Product Description

What does it feel like to fall through a flaming table for the very first time? Or the umpteenth time for that matter. In the fresh off-the-cuff style that has earned him legions of admirers and made his previous wrestling books massive worldwide bestsellers, Foley gives readers a blow-by-blow first-hand account of exactly what it is like to step into the wrestling ring. As a champion wrestler he was known both for his tenacity in the ring and for the fearlessness which led him to take extraordinary risks in any number of groundbreaking dangerous stunts. And as an industry insider he offers a unique perspective on what it was like to perform at that level which readers will never find anywhere else. In HARDCORE DIARIES Mick Foley will take fans right inside a wrestling year, vividly recreating his experiences in diary form, and revealing how mentally and physically preparing for this extremely challenging sport has helped him become the legend he is today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #132829 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

The third in the trilogy
After over 5 years since 'Foley is Good' and two excellent novels later, Mick Foley is back with the third and final (although who really knows?) chapter of his life story. Being a huge fan of Foley both in the ring and the world of literature I pretty much instantly pre-ordered the latest installment which arrived much earlier than I expected (Thanks Amazon!) and I must say that 'Hardcore Diaries' just about lives up to expectations. Sure it isn't the behemoth that is 'Have A Nice Day!' but then nothing is. What it is however is a great read as well as an (in my opinion) unprecedented look into the workings of WWE, Vince McMahon and the wrestling business as a whole. Reading about Foley's conception for the perfect angle right through to the conclusion of 'ECW One Night Stand 2006' was certainly an eye-opener and made this reader wonder how Foley feels about the current state of ECW as well as the WWE product as a whole.

Mick Foley speaks with his refreshing dose of brutal honesty and humour about such key figures as Paul Heyman, Stephanie McMahon, Ric Flair and Triple H as well as enough brutal home truths about Vince to keep one going for many years. However I give kudos to Vince and the WWE machine for seemingly letting Foley's words be published uncensored even if it has reportedly cost Mick Foley a 'Wrestlemania' pay-off this year.

It does seem however that Mick has used the book to air a few issues with certain members of the WWE roster or to make a point about his treatment in Ric Flair's autobiography. However as a good half of the book constitutes diary entries through May and June of 2006, we're getting access to Mick Foley's feelings at that precise moment without the benefit of hindsight, something which makes this book all the more intriguing to read.

For all fans of the previous volumes there are plenty of stories about Mick's family who after reading 3 books about are just as integral to these books as Mick himself. There are also some great stories about fans that Mick has grown close to both in the U.S. and Afghanistan as well as some great WWE Diva stories (Melina features pretty prominently) and a great chapter on Twisted Sister's Dee Snider. Plus it's all liberally sprinkled with the obligatory Al Snow, Test, Mark Henry jokes and even a reference to Buff v Booker T in 2001 something I found personally funny.

As a writer Mick Foley really appeals to me. Not only did I like his autobiographies but both 'Tietam Brown' and 'Scooter' sit pride of place on my bookshelf. Now 'Hardcore Diaries' can join them, and is more than worthy.

Mike Norris

A downturn.
Mick Foley is my favourite wrestler, and one of my favourite authors. His books Tietam Brown, Foley Is Good and Have A Nice Day! are so good that I would have bought this on the day it came out if given a choice, but unfortunately couldn't afford it and so got it out from the library instead.

It's a good job I did.

The first two Mick Foley books were goofy, hilarious, touching and genuinely revealing about the inner workings of the World Wrestling Federation, now World Wrestling Entertainment. A third autobiographical book from Foley - which many people have been crying out for in light of the demise of both WCW and ECW, the rise of TNA and Foley's semi-comeback in 2003 - was a great prospect. A third slice of the nerdy humour, Foley family history and in-ring transcriptions would've been great; but as Foley says, he's not Winston Churchill, and he didn't feel he could pull off writing a third autobiography.

Instead, we get the Hardcore Diaries, the tale of Foley's WWE feud with Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk from point of conception up to the culmination at 2006's One Night Stand. Dropped into it are several flashback tales of various charity work. And what a boring read it is.

It seems that a lot has changed in the years since his last autobiography. The most notable change is that Foley apparently has run out of ideas and isn't funny any more - he recycles several jokes from Foley Is Good and actually draws attention to it, as if that would revive their geeky charm. It doesn't.

The Mick Foley that writes this book isn't the one that wrote his previous two non-fictional books. This Foley is mad at the world, mad at Vince McMahon, disillusioned about his previous opponents, and apparently feels he doesn't have a single real friend in all of the WWE. It's a depressing book to read where the last one left us feeling like Foley had a ton of buddies in the WWE and that it was kind of like a family. This book destroys that image, and also destroys the image of Foley as a loveabe guy, instead depicting him as someome bitter, someone who holds a grudge.

I'm glad I never paid for this book, because it wouldn't have been worth the money. It's not funny, it's not particularly interesting, it's depressing, at times it's excruciating and it's even several hundred pages shorter than his previous works. If you want to hold onto your image of Mick Foley, then I advise you don't read The Hardcore Diaries.

foley writes a nearly as classic hattrick.
having read micks other two books this one is not really as classic as the others,but is worth spending your hard earnt money on.
his comments on ric flair were refreshing to read after all the hype that was printed on flairs comments about mick foleys career[which i also read in flairs book] i also enjoyed his opinion on the running of ECW and his love of paul e dangerously, terry funk and tommy dreamer.
this book is an insight of life amongst the WWE workers and runners and i would recomeend any wrestling fan to give it a good read.
some amusing little tails too.