Foley Is Go(o)d

(2)

Reposting this from my Facebook. Inspired by Mick Foley severing ties with WWE over their connection to President Trump, I will not be reviewing any WWE premium live events in 2026.

I know some listeners hate it when I talk politics (for myriad reasons, not just that they disagree with my left-of-Bernie-Sanders, Star Trek-inspired political and economic philosophy), but I continue to insist the two are inseparable. And they're inseparable not because I see it that way (in other words, it's not my fault they keep clashing), but because The McMahons have literally given millions of dollars to Trump to secure positions in his Administration. Thems the facts, Jack.

The latest example of this connection between wrestling and politics is in Hardcore Legend, Mick Foley, bravely severing ties with WWE in the wake of President Trump's reprehensible comments on the death of Rob Reiner and Reiner's wife. As Mick so eloquently puts it, "I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy".

In this age of hot-takery and public condemnations, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is just another brick in the wall. I'm here, as both a supporter of Mick's and a concerned American citizen, to remind you how difficult it is to stand up for what you believe in. Mick's stand takes courage (aka testicular fortitude), and represents an inflection point in the ongoing debate of Trump's connection with WWE. I've spent enough time talking to Mick to know he doesn't make this decision lightly. As he says, he loves WWE. But being honest, having a spine, standing up for what you believe in always comes with a cost. You often have to risk what you love to stand on firm ground, to know you did the right thing. This is Mick doing the right thing, for no reason other than it's right.

I imagine WWE will not look too kindly upon his words. Thus far, he is the most prominent pro-wrestling legend to take this kind of public stand and that can't be easy. I imagine it can be lonely in that position and I want him to know he's not alone. In fact, he's inspired me. Those of you who've been listening to me for the past several months know I've been struggling with what to do regarding WWE's Saudi ties, the company's connection to Trump, and the overpriced ESPN Unlimited model that effectively prices out working-class wrestling fans.

Is my obscure indie podcast about wrestling being an art capable of affecting any real change in these matters? Do I have the stomach for taking my own stand, saying "No" to WWE's business tactics and unsavory connections?

These questions have haunted me. But Mick's actions, which represent a far more significant step for one to take, have helped me find clarity as I consider what I want to do for my podcast and writing in the fast-approaching 2026.

My decision is as follows: I will not review The Royal Rumble nor WrestleMania in 2026. Why? I firmly believe WWE has done wrong by their working-class wrestling fans, the "average" television viewer, by partnering with ESPN and charging $30/month. I honestly cannot afford it, and I take that personally. What's the cost? The truth is I WANT to watch The Rumble and WrestleMania. I too love the WWE. But I cannot in good conscience cover these yearly events as if it's business as usual. It's not business as usual, between the Saudi government and Trump's involvement. The most difficult aspect of this decision means it will be the first time in eleven years that I will not discuss these events with my friend, Al. That hurts, but it's supposed to. As I see it, I'm not depriving my listeners of this experience...WWE is. What's the goal? To demonstrate, at all levels of the professional wrestling fandom that WWE's business model is damaging, especially to indie artists. I have no delusions of grandeur; I don't think me not having Rumble or Mania reviews will change WWE's pricing. It's simply a gesture to demonstrate that their decisions have far-reaching consequences, pricing fans out of their fandom. I firmly believe NOT covering these events is doing right by my small audience.

Fortunately, my podcast is not about how "WWE is an art". My podcast is about how professional wrestling is an art. As such, it will never want of content. That should ease the concerns of any listeners wondering what the show will be about now. And, don't worry, it's not going to become exclusively an AEW show either (as I know some of you don't even watch AEW). Whatever the episodes become, you can expect they'll remain tied to the thesis of the podcast, my core value that pro-wrestling is an art.

This is the first in what I imagine might be a series of decisions resultant from this questioning process. But I have Mick's clear, moral stance to thank for it. Thank you, Mick, for being an example for us all.

Be well, and may the moment of pop be with you.

About the Creator

Tim

I'm an independent writer, filmmaker, and podcaster.

Comments (2)

Join the Lavish Made Community

Jeff Richardson

25 days ago 4 replies

            What are your thoughts about the recent comment made by Kevin Nash? I had no idea he was a liberal... but his quote is super interesting. This is something my wife and I talk about quite a bit... family and friends and their political ties. Typically I've found we just don't talk about it, but it feels a bit different with a mega wealthy family set on destroying public education.. anywho i'm rambling, but I am curious about your thoughts or if you'd even had a chance to think about it. 
          

