There are a lot of stories going around in the pro wrestling world, especially concerning WWE Superstar releases and the reasons behind it. Now, Maria Kanellis has stepped up to address some of those misconceptions.
Maria Kanellis Speaks Out About Her WWE Departure
Maria Kanellis addressed the misinformation surrounding her WWE departure, clarifying several points. Contrary to some reports, her initial release in 2010 occurred when her contract expired, and she declined a renewal at one-third of her male counterparts’ salaries.
Despite initial assurances of change upon her return, she said WWE’s treatment did not align with expectations, especially concerning family planning. She emphasized that Mike Bennett’s request for his release was separate from her situation. Contrary to rumors, WWE did not facilitate rehab for Mike, and they were misled multiple times about their storyline.
“There are a lot of reports about things that happened when I was in WWE. Most of them are just wrong. Some are rumors circulated by WWE loyalists, bots, or ‘news’ organizations on the WWE payroll. Here are some facts: When I was “released” by WWE the first time in 2010 my contract was up and I refused to sign for one third what my male contemporaries were making. When I went back, I was told by many people I trusted that WWE had changed. WWE knew we were planning on adding to our family when we resigned. Mike asked for his release, I did not. Mike never went to WWE rehab. Nor did they pay for any rehab. We were lied to many times about our storyline and what direction it was going. I fought back against it to no avail. We were never paid millions of dollars in WWE. We had the average contract for WWE for 6 months. We are not millionaires and we don’t live in a mansion. I hope this helps people separate fact from fiction.”
Maria refutes claims of earning millions, highlighting their average WWE contract duration of six months and dispelling notions of a lavish lifestyle. Her aim is to provide clarity amid the mix of facts and fiction.
What’s Next For Maria Kanellis
When it comes to what she’s doing now, Maria replied to a fan to say how proud she is of her current work in ROH.
“I love what I am doing. I have watched the tag team division in @ringofhonor get better and better since July of last year. These guys are working their asses off to represent the division that has given us some of the Best Tag Team Wrestling in the world. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in a year.”
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of ROH, AEW, WWE, TNA and every other company making waves in the pro wrestling world. We will have to see what Maria Kanellis says next, but she certainly addressed some popular rumors in this situation.
Former WWE Superstar Mike Bennett recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. Formerly Mike Kanellis, Bennett would discuss a number of topics from his time with WWE. These topics would include creative meetings with Vince McMahon, appearing for NWA and his battle with addiction.
Mike Bennett Talks ‘Obscurity’
“When we (Mike and Maria) got released back in April? I spent a good two months like trying to figure out where my next move would be” Bennett began on the show. “I knew I wanted it to be special, but I also didn’t know if anyone would really be interested in me.”
Elaborating further, Mike Bennett/Kanellis would discuss how he knew he was a virtual unknown on the WWE roster, nearly from day one. “I’m not completely oblivious to what the last three years were like. I would love to come out and be like, ‘oh yeah like I was a former WWE guy! So everyone’s going to be chomping at the bit for me to come and wrestle for them.’ But I was kind of living in obscurity at WWE in 205 Live.”
“I had little tidbits here on RAW and Smackdown” Bennett continued. “I really wanted to come out and do something special. But I didn’t know if that opportunity would exist, and like, thank god, this NWA opportunity came about.”
Mike Bennett recently appeared on the new NWA weekly PPV show on United Wrestling Network and FITE TV. Bennett challenged NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis for the prestigious Championship but was unsuccessful.
Bennett would describe how the opportunity to appear for the National Wrestling Alliance ‘excited’ him about pro wrestling again. “I don’t know how to explain it, it really just…it excited me about pro wrestling again. Because I had really been in a bad place. I hadn’t really enjoyed pro wrestling and a lot of that falls on my shoulders. I realised that, but the last three years [in WWE] kind of gave me a sour taste.”
Do you think that Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis deserved a better shot in WWE? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar Mike Bennett recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. Formerly Mike Kanellis, Bennett would discuss a number of topics from his time with WWE. These topics would include creative meetings with Vince McMahon, appearing for NWA and his battle with addiction.
“I had many good conversations with Vince [McMahon]” Mike Bennett began on the show. “After we [Mike and Maria] had our first child? I remember going into Vince’s office and I just said to him, ‘look if this isn’t working out? If I’m not what you thought I was or whatever or you just don’t see anything? Release me.”
