• Vince McMahon Wasn’t A Fan Of One Of Mick Foley’s Gimmicks
During a 2017 Sports Illustrated interview, WWF Legend Mick Foley revealed how he came with his famous ‘Cactus Jack’ ring name, that he used during his early territory days, in Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling, in Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling, and also later on in his World Wrestling Federation career.
Here’s what the 2013 WWE Hall of Famer had to say:
“Cactus Jack was supposed to be a generic, boring name for a 6-foot-4, 220 pound Long Islander big on heart, but lacking in athletic ability and the thick slabs of muscle which had become almost mandatory in the mat game by the mid-80s.
So when I was asked my name 31 Junes ago at the Clarksburg, West Virginia armory before the first match of my career, the name ‘Cactus Jack’ just kind of came out.
I only intended to be Cactus Jack long enough to learn the ropes and develop enough confidence to become the man I really thought I was destined to become – Dude Love – eye candy for the ladies, the object of so many women’s affections, that long ago he’d refused to count them all.
Mother Nature had other plans however, and 11 years later, I was still Cactus Jack when the WWF finally came calling with the opportunity to wrestle The Undertaker.
I only found out a few years ago that my hiring was a gradual concession by Mr. McMahon to the constant pressure applied by Head of Talent Relations Jim Ross.
It was, however, an acquiescence with a caveat ‘OK, I’ll hire him… but I’m covering up his face!’.
Mr. McMahon, you see, was not a Cactus Jack fan. But, following a notable first year in a leather mask as Mankind, Mr. McMahon had a change of heart, and not only gave Cactus Jack the occasional opportunity in WWF, but built up the Cactus character to be my toughest and wildest incarnation of all.
It was if he was admitting to me, and whoever out there was watching, that he just might have missed the boat on that Cactus Jack guy after all!”
During his WWF career, Foley wrestled as Mankind, Cactus Jack, Dude Love and as himself, but only won the WWF Championship as Mankind.
WATCH: Noelle Foley (Daughter Of Mick Foley) Exposes Her Buns In A Bikini:
• ON THIS DAY IN WWE HISTORY (March 1, 2004) – WWE Monday Night RAW *THE ROCK RETURNS*
On this day in 2004, World Wrestling Entertainment aired another LIVE episode of their weekly TV show ‘WWE Monday Night RAW’.
This episode was broadcasted from the Gwinnett Center in Atlanta, Georgia and featured matches & storyline segments on the road to the ‘WWE WrestleMania XX’ PPV.
Here’s the official card from that night:
Lita & Victoria vs. Molly Holly & Jazz
Mark Jindrak & Lance Cade vs. The Hurricane & Rosey
Batista & Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit & Shawn Michaels
World Tag Team Titles: Booker T & RVD vs. Matt Hardy & Test