Tim

24 days ago 3 replies

            Haven't thought much about it - I guess I'm just surprised anytime someone in the wrestling business is left-leaning. I thought it was interesting that he supported Kamala Harris. Mostly I just want this nightmare to end. Politics have become too much of a litmus test for relationships. I've lost friends or friendships and some family relationships have been strained over it, and that seems insane. It's nothing new, a lot of families were ripped apart in the 60s and 70s, it's just intensified at this point in history and traditional social media doesn't help. 
          

Jeff Richardson

24 days ago 2 replies

            I think I share in that sentiment. Anytime someone is left ... even left adjacent in an industry like pro wrestling i'm surprised. I wonder why that is... like most things in life I doubt its as simple as "its because a b and c".  I definitely feel that let this end fatigue. I feel it in my bones.  Social media definitely pours gas on it by rewarding the loudest and fasted and most confident takes.

Part of that is speed. Everything is a headline, a dunk, a clip. Nobody has to sit with anything long enough to be wrong, admin we don't know so much. I think technology has given us this false sense of confidence. We KNOW EVERYTHING because its a google or chat gpt away.  It's also ruining our ability to have real conversations... were all waiting for the next little notification on our phones... it bleeds into family and suddenly you're arguing with everyone you love sort of like they're strangers in a comment section.... but

at the same time... i can get why its a deal breaker. Sometimes it has to be. It's not all opinions anymore. Especially with this administration. I'm guilty of avoiding the conversations to keep the peace. Sometimes I'm saying in my head... they're such a good person outside of this. I think the thing my wife and I always say is ... amazing person... problematic opinions... and i don't know where to draw that line. 

I just want to slow down and have actual adult conversations. Not to convert someone... to get points for my team... but there is something so important in staying human with each other.  Something i'm thinking about building for lavish this year... is a way to get people connected back to the things they loved when they were kids... and get them off the interwebs.  It won't fix the mess, but maybe it'll help.

Tim

24 days ago

            Just the other day I got into a discussion with a Trump supporter on my Facebook page. I didn't want it to devolve so I asked, in earnest, what he supported about Trump and he rattled off a series of policies he believes in. When I responded respectfully he was surprised and it clearly made him feel good despite our vastly different politics. The same thing happened when someone else criticized Mick for linking Trump and WWE and I tried to explain why it's impossible to separate the two. Then I noticed he had a dog in his picture, so I focused on that and how good the dog looked. That got a really positive response from him. He's vision impaired and it was his guide dog. Maybe it shouldn't (I have no idea), but that made me feel good - like it's possible to have a conversation on points of disagreement and agreement. 

I find it fascinating that there are people who view Trump through what I can only describe as a "normal" political lens, that voting for him is voting for strictly for policies like an end to abortion or combating illegal immigration. They literally don't see the rest and think liberals are just insane and suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. Meanwhile there's very real concerns about The President's authoritarian tendencies and the negative impact of his language, tone, and lack of moral fiber. It can be hard to even have a conversation about him because we're all so entrenched in our sense of right or wrong. It's like trying to agree on what shade of blue is the color of the sky with one person saying it's blue and the other making an argument that it's pink and that the idea of it being blue is a government conspiracy. It's madness.

Jeff Richardson

29 days ago

            My relationship with wrestling has been messy for a while. I grew up loving it, and for a long time it felt like comfort food. Somewhere around 2018 my interest started to fade. I did some googling just now and realized that timing probably lines up with the Crown Jewel era. I remember during that time... hoping that someone on the card would say No, I’m not doing this. I wanted a babyface in real life who would stand up to the company and refuse to perform.

I remember being disappointed when that never really happened. And I also remember still turning the show on. If there is one thing I keep learning, it is that money talks, pressure talks, and a company with the power to quietly wreck a career talks even louder. I was waiting for "the good guy" to do the right thing while my own complacency helped carry the numbers. I think I even watched that pay per view live.

I wrestle with this a lot (pun intended). The way art and entertainment get folded into power. Adorno and Horkheimer tried to warn people about how the culture industry helped smooth the path for fascism. I think about that whenever I catch myself saying, It’s only a show, as a way to excuse things that feel ugly or dangerous.

So seeing Mick take a clear stand here matters to me. It is not some perfect fix that unknots everything, but it is a real human being with something to lose saying, No. This is not okay. That means something. And seeing you let his choice change what you do with your own corner of wrestling fandom means something too.

Thanks for writing this, thank you for making your stand too. And thanks to Mick for reminding people that even in a worked business, your own line in the sand has to be a shoot.