Mike Bennett on Vince McMahon
“I said ‘just let me go for a couple years and maybe I’ll come back and we’ll figure this out'” Bennett would continue. “And he straight up told me, he said, ‘I’ve seen your work I think you’re good. We just have to find the right storyline that fits. We just have to find the right place for you. I’ve got a million guys right now.'”
Mike Bennett would then discuss his own personal views on the WWE Chairman. “One thing I respect about Vince? He was always brutally honest with me. He never sugar coated anything, I respected that. It was other people in that company that would sugarcoat things for me or just try to do things, but Vince? If I went to him directly? He always straight up told me what was going on.”
Vince McMahon Getting ‘distracted’
Bennett would finish by saying that his creative meetings with McMahon were beneficial, but that it was easy for McMahon to get distracted. “We did have those conversations and we had many opportunities where me and Maria went in there and we pitched stuff. Vince always seemed open to it, he was very respectful about everything.”
“Then they just didn’t materialise, and I know how that works. I know I’ll go in there and I’ll tell Vince one thing he might like it…but then Roman [Reigns] goes in there, Seth [Rollins] goes in there and Bray [Wyatt] goes in there right after me. And he [Vince] probably doesn’t remember it after that, which sucks. It sucks for a smaller guys, we’re trying to get our names up there, but it at the end of the day? It’s just how that company works.”
Do you think that Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis deserved a better shot in WWE? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar Maria Kanellis has revealed the conclusion to the dropped storyline that featured herself and her husband, Mike Kanellis. Last September, WWE began a pregnancy storyline that revolved around Maria teasing who the father of her baby was. Several WWE Superstars were teased as being the father including Rusev, Ricochet, and Mike Kanellis.
Turns out that the story was meant to springboard Mike Kanellis into a babyface turn. It would have been an arc of hope and motivation giving strength to overcome addiction and adversity. Maria Kanellis revealed the unused ending via Twitter after a fan asked her about the dropped storyline.
When asked who would eventually be revealed as the father, Maria replied:
“My husband. He was supposed to turn face. And do a story about recovery from addiction and motivation. But… that’s just too good. Too real. Too honest. And of course I was supposed to remain the bad guy. [Winking kiss emoji] until I came back from maternity leave. Baby face momma!!”
While engaging with her fans, Maria Kanellis also suggested that it’s just a matter of time before she and Mike return to WWE.
When another fan shared how much they want to see Maria and Mike Kanellis back in WWE, Maria wrote, “Don’t worry. We will be back. They thought I was quitting after having babies. Hahahaha… that’s just the beginning. Everything I fought for before is nothing compared to those pretty baby eyes. Those browns and blues.”
Both Superstars were released back in April as part of WWE’s attempt to save money due to the coronavirus impacting business.
205 Live has a new tag team. On this week’s episode of the show, Tony Nese and Mike Kanellis made their debut as a new tag team. They faced The Brian Kendrick and Ariya Daivari in the main event, and won the match.
Kendrick and Daivari were addressing the crowd saying that they won’t let people like Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch do whatever they want. They were ready for a tag team match, but what they weren’t ready for was this unlikely pairing of Tony Nese and Mike Kanellis, who was actually making his return that night.
The match saw a bit of back and forth, with Kendrick and Daivari doing their best to take down Nese and Kanellis. Frustrated with not being able to secure a victory, Kendrick and Daivari decided to use steel chairs on their opponents.
However, before that could happen, Lorcan and Burch came over to the ring and that was enough distraction needed for Nese to roll up Daivari to pick up the victory.
The company was testing out partnering Nese and Kannellis together and they were teaming up together on NXT live events. It will be interesting to see what the company does with this new tag team.
WWE has sent one main roster star to NXT and that’s Mike Kanellis.
WWE held an NXT house show on Friday in Melbourne, FL at the Melbourne Auditorium where he teamed up with Tony Nese to defeat Mohamed Fahim and Nick Ogarelli in a tag team match.
As a result, Kanellis worked a match since September 24th where he lost to Chad Gable in seconds at a SmackDown TV event. It appears that Mike will be in NXT going forward.
Back in October, he requested his release from WWE and took to social media to share the news with fans. Obviously, WWE didn’t grant him the release.
