WWE news: Mick Foley won't rule out another big WrestleMania match

Mick Foley is a great pro wrestler.

Sometimes it's hard to qualify why exactly that is. He's never been a gifted athlete nor is he a particularly strong ring technician. Ric Flair once referred to him as "a glorified stuntman," and sometimes I find it hard to argue against that notion.

But Foley has a lot of strong attributes, as well. While he may not have the gift of gab, one would be hard pressed to find a promo artist who can get fans so emotionally invested in their matches. And when it comes time to do the job, Foley is one of the best at making his opponent look like a million bucks.

Perhaps that's why I'm suddenly optimistic of Foley making a short return to the ring. While I understand the inherent danger such an endeavor would bring, what with "The Hardcore Legend" having suffered through countless concussions and undeniable brain damage, it seems clear there will be no stopping this man from stepping back inside the ring if that's what he so chooses.

And from the sounds of it, he's going to do just that. From a recent interview with ESPN:

"Well, I've learned to never say never. I said never back in 2000 and realized that's a tough promise to keep. I've noticed, especially in the last few weeks, that there are so many good, young performers in WWE who are all hitting their stride about the same time, and it might be nice to have a match with one of those guys. I would love if I could end up in one of their books down the line when they talk about their favorite matches."

That quote is the reason for my optimism. It's good to hear that Foley has no misguided intentions of attempting to become the next victim of Undertaker's WrestleMania streak. While the idea of a match like that surely conjures up memories of their memorable King of the Ring battle or their slightly less memorable boiler room brawl, it is, quite simply, the wrong way to use the artist formerly known as "Mankind."

Having him climb back inside the ring to create another bona fide main event star is the way to go. And it can be done because he's done it so many times before.

Breaking free from mid-card status to main event player is a difficult transition, not just because it requires an increased level of performance from the superstar in question but because the fans must have a reason to change their collective thinking on said superstar.

Foley, fortunately, has been the catalyst for bigger and better things for some of the biggest stars in the business. In fact, I would argue his greatest attribute is his ability to put his opponent over, whoever that opponent may be.

Take Triple H for example. A founding member of the supergroup D-Generation X, a few years playing pranks and doing a comedy routine took its toll on the future champion. He knew he wasn't going to become a top player in the main event scene if he continued leading the group so he broke free and, sure enough, he was a WWE champion a short while later.

But while we, as fans, knew we were supposed to take him seriously because he held the most prestigious title in the industry, it didn't quite click. He needed that little extra push.

He needed "Cactus Jack."

By the time Foley was done with him, Triple H had a "Match of the Year" at Royal Rumble 2000 in which Foley took a pedigree on thumbtacks. They proceeded to tear the house down in a Hell in a Cell match at No Way Out just one month later. That match featured Foley taking a bump from the top of the cage through the ring.

There was no doubting it anymore, "The Game" had truly arrived.

Fast forward to 2006 and a similar scenario played itself out with Edge. He spent nearly his entire career as a mid-card comedy act who put on great matches but just didn't have the look or feel of a guy who could main event WrestleMania.

That is until he was put into a program with Foley and the two had an incredible match at "The Granddaddy of them All," which featured Edge spearing Foley onto a table ... that was on fire.

Even "The Great One," The Rock, advanced his career with a great deal of credit going to Foley, who took an insane amount of chair shots to the head from Rock in one of the most infamous I Quit matches of all time at the Rumble in 1999.

The common denominator here is that Foley went above and beyond the call of duty to make those three look like the dominant champions they would go on to become. He provided a lasting memory fans could connect to each one of them. None of them ever looked back and they all went on to long, successful careers.

Which goes back to the original point: if Foley is going to have another big WrestleMania match, why not have him put over a budding young star who is right on the cusp of breaking into the upper echelon but needs that extra push?

Can you think of a guy who fits the mold? I sure can.

Dolph Ziggler.

In fact, he was brought up in the ESPN conversation with Foley and he responded with this:

"Man, what an amazing athlete he has turned into. He's specifically one of the guys I was thinking of. He's so good on a weekly basis, and I think the WWE Universe is just starting to realize that."

Ziggler fits the bill perfectly. He's a phenomenal worker who should be contesting for the WWE championship, as evidenced by his match against current titleholder CM Punk on Raw a few weeks ago. They absolutely tore the house down. Punk's parting words in that match?

"I'll see you again."

Indeed, having Ziggler drop the U.S. title to Zack Ryder and inserting him in a feud against Foley that would culminate in a match at WrestleMania 28 is something I would sign on for in a second.

Would you? Anyone object to this idea?