Latest news with #MickFoley
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Inhumanly tough': The ballad of Gypsy Joe, the original king of hardcore wrestling
Gypsy Joe may have been best known for his infamous match with New Jack, but the hardcore legend was much more than that. (Photo: Reverend Dan Wilson. Design: Jonathan Castro, Yahoo Sports.) When all-time tough guys are discussed in professional wrestling, names like Terry Funk, Haku and Mick Foley often come up. The sport's historians might mention older names like Dick the Bruiser or Johnny Valentine. If you ask folks around the South, though, one of the names which comes up again and again is the legendary Gypsy Joe, the original king of hardcore wrestling who started his career in the 1950s and had his final match at the age of 76 in 2011. The beginnings of Joe's career are shrouded in legend, with some sources saying he was trained in Puerto Rico by Carlos Colon and Pedro Morales, and others saying he began wrestling when he moved to the U.S. after failing a baseball tryout for the New York Yankees. Either way, he started his U.S. career wrestling under the moniker Pepe Figueroa as an undercard wrestler in the WWWE before traveling the country and working under multiple names — Aztec Joe in Detroit, Chief Tuna in Alaska, and one half of the masked Blue Infernos in Kentucky and Tennessee, a team that held a version of the World Tag Titles which Jerry Lawler called his first favorite wrestlers. In the late '60s Joe worked as Gene Madrid, who along with his 'brother' Jan Madrid were the top stars of the West Virginia television territory. (Decades later, Joe would work some of his final matches as Gene Madrid in NWA Mountain State in 2009.) Advertisement While Joe had those top runs all over the country, he really came into his own in the Nick Gulas territory in Tennessee where he worked as part of top heel tag-team with Tojo Yamamoto. 'They came up with the No Pain Train gimmick,' recalls Reverend Dan Wilson, a wrestling manager and the great nephew of Joe. 'Tojo would perform these feats with Joe, to show how tough he was — like taking a wooden shoe and just bashing him over the head with it.' One of their big feuds as a team was with Nick Gulas and a young future legend, Bobby Eaton. 'There was a thing that him and Bobby Eaton would do," Wilson says. "It's like a personal bet where they would just have these matches in Chattanooga where they'd see how many backdrops they could do to each other, and they would bet each other to see if they could fly high enough to hit the lighting rig.' Advertisement Joe soon went over to Japan, where he became one of the first hardcore legends in the country, having wild, bloody brawls with wrestlers like Mad Dog Vachon and Mighty Inoue, and engaging in a legendary series of cage matches in the IWE promotion with Rusher Kimura, where Joe was credited as the first wrestler to dive off the top of a cage, years before Jimmy Snuka made the spot famous. After his time as a territorial headliner, Joe had an entire second career as older legend haunting the independent wrestling scene in Japan and the Southern U.S., engaging in frenzied brawls, blood and mayhem years after most wrestlers hung up their boots. Gypsy Joe stories became the equivalent of tall tales, wrestling folklore. 'He had this leathery skin and he just couldn't blade normally anymore' says WWE and AEW veteran Chris Hero. 'So before the match he would cut himself, wipe off the blood, and when he got punched in the wound, it would bleed. I wasn't there for this, but I heard stories of people walking into the locker room and seeing Joe stabbing himself in the head with a giant butcher knife just to get color.' 'I got Gypsy Joe'd once," remembers indie death match legend Tank. "I had been in the business a little over a year, and this guy hit me up to come to McMinnville, Tennessee to wrestle Gypsy Joe — and I was like, 'Gypsy Joe is still wrestling?! I remember him from when I was a kid.' People were going crazy for this frail old man — and he commences to beat the s*** out of me for 10 to 12 minutes, and I am like, 'S***, I didn't sign up for this!' In an already tough business, Gypsy Joe was renown for his otherworldly toughness well into his later years. (Photo via Reverend Dan Wilson. Design via Jonathan Castro, Yahoo Sports.) 'We go outside of the ring and he grabs a baseball bat, and I bend over and he hits me in the back of the head — it was an aluminum bat and he was like hitting a softball on my big gourd head. I ended up getting eight staples, and here I am punching this old man in the face as hard as I can, and he is just saying, 'Harder, motherf***er!' By the end I swelled his left eye halfway shut. He just about ran me out of the business [with that match]. A few years later I heard that I he loved me and thought I was tough as hell — could have told me different that night.' Advertisement Joe eventually returned to Japan in the '90s as the eminence gris of W*ING, one of the first death match promotions in Japan. By then, a match with Gypsy Joe would be often treated as a rite of passage for young wrestlers on their first Japanese tour. 'I met him the day before [our match] at the airport. I didn't know he was a wrestler, he looked really in bad shape — I thought he was a retired wrestler or a coach," recalls former ECW and WWE champion Taz. 'I get to Kouraken Hall and the board says my name against Gypsy Joe, so I go up to [veteran wrestler] Kevin Sullivan and I ask, 'Who is Gypsy Joe guy?' And he points to the old guy I met at the airport and he says, 'You've got be careful with him Taz, he is really old and really brittle. Just don't hurt him. 