1986 episode of "WWF Superstars"

Whereas "The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection" regaled old school wrestling fans with its look at the history of modern professional wrestling, "Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses: A Life In Wrestling" appeals to newer fans who are most familar with Foley's stints on WWE TV. Buy this DVD and bare witness to the rise of one of the most memorable wrestling personalities ever.

Hosted and hand-picked by Mick Foley himself, these are the matches and moments that defined his legendary career. Complete, Uncensored and all together for the first time on DVD.
This is a 2 DVD set which comes with a free Mick Foley Hat!

Cactus Jack vs. Big Van Vader
WCW Saturday Night - 17.4.93

Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne vs. The Nasty Boys
Chicago Street Fight - WCW Spring Stampede - 17.4.94

Cactus Jack vs. Sabu
ECW Hostile City Showdown - 24.6.94

Cactus Jack vs. Chris Candido
Smoky Mountain Wrestling - 18.11.94

Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman
Texas Death Match - ECW - 4.2.95

Cactus Jack & Raven vs. Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer
ECW November 2 Remember - 18.11.95

Cactus Jack vs. Mikey Whipwreck
ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash - 9.3.96

Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels
WWE Mind Games - 22.9.96

Cactus Jack vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Falls Count Anywhere - WWE Raw is War - 22.9.97

Mick Foley vs. Terry Funk
WWE Raw is War - 4.5.98

Dude Love vs. Stone Cold
WWE Over the Edge - 31.5.98

Mankind vs. The Undertaker
Hell in a Cell - WWE King of the Ring - 28.6.98

Mankind vs. The Rock
WWE Raw is War - 4.1.99

Cactus Jack vs. Triple H
Street Fight - WWE Royal Rumble - 23.1.00

90 Minutes of DVD Extras:
- Cactus Jack vs. Sting - 20.6.92
- Cactus Jack vs. Sabu - 30.9.94
- "Jack" Foley & Les Thornton vs. The British Bulldogs - 13.9.86
- The Birth of Mr Socko
- Vegas Vignettes with Al Snow
- Classic Promos
- Feature from WWE Confidential

So this is a DVD that any real wrestling fan must own !!!

First off, I am a huge Mick Foley mark, so take my opinion for what it is worth. This DVD is a must-have for any Mick Foley fan. It is a steal at its low price, and well worth the money. Those of you who buy this DVD looking for great technical matches will probably be disappointed, for Foley was never really that type of wrestler. However, if you are looking for some truly hardcore matches with plenty of spots that will make you rewind the DVD to view them again, this is the DVD for you.
Perhaps the most compelling thing about this DVD is the abuse that Mick puts his body through. On this DVD alone, Mick takes dozens and dozens of hard bumps onto solid concrete and then gets up and continues the match as though it was nothing. Watching him wrestle, it is easy to underestimate how much alot of what he does really hurts. A casual WWE fan probably won't be able to understand the hype behind Mick Foley, but those who understand the build-up of a great match will be amazed by the little things that Foley does to make both the match and his opponent look better. Heck, Foley had alot to do with getting the Rock over as an effective heel during the late nineties, as well as HHH. Foley, by putting his body through extreme pain, was able to make both of these superstars look far more vicious and heel-like than they ever had before.
All the matches on this DVD are outstanding. The only exception to this is the Cactus Jack vs. Sandman match, which I believe was included on this DVD to show you how Foley is able to carry a match with an opponent who is basically contributing nothing to the match. The Sandman was knocked stupid very early on in this match, and could hardly stand. He clearly had no idea what was going on for the rest of the match. However, Foley was able to save the match by carefully directing the flow of the match, and makes the match halfway watchable, instead of the total disaster that it could have been. The only reason I give this DVD four stars instead of five is that there are plenty of other Foley moments that could have been included. Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk in Japan would have been great to include on this DVD, as many non-Japanese fans haven't seen this match before, and it is hands down the bloodiest match I have ever seen, period. I'm not sure if WWE has the rights to that tape, however. Regardless, Foley/HHH Hell in a Cell should definently have been included in this set, as well as Mankind vs. The Rock, I-Quit match, if for no other reason than the brutal chairshots that Foley takes while handcuffed. I would also have liked to see more of Foley's promo's and interviews, as I think Foley is one of the greatest promo guys ever, possibly second only to Ric Flair. The match with Vader where Foley lost his ear should also have been included on this set. Finally, an interview with Foley about the transition from WWE Superstar to two-time best-selling author would have been nice. Even still, the DVD is by far worth the money it costs, and is a must buy. It isn't perfect, but it's darn close.

