Goodbye and God bless, Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love and Mick Foley. Have a nice day…and a nice life for that matter.

If we are to believe the World Wrestling Federation, hardcore wrestling icon – Mick Foley – wrestled his final match last night at the No Way Out pay-per-view. With his entire career at stake, Foley (in his Cactus Jack persona) lost a masterpiece of a Hell In The Cell bout against WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley. It was one of many startling surprises that capped off another sound pay-per-view put on by WWF in recent months. It took them awhile but the WWF is finally over the loss of television writer Vince Russo. WrestleMania is around the corner in April and they’re pulling out all the stops building as much intrigue around the event as possible.

The much publicized Rock, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley match at WrestleMania may be scrubbed as The Big Show beat The Rock tonight in a bout where the top contender’s spot was up for grabs. Though The Big Show should share the joy with Shane McMahon as it was his interference that paved the road to victory. Could a rivalry be developing between Shane and his sister Stephanie, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley’s “wife”? Stay tuned, folks.

Mick Foley’s ride into the sunset was a heart-stopping backdrop through the top of the Hell In A Cell steel cage to the ring below. The ring gave way leaving Foley literally planted in the mat. Ouch! That’s gotta hurt. Whomever you root for, you gotta respect both men. Foley and Triple H bladed and took several very nasty bumps. They put on a hell of a show. There’s no two ways about it.

As a sign of respect, Triple H came to the ring first. Usually in title matches the challenger enters first not the champion. Cactus Jack (alias Mick Foley) noticed something wrong right from the get-go as he saw that the door leading in and out of the steel cage was chained shut. It was the handiwork of Stephanie McMahon who mocked Foley by hollering…”There’s no way out, Mick!” from outside the cage. Cactus and Triple H brawled outside the ring to start things off. Cactus got the better of that exchange slamming Triple H’s head into the canvas and catching him with a flying forearm to the head back in the ring. Resuming their brawl on the outside, Triple was thrown into the steel ring stairs. Triple H blocked two attempts by Foley to bounce his head off the cage.

As Cactus tried to climb back in the ring, the champ hit him with a running knee lift, sending Cactus flying off the ring apron backwards into the steel cage. Cactus then collided with the steel post and the ring stairs. Triple H picked up the stairs and threw them at Cactus catching him in the noggin. Laying the steps over Cactus’ face, Helmsley hit them over and over again using a steel chair. Helmsley continued the chair assault in the ring. On his knees, Foley dared Triple H to strike him again. Foley caught Triple H coming in, took control of the chair and drove it up into Helmsley’s crotch.

A double-armed DDT got Foley a two count. A Russian leg sweep onto a steel chair rendered the same result. Foley set-up the chair in a corner. Backing Helmsley into the turnbuckle, Foley punched him until Helmsley was sitting in the chair. Foley ran from the opposite corner looking to bury his knee in Triple H’s throat. Triple H’s Ravenesque drop toe-hold had Cactus’ head smashing into the chair instead. The unorthodox move score Helmsley a two count. A clothesline sent Cactus over the top rope to the floor. Helmsley bounced Cactus’ head off the cage three times. As he made an effort to Pedigree Cactus on the steel steps, Cactus turned it into a slingshot sending Triple H face-first into the cage. Helmsley came up bleeding while Cactus munched on his forehead and ground it into the fence.

Using a trademark Cactus Jack maneuver, Foley put a chair under his arm and dove off the second rope driving it into Triple H’s face. Another hurling of the ring stairs broke open a small hole in the cage. In a strange and suicidal move, Cactus took it upon himself to dive through the opening to make it larger. The steel sliced up Cactus’ arm as he did so. Blood began to pour down his arm. It would do so the rest of the bout. Triple H followed Cactus outside. Cactus rammed Triple H’s head into the announcers’ desk and piledrived him on top of it. The desk did not collapse. Pushing a photographer out of the way, Cactus retrieved a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire. Triple H wanted to dive over the ringside barrier to escape. Cactus grabbed him by the shorts whacking him in the face.

Triple H climbed up to the top of the cage. Cactus gave chase tossing the 2×4 up so Helmsley could hit him in the head with it. Cactus fell off the cage and through the announcer’s table below. Cactus bled from a gash in his forehead. Appreciating his bump, the fans chanted Foley’s name. Breathing fire and brimstone, Cactus somehow stood up and threw steel chair after steel chair up to the top of the cage. None made it.

Cactus and Triple H fought on the roof of the Hell In A Cell. A double-arm DDT subdued Triple H long enough for Cactus to light the barbed wire 2×4 on fire. Cactus nailed Helmsley with a glancing blow. Cactus attempted to piledrive Hunter through the cage. Triple H backdropped Cactus through the cage roof. Cactus hit the mat causing the ring to partially cave in around his body. Helmsley climbed back in demanding the ref to rule if Cactus could continue. Again, the human-bump machine, Cactus Jack staggered to his feet. Triple H Pedigreed Cactus to put him away and bring the curtain on a one-of-a-kind wrestling career.

The crowd gave Foley a standing ovation as he refused medical treatment walking to the entrance way under his own power. Cactus gave the appreciative crowd chanting his name a thankful, teary-eyed glance as the pay-per-view left the airwaves.

SPECIAL EDITOR’S NOTE: If this was indeed Mick Foley’s last match (with professional wrestling, you never know) SLAM! Wrestling would like to thank Mick Foley for all the blood, sweat and tears he gave so that we might be entertained. We’re not worthy of your sacrifice, Mick. There will never be another Mick Foley and professional wrestling won’t be the same without him.

