WWE - Mick Foley - Hard Knocks & Cheap Pops (2001)

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--perhaps 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 Amazon.com

Best point in his career

I have been a wrestling fan since 1996 and have watched all kinds of wrestling. I have a wrestling DVD/VHS collection spanning over 50 all together. This is the most complete and accurate review of this DVD you will find. I hope you find this review helpful; remember to vote helpful or not helpful. (Note-Each DVD I review has a "Match of the DVD" award somewhere in it.)

Mick Foley Hard Knocks & Cheap Pops
Who would've expected me to give this DVD five stars? I usually hate DVDs that only show a period of the superstar's career, but this one is so well done. First of all, you have Mick Foley narrating the DVD. He can make really makes this DVD very entertaining to watch and is constantly making you laugh. He even goes into detail about the wrestling business and his feuds.

This DVD actually highlights the best period in Mick's career, mid-1999 to late 2000. You will hear about: his relationship with The Rock, his feud with Al Snow, his barbaric feud with Triple H, and his very comedic role as Commissioner. The DVD is very well done and keeps you into the program.

Extras Include-
Entrance Music for Mick Foley (Commissioner), Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love

WWF Championship (IYH- Mind Games)
Shawn Michaels(c) VS Mankind
I'm sorry but this match is nowhere near as good as what other people say. It is still a very solid match; it just lacks something to make it special. Still, this has some good wrestling and a few nice spots.
RATING- 8/10

Steve Austin VS Mankind (Raw Nov. 1996)
This was a good Raw match that ended with a lot of interference. Most everything else is forgettable at best. This is a good brawl worth a watch.
RATING- 7/10

Empty Arena Match (Halftime Heat)
WWF Championship
The Rock(c) VS Mankind
This was the first Empty Arena Match, and the second WWF title win for Mankind. The Rock talks a ridiculous amount of trash as they brawl through the entire arena. I felt like the ending was too fake looking though. The match is as entertaining as their other matches though.
RATING- 8.5/10

Special Referee- Vince McMahon (Over the Edge 1998) (Match of the DVD)
WWF Championship
Dude Love VS Steve Austin(c)
Now we come to over glorious Match of the DVD. How odd that this is a Dude Love match. The rules change multiple times in the match. At first it is a normal match, but soon becomes a no disqualification, falls count anywhere match. Both men go all out; Dude Love even hits a Sunset Flip off the top of a car. There are tons of other great moments.
RATING- 9.5/10

Kennel from Hell (Unforgiven 1999)
Al Snow VS Big Boss Man
Why would Mick Foley choose this piece of garbage to show us? The reason is simple; he wanted to make fun of it. Mick and Michael Cole do commentary over the match and make fun off it the entire way. The concept is that there is a steel cage and a Hell in a Cell lowered. The wrestlers would fight inside the steel cage. In between the steel cage and HIAC would be rabid trained dogs. You read it right...rabid...trained...dogs. Horrible match made cool through Mick's commentary.
RATING- 5/10 June 27, 2008

Great DVD

Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops is an excelent dvd. Put out in 2001 in covers the "end" of Mick Foley's carrer. The Feature Begins with his "feud" with Al Snow. It then briefly covers The Rock n Sock Connection. Next we have his fued with HHH in 2000. Foley covers the return of Cactus Jack and Highlights are shown of thier Royal Rumble Street Fight. Hightlights are shown of Hell in a Cell from No Way Out as well as his Wrestlemania retirement match. The rest of the DVD covers Mick Foley as Comishiner. Mick sits down with Edge and Christian to talk about some of the funny moments they were invovled in. This is some really funny stuff. The Feature ends with Mick talking about the way he wants to be rememberd. Special features include all of Mick's titantron videos and five hand picked matches. They are;
1. Mankind vs HBK
This a WWF title match from Mind Games. Great Match. It was included on the Greatest Hits and Misses DVD but the rest of the DVD makes up for that. Worth a second look even if your own the other DVD 4/5 stars

2. Mankind vs Steve Austin
This is a Raw match from 1996. A good brawl between two Icons. 3/5 stars

3. Mankind vs The Rock
A WWF Title match from Halftime Heat 1999. This one goes all over the arena and then some. Great comedy match. The Rock really shines with his trash talk. 4/5 stars

4. Dude Love vs. Stone Cold
A WWF title match from Over The Edge 1999. This one is also Included on Greatest Hits and Misses. It is a great match and is also worth a second look. 4/5 Stars

5. Al Snow vs Big Boss Man
A Kenel from Hell match from Unforgiven 1999. Horrible match but comentary is provided by Kevin Kelly and Mick Foley. They are very funny. They call the match as if it were a classic. Worth the Price of the DVD. Highlight Mick Foley- "Tables are Turned Tables are Turned" 5/5 stars

If You are a Mick Foley even if you own Greatest Hits and Misses. You should get this DVD. It is one of my personal favorites the WWE has put out. September 13, 2007

Genuine comedy and genuine hardcore

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. May 23, 2007

Have A Nice Day!

This DVD is shaped just like the Chris Benoit DVD where they don't keep it "in character" and actually have Foley comment on certain moments in the last year of his active wrestling and his tenure as WWF Commissioner. Foley speaks on his on & off camera relationship with Al Snow, the Rock & Sock connection, his last two matches as Cactus Jack against Triple H, the story behind his WrestleMania 2000 main event match, what his purpose of being the commissioner was along with the story behind the "cheap pop," his on camera chemistry with Edge & Christian, and his on screen relationships with Stephanie McMahon, Stone Cold, and Mr. McMahon.

DVD extras include matches with Mick as Mankind vs. HBK (Mind Games '96), Stone Cold (Raw 11/96), his empty area match vs. WWF Champion The Rock from Halftime Heat in '97, and as Dude Love vs. Stone Cold (Over The Edge '98). Also as a joke, the HORRIBLE "Kennel From Hell" (steel cage inside Hell In A Cell with dogs being outside the ring) match with Al Snow vs. Big Boss Man from Unforgiven '99 is on here with funny commentary from Foley & Kevin Kelly. Mick Foley's titantrons as Mankind, Dude Love, Commissioner Foley, and Cactus Jack are also included.

Great if your a Foley fan. May 28, 2006

Hard Knocks and cheap pops

This is a great dvd considering how much people charge for it($3 for mine) it features 5 great matches. The stand out is the Kennel from HELL match. Just watch the dogs the whole time. The dvd covers late 1999-late 2000. This is a great dvd that is cheap and delivers a crap-load of laughs. July 16, 2005

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