Since I'd only started watching wrestling during the late Attitude era, I didn't really know much about Mick Foley's career before he donned the leather mask and sock puppet. When his first book ("Have a Nice Day!") came out, I picked it up like a good Mankind fan, and discovered how inspirational and strangely gentle this in-ring psycho was. From getting his arm nearly blown off in Japan to going to theme parks with his kids, Foley turned out to be one hell of a role model.

Mick Foley's Greatest Hits and Misses is a good tribute to his legend. Although Foley himself admits that some of the matches included on the DVD aren't the best (see his bout with Sandman, or his first televised match with the British Bulldogs), they all show the Hardcore Legend doing what he does best: getting the living crap kicked out of him in as entertaining a way as possible. In fact, throughout the entire DVD, Foley only wins a handful of the matches shown.

But truthfully, for me, the main selling point of the DVD was the collection of Foley promos. Having never heard the "Cane Dewey" promo or Mick's first Mankind vignettes before this DVD, I couldn't help but be impressed. In all honesty, they could have devoted the entire DVD to a collection of Mick Foley promos, and I would have been perfectly happy. "Cane Dewey," for those (like me) that haven't seen it before...wow. Unfortunately, Mankind's interview with Jim Ross is severely cut down (only the last part is included on the DVD), and none of Mick's later mic sessions (besides a brief skit with Kurt Angle) are shown. I really wouldn't have complained about losing the Vader match in return for the Cactus Jack/Triple H buildup to the Royal Rumble street fight.

As far as the matches go, simple brutality is the name of the game. The Hell in the Cell with Undertaker is included, as is the Street Fight with Captain Trips. Also shown is a great tag ECW tag match between Cactus Jack/Raven and Terry Funk/Tommy Dreamer, Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels, a great Foley/Candido match, and a suprisingly good bout between Mick and Maxx Payne and the Nasty Boys (table suplex!). Unfortunately, on the flip side we have the almost depressingly boring Vader/Cactus Jack brawl (partially due to the simply pitiful commentary), which is, at least, the first match on the DVD. Also, I was somewhat disappointed that none of Foley's Japanese Deathmatches were included, or (a nitpick probably shared by no one) the Dude Love/Owen Hart brawl in which the two men savagely beat eachother with bags of popcorn. Not exactly Ric Flair/Steamboat, but classic nonetheless.

All in all, while the quality of the included matches isn't up to the standards set by Ric Flair's DVD, and more promos and interviews would have been appreciated, Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses is still an excellent collection and a tribute to a great human being. For the Foley Fan who already has Mick's two autobiographies and a copy of Tietam Brown, this is for you. For the Scott Keiths out there hoping for a package of ***** matches, well, look elsewhere.

Have a nice day!

I was very excited when I first hear that this DVD was to be released and did much research to find out which matches would be included. Sadly, I am not very pleased with the match selection of this set. I guess my major problem is a good number of the matches are introduced by Foley with the comment, "This is not the greatest match that _____ and I would have together, but. . ." and he even refers to the match with Sandman as a "Train Wreck". I mean, if this is supposed to be a compilation of the guy's greatest matches, shouldn't it have his GREATEST MATCHES? Even Foley doesn't seem overly excited about the selection and implies more than once that the WWE chose most of these matches, not him.

Almost everything the guy did in the WWF up until 1998 was ignored besides his match with HBK that was released on a previous Foley DVD AND the HBK 2 did set. Why not the Boiler Room Brawl or even his first win over the Undertaker at KOTR '96? He supposedly had more success against the Undertaker than anyone else; why not show a bit of it? They have the infamous Hell in a Cell match which is the most overplayed, over-released, and over-talked about match in WWF/E history. Foley admits it's not his favorite match though it was important to his career. Watch, it'll be released on the Undertaker DVD set too. . .

My biggest gripe about the DVD is that they decided to release the Street Fight with Triple H over the Hell in the Cell match, which ended Foley's career. I think his retirement match should have definitely been on there instead of a match that has been released twice before on DVD. Also, then blurring of the old WWF logo drives me nuts as well, but I guess that can't be helped.

Overall, this is an OKAY set that could have been much better by just tweaking a few of the matches. More extras would have been cool too. The man has had an awesome career and this release does reflect that, though if someone who has no idea what Mick Foley is all about saw this, they may walk away with the wrong idea.