One of the strangest endings to a Raw show on 12/15 from Tampa saw, after spending nearly two hours building up Mick Foley’s in ring return against Randy Orton, saw Foley walk out of the building.
The idea, said to be Foley’s idea he suggested, was done with the idea of getting people talking since wrestling hasn’t done a lot of real cliffhangers endings. Early in the show, Eric Bischoff presented Foley with the idea of a match against Orton, where if Foley won, Bischoff would leave Raw, but if Orton won, Foley would leave. Foley insisted on the stips of Earl Hebner as referee and Evolution banned from ringside. The IC title was also talked about being at stake. The key point was Foley talking with Shawn Michaels, about Michaels, who had retired for a few years and came back for what was planned to be one match last year, and now he’s working semi-regularly. Michaels said it was like the mob and you get sucked in, but when Foley asked if the feeling you get coming back was worth it, Michaels said it was.
