It seems that the hardcore legend Mick Foley is leaving TNA. PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson is confirming speculation that’s been going around the Internet Wrestling Community that Foley’s on-air “firing” at the end of the latest Impact Wrestling was more than a storyline, with a report saying that the former TNA and WWE World Champion’s contract runs out in September and internally he’s “pretty much considered done and wouldn’t be back.”
This is surprising to me, as he was just brought back as a major part of the “Network vs. Immortal” storyline that kicked off TNA’s “wrestling matters” campaign; it’s also not surprising since this sort of thing has been commonplace with TNA.
Mick Foley’s been far from silent on the matter via his Twitter account, first making a comparison of Impact to his “empty arena” match in the WWF (he later apologized for that remark), and then asking fans: now that he’s been “fired” what should he do next? (Spoiler alert:his fans want him back in WWE.)
It’s been an odd run in TNA for Foley. He’s been a champion, put young wrestlers like Abyss over strong, feuded in a dream match-up of sorts with Ric Flair, and been the latest figurehead babyface authority figure. That said, personally, I don’t know what could have been left short of a loser leaves town match with Hulk Hogan (which Hogan would have to win, and as a heel, would be the exact wrong thing TNA needs) or as a manager of a babyface faction to go up against Immortal (but that already exists in Fortune, and Mick wouldn’t really fit with them). I’d like to see him back in WWE and wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there by the Survivor Series. They need stars and even in a part-time role, he could add a lot. In fact, with WWE experimenting lately with bringing back the manager role, there are a number of wrestlers I could think of off the top of my head for whom a pairing with Foley would be a huge benefit (see our latest poll). Plus, WWE has supported Foley even while under contract with TNA, going as far as mentioning his latest book on air, while according to Johnson, there was a feeling TNA could have done more to support Foley’s side projects, including his work with RAINN.
[poll id=”76″]
