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TNA News
Interview Highlights: Mick Foley speaks about stiff chairshot at BFG, hall of Fame, sort of defending Russo's booking, in-ring return, more Oct 22, 2008 - 2:44:35 PM
The following are excerpts of Mick Foley's interview with Alfonso Castillo of Newsday, just published this afternoon:
On jeopardizing his chances of being inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame: "I've had the advantage of having a lot of closure to my career. I had the book that kind of summed up all my experiences. And I'm recognized and seemingly appreciated on a daily basis by fans. So I'm not in need of healing, which is what the entry to the Hall of Fame seems to be for a lot of guys. So, although I would be flattered to one day be asked, in no way am I looking at inclusion in the WWE Hall of Fame as necessary to complete my career."
On the chairshot he took from Kurt Angle at Bound for Glory: "I didn't know that Kurt was going to be quite that angry. That's probably Jeff Jarrett's statement that I was the greatest acquisition in TNA history showing itself. But, you know, I can take a shot here and there. I guess, from what my kids said, my wife was a little concerned. But you know, hey, people are going to be critical of anything. There's a certain number of people who are critical of anything that anybody does in wrestling. So I'm pretty comfortable with that decision."
On his short-lived announcing career: "I honestly feel that if people go back and watch the big matches that I called with Michael Cole and JR that they'll stand up and they'll stand the test of time. And I like knowing that when I was at my best that I did a very credible job. And, you know, I feel like I really could have been good. But it is Vince's company and it's not my position to tell him how to produce his announcers. And Vince is going to be right a lot more often than he's going to be wrong. But I was not a fan of his producing."
On criticisms of TNA's booking: "If you were traveling around the country, you probably wouldn't have fans quite as interested in the backstage happenings. So you would be a lot less likely to hear, 'Fire Russo' chants. I was always a supporter of Russo's. I even have that in writing in WWE books. And I think that now we have a cast of guys who could really make things happen. And I think that you will see a better focus on creative… You know, I think [Vince Russo] is a great idea guy. The challenge of coming up with something new every week is probably not fully appreciated by many people."
On performing before small crowds in TNA: "It's not a blow to my ego, but it does drive me to help the company. I remember the way Terry Funk and I felt back in 1995 wrestling back in 1995 in a 40 degree gymnasium – that we were trying to build something. And there was a lot of pride taken in being part of that construction effort. I think the guys in TNA have worked really hard and built up a good company. And if I didn't think it could get better and I didn't think I could be a part of it, I would not have joined."
On returning to the ring: "…I look at it like, man, there are so many possibilities. There are so many prospective opponents. And I can honestly say that this is the most fun I've had as part of a wrestling show since probably 2000 when I was the commissioner. And it's the first time in quite a while where I feel like what I do or say is making a difference, or, I guess more accurately, that what I do or say will be given the chance to make a difference."
On negotiating with TNA again after turning down their offer years ago: "They called me up and had an idea and I met with the head of Spike. And it really felt like they had a long term vision and that I could be a big part of it. And one thing I told them was that I would not play an offer with one company off the other. I never even talked to WWE about the possibility of re-signing. The deal with TNA was very flexible and they were really easy to deal with. I'm really excited about working with Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett and everybody at TNA."
FULL INTERVIEW LINK
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