WWE legend walks away as Trump backlash erupts inside wrestling world

Breaking point inside wrestling

Mick Foley, a retired professional wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer, has announced that he is severing ties with the company after months of growing unease over its relationship with Donald Trump. The decision was made public in a statement shared on Instagram.

According to Mick Foley, his concerns about WWE’s association with Trump had been building for some time, particularly in relation to the administration’s treatment of migrants. He said recent remarks by the president following the death of film director Rob Reiner pushed him to act.

Reaction to remarks after a death

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday, 14 December. Police later said their son, Nick Reiner, is responsible for the deaths.

According to the Associated Press, Donald Trump responded to the news with a post on Truth Social in which he wrote that Reiner was “known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump.”

Read also: Trump expands travel bans as 2026 World Cup approaches

Reiner, a prominent Democrat, had long been outspoken in his criticism of Trump, a fact widely reported by US media outlets.

Foley’s public statement

In his Instagram post, Foley explained his reasoning in stark terms. He wrote that he had been troubled for months by WWE’s close relationship with Trump, especially what he described as the administration’s “cruel and inhumane” treatment of immigrants.

He added that reading Trump’s comments after Reiner’s death was the final moment that convinced him he could no longer represent the company. Foley said he informed WWE talent relations that he would not make any appearances for the organisation while Trump remains in office.

According to Foley’s statement, he also plans not to renew his Legends contract when it expires in June, despite his affection for the company and gratitude for his career there.

Read also: Ukraine allows athletes to compete even as russian flags return

A stand that echoes beyond the ring

Foley closed his statement by expressing appreciation for the opportunities WWE gave him, while making clear that his decision was rooted in conscience rather than personal grievance. He ended with a reference to Popeye the Sailor, writing that he had reached the limit of what he could accept.

According to reporting by the Associated Press and Foley’s own words, the move places renewed attention on WWE’s long standing ties to Trump and highlights the growing willingness of high profile sports figures to take public moral stands, even when it means walking away from institutions that defined their careers.

Sources: Instagram, Associated Press

Read also: FIFA announces cheaper tickets for 2026 World Cup after fan protests

Read also: Mahomes knee scare could derail the chiefs season in an instant