WWF & Foley Prove "Retirement" Does Not Mean Retirement

A major ax to grind with the WWF.

At No Way Out, the WWF promoted a "retirement" vs. title match to headline their February pay-per-view offering. Triple H defeated Cactus Jack in the Hell in the Cell match, and as a result, Mick Foley’s career as an in ring performer was over. Well, so we thought.

Just three short weeks after losing his "retirement" match, WWF CEO Linda McMahon reinstated Foley for "one night only" to participate in a fatal four way elimination match (involving Foley, Triple H, The Rock, and The Big Show) as the main event at Wrestlemania 2000.

Remember when Foley lost a pink slip on a poll match against The Rock? Foley gave a "retirement" speech on "Raw" and said goodbye to friends backstage. Of course, that "firing" did not last long.

Leading up to No Way Out, Foley cut promos promising he would win the WWF title or walk away from the ring. If you ordered the pay-per-view, drop the WWF a letter demanding a refund. That was classic false advertising, plain and simple.

This is not the first time the WWF pulled a "bait and switch" on their audience. At the 1998 "Over the Edge," Sable (Rena Mero) faced her husband Marc Mero. Sable lost the match, meaning she was forced to leave the WWF. Vince McMahon quickly reinstated the buxom bombshell, and she returned in time for the next WWF pay-per-view, how convenient!

During his feud with Steve Austin, McMahon claimed that if the Undertaker did not defeat Austin at the 1999 "Fully Loaded," the WWF Chairman would no longer be permitted on television. McMahon is only off television when he wants to be, and after a short recess, he made his jubilant return.

I realize that the WWF is not the only wrestling company guilty of selling a bogus retirement match. In fact, it was just last year when WCW promoted a career vs. career match at Road Wild - pitting Hulk Hogan vs. Kevin Nash. Not to mention the countless "retirement" matches Terry Funk has had, including one featured on the “Beyond The Mat” movie.

My point is simple, the WWF knew Mick Foley was going to compete at Wrestlemania. With the company red hot, the WWF did not need to promote a Triple H-Cactus Jack "retirement" vs. title match. The WWF would have likely earned the same buy rate without the added stipulation, so why deceive the fans?

In closing, do not be fooled by Linda McMahon’s claim that Foley’s return is for "one night only."

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