WWE Legends Express Their Thoughts On Vince McMahon In Light Of The Recent Scandal

At this month's Comic Con Northern Ireland, WWE Hall of Famers Mick Foley and Rikishi were asked about their personal experiences with Vince McMahon in light of the upcoming Netflix docuseries on the former WWE CEO's controversies.
Foley was the first to address the topic, sharing: “I genuinely liked him. My relationship was never the same with him after I left WWE and went to TNA for three years.But to this day, I’m still trying to find an address to write to him, just to thank him for taking a chance on me. I think all of us are a combination of good traits and bad traits, and you hope your good traits outweigh your bad traits, and it seems perhaps that Vince got it backwards there for a little while.

“But I’ve been there when he’s done good things. I’ve seen him do good things. I know I wanted, when I was writing books, I wanted to essentially do something like ‘Chicken Soup For The Wrestling Fan’s Soul’ about some of these heartwarming moments. And he was like, ‘Ugh, Mick, I’m afraid that would come across as self-serving.’ So, he was someone who did the right thing for the right reasons a lot of the time.
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“I feel really bad that someone I care about got into something that seems pretty unsavory. I’m gonna hold off judgment until I see the [docuseries], but I think one thing that’s fortunate is, whatever he did or did not do, I don’t think many of us are allowing that to mess with our memories. He was instrumental in creating some of those memories, so I’m choosing to appreciate him until I learn more about what may have gone down.”

Rikishi shared similar feelings and expressed his appreciation for the McMahon family, noting their longstanding relationship with the Fatu and Anoaʻi families and High Chief Peter Maivia that spans over 75 years, dating back to Vince McMahon’s father. He thanked the McMahons for providing opportunities for Samoan wrestlers to succeed and showcase their culture. Regarding Vince McMahon, Rikishi said: “As far as with the Netflix (docuseries), I’ll make a decision when that comes out. But for now, I always believe in people having a second chance in life. There is nobody in this arena or up here that were perfect. We’re never perfect. It’s not made like that in this world for us. There’s always speed bumps for us, to be able to learn from one another. Each one, teach one. And so, at the end of the day, I would, like Mick, I would like to keep my happy memories of the McMahons.”
For Foley and Rikishi, reconciling their personal experiences with McMahon against the backdrop of the serious allegations is challenging. As Rikishi pointed out, learning from each other is essential. The scandal underscores how individual actions can impact many lives, with the most significant effects on the alleged victims. For those who knew McMahon, focusing on the positive memories may provide solace until more information becomes available.
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