This comes after Mike and his wife, Maria, had signed new WWE contracts that would’ve seen them be with the company for the next five years. In the statement, he confirmed that he signed a new deal back in June.
Results From WWE Live Event in Lafayette, LA
Jaxson Ryker defeated Cal Bloom
Catalina defeated Marina Shafir
Cameron Grimes defeated Babatunde Aiyegbusi
Mike Kanellis and Tony Nese defeated Mohamed Fahim and Nick Ogarelli.
Austin Theory defeated Dorian Mak
Chelsea Green defeated Kayden Carter
Shane Thorne defeated Daniel Vidot
Kacy Catanzaro defeated Vanessa Borne. This was Kacy’s return to singles action
Following a wave of Superstars publicly requesting their releases from WWE, the company released wrestlers from their contracts over the past several days.
Sin Cara, Luke Harper and The Ascension tag team have all been “wished well in their future endeavors.” Sin Cara and Harper had gone public with their want to leave the company over the past few weeks (Cara) and months (Harper), both confirming online that they wanted to ply their trade elsewhere. It is not currently known whether The Ascension had requested their release or were let go for other reasons.
Mike Kannellis
One name on the proverbial chopping block who is still with WWE is Mike Kanellis. The former Ring of Honor and New Japan star had also gone public with his want to leave. Kanellis released the following statement back on October 14th:
“Today I asked for my release from WWE,” Kanellis wrote. “I want to thank everyone in the company who has helped me out. And who I have shared a locker room with. I love you all. I’ve been with the company for almost 3 years and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. However it is time for me to move on. I am only 34 years old and feel I have way too much left in the tank. Working 1 day a week is just not going to cut it for me. I came to WWE to work and that opportunity does not exist right now.”
This statement came just 4 months after he and wife Maria reportedly signed a 5-year deal with WWE.
“Scuttlebutt amongst the boys”
WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray elaborated more on the Mike and Maria situation this week on the Busted Open Radio Sirius XM radio show show.
“I heard rumors, and not internet rumors and dirt sheet rumors.” said Bully Ray. “I’ve heard talk of some scuttlebutt amongst the boys that Mike and Maria might have misled the WWE when their new contracts were signed. I don’t know this for a fact but I’m saying maybe the WWE didn’t want to release them because I want to keep them [and get] their money’s worth out of them.”
It is not clear exactly what Mike and Maria had reportedly ‘misled’ the company on. Maria had announced that she was pregnant soon after reportedly re-signing. Although we cannot confirm if that is exactly what Bully Ray is referring to.
Ray also commented on the situation with Luke Harper and Sin Cara. Saying “as far as Luke Harper and Sin Cara are concerned I’m happy that they will be released. Because they just didn’t want to be there anymore. And if you don’t want to be there anymore and the company’s not doing anything with you anyway get the hell out of there.”
Check out the Busted Open Radio Show at Player.FM.
Please credit SEScoops when using any transcribed quotes from this article.
Many believed that Mike Kanellis’ recent pregnancy storyline with his wife Maria Kanellis may have led to his decision of asking for a release from the company but the WWE star is claiming that it’s not the case.
Mike recently had an interview with Swings & Mrs, where he talked about things like his run with Impact Wrestling, the rise of AEW and more.
When asked if the recent angle was the motivation behind his
decision to leave the company, Kanellis denied the assumptions and said that
the only bothersome part about the storyline was that it went nowhere:
“The angle itself didn’t bother me, because I tell people this and it makes people yell at me, but it’s a fake television show. It’s not real. My name isn’t really Mike Kanellis.
And yes, I really am married to Maria Kanellis, but at the
end of the day I am playing a role on a TV show. It doesn’t reflect who I am as
a person so I don’t mind trying something different or thinking outside the
box. My only issue was it didn’t go anywhere.”
The former X Division Champion from TNA went on to say that if he is going to do a storyline like that then he would want it to go somewhere and he discussed how fans would want a payoff to the story as well.
Mike Kanellis was recently put in a storyline on Raw where
his wife Maria Kanellis announced that she was pregnant but claimed that Mike
was not the father.
She would then go on to insult Mike for several weeks and his character was emasculated by Maria but WWE provided no resolution to the angle and it was dropped unexpectedly.
