Mick Foley: 20 Years of Hell

In Mick Foley: 20 Years of Hell, the WWE Hall of Famer recounts the events that led up to the infamous match, which took place during 1999 at the ECW December to Dismember event, in which Foley and the ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Masato Tanaka, would compete in a match that pushed the boundaries of what was considered safe for professional wrestling. Foley began his career as a wrestler over 20 years ago in the now-defunct independent promotion ECW (Eastern Championship Wrestling), which was founded by Tod Gordon in 1992. After initially trying out as an " Enhancement Talent", Foley eventually gained more prominence in the promotion, adopting the persona of 'Cactus Jack', known for his intense matches and unpredictable behavior. As Cactus Jack, Foley's unorthodox wrestling style and unwavering dedication to putting on the best possible match caught the attention of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he became known for his high-risk, hard-hitting antics and signature staples of his "Hardcore Legend" persona, such as putting glass and barbed wire between the ropes. However, Foley's most notable contribution to professional wrestling came when, amidst his tenure at WCW, he jumped ship to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which would later become the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002. In the WWF, Foley re-invented himself, incorporating new personas, such as the masked persona 'Mankind' and more famously, the character of 'The Dude Love', and his alter ego, 'Mankind', that would eventually become synonymous with his wrestling career. Foley recounts that he chose ECW for its unique ability to push the limits on what could be performed in professional wrestling, often using the term 'Hardcore' to encapsulate the raw, brutal and unpredictable nature of his matches. However, when competing for ECW, the emphasis on physicality and putting on the most thrilling match, rather than the most conventional match, began to put a strain on his body. Despite these physical tolls, Foley continued to perform death-defying stunts and grueling matches, pushing himself to his limits. He became a fan favorite among wrestling aficionados in the audience due to his willingness to go that extra mile, no matter the cost, all for the sake of entertainment. Foley reminisces about one match in particular, which took place in 1999, and it is this match that serves as the focal point for the one-man show, "20 Years of Hell". In a battle against ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Masato Tanaka, at the ECW December to Dismember event, Foley found himself on the receiving end of an infamous steel cage drop, which took him several months to recover from. As Foley shares the behind-the-scenes of how the match came to fruition, he recounts how the drop from the top of a steel cage, with Tanaka waiting for him below, left him severely injured. In the match, Foley suffered severe bruising and a concussion, and was taken away on a stretcher. After the event, Foley was hospitalised for several days, and it was later revealed that the incident left him with lasting concussion damage, which would haunt him for years to come. Despite these injuries and the toll that professional wrestling took on his body, Foley never lost his dedication to putting on the best match possible and creating unforgettable moments for wrestling fans around the world. His unwavering attitude to pushing his body past its limits, often disregarding the warning signs of serious physical harm, continues to leave audiences and professional wrestlers alike in awe. The film, '20 Years of Hell', offers a rare glimpse into Foley's career, highlighting his journey from an unknown wrestler to one of the most revered figures in professional wrestling, a testament to the unyielding spirit of the Hardcore Legend, Mick Foley.