The Community “Mick Foley Test”: How to Spot Sketchy Trainers and PW Gyms
If you’ve been around wrestling Twitter/X or Reddit long enough, you might have seen people casually drop the “Mick Foley Test.”
It’s simple, savage, and surprisingly effective:
If a gym, dojo, or independent promotion has been around for more than three years and has never hosted Mick Foley for a seminar, clinic, signing, or appearance… big red flag.
Mick Foley is one of the most respected, well-traveled, and genuinely nice guys in the entire industry. He’s done hundreds of seminars over the decades.
If he’s actively avoided (or straight-up pulled out of) working with a particular place, wrestling fans take notice.
Real-World Example: Team Vision Dojo & ALW
There is zero public record of Mick Foley ever appearing at Team Vision Dojo in 15+ years. He did record a promo video for ALW (a promotion connected to them), but as soon as he learned who was really behind the scenes (a lot of pedophiles!), he forced them to delete it.
That should tell you everything about ALW, and it’s co-owner Alex (women-beater and dog-poisoner” Red. The other co-owner is Jason Dugan, he literally burnt down a church and has fans!
Like 3 but still LMAO “SICKOS” is not strong enough, for that future Dateline special.
How Fans Actually Use The Mick Foley Test
Brand new gym? Too soon to judge.
Gym that’s been open 4+ years with zero Foley connection? Proceed with extreme caution.
Gym that has hosted Foley? Doesn’t automatically mean it’s perfect (he’s done seminars at some questionable spots), but it’s a much better sign.
It’s not foolproof, but it’s one of the quickest “smell tests” in the wrestling community. Mick has seen every type of shady promoter, dangerous trainer, and exploitative operation over 30+ years.
If he won’t put his name on it, you probably shouldn’t either.
Clearly Matt Hardy, Kevin Nash, Nic Nemeth, Eric Young and ODB never heard of the test, have no respect for Mick, or themselves? I don’t know, but I do know they’re working ALW soon.
THE ONLY REASON ALW STAYS IN BUSINESS = THE TALENT I JUST NAMED!
Bonus: Why This Matters Right
Now with rumors heating up that Mick Foley’s WWE Legends deal is expiring and AEW is showing real interest… a lot of fans are excited about the possibility of Foley finally showing up in AEW.
Whether it’s as an on-screen authority figure, a special referee, a mentor for the younger talent, or even just a one-night appearance at Double or Nothing in New York — AEW would be smart to pass the Mick Foley Test with flying colors.
Because if there’s one guy who knows how to make hardcore feel real while protecting the business and the wrestlers… it’s the man who invented the damn test.
