WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has ended his long association with World Wrestling Entertainment, citing President Donald Trump’s comments on the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner as the breaking point in the company’s ties to the president.
Foley’s decision, announced on Instagram on December 16, 2025, severs his role as a WWE Legends contract holder, forgoing future royalties and appearances amid his concerns over Trump’s leadership.
The Catalyst: A Brutal Family Tragedy
Rob Reiner, the 78-year-old acclaimed director, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were discovered stabbed to death in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025. Their daughter Romy found the bodies after a massage therapist alerted her when no one answered the door. Death certificates confirmed the couple succumbed to multiple sharp force injuries within minutes of the attack.
That same evening, their son Nick Reiner, 32, faced arrest on two counts of first-degree murder, enhanced by the special circumstance of multiple victims. Reports noted a heated argument between Nick and his father at a holiday party the night before, with Nick displaying erratic behavior there before checking into a Santa Monica hotel post-incident.
Trump’s Provocative Response
The following morning, President Trump shared a post on Truth Social that ignited widespread backlash. He attributed the Reiners’ deaths to Rob Reiner’s “massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” claiming it stemmed from anger Reiner provoked in others. Trump added that Reiner had “driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession” with him, ending with “May Rob and Michele rest in peace!”
Pressed on the criticism, including from fellow Republicans, Trump reaffirmed his stance, labeling Reiner a “deranged person” involved in “the Russia hoax.”
Foley’s Principled Break
In his Instagram statement, the 60-year-old Foley, a WWE icon known for personas like Mankind and Cactus Jack, detailed his exit after decades with the organization. He had grown uneasy over WWE’s proximity to Trump, particularly policies on immigrants he called “cruel and inhumane.” Trump’s Reiner post proved “the final straw.”
Foley declared he no longer wanted to represent a company that “coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy.” He notified WWE talent relations of no further appearances during Trump’s presidency and declined to renew his Legends contract, set to expire in June 2026. These deals typically offer retired wrestlers steady income from merchandise, video games, and brand uses—revenues Foley now sacrifices for conscience.
WWE-Trump Entanglement
The WWE-Trump bond dates back decades. Trump featured in early 2000s programming, peaking at WrestleMania 23 in 2007 with the “Battle of the Billionaires” against Vince McMahon. Both entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
Links deepened politically: Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife and ex-WWE CEO, led the Small Business Administration in Trump’s first term and became Education Secretary in his second. WWE executives visited the White House as late as September 2025.
Foley’s move earned nods from peers like manager Jim Cornette, who praised his “bravery and principles,” a rarity in wrestling.
Broader Echoes and Reactions
Trump’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome” reference—framing critics’ opposition as mental illness—fueled debate. A bill by Representative Warren Davidson to study it at the National Institutes of Health stalled without action.
Reiner’s murder drew unusual cross-party rebuke. Republicans Mike Lawler, Don Bacon, Stephanie Bice, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Thomas Massie criticized Trump. Greene emphasized it as “a family” tragedy, not politics, pinning blame on the son.
Foley’s stand spotlights tensions for entertainers tied to politically aligned entities. As WWE Legends ambassadors, figures like him embody the brand; for Foley, a vocal advocate for compassion and reform, the mismatch grew irreconcilable. He signed off quoting Popeye: “I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.”
This rift raises questions about loyalty versus conviction in industries blending spectacle and influence, testing whether personal values can eclipse institutional legacies amid polarized times.
Sources:
“Wrestling legend quits WWE over Trump ties, reveals ‘final straw’.” Syracuse.com, December 17, 2025.
“Mick Foley cuts ties with WWE, says Trump’s Reiner post was ‘final straw’.” The Hill, December 16, 2025.
“Trump blasts Rob Reiner in post about the director’s death.” NPR, December 15, 2025.
“What we know about Nick Reiner, son charged with murder of filmmaker father Rob Reiner.” BBC News, December 15, 2025.
“Rob Reiner and His Wife Michele Were Killed by Their Son, Sources Say.” People, December 14, 2025.