Whether assuming the persona of his Leatherface homage, Mankind, or the mythical Cactus Jack, or the tie-dye clad Dude Love, wrestling legend Mick Foley forever changed the WWF in his 15-year career. This loaded DVD--perha... more »ps the finest compilation on one wrestler the federation has ever released--attempts to explain why. Actually, what makes this so entertaining and informative is that it's the now-retired Foley who walks you through his career (and in the best sections, candidly deconstructs his most famous matches). Regardless of his numerous personas, the one constant throughout his career was a geeky, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that dominated even his most violent, grueling matches. Fat, hairy, and sporting a large, gap-toothed smile, the happy-go-lucky Foley proudly admits that he ushered in the Uber-Nerd into the WWF, and gave dorks around the world a role model. However, his odd ring antics--such as Mankind's signature move of stuffing a sock down the throat of an opponent--and backstage slapstick behavior were only part of the Foley story. As a wrestler, few were as hardcore. Whether falling 20 feet onto tables, getting raked across the face with a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire, or getting pile-driven into a floor full of tacks, Foley pushed his unfit body to ultimate extremes. Hard Knocks & Cheap Pops highlights some of his more brutal matches, including the classic Street Fight with Triple H, which may stand as the bloodiest match in WWF history. Owners of the DVD also get five of Foley's favorite handpicked matches, making this a must-own for his fans, or fans of wrestling anywhere. --Dave McCoy« less
Actor:Mick Foley Genres:Sports Sub-Genres:Wrestling Studio:Sony Format:DVD - Color DVD Release Date: 08/07/2001 Original Release Date: 01/01/2000 Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2000 Release Year: 2001 Run Time: 1hr 5min Screens: Color Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
"I Own Over 100 Dvd's and this is the best. i don't generally write reviews and when i do its about stuff i like. mick foley is my role model he rules. anyway onto the review.this dvd is incredible the chapters are as follows :-al snow
rock 'n sock connection
cactus jack returns
royal rumble 2k street fight
no way out 2k hell in a cell
wrestlemania 2k
commisioner foley is here
the cheap pop story
edge & christian with the commisioner
stephanie mcmahon-helmsley
commisioner foley's agenda
the commisioner as enforcer
foley vs stone cold
foley vs mr. mcmahon
the legacy of mick foleyin the middle of the chapters foley discusses the storyline and how he felt emotionally etc. this is viewed as real life and not wrestling so angles etc are discussed.the extra dvd features are as follows :-mankind vs shawn michaels ( mind games )
mankind vs stone cold ( raw is war )
mankind vs the rock ( halftime heat )
dude love vs stone cold ( in your house )
al snow vs big boss man ( unforgiven )the last match has funny comentary by mick and kevin kellyso go and buy this dvd right nowoh yeah and click the yes button beneath please"
Markind
Mark Radulich | New Bedford, MA USA | 04/24/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Just Sell the Item: Mick Foley "Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops" (DVD) By MarkindIn the last year or so of Mick Foley's active wrestling career the fans of the WWF saw him transform from loveable pseudo comedian Mankind, into the infamous and wild Cactus Jack just before the man, Mick Foley retired from active competition. Mick Foley "Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops (DVD)" as narrated by himself, is the story of how Mick Foley fell from grace as the hardcore legend, Cactus Jack only to be re-born as the "uber-nerd" extroidinare Commissioner Foley. The first part of the journey starts with an explanation of why Mankind's last leg's as a competitor was more of a silly, loveable lout character rather than the violently insane character he started out as. Foley also explains why a majority of that airtime was shared with one Al Snow. This sets up a sub-plot of sorts where Foley can clear the air about backstage heat between him and his friend Al. Foley also illustrates that reason why he did such angles as the Rock and Sock Connection and his feud with Al Snow was because his body was rapidly deteriorating. In this piece of the story the viewer can see some rare footage of Mick and Al while also taking a quick tour of some of the funnier bits of that time in WWF history.The next part of the journey covers Mankind's final metamorphosis into the mythical Cactus Jack. Foley explains that he was on the verge of retirement due to his body being condemned with injuries. He believed that he could be the true Cactus Jack for one last run before hanging up his boots forever. Here the viewer gets a look at how Mick and his nemesis at the time, Triple H, began and ended a maniacal feud in the course of two months. Both characters tell you their sides of how two of the WWF's most violent matches came to be. For those that don't know, those matches were The Street Fight: Royal Rumble and Hell in the Cell 4:No Way Out. There is also a little bit on the epilogue of Mick Foley's wrestling career, Wrestlemania 2000. After Mick Foley retired the personas of Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love the WWF presented him with a new challenge. Here Foley explains his tenure as the WWF Commissioner. Along for some color commentating is Edge and Christian who along with Foley made that era of the WWF the funniest it had ever been. Foley also explains where the "cheap pops" gimmick came from and illustrates what was going on behind the scenes at that time.The conclusitory segment of the DVD brings the viewer to a pair of comebacks that eventually brought Foley's time as commissioner to an end. First, Stone Cold Steve Austin returned and began poking holes in the Foley's Commissionnary armor. And then around the time of Hell in the Cell 6, Vince McMahon returned and it was all over but the shouting for Mick Foley. Again he fell from prominence.This DVD is a treat for any fan of Mick Foley. It not only tells an epic story but it also has some pretty neat bells and whistles. There are six full-length bonus matches featuring some of Mick Foley's best work. One in particular is his title match against Shawn Michaels at Mind Games. The DVD also comes complete with all of Mick Foley's various entrance themes/video's. And if that's not enough to have you running to the nearest Tower Record's, wait there's more......Mick and the WWF were gracious enough to include the KENNEL FROM HELL MATCH featuring Al Snow, the Big Boss Man and a half a dozen confused rottweilers! Oh Boy!"
