WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley appeared on the most recent episode of the podcast Pod Meets World, where he spoke on a variety of subjects, including John Cena’s last match, why Vader wasn’t one of his favorite
opponents, and when he knew The Rock’s career would skyrocket beyond WWE.
Pod Meets World is hosted by Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle, who rewatch and discuss episodes of their hit 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World. One of the show’s most memorable cameos came in 1999 when Foley, as Mankind, randomly showed up to referee a match.
Foley told the hosts that he “really liked” Boy Meets World because he had kids who were fans of the show. He also touched on other entertainment work he’s done over the years outside of the ring, including voicing a character Avatar: Last Airbender, as well as appearances on the reality shows Celebrity Wife Swap and Say Yes to the Dress.
Leon “Vader” White was also a guest star on Boy Meets World, and Foley discussed their historic feud in WCW. Foley, who was wrestling as Cactus Jack, sustained numerous injuries in the ring against Vader, including a concussion that caused numb extremities. Foley said it is because of the punishing nature of their bouts that he doesn’t name Vader as one of his favorite opponents.
He said when people ask him to name his favorite rivals, he’ll mention The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Terry Funk.
“And they’ll say like, ‘What about Vader?’ And I’ll say, ‘Well, those matches weren’t fun,’” Foley said. “But they were great matches…I mean, Leon, he had a very, very physical style. He was the hardest-hitting wrestler.”
Foley also spoke with the hosts about another high-profile television appearance that came not long after his Boy Meets World cameo. In 2000, The Rock hosted Saturday Night Live, and Foley, Triple H, and Big Show tagged along for a couple of guest spots on the episode.
The Hardcore Legend said that he while he had been an SNL fan in his youth, he hadn’t kept up with the show due to always being on the road for wrestling appearances. Therefore, Foley wasn’t familiar with the SNL performers at the time, which included stars like Will Ferrell and Jimmy Fallon, but he said “the cast could not have been nicer.” He also singled out Tina Fey as being “great to me,” noting that she later had him guest star on 30 Rock.
According to Foley, he was “the least interesting WWE guy on that show [SNL] because Rock was in another stratosphere.”
Foley continued, “I think that opened people’s minds up to his potential.”
He included himself in this group, saying: “The key takeaway for me was that I could see The Rock’s future expanding as the show is going on.”
During one of the SNL skits that night, Foley dropped Johnson’s signature move the People’s Elbow on a cast member. He said somebody told him they were “surprised Rock let you do that when he saw it in rehearsal.”
Foley recalled: “I said, ‘I didn’t do that rehearsal. He wouldn’t have let me do it.’”
Near the end of the interview, Foley was asked about John Cena’s final match, and he expressed his approval of GUNTHER being chosen as the opponent to close Cena’s career.
“Now GUNTHER will essentially have that proverbial rocket strapped to his back. I do think he was the right guy, because he’s got such a believable style. He’s very convincing.
“You might say he doesn’t have the pomp and circumstance that some of the guys do,” Foley continued. “And if he needed that little something, this would be that little something…But I think he is a great guy to do that for.”
Foley also said that a Cena victory could have had an upside for WWE due to the increased viewership the match enjoyed on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
“We were drawing in hopefully a few million new fans, or I would say at least a million new fans, you had the opportunity to show them just how joyful WWE can be. And we didn’t give them that moment,” Foley said. “But I can see both points. When he lost, the camera hit those reactions, and people were genuinely hurt.”
While talking about the end of Cena’s in-ring career, Foley mentioned how his own original retirement lasted six weeks. However, he noted Cena’s success in Hollywood means he doesn’t necessarily need a return.
“I think every person is allowed one big comeback match that does not violate the trust of the fans,” Foley said. “But after that, it’s at least partially a grab for money. And John is making plenty of that.”
