Mick Foley is embracing his new chapter in AEW, and his latest comments make it clear that he sees something special in the company.
Foley took to Instagram and uploaded a video reflecting on his first experiences with AEW. While many legends return to wrestling promotions for a quick nostalgia appearance, Foley said the reaction he received from fans felt like something much deeper.
“Now, there’s nothing wrong with getting a nostalgia pop—we’ve seen plenty of those, and they feel good. The reaction I got in New York was different. It was a reaction that said, ‘We’re glad you’re here,’ and that I could make a difference.”
Foley was also careful to make it clear that his praise for AEW should not be viewed as criticism of WWE. The WWE Hall of Famer said he remains grateful for everything WWE gave him throughout his career.
“In no way am I here to throw stones at WWE. I love the company—I always will. I’m appreciative of every opportunity they afforded me.”
That said, Foley admitted that AEW owner Tony Khan’s enthusiasm has stood out to him since arriving in the company. While he noted that Vince McMahon had his own style of leadership, Foley believes the atmosphere is different in AEW.
“But there’s something unique about the owner of All Elite Wrestling being so happy and excited. Vince McMahon had a different way of doing things, but it was a different type of joy.”
Foley then discussed the mindset he sees among AEW wrestlers. According to him, talent appears more willing to take risks because they are not constantly worried about the consequences of failure.
“It just seems to me that AEW wrestlers are out there, and they are playing to win because they know failure is part of the process. I’ve seen so many people over the years almost petrified to walk through the curtain because they didn’t know whether they’d get the thumbs up or down, figuratively speaking.”
He credited Khan’s attitude for helping create that environment and said it reminds him of one of wrestling’s most famous eras. Foley said he is excited about what comes next and believes AEW is a place where wrestlers are encouraged to take chances.
“Tony—that type of enthusiasm makes me feel enthusiastic. The energy backstage reminds me of the way WWE felt in the Attitude Era, where we were all pulling for each other but understood striking out was part of the process of hitting monumental home runs. So I’m glad to be in a place where wrestlers are encouraged to swing for the fences. I’m excited where this adventure will take me. I consider myself to be a Swiss Army knife, and I’m excited about the future—and wrestling that I haven’t been in many years.”
The comments come as Foley’s role in AEW continues to expand. After debuting during Double or Nothing weekend and becoming involved in MJF’s storyline, reports have indicated that Foley is expected to remain a regular part of AEW programming moving forward. Tony Khan has also suggested there is a strong chance Foley will be involved when AEW heads to Montreal for Redemption in July.
Foley’s first weeks in AEW have already gone beyond a one-off appearance, and his latest comments suggest he sees a long-term opportunity ahead. Whether he’s hosting events, appearing on television, or getting involved in storylines, Foley sounds energized by what he has found in AEW.
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