[1997-06-09-WWF-Raw] Interview: Mankind

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

The final installment. Cactus pictures himself giving the mandible claw to Vince every time he does it because he wouldn't take him when he was young and good and Cactus Jack. Ha! Mankind has a special hatred for Shawn Michaels, but he's hardly unique there. They delve into multiple personality disorder and when Jim Ross asks Mankind to accept responsibility for who he is, he snaps and takes JR out with the mandible claw before coming to his senses and asking someone to get some help. This was some really brilliant character work from Mick Foley, but I wish the final installment had aired before King of the Ring to give his babyface turn a little more punch.

 

We get Jim Ross's reaction and he doesn't think Mankind should have put his hands on him, but also thinks his line of questioning may have gotten unnecessarily confrontational at the end.

 

Just wonderful.

[Death From Above]

These felt totally electric back when they happened. Not like anything else that WWF had done. I know the net hivemind has soured a lot on Foley but he really did some amazing stuff during his peak periods.

[Kevin Ridge]

Mankind hating on Michaels probably got himself a few more fans. Ross is asking for it with these questions. Mankind says he will be the first to know if he has mental problems. He thinks JR does a poor job of saying Mankind doesn’t feel pain because he does. Before 97, this would be a very heel thing to do to an announcer as Mankind puts the Claw on Ross.

[Robert S]

This was some really brilliant character work from Mick Foley, but I wish the final installment had aired before King of the Ring to give his babyface turn a little more punch.

According to Foley's first book this interview series was never ment as being part of a face push, which, I guess, is proven by Mankind attacking JR at the end, which seems to be out of line for a baby face turn.

[soup23]

I really liked the ways these built up. Each part built up the next and we had a shocking conclusion with him attacking JR. Wonderful produced pieces that are some of the best stuff we have seen in this loaded year.

[PeteF3]

It is too bad that this portion of the interview aired when it did, as Mankind's justifications for wanting to see Shawn Michaels have his career and personal life end in tragedy is some fucking scary twisted logic befitting of the very best heel interviews. Then Mick delves into some meta-commentary that treads on the same heavy subject matters of his anti-hardcore ECW promos--"Let me ask YOU a couple of questions: what is it about pain that I 'love'? You see, I feel pain JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON. YOU SEE THAT?? IT HURTS. Is it when I can't get up whe my little boy says, 'Daddy, I want to play ball,' and I can't do it? Is that where the fun starts?!" Then his awesome mandible claw attack and apparent immediate remorse. A fantastic and fitting conclusion to a series that will have Mankind in strong contention for the #2 Interview of the Year spot (Austin I think has the trophy locked up).

[Exposer]

This is pretty famous. It's the part of the interview series that everyone remembers. Foley's character work in this is incredible. His bitterness for others who are more successful versions of who he wants to be is a brilliant character trait. JR gets too pushy with the questions about Mick enjoying pain & taking responsibiltiy for himself & Mick snaps. The moment he snaps is amazing. That first punch to the head is somewhat terrifying. The mandible claw attack & his immediate remorse is awesome to see. Foley is a tremendous performer. This interview series turned his career around.