Mick Foley Reveals How Jim Ross Accidentally Gave Him His Most Famous WWE Catchphrase

Mick Foley’s storied wrestling career is packed with brutal matches, unforgettable characters, and raw promos. But one of his most beloved trademarks—“Have a nice day”—was never part of the plan. In fact, according to Foley, it all started with a throwaway line from Jim Ross.

While reflecting on the Attitude Era and the shift toward catchphrase-heavy promos during a conversation with Chris Van Vliet, Foley admitted he once felt frustrated watching guys coast through promos just by repeating their lines. But somewhere along the way, he found himself with one of the most iconic closers in wrestling history—and it wasn’t even his idea. “Who would have thought ‘Have a nice day’ would become a catchphrase?” Foley said with a grin before giving credit where it was due.

“That was just a throwaway. Jim Ross told me, ‘Hey, you know, do your promo and then, you know, just have a nice day.’”

Foley then joked about how that phrase—unlike others—wasn’t exactly marketable in the same way.

“We might want to edit in case Jim wants a piece of that marketing pie. You can’t really trademark ‘Have a nice day,’ though. I don’t think so. You can trademark ‘Austin 3:16,’ you can trademark ‘Smell what The Rock’s cooking’—you can’t trademark ‘Have a nice day.’”

For someone who delivered some of the most punishing matches in WWE history, it’s ironic that a cheerful line became part of Foley’s legacy. But that duality is what made Mick Foley so unique—he could tear you apart in a hardcore match, then smile and wish you a good day right after.

Foley never needed to act tough. He just was. But adding heart and humor to the violence? That’s what made him unforgettable.

What’s your favorite Mick Foley line—“Have a nice day,” something from Rock & Sock, or one of his darker Cactus Jack promos? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which version of Foley connected with you the most.