Rock 'n' Sock Connection
Encyclopedia
The Rock 'N' Sock Connection is a former professional wrestling
tag team
of The Rock and Mankind
that wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation between 1999 and 2000 and briefly in 2004. As a team, they held the WWF Tag Team Championship three times.
, leading The Rock to challenge both of them to a match. At the time, it was considered career "suicide" to face a team as deadly as The Undertaker and The Big Show. With this in mind, Mankind (who recently started using a smelly sock named "Mr. Socko" as part of his gimmick) asked his former enemy if he could help with his fight against Undertaker and Big Show. The Rock reluctantly accepted, and later that night, the two captured The Undertaker and Big Show's WWF Tag Team Titles when they pinned Big Show after a double People's Elbow.
They lost the belts on September 7 in a Buried Alive match against Undertaker and Big Show, when then-heel Triple H
interfered. However, Triple H was really only helping out Undertaker, as he hit The Big Show with a sledgehammer.
On September 20, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection won the titles back in a Dark Side Rules match against The Big Show, Mideon
, and Viscera
(The Undertaker did not feel like being in the match so they took his place, thus turning the match into a three-on-two). Three days later on SmackDown!, the New Age Outlaws
reunited and challenged Rock 'N' Sock Connection for the titles, which The Outlaws won.
Several days later, Mick Foley helped WWF Raw achieve some of its highest ratings
ever with a segment featuring himself (as Mankind) and The Rock. The "This is Your Life" segment aired on September 27, 1999, and received an 8.4 rating. Two weeks later, The Rock told Mankind that he was tired of him, did not like the whole Rock 'N' Sock team, nor did he enjoy Mankind stealing his catchphrases during promos. Mankind begged The Rock to team up with him for one more night, but he did not tell The Rock who they would be fighting.
They ended up challenging The New Age Outlaws for the championships on October 14, 1999. That night, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection won the tag team titles for the third time, meaning they would have to continue teaming together to defend the titles. Four days later on SmackDown!, before their title defense against The Holly Cousins
, Mick Foley gave the Rock an autographed copy of his book, Have a Nice Day!
, but later found it in the trash. Mick confronted The Rock and cursed him out for throwing away his life's work. Later that night, during their match, a crushed Mankind refused to participate as he sat despondently on the steel steps, facing away from the ring, as Hardcore
and Crash Holly
(with outside interference once again by Triple H) beat The Rock for the Titles.
The Rock and Mankind began a feud
with each other, until Foley discovered that it was his close friend, Al Snow
who threw the book in the trash, since the book contained many Al Snow jokes. In real life, Foley and Snow are very good friends, and continually make good-natured fun of each other and their careers.
. They teamed off-and-on until Foley's in-ring retirement in March 2000 and The Rock's blossoming movie career
.
In 2004, The Rock 'N' Sock Connection reunited at WrestleMania XX
when they took on then Evolution
members Randy Orton
, Ric Flair
, and Batista in a 3 on 2 handicap match. However, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection lost the match, when Orton pinned Foley after an RKO. There were rumors that Mick Foley would appear on WWE Raw on May 2, 2011, to reunite with his longtime friend The Rock as together as the Rock 'n' Sock Connection for The Rock's birthday. However, this did not happen.
However Foley was confirmed to appear on Nov 14, 2011 Edition of 3 hour Raw "Rock Reunion" edition for a possible reunion of Rock and Sock connection, before The Rock's in ring return at the 25th Annual of Survivor Series pay per view. They both appeared on that edition of Raw only for Rock to Rock Bottom foley
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
of The Rock and Mankind
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
that wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation between 1999 and 2000 and briefly in 2004. As a team, they held the WWF Tag Team Championship three times.
History
On August 30, 1999, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection was formed when The Undertaker and Big Show attacked The Rock on RawWWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, leading The Rock to challenge both of them to a match. At the time, it was considered career "suicide" to face a team as deadly as The Undertaker and The Big Show. With this in mind, Mankind (who recently started using a smelly sock named "Mr. Socko" as part of his gimmick) asked his former enemy if he could help with his fight against Undertaker and Big Show. The Rock reluctantly accepted, and later that night, the two captured The Undertaker and Big Show's WWF Tag Team Titles when they pinned Big Show after a double People's Elbow.
They lost the belts on September 7 in a Buried Alive match against Undertaker and Big Show, when then-heel Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
interfered. However, Triple H was really only helping out Undertaker, as he hit The Big Show with a sledgehammer.
