Legendary pro wrestler Mick Foley announced Tuesday that he will step away from WWE for at least three years, citing the company’s close ties to Donald Trump and the president’s “incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death.”
The Announcement
Foley addressed his 633,000 Instagram followers, telling them he had informed WWE on Monday that he would not be making any appearances for the company as long as Trump remains in office.
“I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy,” Foley wrote.
The Fallout
The trigger came on Monday, when Trump mocked and belittled the beloved Hollywood director Reiner, who was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon. Reiner and his wife appeared to have died from stab wounds, a family source has told NBC News.
“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.”
The WWE Connection
Trump has had a long, close relationship with WWE. Linda McMahon, the wife of WWE founder Vince McMahon, currently serves as Trump’s education secretary and headed the Small Business Administration in the president’s first term. Foley wrestled under his name and the personas of Cactus Jack, Dude Love and Mankind. His characters were remarkably diverse: the brawler Mankind and his sock puppet Mr. Socko; the tie‑dyed Dude Love; wildman Cactus Jack from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; and Foley, the courageous grappler who flew high over the canvas, like his role model Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.
Foley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013, the same class that included Trump.
A representative for WWE could immediately be reached by NBC News for comment on Tuesday.
“I want to state publicly that while I’ve always liked him, he has just become my favorite person in the world,” legendary WWE manager Jim Cornette said in a statement about Foley. “I wish all the boys had his backbone and, more importantly, his morals.”
Nigel Chiwaya contributed.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirms Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, was booked for murder of his parents.
Key Takeaways
- Mick Foley is stepping away from WWE for at least three years.
- The decision was triggered by Trump’s comments on Rob Reiner’s death.
- Foley highlighted WWE’s long‑standing ties to Trump and the president’s treatment of immigrants.
Closing
Foley’s announcement underscores the friction between a major entertainment brand and a political figure whose rhetoric has drawn criticism from former wrestlers and fans alike. The move will likely influence WWE’s public image as it navigates its association with Trump and the broader political climate.
