Report: Maria, Mike Kanellis Have Requested Their Releases From WWE
WWE Superstars may be interested in testing free agency this year and showcasing their craft elsewhere with pro wrestling experiencing a bit of a boom, and Maria and Mike Kanellis are reportedly interested in making that jump.
Earlier today, Fightful.com’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that there are worries within WWE that The Revival, who have repeatedly lost Raw Tag Team Championship matches after months of barely featuring on television despite their prestige among fans, would be “finishing up” with the company. BodySlam.net reported that Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder even requested their releases while at Raw this week.
It appears they aren’t the only duo who may leave the company soon. Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin reports that real-life and on-screen couple Mike Kanellis and Maria Kanellis have requested their releases from WWE.
Per Satin, the Kanelli (I’m using that as the plural version of their names because why not?) haven’t been pleased with their roles in WWE for some time, and they decided to formally request their release “a few weeks” ago.
Mike Kanellis was expected to be a mid-card player on SmackDown Live, but that never materialized. Even after he fought back from drug addiction and became an inspiration for many by speaking openly about his experiences, WWE still didn’t seem interested in finding a meaningful role for him and his wife Maria, who has been a big influence on women’s wrestling and also needed to take time off during her pregnancy.
Maria and Mike debuted on 205 Live months ago, angering General Manager Drake Maverick and forming an alliance with TJP. It seemed like “The Power of Love” would rule 205 with an iron fist, but, well, WWE hasn’t taken advantage of either of their talents.
It’s a huge shame, but WWE’s loss (to them, a minor one) would surely be somebody else’s gain. Maria is easily one of the best managers in the world and has shined in ROH, NJPW, and Impact. Meanwhile, Mike was an important member of The Kingdom, working together with Maria (as Mike Bennett) to form a fearsome faction with stars Matt Hardy and Adam Cole.
ROH has been aggressively trying to form its own identity by signing big independent stars PCO, Rush, and Bandido, who all had options elsewhere. Perhaps they could make a splash and reuinte with the Kanelli.
All Elite Wrestling will likely be a player for their signatures, as they look to assemble an intriguing roster of talent that already includes notable names like Chris Jericho, Britt Baker, and PAC. Maria and Mike would slot in nicely, especially given their experience in the industry and what they bring to the table mentally.
It will be interesting to see if more details arise about their reported request to leave WWE, and they seem like people who could certainly benefit from a change in scenery. They are well-known and respect among wrestling fans, so they shouldn’t have trouble building a brand no matter where they go; for them, the important thing is consistently getting time.