  • The next WWF pay-per-view is WrestleMania 2000 on April 2nd.

    WWF No Way Out Results

    Kurt Angle (challenger) Vs Chris Jericho (champion) (WWF Intercontinental Title Match)

  • Although Chyna is at Jericho’s side, there’s no British Bulldog to watch Angle’s back. Jericho clamps the Lion Tamer on Angle. Angle makes it to the ropes and breaks the hold. I guess the Lion Tamer just ain’t the finisher it used to be or maybe it only works on Raw, Smackdown!, Heat and not on pay-per-view. Thrown out of the ring, Angle swings one of the title belts at Jericho. Chyna gets in the way and clobbered. Referee Hebner is KO’d. Jericho goes for his Lionsault. Angle bonks Jericho in the face with a title belt as he lands. Angle rolls up Jericho. Tim White takes over the officiating duties and slaps the three count. Hebner and White argue. Throughout the night Angle is shown celebrating backstage. Yes, Jerichoholics, Lionheart is screwed again. Aren’t you glad he came to the WWF?
  • Winner: …and new WWF Intercontinental Champion… Kurt Angle at 10 minutes and 14 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.

    The New Age Outlaws (champions) Vs The Dudley Boyz (challengers)

  • Buh Buh smashes a steel bar over Billy Gunn’s arm and shoulder outside the ring. The Dudleys skewer Road Dogg with the Dudley Death Drop capturing WWF tag team gold. Gunn and Road Dogg exchange unpleasantries. Oh, no. Not another DX versus DX feud. We’ve seen this a million times before. It was called the nWo. Medics assess Gunn’s injury in the locker room.
  • Winners: …and new WWF World Tag Team Champions…The Dudley Boyz at 5 minutes and 20 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 6 / 10.

    Viscera Vs Mark Henry

  • Typical slow-paced and agonizing “Big Men” match. Booorring! The crowd voices their displeasure. Mae Young does a run-in. The WWF’s video goes out. In a replay, Viscera pushes Mae Young to the ground. Mark Henry befuddles the Glad Man with a shoulder tackle and a splash. Mae Young’s pregnancy…the stupidest WWF angle ever. Well, maybe not…but it’s close.
  • Winner: Mark Henry at 3 minutes and 44 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 2 / 10.

    The Hardy Boys Vs Christian, Edge

  • Terri Runnels has purchased the services of the Acolytes on Heat. They stand at ringside for the entire bout. Jeff Hardy climbs to the top rope at 14:34. Terri shoves him off! Matt questions Terri from inside the ring. Terri slaps him in the face! Christian spikes Matt with a Kamikaze. Matt yanks Terri by the hair to bring her back in the ring. The Acolytes beat down The Hardys. Edge and Christian are interviewed about their victory. Christian is upset at the tainted win. Edge could care less. A win is a win in his book.
  • Winners: Edge and Christian at 15 minutes and 05 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 8 / 10.

    Taz Vs The Big Boss Man

  • Prince Albert jumps in causing the DQ at 1:23. Boss Man and Albert beat up Taz. Taz won’t stay down. Boss Man breaks his nightstick over Taz’s head. Taz still fights on. Yes, Taz fans, The Human-Suplex Machine, a former World Heavyweight Champion, is fighting mid-carders again. Aren’t you glad Taz came to the WWF?
  • Winner: Taz via DQ at 1 minute and 23 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 0 / 10.

    Kane Vs X-Pac

  • For the most part, a Pier Six Brawl as X-Pac and Kane battle at the entrance way which is surrounded by fencing. Kane is driven into the fencing. Paul Bearer lays the smackdown on X-Pac punching and kicking him. Wicked! Bearer chases Tori around the ring. At 10:18, Kane no-sells X-Pac’s X-Factor finishing move. X-Pac clobbers Bearer knocking him out cold. Kane Tombstones Tori, again. Kane tries to take X-Pac’s head off with the ring stairs. X-Pac dropkicks them into his face then leans on them to notch the pinfall.
  • Winner: X-Pac at 7 minutes and 50 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 6 / 10.

    Too Cool Vs The Radicals

  • Butt splash by Fatu pins Malenko. Too Cool dances. The fans cheer. Why? No one knows. Maybe Val Venis should take dance lessons. Then, he’d get a push in the WWF.
  • Winners: Too Cool at 13 minutes and 30 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.

    The Big Show Vs The Rock

  • The winner will go to WrestleMania to face the WWF Champion.
  • Big Show Chokeslams The Rock but there’s no ref. Tim White was sent to La La Land earlier on. White and Hebner fight ECW-style outside the ring. Shane McMahon appears on the scene. The People’s Champ Rock Bottoms Big Slow on a steel chair. With The Rock in the process of doing the People’s Elbow, Shane McMahon smacks him with a steel chair! The Big Slow pins The Rock. Big Show and Shane leave together.
  • Winner: The Big Show at 9 minutes and 33 seconds.
  • Match Rating: 7 / 10.
  • Kurt Angle heads to his car. Chyna and Jericho attack him from behind and lock him in the trunk.

    Cactus Jack (challenger) Vs Triple H (Hell In A Cell – WWF World Heavyweight Title Match)

  • Winner: Triple H at 35 minutes.
  • Match Rating: 10 / 10.
  • Total Event Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
  • Overall Event Rating: 10 / 10.