Mike signed a new 5 years contract with WWE back in June however he announced on Twitter in October that he has decided to ask for his release from the company.
When he came into the company, Mike Kanellis debuted straight onto WWE’s main roster. In an interview with the Smarks and Stripes podcast, Kanellis addressed whether he believes he should have gone to NXT beforehand.
“I think about this a lot,” Kanellis confessed. “I always constantly go back and I think to myself, ‘well, had I’d just gone to NXT, maybe things could have been different,’ but then, I think, like, ‘yeah, but they pushed me right to the main roster, which was really cool – there [are] not many guys they did that with.’ Yeah, so I wear that as a badge of honor, where I was like, ‘yeah, maybe I came out and it was cold, and I fell flat on my face,’ but, again, I started – maybe I sound like this friggin’ guru – I don’t know. I don’t really care.”
He continued, “I started taking so much personal responsibility and accountability for my actions and some people might say, ‘well, WWE screwed up my debut.’ Maybe, but I look at it as I screwed up. I came to WWE and I was out of shape and I wasn’t prepared. I was addicted to drugs. Maybe they lost faith in my right out of the gate and I had to earn it back. So I wish it went better. Maybe in retrospect I should’ve gone to NXT, but I wasn’t ready period, so I don’t know if NXT would’ve made things any better.”
Future Ambitions
Looking to the future, Kanellis shared he has plenty of ambition left to fuel his WWE dreams. He shared how he would love to one day WrestleMania and be a world champion within WWE.
Kanellis revealed how he would like to eventually earn veteran status within WWE and be regarded as a locker room leader. He pointed to Roman Reigns and the way “The Big Dog” motivates his fellow WWE Superstars, admitting he would love to emulate what Reigns has accomplished both backstage and in the ring. Kanellis stated that he is also open to the idea of going to the NXT Performance Center to coach, adamant in his goals of working hard and giving back to the wrestling industry.
Speaking with The Smarks & Stripes podcast, Kanellis discussed his reasoning behind his decision. He noted that his choice to ask the promotion was a personal choice, not one based off of any sort of issue with the company itself.
“For me, it was all personal,” Kanellis stated. “It had nothing to do with the company. Since the minute I got to WWE, they’ve treated me great; they’ve treated my wife great; they’ve treated my daughter great. They’ve treated me great. When I came out and said that I had an addiction, there was no negativity from anybody – it was just constant support.”
He explained how, after getting clean and maintaining his sobriety through hard work and dedication, all he wanted to do was work. “I feel like I could go and have my best matches right now and it’s extremely difficult when there [are] so many people on the roster and you just don’t get that opportunity.”
“I’ll Go Wherever That Opportunity Exists”
Kanellis stressed that he isn’t “mad,” he is just hungry for the chance to perform to the level he knows he can compete at.
“I just want to work and I just want to work a lot,” he shared. “I want to be able to go home and tell my daughter that ‘daddy put in the time, daddy put in the effort,’ and it’s incredibly difficult for me to go on social media and preach that you have to work hard,’ ‘you have to work your ass off,’ and then not do it myself. And so, I’m a worker and I’ve always been a worker. And I’m at a point where I just want to work, and work, and work. And I’ll go wherever that opportunity exists.”
He understands how saturated the industry currently is with top-level talent, especially within WWE. Naturally, Kanellis doesn’t hope anybody gets hurt in order to open up a spot—but he does want to be ready in case a chance does present itself.
Mike Kanellis recently revealed on Twitter that he has asked
for his WWE release and the 205 Live star had explained in detail why he has
made the decision.
His wife Maria Kanellis, who is also part of the WWE roster, had been quiet on the subject so far. Though she has now finally broken her silence and commented on the matter.
Maria took on her Instagram account where she posted a photo
of the couple and wrote that family comes first and she loves and supports her
husband.
The female star also went on to clear some of the rumors regarding her husband revealing that he never went to rehab and confirming that while her husband is looking to leave, she has not asked for her own release from the company:
Mike and Maria Kanellis made their WWE debut back in June
2017 during the Money In The Bank PPV and after a few weeks, they established
themselves as heels.
They were initially part of the SmackDown Live brand but
were moved to Raw in April 2018. The duo then made their debut for 205 Live in
October last year and they have been part of the Cruiserweight Exclusive brand
since then.
