Looking at the Mick Foley, Sid Vicious rumors
I'm sure just about everyone has seen the recent reports that have Mick Foley leaving WWE for TNA and Sid Vicious making a comeback in WWE. Neither report has been substantiated, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Foley jump to TNA. I'm not as convinced that WWE would want Vicious back at this point.
All indications are that Foley is done with WWE and his jump to TNA is imminent. Foley stopped just short of saying that in a recent interview with The Long Island Press. He stated that he has not enjoyed announcing from a creative standpoint. Foley nearly signed with TNA a few years ago, but Vince McMahon offered him a lucrative deal to stay.
The question is: What will Foley mean to TNA? I don't think there is an obvious answer.
There is no doubt that his presence would create a buzz and most likely increase ratings and buy rates, at least initially. What his impact would be over the long term is more uncertain, especially if he only works select dates, similar to Sting's deal. With injuries having taken a toll over the years, you also have to wonder how much Foley has left as a wrestler. Regardless of what he can or can't do physically, he would be a great ambassador for TNA, as he has some degree of mainstream name recognition and he is articulate and a very likable guy.
Foley's best attributes undoubtedly are his ability to cut great promos and his willingness to put guys over. He played a major role in elevating WWE performers such as Triple H, Randy Orton and even The Rock to some extent. In TNA, he would have obvious programs with Samoa Joe and Abyss, who could both use the rub from Foley to solidify their star status. He could even renew his long-forgotten feud with Sting. The two had some entertaining matches in WCW in the early '90s, but Foley is a much bigger star now and it is somewhat of a dream match.
As for Vicious, 48, he hasn't wrestled for a major company since WCW went down in 2001. You would think that if WWE really wanted him, it would already have signed him before now.
The Vicious-to-WWE rumors have surfaced at various times over the years, including right around this time last year. Maybe this time there really is something to it, but I just don't see what he brings to the table at this stage of his career.
His hulking physique has always been his calling card, but, generally speaking, there is more emphasis on workrate and less on physique these days. And while he at one time was a big name, I don't know how much his name means to today's audience.
Comments
As I haven't followed wrestling too much in the recent weeks , I hadn't heard the Foley rumors . Re: Sid Vicious , rumors circulate often about his comeback.... usually when his softball season is over .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | August 22, 2008 6:23 PM
WWE have confirmed they will give Sid a tryout in September, when they're near his home.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Where did WWE confirm this?
Posted by: steve | August 22, 2008 7:34 PM
Sid would fail the drug test faster then
you can say "Masterpiece".
Posted by: Elevation | August 23, 2008 12:47 AM
If I were TNA, I would use the money to keep the roster happy instead of giving Foley a swan song. I respect Foley a great deal for the colossal bumps he has taken for the business, but at the risk of parroting Kevin, can you imagine Mick falling of the Elevation X at this point in his career?
As for Sid, I don't know how he would fit in. Would he work with HBK again?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 23, 2008 12:24 PM
Impact Wrestling is reporting confirmation of Sid's tryout offer, although they don't cite their source.
http://www.impactwrestling.com/Content.aspx?ID=19598
I could see the logic. Various injuries have left WWE short on heels; and apart from criticism of his wrestling ability, Sid always played a great heel. The problem I see is that story from earlier this year about Sid supposedly no-showing an indie promoter. (The source was the promoter himself, who posted an apology to fans on his MySpace.) If that story's true, the WWE probably wouldn't want to gamble on him.
Posted by: Stephen | August 23, 2008 12:26 PM
I can't see Sid coming to WWE or them even wanting him because of his past with Arn Anderson and stabbing him with the scissors.
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2008 4:15 PM
The only person who ever says Viscious will make a comeback is Sid himself. Its not happening,
Posted by: Elevation | August 23, 2008 11:30 PM
Impact Wrestling isn't a good source. 95% of everything on that website tends to be made up.
Posted by: Elevation | August 24, 2008 12:25 PM
"I can't see Sid coming to WWE or them even wanting him because of his past with Arn Anderson and stabbing him with scissors."
They brought Sid back and gave him a huge push in 1996-97, but then again, Anderson was not with the company at the time.
Even so, I wouldn't rule it out entirely. WWE still loves their big guys.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I worked for WCW while Sid and Arn were there together. I can tell you that they have made peace and moved on.
Posted by: Christopher | August 24, 2008 3:28 PM
Hey Kevin, I really loved the article. I think you are spot on when you say Foley would cause a jump in the rating as everybody I know would definetely watch TNA (atleast for a few weeks). I also had not considered the dream match of Foley vs Sting...what a match that would be. Also Foley will help elevate the stars such as AJ Styles, Jay Lethal, etc and have great matches. Lets hope the rumours are true...
Posted by: Davinder (UK) | August 24, 2008 6:02 PM
To help stop the spread of all these rumors, Sid has an OFFICIAL MySpace page.
The rumor about him going back to the WWE or not, is brought up in one of the blogs.
http://www.myspace.com/psychosidpromotions
Posted by: Sally | August 25, 2008 2:19 AM
Kev, I think Mick Foley is great on the mic, his promos are still spot one and he has no issue in helping the young talent, but with all that being said. Don't you think the WWE has given this guy pretty much everything? He wanted to be with his kids so he loses a great Hell in the Cell match against HHH and yet he is back at Mania. He talked about wanting to work with JR and he gets his wish, but broadcasting for SD, isn't getting his creative juices bubbling? I know we all like to speculate if a company makes the man or the man makes the company, but I see WWE making Foley a wealthy man, a 3x champion, an avenue to be a best selling author and now he wants to jump ship? What's your take? I say good riddance Mrs. Foley's baby boy.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The talk is that Foley did not like being screamed at by Vince McMahon during the Smackdown broadcasts. Vince is in the announcers' ear throughout the broadcast and apparently is rough on all of them.
Posted by: Birdland Todd | August 25, 2008 5:33 AM
Thanks for the information, Kevin. If they can get past a scissor-wielding brawl, wreslters everywhere should consider their example.
Posted by: Christopher | August 26, 2008 12:43 AM
If Sid were to show up in this day an age in WWE he will be booed out of the building for all the wrong reasons. John Cena can tell you that fans don't appreciate less-than-stellar looking in-ring work these days.
In his final days (years) in WCW his interviews became increasingly non-sensical.
Sid himself seems to believe that he had and has more 'star' appeal than guys like Hogan, the Rock and Steve Austin. I would be shocked if WWE actually went with him - so that would be WWE's sole motivation: to shock the audience.
Do we really need a aging, uncoordinated big guy with delusions of grandiour (sp?) added to the WWE mix?
Posted by: Libidoanger | August 30, 2008 4:52 AM
It would be great to c sid in wwe one more time a farewell tour for him there would be awsome especially if he was a heel i could see him working great aginst an opponet like Triple H or even here is a better story he and Shawn Micheals reunite for the PPV title match only to have him turn on shawn agian destroy him and Jerico it gives WWE the much needed big name heel and buys them some time to bring in some home grown talent worthy of that spot also it gives other injured stars time to heel and Sid get the farewell tour he deserves but the likelly hood is slim to none given his past antics and general attitude toward his peers only time money and Vince can ansewer that ?
Foley on the other hand money can't buy happiness but it does help can't blame him for jumping ship just hope he has creative control clause in his contract or he will also be bogged down in yet another TNA storyline that is going nowere and completly meanlinges (shark boy)
Posted by: Bman | September 16, 2008 9:56 PM