Awesome!
Mark Radulich | 03/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This may be the best video the WWF has ever put out. Mick comments throughout the video, breaking kayfabe all the time, and it's interesting to hear him comment on some of his biggest matches. Also, it's fun to see him sitting with Edge and Christian talking about the many hilarious moments the 3 have shared, and Triple H's comments about Mick are great as well. The DVD gives you a bunch of cool extras, including all 3 of Mick's entrance videos, as well as Mick's favorite matches, including him vs. HBK, vs. Steve Austin (twice), and vs. The Rock. Also, Mick and Kevin Kelly do a hilarious voice over on the infamous Al Snow/Bossman Kennel From Hell Match...poor Al Snow...he isn't spared on this disc, either. Anyway, skip the tape if you can and buy the DVD of Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops. I enjoyed it immensely...right here, in San Francisco, CA!"
Genuine comedy and genuine hardcore
Andariel Halo | Phenomynouss@hotmail etc is my e-mail | 05/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sort of a mid-point documentary, Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops covers pretty much where Three Faces of Foley left off. From about late 1999 on, it chronicles the bloody and hardcore adventures of Mankind attempting to win the WWF Championship from Triple H, and the need to bring in Cactus Jack.
Then it moves on to Foley's tenure as WWF Commissioner, perhaps one of the best periods in WWF history, all the way up till his kayfabe firing by Vince McMahon in December 2000.
All the while, Foley as host maintains a kayfabe approach, without breaking it very often, but in such a way that it doesn't sound genuinely fake or scripted. He's highly charismatic and always fun to watch, especially his relationship with Al Snow.
Foley is genuinely funny, and the things he does as Commissioner made me laugh out loud, and even his cheap jokes and cheap pops got a rise out of me, a nostalgic memory of what WWE used to be and no longer is.
The extras include four Foley matches and one extra match, poking fun at Al Snow, the Kennel in a Cell match against the Big Bossman.
The matches include Mankind vs Shawn Michaels in 1995 I think, in a long match full of high points and great athleticism by Shawn Michaels. It has some boring moments, but they're easily topped by the great turns taken by the two of them.
The next, Mankind vs Stone Cold Steve Austin in November 1996 is just plain boring.
Mankind vs The Rock in 1999, the first ever empty arena match, is the best of the selection, and genuinely hilarious. In an empty arena, you can easily hear The Rock berating Mankind, and McMahon's commentary echoes in the arena. The match ends up literally all over the arena, into the crew's lunch area, a backstage office, even out in the office hallways. It's extremity is made genuinely comedic by the antics of The Rock and Mankind, from hurling food at each other, to throwing themselves over tables. The Rock is the master of words, and provides some of the best laughs.
The last Foley match is Dude Love vs Stone Cold Steve Austin in May 1998 and is a great hardcore match almost on par with an ECW match, with lots of blood and use of prop cars to slam people upon.
All in all, it's a magnificent DVD full of charm, comedy, and violence. Mick Foley isn't a great wrestler, but he's a natural star and a well-deserved fan favorite. It's hard not to like or at least respect Foley after watching this DVD, especially in cohesion with the previous one, Three Faces of Foley."
A Foley review........right here on Amazon.com! (cheap pop)
JEFF C DELEON | Illinois | 05/12/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Already having his career immortalized on VHS ("Three Faces Of Foley") as well as having his autobiography ("Have A Nice Day") and his first children's book ("Mick Foley's Christmas Chaos") reach #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, Foley now ventures onto DVD with the release of "Mick Foley: Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops".Done mainly as an interview that flashes back to highlights as well as low points in his career, Foley continues to be candidly frank with his audience concerning his views and experiences by using "insider" terms as well as his usual witty retorts. Providing great interviews and reflecting on their experiences with Foley are Triple H (the man who retired Mick Foley from wrestling) and Edge & Christian, who reveal the secret behind "Credgly's". The DVD also focuses on the Rock N' Sock Connection, the return of Cactus Jack, the retirement from wrestling and subsequent return of Foley as the WWF Commissioner, and ends with him being fired by Mr. McMahon.The extras on the DVD are Foley's choices of his favorite matches. The infamous Hell In The Cell, which some have called the greatest match ever, is surprisingly absent (which may be the sole reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5). The greatest and most pleasant surprise, however, has to be the inclusion of Al Snow (Foley's good friend and victim of countless jokes) taking on Bossman in the ill-fated Kennel From Hell match, which features Foley and Kevin Kelly providing their own commentary which really has to be heard to be fully appreciated.This DVD is also a perfect compliment to Foley's new autobiography, "Foley Is Good", which was released in May. That book and this DVD pretty much parallel each other and you really feel as if you get to know Foley on a more personal level by experiencing both."