In a new interview with TV Insider, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley reflects on the empty arena matchup he had against the Rock during Superbowl XXXIII’s Halftime Heat. Foley recalls trying to add a new layer in the rivalry he had with the Great One following their previous encounter at that year’s Royal Rumble, which is infamously known for the number of unprotected chair shots the Rock smashed Foley over the head with. He also states how he took inspiration from a Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler matchup from years earlier.

That was my idea stemming off my fondness for the Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler empty arena match from years earlier in the Mid-South Coliseum. I loved the rivalry with The Rock and thought it would be a way to tell a completely different kind of story. I was definitely banged up. I think I said in one of my books that I was wrapped up with more gauze thank Boris Karloff in the original Mummy movie. I was still hurt from the Rumble, but I was very much looking forward to the match.

Foley commends the brilliant work done by the Rock during the bout, and reveals that any objects or weapons used were never planned, but ad-libbed.

It was different that it kept going from room to room. And Rock was really on. He had a couple of great one-liners in every area we entered into. I was kind of the straight man taking a beating, and Rock was really shining in between each episode of the Foley smackdowns. The reaction shot taken after is something I could have lived without. But almost everything we did as far as utilizing what was around us was ad-libbed. In retrospect, I should have thought through the sack of popcorn to the back. Maybe not the best backstage weaponry available. But all in all, I think it was a really enjoyable match. It is definitely something different than what wrestling fans had ever seen.