Mick Foley reminisces on Hell in a Cell, "I was terrified of it"

WWE legend Mick Foley is, to this day, considered one of the bravest men to ever compete in the squared circle. But the 3-time WWF Champion wouldn't call himself fearless, and even states he was terrified of the structure he's most associated with: Hell in a Cell. Specifically, the night The Undertaker threw him off of it at King of the Ring 1998.

Mick Foley's left a lasting legacy in the world of professional wrestling. While he didn't have the physique or athleticism of some of the bigger stars back then, he had heart and a willingness to make sure fans went home satisfied. At King of the Ring 1998, Foley would take not one, but two of the worst falls in the history of the sport. Some called him crazy, while others believed him fearless.

On the latest Insigh with Chris Van Vliet, Foley was asked about his relationship with fear. Most would assume a man like him, known for some of the most dangerous bumps in pro wrestling history, would be fearless. But Foley denied that, claiming it's just the opposite. In fact, he's terrified of heights, which played a huge part in his Hell in a Cell performance.

"I...you could say I was courageous. Courage is action in the face of fear. I was terrified of the cell. When I looked down, I...the entirety of Undertaker’s entrance was spent with me thinking, 'How do I climb down this thing without ruining my career?' I couldn’t think of it, and that’s why the match unfolded the way it did." [12:00-12:25]

Foley believed someone like Shane McMahon, also known for some of the wildest crash landings in wrestling history, was fearless.

Mick Foley reminisces on the Hell in a Cell as one of the hardest nights of his career

The Hell in a Cell match with The Undertaker left fans in awe. The way Mick Foley punished his body for the fans earned their eternal loyalty. And while Mick Foley is appreciative of the night and considers it one of the most important in his career, it was also one of the worst, physically.

Speaking with Van Vliet, he jokes about a version of the story he usually tells, thinking the worst was over.

"I have a five-minute condensed version that I tell. My favorite line, I say, "I climbed up that cell one more time. Slowly, I'll grant you it was not a speedy journey. It was done with a peace of mind that can only come from knowing that the worst part of my evening was over." [15:35-16:00]

Foley claimed the line always got a big laugh because the audience knew full well what the Hardcore Icon was about to go through next. By the end of the night, he'd have suffered a concussion, a dislocated jaw, internal bleeding, and more.