When people think about the all-time greats of wrestling, Mick Foley is often a name that crops up in the conversation. His hardcore style has made all of his chair shots, bumps into steel stairs and falls from great heights memorable to generations of fans. However, his actual in-ring work is underrated in the eyes of most fans and needs more respect.

RELATED: Stone Cold's Broken Skull Sessions: Mick Foley Recap

The Hardcore Legend's Many Talents

When Mick Foley's name is mentioned, often the first thing that fans think about is his iconic Hell In A Cell match with The Undertaker. Seeing him be thrown off the roof is one of the most well-known images in the history of wrestling.

In many ways, that match defined his career perfectly. Foley was someone who could take unbelievable amounts of punishment and because of that he worked it to his advantage, and he carved a great career out of it.

Whether it be taking brutal chair shots from The Rock, having deathmatches, or being Speared through a burning table, Foley would make iconic moments that often revolved around hardcore wrestling.

Edge spearing Mick Foley through a burning table at WrestleMania 22

While he deserves huge credit for the bumps that he took over his career, that shouldn't be what defines him. Foley could do a lot more than just put his body on the line, as he was always full of charisma.

There's a reason he could get away with playing so many vastly different gimmicks, and that's because he could interject story into any situation. Whether he was being comedic or psychotic, Foley knew how to grip a crowd both mid-match and on the microphone.

All of that helped to make Mick an amazingly well-rounded performer, but unfortunately, it has also meant many people have overlooked his work inside the squared circle.

Mick Foley's In-Ring Ability

Ultimately in wrestling, the element that matters most is what someone can do when they lace up the boots and get into the ring. Fans want to be entertained by what they watch, and audiences were never disappointed by Mick Foley.

He might have taken some huge risks or brought comedy at times, but Foley was also a strong worker. He might not have been launching himself off the top rope with moonsaults or working a submission style with varying holds, but he was a great wrestler.

Foley always made everything he did look snug, throwing some of the best punches in the business while also bringing in a great variety of moves. Foley would adapt his style depending on what character he was performing as too, which made him even more impressive to watch.

Of course, Foley was also a brilliant seller. He had a knack for making everybody he faced look terrific, and it didn't always have to be crazy bumps either. It was small details like the reactions to basic moves which helped to make others thrive, while also pushing himself at the same time.

Mankind Vs The Undertaker

Even in his major Hell In A Cell match with The Undertaker was fitted with tiny details, from his smile when the tooth came out of his mouth, to the slight kick out he gave at the end to showcase the fight he still had in.

These were the details that helped to make his matches a joy to watch. Mick Foley would connect excellently with anybody, which is something that few wrestlers can truly do. Whether he was being an aggressive heel or the ultimate babyface, Foley would always make it work.

He Left Behind Many Classic Matches

shawn michaels vs mankind

The WWE Hall Of Famer might not have a career littered with five-star matches from Dave Meltzer, but his body of work speaks for itself. Throughout his entire career, Foley was putting on great matches, whether it was in WWE, WCW, or ECW, showcasing great quality throughout his career.

His match against Steve Austin at Over The Edge 1998 is a great example of just how talented Foley was without the bells and whistles. They went back and forth with Foley pushing the Texas Rattlesnake all the way, to the point where he was a believable threat to the top star in wrestling at the time.

His battle with Shawn Michaels at In Your House: Mind Games is another classic example of Foley's talent, where he went toe to toe with one of the best technical stars of all time.

Even later in his career, Foley was putting on great contests with Edge and Randy Orton, and sure those matches featured hardcore elements, but they also had great stories.

Because that is the key with Mick Foley. The reason he was able to connect so deeply with his audience is the fact that he was a storyteller. Mick Foley told stories, and he did it better than most, which he deserves huge credit for.

NEXT: Mick Foley Says Vader Is A 'Glaring Omission' From The WWE Hall Of Fame