Mick Foley is setting the record straight about one of the biggest assumptions surrounding his WWE departure. According to the Hall of Famer, leaving his WWE Legends deal had absolutely nothing to do with AEW, and the opportunity with Tony Khan didn’t come along until afterwards.
While speaking on Wrestling on the Spectrum, the Hardcore Legend made it clear that there wasn’t any behind-the-scenes plan to jump from WWE to AEW when he decided not to renew his Legends contract.
“Well, you know, I want to make it clear, my decision to end my Legends deal had nothing to do with AEW.”
In fact, Foley said he hadn’t even heard that AEW had any interest in him at the time. He was content doing his one-man shows, convention appearances and autograph signings, something he genuinely enjoys.
“I, you know, previously had not heard of any interest. So, I had my own thing I was doing and I had a one-man show. I enjoy attending conventions and signings. I like, I legitimately enjoy doing them.”
Foley even pointed out that while some wrestlers dread convention appearances, he’s always enjoyed getting out and meeting fans, much like fellow WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart. The AEW opportunity only came later, when his longtime agent Barry Bloom mentioned him while speaking with Tony Khan.
“And then my manager, agent, Barry Bloom, said he was talking to Tony Khan about me.”
According to Foley, Khan felt there was a role he could play in AEW, which led to discussions between the two sides. Foley added that there wasn’t one specific position waiting for him. Instead, he expects his role to continue evolving as he works with the company.
“And Tony said that I was the type of person he thought could be beneficial to AEW. That opened up the talks. And my role is still to be determined. It’s going to be a work in progress, but I can wear many hats for AEW, and I’ve worn a couple already. And just looking forward to seeing how that relationship grows.”
Foley has spent the past few months explaining why he chose to leave WWE, repeatedly saying it was a personal decision rather than a business move. His latest comments fill in the other half of the story, showing that AEW only entered the picture after he’d already made up his mind to walk away from his WWE Legends deal.
What role do you think Mick Foley should have in AEW going forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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