HOW I LOST MY F*$KING EAR
As many of you may know, there is a rather detailed account of how I lost that f*&ing ear in the first chapter of my first book, "Have a Nice Day". So I'm not going to relive every moment here. But, in light of the recent popularity the video of that f*$king ear injury has received, look at this as a guide to more fully understand and enjoy the video. Sounds, like fun, right? So let's get right to it.
At the :05 mark, I catch my head in the ropes in a "hangman", a move that creates the illusion of hanging by, um..actually hanging. I'd done the move many times in the past, always with great pain, sometimes with significant injury - including multiple emergency room visits for post-match stitches. So I think the question of "why continue doing it" is a valid one..and one I wish I'd examined more extensively pre-March 16, 1994.
The actual injury occurs at the :13 second mark, when I remove myself from the ropes. Amazingly, I was only caught in the ropes for 5 seconds, since it certainly seemed like an eternity while it was happening. For many months, my opponent that night, Vader, took credit for removing me from the ropes, but looking at the video, that is clearly not the case.
As I got to my knees outside the ring, i was aware that the injury had to be pretty bad, as there was a constant pitter-pattering of bright red blood on the protective mats outside the ring - a contrast to the injuries to the ear I'd suffered before, which although fairly nasty (more than 10 stitches on at least three occasions) had resulted in almost no blood loss.
The ear actually falls from my head at the :51. Go ahead, look a few times; it is indeed a human ear.
The referee picks up the ear at :53. Earlier in the tour one of our regular referees had been sent home due to a knee injury, and another had gone home due to a death in the family. As a result, we had to take whatever referee we could get, which ended up being one from France, who spoke no English, and was therefore unable to tell me of his unique find. The referee handed the ear to ring announcer Gary Michael Capetta who (unseen of this video) brought the ear backstage and told Ric Flair that he was in possession of my ear. "I have Cactus Jack's ear", he told the Nature Boy. What would you like me to do with it?" By the time I got to the back, someone had put the ear in a plastic bag.
In the ring, you can see me check on the injury at the 1:10 mark. I could see there was significant bleeding, but did not, at that point, know the extent of it.
The match ends at the 1:41 point. I had claimed for years that the match had continued for about five minutes after the loss of the ear. Clearly, this video indicates that this claim was not true. The match continued for a mere 1:28 after the ear loss. At approximately 2:14, I come to the realization that I have, indeed, lost my f*&king ear - a sentiment I make clear upon my return to the dressing room, with the quote, "I think I lost my f*&king ear...bang bang!" Two eye-witnesses, Booker T, and Sting have told me that I had a fairly big smile on my face at the time of the quote. I believe William Regal would concur, but I am not certain. I believe he would be glad to share his thoughts at the time, if asked. So ask.
Later, upon arriving at the hospital (krankenhaus in German) in the ambulance (krankenwagon) I said the following words to the EMT's: "Vergessen Sie nicht, bitte, mein ohr in der plasiktasche zu bringen." Loosely translated, it means "please don't forget to bring my ear in the plastic bag."
I hope you have enjoyed, or at least appreciated this little stroll down memory lane. Have a nice day.
As many of you may know, there is a rather detailed account of how I lost that f*&ing ear in the first chapter of my first book, "Have a Nice Day". So I'm not going to relive every moment here. But, in light of the recent popularity the video of that f*$king ear injury has received, look at this as a guide to more fully understand and enjoy the video. Sounds, like fun, right? So let's get right to it.
At the :05 mark, I catch my head in the ropes in a "hangman", a move that creates the illusion of hanging by, um..actually hanging. I'd done the move many times in the past, always with great pain, sometimes with significant injury - including multiple emergency room visits for post-match stitches. So I think the question of "why continue doing it" is a valid one..and one I wish I'd examined more extensively pre-March 16, 1994.
The actual injury occurs at the :13 second mark, when I remove myself from the ropes. Amazingly, I was only caught in the ropes for 5 seconds, since it certainly seemed like an eternity while it was happening. For many months, my opponent that night, Vader, took credit for removing me from the ropes, but looking at the video, that is clearly not the case.
As I got to my knees outside the ring, i was aware that the injury had to be pretty bad, as there was a constant pitter-pattering of bright red blood on the protective mats outside the ring - a contrast to the injuries to the ear I'd suffered before, which although fairly nasty (more than 10 stitches on at least three occasions) had resulted in almost no blood loss.
The ear actually falls from my head at the :51. Go ahead, look a few times; it is indeed a human ear.
The referee picks up the ear at :53. Earlier in the tour one of our regular referees had been sent home due to a knee injury, and another had gone home due to a death in the family. As a result, we had to take whatever referee we could get, which ended up being one from France, who spoke no English, and was therefore unable to tell me of his unique find. The referee handed the ear to ring announcer Gary Michael Capetta who (unseen of this video) brought the ear backstage and told Ric Flair that he was in possession of my ear. "I have Cactus Jack's ear", he told the Nature Boy. What would you like me to do with it?" By the time I got to the back, someone had put the ear in a plastic bag.
In the ring, you can see me check on the injury at the 1:10 mark. I could see there was significant bleeding, but did not, at that point, know the extent of it.
