Mick Foley Details His Decision To Leave WWE Over Donald Trump Connection

Mick Foley recently went in depth on his decision to exit WWE over its closeness with Donald Trump and his administration. As noted, the WWE Hall of Famer announced in December that he had decided not to make future appearances for WWE or renew his Legends deal over the company’s association with the president.

Foley, who made his AEW debut at All Or Nothing, spoke with Ariel Helwani and was asked about his decision to leave the company. He reiterated that Trump’s comments about Rob Reiner’s passing were the breaking point for him and said that he felt he could not be complicit in his silence anymore. Foley recalled the conversation he had with someone in WWE and added that he didn’t burn his bridge there. You can see the highlights below:

On the Breaking Point For Him:

“Well you know, everyone has to make a decision that feels right to them. And I just… for me, it was the comments about Rob Reiner. Just heartless. Unbelievably cruel comments coming from the most powerful man in the world finding joy in how somebody died. I don’t want to paraphrase, but belittling a man who just died, somehow tying that into Reiner’s dislike of Trump. For me, that was the ball-peen hammer tap that broke the windshield.

On Being Uncomfortable With WWE’s Relationship To Trump:

“I just think WWE has a cozy relationship where there definitely was the illusion of a relationship there. The perception, rather. I think when five different people are posing in the Oval Office, and they’ve all received Stone Cold Stunners, that’s a little cozy. I felt like even though I wasn’t technically employed by the company, but I had a Legends deal, because my name is associated with WWE for over 30 years, that I was complicit in my silence.”

On Leaving WWE:

“And so I did speak up. I reached out to the head of talent relations, who I still consider a friend. Who I still write handwritten letters from Santa to every year, send the videos out… and so basically, I gave up the legends deal. It runs out at the end of this month. I realized by giving up two easy, high-paying jobs at WrestleMania week for WWE, that I had to work 24 hours on my own to make what I could’ve in six, and I’m okay with that. Everyone, I, think has to make a decision that’s right for them.

“And in my case, I just didn’t want to be in a position where my grandchildren are asking what their grandfather was doing when things were really tough. And I want my children to be able to say, ‘This is what grandpa did.’ So I made the move that I felt was right for me. I love that company, I’m not going to disparage them. But it didn’t seem like a good fit. Didn’t seem like a fit that would allow me to look myself in the mirror before I went to bed.”

On If He Was Asked to Stay:

“The first one was, ‘I respect your stance, and I’ll tell the people in charge.’ And then I did receive a call from someone really high up, I don’t know if he wants me to mention his name. But he was saying, ‘Paul [Levesque] is just on the physical fitness… group, and Linda hasn’t worked at WWE for X number of years.’ And I said, ‘Well, theoretically that’s the case. But I could’ve sworn I saw Paul behind the President’s shoulder when he was making a foreign policy.’ I said, ‘Whether Linda is working with the company or not, her last name is McMahon and she is associated with the company.’

“And then I said, ‘Come on, five people in that office took a Stunner.’ He appreciated it and he did say he respected it. I didn’t close the door forever. I said in my announcement, ‘As long as this man is in office.’ I think more and more people are realizing that some of the things he’s doing are cruelty for the sake of cruelty and enriching himself.”

On Making the Decision Now:

“I just want to tell people who are listening that it’s never too late to do the right thing. The best time have made your voice heard would’ve been earlier, but the second best time is now. And if this guy’s ratings dip into the teens, maybe he’ll be forced to make some changes. Nobody wants to go down as the worst President in the history of this country… If there are better angels in his nature, maybe it can be appealed to, but I’m not so sure there are. He’s definitely a different type of person, and I don’t mean that in a good way.”

On If He Heard From Triple H:

“No, no. I did not hear from Paul or any of the McMahon family. That’s — the saddest part is that I did have a great history with Paul, and was good friend of Paul’s and Stephanie’s. I was at their wedding. Vince McMahon meant so much to me. So I knew going in that it was probably going to affect those friendships.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.