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Mick Foley's Most Memorable Matches, Moments in WrestleMania History

Tim DanielsMar 21, 2018

Mick Foley earned his place in the WWE Hall of Fame with one of the most unique journeys to stardom in wrestling history.

The hardcore legend, who also operated under monikers such as Mankind, Dude Love and Cactus Jack, also owns one of the most memorable moments in the company's history when he defeated The Rock on Raw to win the WWF Championship amid the Monday Night Wars with WCW.

Yet, his WrestleMania legacy isn't quite as strong as many of his counterparts from the Attitude Era. He took part in six matches across a decade starting in 1997 and also severed as a special guest referee for a couple of clashes, including Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon at WrestleMania X-Seven.

He only won a single title match at The Showcase of the Immortals (beating Road Dogg and Billy Gunn with Chainsaw Charlie for the tag belts in 1998), however, and never took on The Undertaker, the hallmark of many Mania resumes over the past couple of decades.

Nevertheless, Foley still made his presence felt at WWE's marquee event, so let's check out some of his best matches at The Show of Shows.

WrestleMania Debut Match with Vader vs. Owen Hart and The British Bulldog (1997)

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Foley arrived to the WWF in 1996 after more than a decade wrestling for other promotions. That included a stint in WCW, where he put together a memorable feud with Vader.

So there was a certain sense of symmetry when Foley, working as Mankind, arrived at WrestleMania 13 with Vader as his partner for a tag team title match against Owen Hart and The British Bulldog, two technical wrestlers to perfectly oppose the hard-hitting tandem.

Although the match ended in a double count-out, allowing Hart and The British Bulldog to retain their titles, it provided a glimpse of what Foley could bring to the table.

Fatal 4-Way Match for WWF World Heavyweight Championship (2000)

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Foley ascended to the WrestleMania 2000 main event, where he battled Triple H, The Rock and Big Show in the biggest Mania match of his career.

The man affectionately known as Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy was the second wrestler eliminated from the clash after taking a pedigree from Triple H on to a steel chair. He proceeded to attack the reigning champion, who ultimately defended the title, with his patented barbed wire two-by-four.

While he was usually typecast into the hardcore role throughout his career, he almost always proved he could handle his own against anybody inside the squared circle. He proved that in his battles with Triple H in the months leading up to Mania.

That earned him his rightful spot in the event's biggest match and one of the top moments of his career, despite failing to pick up the victory.

Rock 'N' Sock Connection Reunion vs. Evolution (2004)

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The Rock 'n' Sock Connection lasted for less than a year, but they accomplished more in that short time period than some tag teams did in years together.

Foley did a terrific job of playing the sidekick to The Rock and his immense bravado. Their backstage segments were a great showcase of character building, which is something WWE could use far more of in the current era given the lack of depth in that area.

The only recent example that came close was Team Hell No, comprising of Kane and Daniel Bryan, which helped Bryan skyrocket to superstardom.

Although the team faded away in 2000, the dynamic duo came back together at WrestleMania XX to face the Evolution trio of Batista, Randy Orton and Ric Flair in a handicap match.

Nostalgia is such a powerful force in wrestling, and that's what made the encounter, which wasn't noteworthy for the in-ring work or Evolution's victory, so memorable. There will probably never be another tag team quite like The Rock 'n' Sock Connection again.

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Foley Battles Edge in Likely Final WrestleMania Match (2006)

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Foley went back to his roots for his most recent, and probably last, match on the WrestleMania stage.

He took on Edge in a hardcore match at WrestleMania 22. While it was a star-studded card that also featured Flair, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Mr. McMahon, Kurt Angle, Triple H and John Cena, their battle ended up being among the best of the night.

It was awesome to see Foley, after years upon years of sacrificing his body for wrestling, still able to compete at a high level against another elite performers from the era. And it ended with him taking a spear through a table that was on firea fitting finish to say the least.

The 52-year-old Indiana native still appears on WWE TV occasionally, most recently serving as the Raw general manager for about eight months until his storyline firing in March. But it's hard to imagine him getting back in the ring, especially given the unforgettable nature of his final WrestleMania match.

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