Lio Rush is the new NXT Cruiserweight Champion. He recently defeated Drew Gulak to claim the title as his own on an episode of NXT. Rush would take to Twitter to commemorate his victory, writing:
“I’m the greatest Cruiserweight in the world right now and that’s an amazing feeling. Pound for pound. #ThatsFacts @wwenxt @usa_network @WWE @WWEPC”
Not everyone was happy with Rush’s sentiment, however.
WWE Superstar Mike Kanellis responded by telling Rush to “chill out,” explaining that there was an entire roster of worthy Cruiserweights who were grinding and working as Rush was “sitting at home for bad behavior.”
In a now deleted tweet, Kanellis wrote:
“You won 2 matches. Chill out. There’s an entire roster of Cruiserweights that we’re grinding and working their ass off for our Brand, while you were sitting at home for bad behavior. Let’s not act like you weren’t gift wrapped the cruiserweight championship.”
Kanellis recently shared that he had formally requested his release from WWE. He released a statement on Monday explaining the reasoning behind his decision.
Back in January both he and his wife, Maria, had reportedly asked for their releases from the company. They would then sign new deals in June that ensured they would be a part of the WWE roster for another five years. At the time of writing, there is no further information as to WWE’s response to Kanellis’ request.
Mike Kanellis has requested his release from WWE and took to social media to share the news with fans.
On Monday, the WWE star revealed the news in a lengthy statement explaining his decision to be let out of his contract with the company. As of this writing, there’s no word yet on if WWE plans to grant him the release.
This comes after Mike and his wife, Maria, had signed new WWE contracts that would’ve seen them be with the company for the next five years. In the statement, he confirmed that he signed a new deal back in June.
An excerpt from the statement reads, “I thought it was what was best for my family, and maybe from a financial standpoint it was. But I quickly realized that bringing my work frustrations and misery home with me is not good for my family and I no longer want my daughter to constantly see me come home defeated, sad and angry.”
This isn’t the first time that Mike has requested his release from the company. Back in January, it was reported that the married couple had asked for WWE officials to release them from their contracts.
WWE intends to add a few more twists and turns to their current storyline revolving around who the father is of Maria’s baby, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The idea is to draw out the revelation of who the father is, playing up the mystery angle of the story for ratings.
Maria Kanellis is currently 20 weeks pregnant. She revealed that she and her husband, Mike Kanellis, are expecting a baby boy. This week’s episode of Monday Night RAW saw her claim that Ricochet is the father to her unborn child. Ricochet insisted that Maria was lying, which she admitted after Mike suffered a loss to Ricochet in a matchup.
After the match, Maria would berate Mike Kanellis as he sat dejected on the ring apron. Maria would then go on to tease who the real father of her baby is, with Rusev’s music hitting signalling his return. Rusev then destroyed Mike in his second squash match of the night.
At the time of writing, there is no information as to who WWE will eventually name as the father. It’s reported that it won’t be Rusev. It’s alleged that the baby storyline will be portrayed more like a running joke rather than a serious storyline.
Last night had its highs and lows for Mike Kanellis. He won his first-ever championship in WWE when he pinned R-Truth to win the 24/7 title but then ultimately lost the belt to his pregnant wife, Maria Kanellis.
Mike sent out the following on Twitter after RAW ended.
Mike Kanellis won the 24/7 title by being the first to pile on Truth following Truth’s victory over Maverick on RAW. Then in the back, Maria insisted Mike get on his back and allow her to pin him.
Maria Kanellis Wins 24/7 Championship
Maria Kanellis became the first pregnant champion in WWE history last night (that we are aware of). She posted the following to social media after RAW ended:
Two men whose marriages have hit rough patches will meet tonight with a shot at the WWE Cruiserweight championship hanging in the balance. Maverick and Kanellis have been involved in a rivalry on 205 Live as of late which will culminate tonight in a non-sanction match.
Mike and Maria Kanellis will be staying with WWE long-term. According to a report from Pro Wrestling Sheet, the couple signed new 5-year deals with the company recently.
Mike Bennett signed with WWE for the first time in 2017 along with his wife Maria, who had also been employed with the company from 2004-2010.
Kanellis has been competing on 205 Live as of late. He defeated the Brian Kendrick in his last single’s match for the brand on May 28th and also was in the 50-man battle royal at Super ShowDown.
