Evaluating Mick Foley's Performance as WWE Raw General Manager
Mick Foley is the general manager of Monday Night Raw, and for many fans, it's so far, so good. It's not that he wasn't expected to do well in the role, but he's been the commissioner before, and that run could have overshadowed this one.
For many other fans, that may indeed be the case. So how is The Hardcore Legend doing to this point?
The biggest plus for WWE here is that Foley continues to be one of the most passionate and intense mic workers in company history. He still has the ability to reach through the TV and grab the worldwide audience like few others can.
When Foley speaks, people feel it.
It's the best part of his game, and it's what has always separated him from the rest of the locker room. When other guys seem to speak rehearsed lines, Foley speaks as if he were living in his last few moments. He always makes it count, and fans tend to remember his promos long after they're over.
He can connect, and that is the one ability that every Superstar must have in order to be successful. It's served him well thus far, especially in segments like the one with Sheamus and Cesaro from this past Monday's Raw.
Foley was tasked with the job of putting over the two rivals as a tag team. While fans rejected the idea at first, Foley sold it so well that it all began to make sense by the end. His ability to make the audience believe was also evident when he poured his heart out to Stephanie McMahon that same night.
Foley begged her to tell the truth about Triple H's involvement in the Universal Championship match that saw Kevin Owens win the belt over Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Foley reached beyond McMahon's heel character, drew fans in with every word and cast her in a more favorable light.
She seemed less devious than she had in a long time, and it was because of Foley's promo.
Of course, Foley's presence is likely due to McMahon's heel role that continues despite which program she's part of. Fans had their fill of The Authority constantly running roughshod over every babyface in WWE, so Foley's popularity is bringing a great balance to Raw.
But when it comes to popularity, few can eclipse Daniel Bryan. So how does Foley measure up to the SmackDown Live general manager?
Bryan is part of the one-two punch on Tuesday nights, and it's a combination that's worked well so far. He and Shane McMahon have made SmackDown so entertaining that many feel it's a better program than Raw. The fact that Bryan and Shane are likely just figureheads on TV has not made much difference; fans are buying in and appreciate the work both men are doing.
SmackDown has a different vibe than Raw, and that has perhaps impacted the way fans view Foley. Bryan is not as active on TV, and he doesn't need to be. SmackDown tends to operate without constant supervision, so the matches are the focus. While this may have been by design, the fact is that the WWE faithful have noticed the difference.
Foley is indeed more present on Raw, but he has to counter Stephanie at every turn. This keeps him more visible and more active than his SmackDown counterpart. Raw is also a three-hour program, which means Foley typically has more camera time as a result.
In order for WWE to maximize Foley's minutes and get him over, every segment must be good, and that's not always the case. Sometimes the crowd is restless and less likely to go along with a talking spot. When that happens, Foley's promos are directly affected.
It's not that fans don't appreciate him, but action always speaks much louder.
The eventual outcome of Foley's job on Raw could be a negative one. If Stephanie and Triple H realign on TV as The Authority, there will likely be little room left for a babyface GM. That means Foley will be replaced by someone The Authority can control.
But that would be a step back for a program that's already taken several steps forward, thanks to The Hardcore Legend.
He is the voice of the fans, and Stephanie is not. As long as Foley is on Raw, he brings that perspective. He links the Attitude Era generation to the current generation, and that's important for WWE. Foley brings his heart and soul to every promo and spot he's involved in.
He adds that little something extra to Raw, and if WWE took Stephanie off TV, the program would not miss a beat. Foley is more than enough for fans and the company. He gets the show over, doing so with both humor and intensity. He has the perfect mix to make Raw work, and that's exactly what he's done since he assumed the GM role.
Foley is good indeed.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
