Mick Foley on TSN's "Off The Record": He believes he's suffered "Dozens to up to 100 concussions."

by David Bixenspan on Nov 11, 2010 3:15 PM EST in TNA

The interview that we mentioned last week aired yesterday and is now available online. You can watch the episode via the sidebar at the Off The Record site or download an MP3 of the audio. The discussion about concussions came in the second segment and was pretty interesting:

"Honestly, I feel like something hasn't been right for a long time, like, uh, like I'm just submerged underwater, like things are not clear...I have not felt sharp for a long time."
He's signed on for his brain to be donated to the Sports Legacy Institute when he dies.
Many of his concussions were from his "routine/go-to" spots, like running with a chair and his opponent kicking it into his face. He believes that if Vince McMahon knew he was always seeing stars when he did that spot, he'd tell him to stop, just like he told him never to do anything like the Hell in a Cell bump again and told him he was right to retire when he said he was often driving past his house for 20 minutes because he forgot where he lived.

In another physical note, he mentions that a doctor told him he had the knees of an 80 year old a decade ago, making them 90 now. There's a discussion he had with Vince McMahon about how it's hard for wrestlers to let go of the business, but it's not very detailed. He also talks about his latest book and MMA, but there's nothing of note there. Still well worth checking out.

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Yeah, it’s hard to tell how coherent he is because of missing teeth as well which changes his intonation. But yeah, not surprised he’s brain damaged (how could he not be?).

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by KJ Gould on Nov 11, 2010 4:55 PM EST reply actions

Another fascinating interview by Foley, here’s my thoughts:

Foley also said he would go back to WWE in a second after their “magical” book plugging moment on Raw. Hmm, which came first the chicken or the egg? I think Foley hit the nail on the head later on when he said about all ex WWE performers – “whether they realise it or not, they’re all looking for that welcome back hug and Vince is a tremendous hugger”. The question is whether Foley realised that or not? Foley might have wanted that hug after TNA management, in his eyes unfairly, soured on him towards the end of last year. He clearly buys into the Randy Savage rumours too.

It’s good that there’s a national opposition promotion to WWE, but one can really question whether they should be allowing the likes of Flair and Foley in the ring as much as they do.

Attitudes are changing about concussions in wrestling, but probably not fast enough. It’s still cool to stay in the game while your hurt. Wrestlers still finish a match as planned even if they suffer a concussion half way through it. Mr. Anderson suffered a second concussion by coming back to work too soon. Hell, a member of TNA’s inner creative circle showed a dated mentality with his recent Twitter posts where he showed off his battle scars to prove how “fake” wrestling is.

The stuff about Vince really caring is a bit melodramatic. I think Vince realised after Hell In The Cell that the company dodged a bullet and was lucky Foley wasn’t more seriously injured after such reckless stunt bumps. Forcing a wrestler to continue working with such serious neurological problems would be pretty negligent too.

Finally, Foley seemed to be playing a bit dumb regarding Undertaker’s confrontation of Lesnar at the last UFC PPV.

by Keith Harris on Nov 11, 2010 6:10 PM EST reply actions 2 recs