Mike & Maria Kanellis Sign 5-Year Deals With WWE
Maria Kanelis signed with WWE in 2004 after being discovered in the Diva Search. She spent some time in WWE developmental where she won over Paul Heyman with her mind for the business.
Maria never won a title while in WWE but she was awarded the Slammy for Diva of the Year in 2009. Despite this, she was released from the company in 2010. Not long after, Maria was one of the first to receive a WWE talent scholarship. She then got a degree in sports, entertainment, and event management from Johnson and Wales University. Maria re-signed with WWE shortly after her graduation in 2017.
From 2011 to 2015, the Kanellis’ competed in ROH and NJPW. Along with partner Matt Taven, the Kingdom won ROH tag team and IWGP tag team gold. Taven and Bennett were involved in a memorable feud in Japan with Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, where Anderson developed quite the infatuation with Maria.
Mike Kanellis has taken to Twitter to once again vent his frustrations. He claimed that 205 Live provides the best wrestling show on WWE television before stating that WWE simply doesn’t care about the 205 Live roster.
His initial statement read:
“Once again @WWE205Live puts on the best WRESTLING show of the week. Are you paying attention now? #wwe @WWE”
This tweet would garner the attention of the WWE Universe, with fans suggesting that WWE doesn’t care about 205 Live. Kanellis would reply to this, agreeing that “They don’t. But the roster does. And everyone involved with 205 cares more than you could possibly imagine.”
While some sided with Kanellis’ assertions, others were more dismissive, highlighting that there is just too much content to watch, suggesting that 205 Live is a show that can be skipped because of it.
He explained that the entire 205 roster have a chip on their shoulder and that’s why they attempt to steal the show every week, despite being resoundingly ignored by WWE.
Mike Kanellis and his wife, Maria, have both recently been featured more prominently on 205 Live. This comes off the back of reports that they had requested their releases earlier in the year. Further reports suggest that their WWE contracts expire this summer.
Maria Kanellis got fans talking and speculating about the future of her and husband Mike Kanellis with WWE.
It all started when she brought up how their contracts were up in three weeks only to respond to a fan by stating that she was referring to their gym memberships.
It turns out that is not technically the case. PWInsider reports that Maria was actually referring to their WWE contracts. As of this writing, there is no word yet on if they will re-sign with the company.
Contracts are up in 3 weeks. Just saying…
— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) May 27, 2019
— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) May 27, 2019
With the launch of AEW and getting a weekly television deal with TNT that will kick off later this year, WWE has been making big money offers to talent to keep them under contract.
Back in January, it was reported that the married couple had asked for WWE officials to release them from their contracts. At the time, it was reported that they’ve been unhappy with the WWE due to the way they’ve been used.
Maria and Mike made their debut as a couple on WWE television at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event in 2017. Around the time of their reported demand for a release, they were paired on 205 Live where they have been used more.
A few days ago, Maria Kanellis took to her Instagram account and uploaded a number of pictures. Since then, a number of people have decided to contact her husband, Mike Kanellis, to tell him how he should feel.
These individuals apparently don’t think it’s okay for Mike to “allow” his wife to post the kind of content she chooses to, and that he should, in essence, patrol and control her social media output.
Mike would take issue with these people, taking to Twitter in order to upload a screenshot of his response.
“It’s 2019, and I’m not sure why I still need to address this, but I will,” he states. “Whenever my wife posts photos on her social media, I get flooded with comments from men, and I use that term loosely, telling me how I feel or should feel about her posting certain photos.”
He continues, “Let me clarify, my wife’s body is hers. Her decisions and choices are hers. I don’t, nor would I ever, tell her what to do, say or post. My wife is a beautiful, smart, intelligent woman and if she want to show off her gorgeous body, then I will be cheering her on the whole way.”
“Also 99% of the time, I’m the one taking the picture,” he added. “So please stop telling me how I feel or should feel.”
Mike and Maria Kanellis made headlines recently when it was rumored that they had requested their WWE releases. In that time, Mike has been featured on 205 Live, but not necessarily in the capacity he had hoped for.
Despite Drake Maverick giving Mike Kanellis what he wanted, the 205 Live Superstar has still taken issue with his scheduled match next week.