On September 20, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection won the titles back in a Dark Side Rules match against The Big Show, Mideon
Dennis Knight
Dennis Knight is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment as Phineas I. Godwinn and Mideon.-Career:...
, and Viscera
Nelson Frazier, Jr.
Nelson Frazier, Jr. is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Mabel, Viscera, Big Daddy V, and King V. He is best known for his work with World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment...
(The Undertaker did not feel like being in the match so they took his place, thus turning the match into a three-on-two). Three days later on SmackDown!, the New Age Outlaws
New Age Outlaws
The New Age Outlaws, later known as the James Gang and the Voodoo Kin Mafia, were a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Maryland Championship Wrestling consisting of B.G...
reunited and challenged Rock 'N' Sock Connection for the titles, which The Outlaws won.
Several days later, Mick Foley helped WWF Raw achieve some of its highest ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
ever with a segment featuring himself (as Mankind) and The Rock. The "This is Your Life" segment aired on September 27, 1999, and received an 8.4 rating. Two weeks later, The Rock told Mankind that he was tired of him, did not like the whole Rock 'N' Sock team, nor did he enjoy Mankind stealing his catchphrases during promos. Mankind begged The Rock to team up with him for one more night, but he did not tell The Rock who they would be fighting.
They ended up challenging The New Age Outlaws for the championships on October 14, 1999. That night, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection won the tag team titles for the third time, meaning they would have to continue teaming together to defend the titles. Four days later on SmackDown!, before their title defense against The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins, also known as The Hollys, was a professional wrestling tag team and, later, stable in the World Wrestling Federation between 1999 and 2001...
, Mick Foley gave the Rock an autographed copy of his book, Have a Nice Day!
Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks is an autobiography of former World Wrestling Entertainment and TNA wrestler Mick Foley. It details his life all the way from his upbringing in New York to winning the WWF Championship from The Rock in December 1998...
, but later found it in the trash. Mick confronted The Rock and cursed him out for throwing away his life's work. Later that night, during their match, a crushed Mankind refused to participate as he sat despondently on the steel steps, facing away from the ring, as Hardcore
Bob Holly
Robert "Bob" Howard better known by his ring name Bob "Hardcore" Holly, is a American professional wrestler. He is best known for his 15-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment ....
and Crash Holly
Mike Lockwood
Michael John "Mike" Lockwood was an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment under the ring name Crash Holly....
(with outside interference once again by Triple H) beat The Rock for the Titles.
The Rock and Mankind began a feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with each other, until Foley discovered that it was his close friend, Al Snow
Al Snow
Allen Ray Sarven is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment and currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent.-Early career:Sarven...
who threw the book in the trash, since the book contained many Al Snow jokes. In real life, Foley and Snow are very good friends, and continually make good-natured fun of each other and their careers.
Reunions
The Rock 'N' Sock would later reunite to take on the McMahon-Helmsley FactionMcMahon-Helmsley Faction
The McMahon-Helmsley Faction was a large heel stable in the World Wrestling Federation which was founded in late 1999, had mostly faded away by early 2001 and finally ended in mid-2002...
. They teamed off-and-on until Foley's in-ring retirement in March 2000 and The Rock's blossoming movie career
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
.
In 2004, The Rock 'N' Sock Connection reunited at WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX
WrestleMania XX was the twentieth WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on March 14, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York....
when they took on then Evolution
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
members Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
, Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, and Batista in a 3 on 2 handicap match. However, the Rock 'N' Sock Connection lost the match, when Orton pinned Foley after an RKO. There were rumors that Mick Foley would appear on WWE Raw on May 2, 2011, to reunite with his longtime friend The Rock as together as the Rock 'n' Sock Connection for The Rock's birthday. However, this did not happen.
However Foley was confirmed to appear on Nov 14, 2011 Edition of 3 hour Raw "Rock Reunion" edition for a possible reunion of Rock and Sock connection, before The Rock's in ring return at the 25th Annual of Survivor Series pay per view. They both appeared on that edition of Raw only for Rock to Rock Bottom foley
In wrestling
- Double team finishing moves
- Double People's Elbow (both members perform an elbow drop with theatrics)
- Mandible Claw released into a Rock Bottom
- The Rock's finisher
- Rock Bottom
- People's Elbow
- Mankind's finisher
- Double arm DDT
- Mandible Claw
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Tag Team Championship (3 times)