A Glimpse into the Past: Foley Shares Insights on Wrestling’s Major Shift

Mick Foley, the iconic wrestling figure, recently shared his memories and insights on “The Radicalz” making their mark in WWE. In a segment from his podcast “FOLEY is POD,” Foley delves into the time when wrestling was undergoing significant changes, especially with WCW.

WCW was experiencing massive internal shifts, with Vince Russo’s sudden departure being notable. This led to unconditional releases for Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, and Perry Saturn. Other wrestlers like Shane Douglas, Conan, and Billy Kidman were also given releases around the same time.

Reflecting on the situation, Foley mentioned that he was particularly excited about the arrival of “The Radicalz” in WWE. He believed that their presence would be a game-changer. However, he also highlighted the challenges they faced in WCW, where wrestlers needing to fit a particular look were often sidelined. The tension between Kevin Sullivan and some of the wrestlers, especially given the personal history with Benoit, was also a significant factor in their unhappiness.

The arrival of “The Radicalz” was unique because, typically, wrestlers would switch companies individually. However, this time, four major talents made the jump simultaneously, marking a significant shift in the wrestling landscape.

Foley also touched upon Eddie Guerrero’s unfortunate injury on his debut night, hinting that it might have influenced some of his own career decisions. He expressed his excitement about having such talented wrestlers in WWE and did not see their arrival as a reason for his retirement.

Regarding Shane Douglas, Foley reminisced about Douglas’s stint as “Dean Douglas,” which he termed as one of the worst gimmicks. He believed that his trajectory would have been entirely different if Douglas had been part of the Attitude Era.