In a backstage segment, Maverick would grant Mike a matchup on next Tuesday’s episode, which takes place in Philadelphia. Maverick would praise Kanellis’ performance against Cedric Alexander. He claimed that Kanellis took Cedric to “the absolute limit.”
This performance prompted Maverick to book Kanellis in a match. Maria Kanellis would refer to this as “the match we’ve been waiting for.”
He would soon learn the bout would not be a tournament matchup for an opportunity to face Buddy Murphy. Mike would then take to Twitter to share his thoughts.
“I’m Really Sick Of The Blatant Disrespect”
“So I have a match next week & it’s not a tournament match.I’d like to say I’m surprised,but at this point it’s just par for the course.Nice to know guys who aren’t even on the 205 roster get shots at Wrestlemania over me. I’m really sick of the blatant disrespect.”
205 Live are currently holding a tournament to determine a number one contender to face Buddy Murphy at WrestleMania 35. The tournament is being conducted under single-elimination rules and will grant the winner an opportunity at the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on the “Grandest Stage Of Them All.”
Given the title match and platform, it’s no wonder Mike Kanellis — who, along with Maria, had reportedly requested their release — has taken issue with not being granted a tournament match.
In an update to the reports of Mike and Maria Kanellis requesting their WWE releases, it appears the couple is not scheduled to be traveling with WWE any time soon.
According to a report by Mike Johnson of PWInsider, “Two of the talents that have been talked about quite a bit are Mike and Maria Kanellis … We are told they are not on the road for WWE this week and they are not scheduled to be on the road which seems a little weird because everyone’s on the road every week.”
The timing of this report is curious to say the least. Earlier this week, after the initial reports began circulating that Mike and Maria were on their way out of WWE, Maria Kanellis pushed back on social media. Maria denied that she asked for her release, but did not address Mike’s status. She also commented on a number of different topics, including WWE’s support for her and Mike’ road to recovery from substance abuse.
It’s worth noting that Mike and Maria’s current hiatus from WWE could be pre-approved vacation time or something totally unrelated.
There has been another interesting development that adds another level of depth to this situation. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, WWE was gearing up to premiere a new collection on the network titled, “Power Of Love Collection.” The special, which would have been hosted by Mike and Maria, is no longer being advertised.
Some fans have taken issue with the fact that Mike and Maria have been on the sidelines for the majority of their current WWE run. Mike Kanellis didn’t do much on WWE television before taking extended time off to address his addiction issues. Maria got pregnant and gave birth to their daughter, Freddie Moon Bennett.
It is unclear if Mike Bennett and/or Maria Kanellis asked for their WWE releases recently. It was reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet the couple had asked for their release but this was publicly denied by Maria.
I was not going to address this but I am getting phone calls and emails about it. I DID NOT ask for my release. Speculation and rumors are running rampant. Someone is playing all the… https://t.co/WvmvP4Z2Tz
Pro Wrestling Sheet responded that they reached out to the couple for comment but did not receive one.
In a segment on Wrestling Observer radio this morning, Dave Meltzer said the following on the Kanellis’ WWE status.
“The story (Mike & Maria asking for their release) is not wrong but it was several weeks ago and from what I understand they asked to give notice and were turned down,” Meltzer said, though it is unclear if his anonymous sources were any different than PW Sheet’s.
Maria Kanellis – Sports Entertainment Degree – Paul Heyman Endorsed
Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett would likely be scooped up fast by another promotion if they were granted their releases. Kanellis, in particular, could be someone who plays a prominent role backstage in wrestling one day.
Maria was released from WWE in 2010. She received a “WWE Talent Scholarship” to get her University degree shortly after. Maria then attended Johnson and Wales University from 2013-2017 and obtained a degree in the highly relevant to her career field of Sports Entertainment and Event Management. She was re-signed to WWE shortly after completing her degree in 2017.
Paul Heyman, who worked with Maria in OVW, has referred to her as the most underrated creative mind in the industry.
. @wrestling_page2 @RealMikeBennett I DOUBLE DAWG DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cc – @MariaLKanellis, the most underrated creative mind in the industry, has been since 2005 when I witnessed it myself in @WWE – #OVW. #JustSaying But I digress. Oh yeah … I DOUBLE DAWG DARE YOU! https://t.co/suyY6K2CxG
Mike and Maria Kanellis are looking for their exits from the WWE based on a recent report published by Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet. According to the report, the married couple has recently asked for WWE officials to release them from their contracts.
