Mick Foley is known among fans as the Hardcore Legend, but the former WWE Champion has no problem with WWE’s modern-day, more safety-driven era. Speaking to SportingTalk, Foley shared why the introduction of PG, a gripe among countless fans, was necessary.
“Wrestling is always evolving and we have to for survival.”
Foley highlighted how WWE changed the wrestling world in the 1980s in a manner that upset “purists” at the time. Not only does Foley not have an issue with how the industry has changed since his days in the ring, but he believes things have improved since then.
“I think the matches are better on a whole than they’ve ever been, and I see danger in a different way.”
Foley highlighted how the much quicker style of wrestling today can be just as dangerous for wrestlers, even without the use of hardcore weapons of gallons of blood being lost. Reflecting on the Attitude Era many fans hold dear to this day, Foley pointed out how the violent, risque nature of programming at the time created its own problems.
“I know how frustrated we were in the Attitude Era that our ratings were through the roof and we couldn’t get sponsors like nobody would touch us yes and so I definitely understand why WWE moved in the direction they did they.”
While many fans still hold the Attitude Era near to their hearts, wrestling’s constant evolution led to changes that have proved beneficial to WWE and its parent company TKO. While Foley’s days in the ring are over, the legend is pleased that the business is still going strong to this day.