By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Mick Foley issued the following statement via Facebook.com to announce that he has parted ways with WWE due to the company’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“While I have been concerned about WWE‘s close relationship with Donald Trump for several months — especially in light of his administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who “looks like an immigrant”) — reading the President’s incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me.
“I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy. Last night, I informed @WWE talent relations that I would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office. Additionally, I will not be signing a new Legends deal when my current one expires in June. I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, ‘I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.'” [Thanks to Dot Net reader Tim Blades]
Powell’s POV: Trump took to his social media platform the morning after actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were fatally stabbed (their son Nick Reiner is currently being held without bail in connection with the case). After initially stating that the deaths were “very sad,” Trump wrote that Rob, who was an outspoken critic of his, died “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as Trump Derangement syndrome.”
Despite facing criticism, even from some within his own party, Trump doubled down when speaking with reporters later in the day. “I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump said. “He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.” Read more at USAToday.com.
WWE’s political connections to Trump include his appointing former WWE CEO Linda McMahon to the position of Secretary of Education, and Paul Levesque joining the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Prior to entering politics, Trump was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s “celebrity wing” in 2013.
Foley has criticized Trump through online videos and social media posts over the years. I find it commendable that Foley put his money where his mouth is by severing ties with the company over something he feels passionately about.
(Jason Powell, founder and editor of ProWrestling.net, has covered pro wrestling full-time dating back to 1997. He hosts a weekly podcast, Pro Wrestling Boom, and also appears regularly on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast. Reach him via email at dotnetjason@gmail.com and on social media via @prowrestlingnet.bsky.social or x.com/prowrestlingnet. For his full bio and information on this website, click here.)
Well done Mick. As you say Jason, whether you agree with him or not, it’s great to see somebody put their own morals and beliefs above financial gain. Not everyone is in a position to do that of course, but if you are, you should show some moral courage like Mick (hope you’re looking on CM Punk).
“I wasn’t a fan of his at all,” Trump said. “He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.”
But talking in the third person isn’t deranged?
Mick is trying to get one last minute of attention
If this were sincere he could just do it quietly. He is grandstanding.
(Note: I am neither pro nor anti Trump. This is solely my opinion of Foleys actions)
“Have a nice day Ken Patera!”
Lol
Tom wins!!
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I’ll share a couple of thoughts. Mick has been consistently vocal in criticizing Trump. It’s something he feels passionately about, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with expressing himself or taking a public stand. He’s also opening himself up to a shit storm of criticism from people who don’t share his views, and I’m sure he’s already lost a lot of fans because of it.
Grandstanding typically comes with the goal of getting positive attention. In this case, the country is so divided that he’ll please half of his fans and piss off the other half, so I’m not really sure what he really gains from this. People are quick to use the virtue signaling label (not that you did). It applies in some cases, but there are also times when people just want to do what they think is right, regardless of whether it benefits or hurts them. And this definitely isn’t directed at you, but there are some shitty people out there who can’t relate to someone simply wanting to do good. They are so jaded that they wouldn’t do anything good without having a motive or an agenda, so they think everyone operates the same way.
Jason
As always I value your opinion. Thanks for your thoughtful response
I will respectfully disagree with one statement “Grandstanding typically comes with the goal of getting positive attention”. I think some people crave any attention. Sadly a lot of wrestlers (Flair comes to mind but there are others) who can’t just fade into the night.
Foley MAY be sincere in what he is saying. But he wanted the spotlight and he got what he wanted today
I admit that I hope someday that Mick Foley will be seen again inside a WWE wrestling ring. Whether that happens is anybody’s guess.
For now, this might be the only right move to make, especially since President Trump’s comments about Rob Reiner were so incredibly out of line.
I can’t blame Mick Foley for walking.
Here’s my take: If someone is not a fan of Rob Reiner’s works, that’s one thing. We can all live with that. I think we all can agree that not everyone agreed with Rob Reiner’s political views, but unlike President Trump’s most ardent supporters who parrot everything he says, most of us who take the opposing view do so with respect and dignity, and I’d dare say most Republicans likely were deeply saddened at the deaths of Reiner and his wife, Michele, and likewise horrified at the apparent circumstances of how they died.
But to call Rob Reiner “deranged” and suffering from some supposed “syndrome” simply because he is completely opposed to the Trump agenda is beyond tasteless and inappropriate, and that’s putting it nicely.
I guess that was the final straw for Mick, and he did what he felt he had to do. More power to him.
If there’s any anger at all that caused this death, it was from Nick Reiner … but it is an anger that this nation is apparently unwilling to address. Mental illness must be addressed as a nation, and it is time we stop turning our backs to those who needed it the most. I am sure Rob and Michele did everything, including going to extraordinary lengths, to help their son … and instead it ends in tragedy.
Hope to see you again soon, Mick, somewhere … .
He’s still willing to keep getting paid until June.
I’d be more impressed if he severed ties immediately and willingly walked away from his next 6 months of pay.
It’s also laughable that this is the final straw but he’s been willing to up with the rest of the Trump bullshit, the Saudi bullshit, and the alleged Vince bullshit.
>>..especially in light of his administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants>>
And again, I totally disagree when the rhetoric is not accurate such as in this case, or maybe he’s just ignorant because he believes whatever CNN and MSNBC tells him to believe as so many do.
Trump is deporting people in the country illegally, not just immigrant, such as myself who came here legally.
I also find it odd that Obama deported an incredibly large amount of illegal immigrants, and it was his administration that created the “cages“, yet everyone is required to ignore that.
As with many issues, ICE et al. comes down to money, no matter the political party. The wealthy are their own party. For instance, Trump donated to the Democrats and the Republicans, in his time. It’s all about access and favors.
This article talks about the correlation between immigration and for-profit prisons, if you are interested:
https://boltsmag.org/the-past-and-present-of-immigration-detention-your-questions-answered/
Letting something as fucking stupid as politics interfere with your life is moronic at the very best. The pedophiles and scumbags you hate are no worse than the pedophiles and scumbags you love. They all belong in the woodchipper.