'We go out there and I am expecting this brittle, old, beat-up guy — and good lord, right from the jump of the match I realize I am in a real fight here. He hit like a ton of bricks, and when I hit him anywhere on his body, he felt like an old piece of granite. He is hitting me with chairs. I am hitting him with chairs as hard as can and it isn't even fazing him. I clearly got ribbed by the old guys, and they are all laughing behind the curtain. I came in the back expecting to get in a real fight and he just hugged me and thanked me for the match.' That toughness infamously extended to outside the ring as well. 'Joe was watching baseball when his neighbor came over and begged him to go fishing," remembers Wilson. "They pull off at a the local bar. His neighbor says, 'Hang on, we're going to go get some lunch to take fishing with us.' They go into the bar and this waitress comes over and immediately recognizes Joe, starts talking about how she's grew up on Gulas wrestling. She loved Jackie Fargo and Tojo Yamamoto and Gypsy Joe. All of this was a ploy by the neighbor — he had no plans of taking Joe fishing, he wanted to [date] the waitress. Advertisement "So he thought bringing Gypsy Joe over — because she was a huge fan — was going to enchant her and make her think this guy was so cool that she would sleep with him. Well, of course, she's a giant fan, so she's just talking to Joe and asking him questions and talking about his career. And so the guy tries make his move on the girl, saying, 'OK, divert the attention back to me,' and she just keeps chatting up Joe. And the guy gets furious and storms out of the bar. He comes back into the bar a few minutes later with his f***ing gun and shoots Joe in the stomach. And this is why this is my favorite Gypsy Joe story, because even [when I was] a child, this told me that this man was so inhumanly tough. After suffering a gunshot, he f***ing takes the gun away from the guy, beats the s*** out of the guy and holds him until the cops get there. Like he was like a damn action hero. "And then, of course, he was asked later, 'Well, what was the deal with the girl? Like, why did this happen?' And he was like, 'I didn't want to [date] the girl. ... I just wanted to go home and watch baseball.' Joe, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 82, is probably most widely known today for a viral match in 2003 with notorious hardcore legend New Jack, which broke down into a legitimate fight and saw New Jack swing a barbed wire baseball bat full force at his then 69-year-old opponent's head. But Joe's career was much more notable then being a bit part in New Jack's tale. He was the original king of hardcore wrestling, an untamed brawler who bumped and bled his way through the South, Puerto Rico and Japan for more than 60 years. Even into his late 70s, he continued to wrestle, serving as a whetstone to sharpen the blades of younger wrestlers. If you could survive this wild old man, you proved you belonged.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mick Foley Reveals His Favorite Match Of All Time
Mick Foley has had an incredible pro wrestling career, but what was his favorite match? WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley recently spoke with Denise Salcedo at Comic Con Revolution. When asked about his Backlash 2004 match with Randy Orton, Foley shockingly revealed that it's his favorite match of all time. Advertisement 'It was my favorite match of all time,' Mick Foley said. 'I remember dropping that elbow on Randy and thinking it was the most perfect elbow I'd ever dropped. I also remember the feeling like he was growing in front of people's eyes. You know, people are getting to see a different side of Randy Orton. They really embraced it. I think it was a really good match for both of us.' [H/T: Fightful] Foley's match with Orton at Backlash was the culmination of a rivalry that lasted almost an entire year in 2004. It should really be no surprise that this particular match holds such a special place in Mick's heart. READ MORE: Mick Foley Highlights How Much Hell In A Cell Has Elevated His Career And Life What do you make of Mick Foley's comments? What is your favorite Foley match of all time? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. The post Mick Foley Reveals His Favorite Match Of All Time appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mick Foley Reveals AEW Star Pitched A Storyline That Would Lead To His Final Match
Mick Foley has likely wrestled his final match, but if he were up to stepping into the ring one last time, an AEW star pitched him a good storyline to make it happen. WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley was a recent guest on Casual Conversations with the Classic. During the show, Foley revealed that AEW's MJF had pitched him a six-week storyline that would result in Foley having his final match against him. Advertisement 'Hey, listen, I had a top-secret meeting with MJF about the possibility of having one last match with him,' Mick Foley said. 'And he laid out like six really solid weeks of storytelling.' Could we see Mick Foley have one last match? When asked if he thought there was any chance of that happening, Foley said he didn't believe so, but believes they probably could have convinced people they had a great match. 'Oh, man. It doesn't look like it, but I was just flattered,' Mick Foley admitted. 'It's pretty cool. Two Long Island guys meeting at a steakhouse. We didn't even take a photo of the situation, but it was cool. I don't want to tell you — It's up to him whether he wants to share his ideas, but they were good ideas. Advertisement 'If I could have carried it off, it could have been a really good six-week program. He's so good and such a great pro that you know he would have lifted my game on the microphone and we could have probably found a way to work around my weaknesses in the ring, accentuate the positives and even if it wasn't a great match, I bet you we could have convinced a lot of people that it was a great match.' READ MORE: Mick Foley Reveals His Favorite Match Of All Time What do you make of Mick Foley's comments? Would you like to have seen him have his last match against MJF? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. If you use any of these quotes, please credit Casual Conversations with a link to this article for the transcription. The post Mick Foley Reveals AEW Star Pitched A Storyline That Would Lead To His Final Match appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Wrestling Legend Mick Foley Shuts Down Outrageous WWE Rumor
