Mick Foley - Politics is just like wrestling

Whilst I contend that this is the premier blog on the analogy that Politics is not unlike pro-wrestling. I also readily admit that the analogy predates my blog. It would not surprise me if the first persons to draw the comparisons were the wrestlers themselves.

I've previously linked to a 2004 column where Pro-wrestler Cyrus' drew wrestling comparisons to that year's Presidential campaign. Future Wrestling Hall-of-Famer Mick Foley, known for his passion for politics, also drew similar wrestling comparisons from the 2004 campaign season.

Mick Foley explained the analogy when he appeared on 'Morning Sedition' hosted by APF pundit Marc Maron with Mark Riley. Below are some notable exchanges from the show:

Recap Of Mick Foley’s Interview
- [Mick] went to Vince McMahon with the idea [of a smear campaign storyline created with Randy Orton] because he saw politics stealing ideas from wrestling. "Crossfire on CNN is essential wrestling interviews with political overtones."
- "four years ago they introduced a big screen at the Democratic National Convention which was basically the Titantron"
- when President Clinton appeared, they had the low-angle appearance shot, and we were like, "That’s our appearance shot from Smackdown!" So I figured if they were borrowing from us we would borrow from them...

Mick Foley goes on to argue (facetiously?) that outgoing President, George W Bush may have been inspired by Wrestling Superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin

Mick Foley says wrestling is somehow to blame for "this current mess". "I believe honestly, and I’ve told Stone Cold this, somewhere around 1998 then-Governor George Bush was watching Raw, and let’s face it, you know he watches the show. He took a look at Stone Cold Steve Austin and said, "That’s who I’m going to be." Because that’s when the swagger came around and it’s my feeling that if Vince hadn’t copyrighted Texas Rattlesnake, Bush would be calling himself that now.

It is a very entertaining interview and exhaustively recapped by 'Brendan McDonald'. Who unless I'm mistaken, is the same Brendan McDonald with the distinction of having worked with 3 of the APF pundits. As the current producer for Marc Maron and Sam Seder's online program and former producer for Pete Dominick's show.