Jim Cornette criticized wrestlers who remain silent to protect their WWE relationships and accusing WWE leadership of prioritizing money and influence over basic ethical responsibility in the wake of Mick Foley severing ties with the company over its association with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Reacting to Foley’s public statement, Cornette praised Foley’s willingness to walk away while condemning others who, in his view, lack the courage to do the same. “I wish that more of the boys, especially from my generation, who I’ve been so disappointed by, weren’t either willingly blind to what’s going on here or just don’t want to make the office mad,” Cornette said.
He argued that many wrestlers choose silence not out of ignorance, but out of fear of losing opportunities. “They’re scared to admit it if they aren’t,” he added, suggesting that maintaining good standing with WWE outweighs personal conviction for many.
Cornette framed Foley’s decision as the opposite of that behavior, applauding him for putting principles ahead of financial security. “He put his money and basically his reputation where his mouth was,” Cornette said, praising Foley for drawing a firm line and refusing to remain affiliated with WWE under the circumstances.
From there, Cornette turned his focus directly toward WWE leadership, accusing those in power of enabling behavior they should be condemning. He claimed the company’s political relationships are driven by self-interest rather than morality. “You can’t be involved with people who won’t do something about it and not only won’t do something about it, but are actively trying to support it for their own financial gain,” Cornette said.
Cornette specifically cited WWE executives’ political ambitions and connections as evidence of misplaced priorities. “They’re actively trying to support it for their own f**king financial gain because Linda’s on this cabinet or Triple H is on this council or they want to hobnob with the Kennedys,” he said, making it clear he believes business interests are being placed far above ethical considerations.
He went on to argue that Foley’s stand, while not financially damaging to WWE, carries symbolic weight that could resonate with fans and wrestlers alike. “It’s not going to cost the WWE an amount of money that’s going to cause them to go out of business, but it’s symbolic. I’m not going to work for you and I’m not going to take your money as long as you’re coddling this.”
Cornette emphasized that symbolism matters, particularly when it comes from someone as respected as Foley. “A lot of people like Mick Foley. He has a lot of fans,” Cornette noted, suggesting that public figures with influence have a responsibility to speak up rather than quietly protect their positions.
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