Mick Foley says he's embraced his role as a piece of wrestling fans' collective memories.
In an interview with Orlando Weekly ahead of his "40 Years of Foley" show at the Funny Bone Comedy Club on January 6, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on how nostalgia has shaped his connection with fans.
Somewhere around 2010, I went from being washed up to being part of people's childhoods," Foley said. "I'm the same guy. I've only gotten older, but I'm no longer old and irrelevant. I'm part of people's collective memories.
The 60-year-old, who relocated to Orlando approximately a year ago to be closer to family, has been touring as a storyteller since 2009. His one-man show features humorous behind-the-scenes tales from his legendary career, including his iconic 1998 Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker.
I don't want to be the man who refuses to play his biggest hit," Foley said of discussing the infamous match. "I don't want to deprive them of that.
Foley noted he's been surprised by how many younger fans have discovered him through social media, despite retiring from in-ring competition over two decades ago.
So many of my fans are children — kids who weren't even born until 15 years after the Hell in a Cell match," he said.
As for the message of his show, Foley keeps it simple:
The closest I get to making a political statement in the show is saying that kindness is cool.