While this column is on Mick Foley yet again, I must mention the apparent Foley-esque bump that Randy Orton took off his motorcycle (or allegedly, according to some), re-injuring his collarbone. Not to make light of the situation (again, if it is legit), but based on his latest update that appears on this site, he has clearly lost the ability to capitalize, make paragraphs and NOT write like the author of a ransom note.
So, can Mick Foley make a difference in TNA where others could not?
Think about it. Over the past few years, TNA has grabbed some high-profile WWE stars. From Team 3D to Booker T, big names have graced the six-sided ring of TNA. I applaud the efforts of TNA ownership to invest in well-known performers. The results on the other hand are mixed at best.
For the star-power they have gained, the already respectable ratings and PPV buy-rates have not moved all that much.
Now the latest rumor is that Mick Foley is leaving his 12-year home to explore the greener pastures and lighter schedule of TNA. After over a decade in WWE as a wrestler, commissioner and announcer, heâs headed to Florida.
Mick Foley is a name. He is a former WWE champ. He is a beloved wrestler who is free from scandal, attitude or locker room problems. He is funny and self-deprecating. He is creative in the ring and behind the stick. He will take risks and bump himself around the ring for the sake of a storyline. With the proper build-up, Mick could make a difference.
Make him a special attraction in the X-Division. The chances those wrestlers take mirror what Foley was doing years ago. Admittedly, they are better athletes with more grace, but it would not be a stretch to think that Foley had an influence on a lot of these guys. Putting your body on the line for entertainment value. Others have done it, but Foley has done it better than anyone.
However, as much as I would enjoy the novelty of Foley in TNA, Iâm afraid that novelty will wear off fast.
Foley has been largely inactive over the years. New fans are not as aware of him as TNA would like. He hasnât even been a special attraction in WWE for a couple of years. This is a time of short attention spans and Foley is not at the front of a current wrestling fanâs memory. His latest stint as a Smackdown color commentator was forgettable with one highlight: getting his ass kicked by Edge.
So, he comes to TNA and then what? It has to be more than just seeing Mick Foley stand under a TNA banner. That gets old fast. You donât want to put the heavyweight title on him, but you still want to promote him right and effectively use him in matches. But how do you do that. Especially if his schedule mirrors that of Sting. Thereâ¦and goneâ¦and thereâ¦and gone.
With the right storyline, angle, gimmick or whatever, Foley could make a difference.
This is not to say that TNA should not be going after WWE wrestlers. They have gotten beyond the notion that they were only getting cast-offs that WWE simply didnât want. They are getting main event players. It is what they do with them once they are in TNA that makes a difference.
If I sound indecisive, I am. I will not provide a verdict of a TNA with Mick Foley yet. This is TNAâs opportunity to do what they failed to accomplish in the past. Make a former WWE star a true impact player over the long haul. A ratings grabber. Someone who doubles the ratings and buy rates. Thatâs a lot to put on Mick Foley, but that everyman-wearing-red-flannel could get over.
And allow everyone involved to have a nice day.
