Bowling Green, Ky. - Professional wrestler and bestselling author Mick Foley will be speaking at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Western Kentucky University.

In his lecture at the Downing University Center Theater, Foley will discuss his pro wrestling career, his career as an author and lecturer and the importance of obtaining an education. The event is presented by WWHR Revolution 91.7 and co-sponsored by WKU's Campus Activities Board, WPTQ The Point 103.7 and Buffalo Wild Wings.

He will also host an autograph signing directly following his appearance.

Foley gained national fame as a wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He debuted under the character Mankind in 1996 and subsequently wrestled as Cactus Jack and Dude Love.

Since his retirement from full-time competition in 2000, Foley has concentrated on writing and public speaking.

He has penned two bestselling memoirs, "Have a Nice Day! A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks" and "Foley is Good...and the Real World is Faker than Wrestling." In addition, Foley has released a top-selling novel, "Tietam Brown."

Foley is also the author of three top-selling children's books, "Halloween Hijinx," "Christmas Chaos" and "Tales from Wrescal Lane."

His books, all without the benefit of the ghostwriter most celebrities employ to aid in the writing process, are unusual because all the manuscripts were handwritten.

As a wrestler for the WWE, Foley became the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on three separate occasions in famous pay-per-view and cable television matches against rivals The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

He was also a seven-time Tag Team Champion, forming famous partnerships with Austin, Kane and Al Snow. His most famous tag team was with The Rock, known as "The Rock and Sock Connection." The moniker came from Foley's famed use of a sweatsock puppet named "Socko" during his matches.

In addition, he originated the WWE Hardcore Title.

Foley also wrestled extensively in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). He has also wrestled regularly in Japan.

A graduate of The State University of New York at Cortland, Foley has wrestled since the mid-1980s. He was featured in the documentary "Beyond the Mat" and has been the subject of "Biography" on A&E.

He has appeared on television shows such as "Good Morning America," "Larry King," "20/20," "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "Live with Regis and Kelly" and "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" He has also been interviewed twice by Katie Couric. In addition, he was featured as a regular spokesperson in Chef Boyardee commercials.

Foley stays active as a writer, a speaker on the college circuit and an entertainer for American troops abroad, in addition to his regular appearances for WWE and other wrestling promotions.

The WKU event will be emceed by Axe from The Point and a disc jockey from Revolution. In addition to his appearance at DUC, Foley will be speaking to WKU classes and making radio appearances, including a call-in session on The Revolution at 4 p.m. that Wednesday.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Sam Ford at (270) 745-5836.