By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Former TNA World Hvt. champion Mick Foley says he regained his confidence as a singles wrestler after his match against Kurt Angle at the Victory Road PPV and in follow-up matches at the Impact tapings last week.

Prior to the TNA PPV on July 19, Foley said he was dreading his singles match against Angle because he wasn't sure if he would be able to keep up. He seemed to be taking a pessimistic view on the match, which prompted him to say he didn't think he would wrestle much after the PPV if he wasn't booked to win the World Title.

In an interview with Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald, Foley sounds more optimistic about continuing to wrestle TNA's version of a regular schedule despite losing the title match to Angle at the PPV.

"Over the last few nights, I got my confidence back as far as being a singles wrestler," Foley said in an interview shortly after last week's Impact tapings. "I don't feel like every match coming up is a chance to destroy my legacy."

Foley says he's no longer concerned about whether he has a good or bad singles match after having what he believed to be a good singles match against Angle at the PPV.

"I used to really dread the possibility of having that bad singles match that people would look at and say, 'I really wish he would have stayed retired for good,'" Foley said. "I don't want to do the things in the ring too often, no matter how good they turn out, but it is nice to feel inside like every match is an opportunity to impress people and entertain them, instead of depress them.''

Foley said he's tough on himself after a match, but he felt good about the match against Angle. Perhaps part of his post-match reaction was impacted by lowering his own expectations by publicly writing about his pessimistic view leading up to the match

"I was very relieved after that match," Foley said. "I was sore. I was really drained. ... I knew the standards in a Kurt Angle championship match are extremely high. I know it's impossible to live up to everybody's expectations, but I was happy with the match, and I'm pretty tough on myself."

Foley says he walked out of the match believing he belongs in TNA's main event scene despite being an older wrestler and despite appearing to be out-of-shape.

"Actually, getting in there is very nerve-wracking, but I did realize during the course of two matches with Kurt, I was capable of holding my own in a main event environment."

Link: Read Mick Foley's full interview in the Miami Herald.

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