The match ends at the 1:41 point. I had claimed for years that the match had continued for about five minutes after the loss of the ear. Clearly, this video indicates that this claim was not true. The match continued for a mere 1:28 after the ear loss. At approximately 2:14, I come to the realization that I have, indeed, lost my f*&king ear - a sentiment I make clear upon my return to the dressing room, with the quote, "I think I lost my f*&king ear...bang bang!" Two eye-witnesses, Booker T, and Sting have told me that I had a fairly big smile on my face at the time of the quote. I believe William Regal would concur, but I am not certain. I believe he would be glad to share his thoughts at the time, if asked. So ask.
Later, upon arriving at the hospital (krankenhaus in German) in the ambulance (krankenwagon) I said the following words to the EMT's: "Vergessen Sie nicht, bitte, mein ohr in der plasiktasche zu bringen." Loosely translated, it means "please don't forget to bring my ear in the plastic bag."
I hope you have enjoyed, or at least appreciated this little stroll down memory lane. Have a nice day.
Sir, I am in sheer awe that you could lose an ear and not immediately freak out. If I was in that situation, I can safely say that I would start blubbering like a big girls blouse and call my Mum to come hold my hand at the hospital.
By completely coincidence I was actually looking into all this a few days ago and watching the full fight video on youtube, I was holding my ears the entire time.
Posted by: Benthebook | 05/24/2011 at 05:33 PM
Something's always puzzled me about the losing of you ear Mick; as you're running the ropes previous to attempting the Hangman would you not have been able to tell they were tighter than they ought to have been?
Posted by: JP | 05/24/2011 at 05:42 PM
Incredible, Mick....you are the Hardcore Legend. Bang! Bang!
Posted by: Gary Geck | 05/24/2011 at 06:38 PM
JP- He explained on Plus One Per Diem with Kevin Smith and Jen Schwalbach today that he DID notice they were tight, but was unaware that the ropes were not ropes at all, but elevator cable covered in a light latex rubber paint. Had they been regular ropes, he probably wouldn't have lost his ear. Considering they were elevator cables, it's amazing the injury wasn't far worse.
You're a living legend Mick and Thanks for all your sacrifices in entertainment. Glad you've found a much less harmful way to do good.
Posted by: Jere Johnson | 05/24/2011 at 07:23 PM
Had they been regular ropes, he probably wouldn't have lost his ear. Considering they were elevator cables, it's amazing the injury wasn't far worse.
Posted by: cheap jerseys | 05/24/2011 at 08:20 PM
I was using the terming 'running the ropes' because it's the accepted term and much less of a mouthful and eye raiser than 'running the steel cables'.
Can't remember reading that - in the New York Best Selling 1st Autobiography of Mick Foley; Have A Nice Day: A Tale Of Blood And Sweatsocks, still available from all good online book retailers - Mick wasn't aware they weren't actually ropes in the literal sense.
Might as well have a refresher, holiday book number 2 is sorted. That's if I finish holiday book number 2 which is Stephen King's Under The Dome, which is less a book and more a heavy weapon.
Posted by: JP | 05/25/2011 at 05:13 AM
I think you missed out on making corporate mankind more hardcore by wearing glasses instead of two monocles (insisting you couldn't wear glasses due to the lack of ear)
Posted by: John-Paul G | 05/25/2011 at 09:33 AM
didn't know how to reach you as I just learned that if you don't follow me back on Twitter I can't send message to you :(
We met in Amsterdam this past Friday and I told you I would make a donation to Rainn if you stayed to sign my books.
I send a 50$ donation yesterday wish I could do more.
thanks
Posted by: Bertwre | 05/26/2011 at 10:04 AM
Where's the link to the video? The one I find on youtube doesn't match these timings at all.
Posted by: jz | 05/27/2011 at 01:05 AM
Hey Mr Foley
Thanks for all those matches...I watch them and i don't get bored...
in ecw in wwf in wwe in tna in wcw i have seen all the matches that i could see...
you ae a true legend....hogan is a joke...you are a true wrestler
thanks for saving tna...you are saving it
just get back the six sides ...!!
get out bischoff..!!
get out anderson and hardy and all those guys
bring back jay lethal:D
hey Mr Foley
hope you come to Mexico...I bought my ticket for tiplemania waiting to see you styles and angle
my three favorite wrestlers of all the time
thank you foley becase you entertain me and make me happy when i feel bad..!
have a nice day.!
Posted by: Diego Heel | 05/27/2011 at 06:05 PM
Unrelated to this brutal match, did you happen to catch Jim Ross's blog yesterday (Sunday May 29th) where he answered a question and the answer was about you?
"Emailer...One of my biggest regrets in the biz was not being able to call Mick Foley's first WWE title victory as I was battling Bells palsy at the time and was on the sideline."
Posted by: John-Paul G | 05/30/2011 at 08:56 AM
Amazing story, Mr. Foley. I followed your professional wrestling career all my life and I can say you're one heck of a man! You suffered injuries that would kill a normal person, I kid you not. The Hell in a Cell match against Undertaker is probably the most memorable, I cringe when you fell -- twice-- and I thought for sure you're a goner. But not only did you survive, you finished the match and continued your career for many many years. My hats off to you Sir!
Posted by: Parker Mackowiak | 06/03/2011 at 01:28 PM