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley is emphatically setting the record straight regarding a persistent online rumor claiming he earns $2.88 million annually under a WWE ambassador contract. During a recent appearance on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Foley directly addressed and refuted these claims, clarifying his current relationship with WWE and his actual compensation. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Foley made it clear that such a lucrative ambassador role does not exist for him. "I don't have an ambassador job that pays me $2.88 million as has been reported," he stated. He further commented that when he previously held a formal ambassador position with the company, the financial terms were vastly different. "I had an ambassador job for two years that paid me literally 1/14th of that." The "Hardcore Legend" also pointed to his rigorous touring schedule as evidence against the rumored high-paying, less demanding role. "It's been rumored that I have this luxurious job. And I'm like, I don't think I'd be out on the road 200 days a year if I was making $2.88 million a year to be an ambassador," Foley reasoned. He expressed no ill will towards anyone who might have such a deal but wanted to clarify his own situation, saying, "If somebody else has that type of job, good on them." Foley affirmed his positive ongoing relationship with WWE, citing recent appearances like a signing at the Royal Rumble and an upcoming engagement at the new version of WWE Axxess. He explained that he is currently under a Legends deal, which he deeply appreciates. PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 30: Professional wrestler Mick Foley participates in Wing Bowl 23 on January 30, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 30: Professional wrestler Mick Foley participates in Wing Bowl 23 on January 30, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."And I have a Legends deal that—because WWE has seen fit to promote me as somebody of importance—is better than it was 20 years ago. Better than it was 10 years ago. So I'm really grateful for that relationship." However, he reiterated the core point about the ambassador rumor: "But I don't receive $2.88 million. I receive zero dollars, because I'm not an ambassador." Foley concluded by acknowledging his inherent connection to the company, regardless of official titles or contracts, stating, "Anywhere I walk, I'm kind of a walking billboard for WWE." More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley Names His 'Greatest Match of All Time'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mick Foley remains one of the most beloved figures in all of professional wrestling. More Pro Wrestling: The Rock Brought To Tears By Heartfelt Gift Whether he's Mankind, Cactus Jack, Dude Love, or even Saint Mick during the holidays, Foley is remembered for his commitment inside the ring, his unique connection with the crowd, and, of course, his hardcore style. Naturally, Foley has a bevy of classic matches that fans can argue are his best. However, Foley himself believes the answer is simple. Mick Foley prepares to slam Randy Orton during WrestleMania XX Mick Foley prepares to slam Randy Orton during WrestleMania XX KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images In an interview with Denise Salcedo at Comic Con Revolution, Foley revealed that his favorite match of all time wasn't against The Rock, Triple H, or even The Undertaker. Instead, it was against a then fairly fresh Randy Orton who was just establishing himself as "The Legend Killer." "It was my favorite match of all time," Foley said. "I remember dropping that elbow on Randy and thinking it was the most perfect elbow I'd ever dropped. I also remember the feeling like he was growing in front of people's eyes. "You know, people are getting to see a different side of Randy Orton. They really embraced it. I think it was a really good match for both of us. " More Pro Wrestling: Former WWE Star Joins AEW It seems that the feeling is mutual. In an episode of Stone Cold Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions (per Gisberto Guzzo and Jeremy Lambert of Fightful), Orton thanked Foley as well as pro wrestling legend Harley Race for establishing the "Legend Killer" persona. "Mick Foley had everything to do with it [the Legend Killer]," Orton said. "The idea itself, I'm not sure, but Foley made me. Talking about coming around, he let me spit in his face. Harley Race too (let me spit in his face). "I knew he [Race] was going to take a swing at me and I knew I'd better get out of the way, I don't care what age the man was, I did not want to get knocked out on live television doing this with him. But old school, it goes back. Loved my dad. "That goes to that -- a lot of these guys that were like this [tight] with my man. That respect was there. I'm Cowboy Bob's son, they loved him. 'Your Bob's kid? Let's go. I'm going to do what I can.' "So here, just like Mark, just like Taker with the hip tosses and the arms drags and yadda yadda yadda here's Harley race. That was huge for me man. Same with Mick." More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Zoey Stark Carried Backstage After Suffering Brutal Injury Injury To Superstar Forces WWE To Change Plans: Report For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
