• WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley announced his mother’s passing after a lengthy battle with dementia.
  • Foley paid tribute to her resilience: she survived polio, became the first in her family to attend college, and inspired his writing career.
  • He credited Jim Ross for popularizing the nickname “Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy,” which became central to his wrestling persona.
  • Foley urged loved ones to appreciate small moments and called for progress toward a dementia cure.

H2: Mick Foley announces mother’s passing

WWE legend Mick Foley announced on Monday that his mother has died following a long struggle with dementia. In a heartfelt tribute shared on his official Facebook account, Foley wrote “GOODBYE MOM” and reflected on his mother’s life, strength and influence.

H3: A life of resilience and firsts

Foley described his mother as a “strong, fiercely independent woman” who beat polio as a child and became the first person in her family to attend college. She later worked as a physical education teacher on Long Island, where she met Foley’s father.

He recalled her upbringing during the shadow of the Great Depression, noting that she learned early how to make a dollar stretch — a trait Foley credited for his own thriftiness. He also shared warm family memories, including her celebrated Yorkshire pudding and home-cooked meals.

H3: From family kitchen to wrestling lore

The wrestling persona “Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy” entered the pro-wrestling lexicon after Foley used the phrase in a 1997 interview with commentator Jim Ross. Ross adopted the line and helped cement Foley’s underdog appeal, a character that stayed with him throughout his career — including his memorable win over The Rock for the WWE Championship in January 1999.

H4: Influence on Foley’s writing and life

Foley credited his mother’s love of reading and learning for encouraging his career as a bestselling author, beginning with his 1999 memoir Have a Nice Day! He said his mother would carry his book with her and that seeing his name on the cover was one of her proudest moments.

H4: Saying goodbye and a call to appreciate loved ones

In his post, Foley described the difficulty of watching a loved one suffer from dementia and shared that he said his final goodbye surrounded by his children. He closed the tribute by urging people to cherish small moments and to tell their loved ones they are loved.

Embedded post:
Mick Foley’s full tribute (shared on his official Facebook) — source: Cageside Seats: https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/413565/mick-foley-announces-mothers-death-dementia-baby-boy-wwe

H5: Thoughts with the family

Foley ended his message: “Goodbye Mom. I love you very much and will always be proud to be Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy.” Our thoughts are with Mick Foley and his family during this time.

(Reporting based on Foley’s public tribute.)

Image Referance: https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/413565/mick-foley-announces-mothers-death-dementia-baby-boy-wwe