It should be noted that in the past, the company doesn’t grant requests for releases from talent but rather makes them sit at home while still paying them until their contracts expire. Thus, if news of their departures doesn’t surface in the near future, that’s the reason behind it.
Satin also reported that they’ve been unhappy with the WWE due to the way they’ve been used. After taking a while to make their decision, they informed the company that they wanted out of their contracts a few weeks ago.
Mike has also started selling new shirts on Pro Wrestling Tees. By looking at his match stat on CageMatch.net, he has only wrestled on SmackDown Live just four times since signing with the company back in April of 2017. The other appearances have been at live events and working Main Event tapings.
If you recall, Maria and Mike made their debut as a couple on WWE television at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event in 2017 by cutting a promo about how everyone would know what the Power Of Love was all about. When Maria announced that they were expecting, she was taken off the road with the company. They had their first child, daughter Freddie Moon. They were recently paired on 205 Live.
During a Q&A session on Twitter on Saturday, Maria Kanellis answered questions on her relationship with The Bella Twins, her return to the ring at WWE Evolution, if she’s interested in wrestling more, her current run in WWE, and more. Below are some of the highlights:
Don’t know what you are talking about. I work for WWE now. Past is prolong. I’m on chapter 14 years. Me and the Twins talk babies now. Love me some twin magic. But that Jimmy Fallon thing was freaky.???? https://t.co/wJxfUfQXDF
While watching Brie and Nikki Bella on Raw in July 2013, Maria Kanellis claimed in a since-deleted tweet that they blocked her from returning to WWE earlier that year, writing, “I was offered a @wwe contract and the Bellas made sure I didn’t get it. I’m not bitter. I just don’t like people that mess with my career.”
If the right opportunity comes along. Why not? Freddie needs to see me. This world is too crazy for me not to fight. https://t.co/M1NzaeVgcR
Sure, I’ll take that Wrestlemania main event check. I used to hate wrestling because I was paid less to do the same work. Now, we have the opportunity. I’m not afraid to work and be rewarded so bring it on. https://t.co/jdkrrguANj
I was so calm. It was weird. I’ve never been that relaxed in the ring. Freddie was watching and I did not want her to be nervous. So I did my job. https://t.co/Xei76Z1HBW
Hahaha… I belong in WWE, now. The first time I was too young and dumb. But, all my Indy boys and girls helped me grow up and now I’m fearless. I stand on the shoulders of greater men and women. With Honor, an impact, and the kings of pro wrestling. https://t.co/nJhVynKFmT
I don’t think about it. BUT, I have tons of help. We moved to my hometown to have my entire family around. No moms balance it. We just don’t have another choice. https://t.co/hpPbywvXZh
– As seen this past Wednesday on the WWE Network, Mia Yim sent Kaitlyn packing from the Mae Young Classic by beating the former Divas Champion in a Second-Round Match. Yim scored the victory by forcing Kaitlyn to submit to the kneebar.
Following the match, Kaitlyn — real name Celeste Bonin — took to Instagram to reflect on her WWE comeback.
“My match with @miayimofficial was one of my favorite of all time. The match itself was so dope and Mia is such a powerful woman in so many ways,” Kaitlyn wrote.
“But For me, it was exceptionally meaningful to come back after so many years and to leave it all out there in the ring and offer my contribution to the evolution of women’s wrestling. The evolution of the division is parallel to my evolution as a person and as a competitor/performer. Man I love wrestling. Congrats to @miayimofficial. She deserves it. Much respect to her.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Boyz2TAlZis/
– Although Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neil have not appeared together on television since the night after SummerSlam, they’re still a unit.
Crews and O’Neil teamed up for the first time in four weeks at last night’s WWE live event in Syracuse, New York. Titus Worldwide teamed with Tyler Breeze to beat The Ascension and Mike Kanellis in a Six-Man Tag Team Match.
This was also O’Neil’s first match since September 15 (teaming with Crews at a live event), and Crews’ first since September 24 (beating Breeze in a match taped for WWE Main Event). Crews and O’Neil have not wrestled together on television since losing to AOP on Raw on August 20. It was also their last appearance on Raw.
