Mick Foley: Had WWE Not Called, I’d Have Made My Living In Japan Off The Torch Terry Funk Passed Me

Mick Foley reflects on the 1995 King of the Deathmatch Tournament that took place in IWA Japan.

Mick Foley would fight Terry Funk in the finals of that tournament in a match that would become something of a legend. Both of the Hardcore icons already had a great mentor-mentee relationship. Still, on that night, they endured barbed wire, explosions, and scary falls in an effort to elevate each other’s careers once again and continue creating a revenue path for themselves outside of the major promotions in the United States.

Mick Foley would ultimately win the tournament, and now, three decades later, he reflects on its legacy and Terry Funk’s selflessness that night, which shaped the future of his career.

Dominic DeAngelo of Wrestling Writing spoke to Mick Foley about that legendary night, and the WWE Hall of Famer said that had WWE never called him for the opportunity to portray Mankind, he likely would have made his living in Japan. Therefore, the risks that they took that night and Terry Funk’s giving nature went a long way in securing a future for Foley and his family.

“The King of the Deathmatch tournament was so important to me, not because I won it, but because I won it with Terry Funk‘s blessing. Had I not been offered an opportunity in WWE, I likely would have made my living largely in Japan, largely off the prestige of the torch Terry passed to me that night 30 years ago.”

Mick Foley was recently quoted as saying he almost lost his good ear that night. Learn more about that here.