Hours before Mick Foley bathed in the adulation of his most rabid fans at Madison Square Garden in a Hardcore Legend Ceremony, Foley spoke of his somewhat unexpected latest run at the Worlds Most Famous Sports Arena.

This is definitely exciting, especially since its something I really hadnt bargained for when it was agreed upon that Id come in and referee the Hell in a Cell match [at Bad Blood], Foley said. Of course before the pay-per-view I had to be at the Miami RAW, and I had such a great time that when it was offered to show up the day after the pay-per-view, in Dallas, that I gladly jumped on it. I dont know if I asked to be at the Garden or if it was generally agreed upon, but it will be my last show for a while. It wont be another 19 monthsIll make sure of that.

The latest installment of Foleys Garden Party was the Hardcore Legend Ceremony, where Mick was presented with a honorary Hardcore Championship belt, encased in a glass frame. He was joined by fellow hardcore guys Stone Cold Steve Austin, Tommy Dreamer, the Dudley Boyz, Rob Van Dam and Al Snow, and treated to an emotional video montage of his legendary career. And later, just to really feel at home, Foley engaged in a nasty backstage brawl with brash Evolution member Randy Orton.

It was a homecoming, Foley said, that he at one point doubted would ever come to pass.

After 19 months away, there was a part of me that thought that maybe this was a great part of my life that was completely done with, he said. I think you can go home again, and Im enjoying every second of it. I really feel without sounding overly corny that Ive really come home again. Not just MSG, but WWE as well, Foley said. Its been made very clear to me that Im welcome back anytime, so Im going to take advantage of that.