Steve Carrier on January 26, 2026
Mick Foley delivered heartbreaking news to fans on January 26, 2026, revealing that his mother has passed away following a long battle with dementia.
The WWE Hall of Famer shared the update in a deeply personal Facebook post that explained why he wrestled with whether to make the loss public at all, while ultimately deciding to honor her life with a tribute that could also help other families going through the same experience. Foley opened by acknowledging the weight of the moment and the private nature of his mother, explaining that even this post came after a great deal of internal debate.
“GOODBYE MOM
it is with a heavy heart I share the news of my mother’s passing, following a long battle with dementia… My mother was an intensely private person… and I have struggled in trying to decide whether I should make her passing public.”
He shared that her will requested no visitation, no funeral, and not even an obituary, but the family ultimately felt a tribute would be meaningful — not just for them, but for others living through similar pain.
“In the end, we as a family felt it would be good for all of us if there was a tribute of some kind to a remarkable woman… knowing I am far from alone in being a child of a parent stricken with such a devastating illness, I am hoping that by writing this tribute, other families in the same situation will know they are not alone.”
Foley’s post became a moving portrait of the woman who raised him. He detailed her upbringing on a farm during hard financial times, how those experiences shaped her discipline and thriftiness, and how those lessons carried into their home.
“So if you’re wondering where the legendary Foley thriftiness came from, it was from my mom — and those lessons learned have served me well over the years!”
He recalled the warmth of their household despite limited space and resources, from neighborhood wiffleball games to unforgettable family dinners, including his humorous but heartfelt comparison of her cooking to wrestling greatness.
“Her Yorkshire pudding (a Christmas Day tradition) was the Bret Hart of Yorkshire puddings; the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be!”
Foley also revealed powerful details about her strength, including that she had battled polio as a child without ever speaking of it for decades.
“I may have done some impressive things in my career, but my mother stomped a mud hole in polio’s @ss and walked it dry, and grew into a strong, independent woman who became the first member of her family to attend college.”
He credited her love of reading and learning as the foundation for his own creative life, saying her encouragement played a direct role in his success as an author.
“When I sat down with my notebooks to write ‘Have a Nice Day’, I was not doing it all on my own; my mother’s love was guiding me… There’s no way I could have done it without her.”
The post also reflected on how his mother became woven into wrestling history through the nickname “Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy,” a phrase that evolved into part of his on-screen identity after a 1997 interview with Jim Ross.
“With the exception of The Rock’s mother Atta… I can think of no other mother who has been so closely associated with a child’s pro wrestling journey.”
As the tribute moved into the realities of dementia, Foley didn’t shy away from the most painful moments — the confusion, the wandering, the heartbreaking realization that she could no longer recognize her own sons.
“I remember the helplessness in her eyes when my brother and I asked her if she knew our names, and she came up with wrong names for both of us.”
He shared that just weeks before her passing, his family was still able to say goodbye while she was alert, holding onto the hope that she could hear every word spoken.
“We took turns holding her hand, telling her how much we loved her… she was alert, and I’d like to believe she heard every loving word we spoke that day.”
Foley closed his tribute with a message that was both raw and universal, urging people to cherish their loved ones while they still can.
“I encourage all of you to appreciate the little things, tell your loved ones they are loved, and never take a single precious moment for granted… Goodbye Mom. I love you very much and will always be proud to be Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy.”
This wasn’t just an announcement — it was a deeply human moment from one of wrestling’s most beloved figures. Foley’s willingness to share the reality of loss, dementia, and family pain stripped away the performer and left only the son, speaking from the heart.
What part of Mick Foley’s tribute resonated with you most, and have you experienced something similar in your own family? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.
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