WWE icon Mick Foley has confirmed he is ‘parting ways’ with the company over what he described as its ‘close relationship with Donald Trump’.
The Hardcore Legend – who, like the President of the United States, is a member of the wrestling giant’s Hall of Fame – has insisted Trump’s comments about Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer are ‘the final straw’.
The bodies of the Hollywood director, 78, and his 68-year-old wife were discovered at their home in Los Angeles yesterday, while their son Nick is Nick, 32, has been taken into custody in connection with their murders.
Following the news of their deaths, Trump claimed Reiner had ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’.
‘[He] passed away 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,’ he wrote on his Truth Social account.
‘He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.’
Foley, who’s also wrestled as Cactus Jack, Dude Love and Mankind and helped usher in the Attitude Era in the 90s and 00s, made the announcement of his WWE exit in an explosive statement on Tuesday.
He wrote on Facebook ‘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.’
Foley noted he has ‘informed WWE talent relations’ that he won’t ‘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,’ he added, while making it clear he is still keeping WWE close to his heart.
‘I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me,’ he wrote.
‘But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, “I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.” ‘
Foley’s last appearance came in 2023 when he was on an episode of NXT to announce competitors for that year’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches.
While Trump has appeared for WWE over the years, he hasn’t done so since the late 00s, when he was part of the infamous Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania in 2007.
WWE’s chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque joined Trump at the White House in August along with other top athletes as the president signed an executive order to expand the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
‘He’s a man who you’re not going to mess around with… It’s a great honour to have [him],’ Trump said at the time, while Triple H did his signature water spit in a video on the official White House page on X.
Some fans had speculated Trump could be in attendance at John Cena’s retirement match in Washington D.C. over the weekend, but that wasn’t the case.
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