Tag: Mike and Maria Kanellis

The Kingdom Makes AEW Debut On Rampage

At the end of the October 14 episode of AEW Rampage, The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Maria Kanellis-Bennett) appeared on the show. They confronted FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler), the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions.  Kanellis stated that The Kingdom wants both the ROH World Tag Team Championships and the IWGP Tag Team Championships, which are currently held by FTR. She told FTR that Taven and Bennett are the real top guys.

The trio came to the ring, and The Embassy attacked FTR from behind. The champions were outnumbered, but WardJoe (Wardlow and Samoa Joe) charged the ring and evened the odds.

In a digital exclusive, The Kingdom discussed their arrival in AEW. Matt Taven noted that they never got a rematch for the ROH titles, and they intend to win the gold.

Bennett, Taven, and Kanellis recently wrapped up with IMPACT Wrestling; they were featured there since January as members of Honor No More. Previously, the trio were prominent players in ROH, where they won the tag titles twice. The Briscoes beat them for the titles at ROH Final Battle 2021, and the duo later lost the championship to FTR at Supercard of Honor in April.

Source: WrestleZone

Impact Wrestling Features Released WWE Superstars In Slammiversary PPV Promo Video

Impact Wrestling released a new Slammiversary PPV video Tuesday night which starts out with someone in a hood pouring a drink into a glass and watching a “You’re Fired breaking news report” about over 20 plus superstars released from contracts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The video shows brief clips of Eric Young, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Rockstar Spud (Drake Maverick), Curt Hawkins, Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis and EC3. There was also an apparent reference to Rusev as the Bulgarian flag was shown.

These wrestlers’ that appeared in the video are all under a 90-day non-compete clause with WWE so none of them can legally negotiate with another promotion until early July.

It should be noted, however, that each wrestlers’ non-compete clauses expire just a few days before the Slammiversary pay-per-view.

This year’s IMPACT Slammiversary takes place, live Sunday, July 18.  A location for the event has yet to be announced.

 

UPDATE:

Drake Maverick has re-signed with WWE.

Maury Povich Sends Paternity Test Invite To Mike & Maria Kanellis

Maury Povich of The Maury Show took to Twitter today to issue an invitation to Maria Kanellis, Mike Kanellis and Rusev, to come on his show for a paternity test.

“Maria, Mike, Rusev… no need to fight it out in the ring! If you’re looking for a paternity test, give us a call,” Povich said.

We noted last week how there had been a pitch within WWE to bring Povich into the Kanellis storyline. He films his long-running TV show in Stamford, CT, near WWE’s HQ and TV studios. Last week Povich’s Twitter account responded to a WWE tweet that commented on who the father of Maria’s baby boy is, and that started the storyline involvement.

As noted, Maria first named Ricochet as the father of her child on last week’s RAW but that just led to Ricochet squashing Mike after he insisted Maria was lying. Maria then brought back Rusev to WWE TV and named him as the father. Rusev also squashed Mike in a quick match. It was reported last week, via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that WWE plans to keep building the storyline to another reveal, and that Rusev won’t be the father in the end. Maria is just over 20 weeks pregnant with her son, which will be her second child with Mike.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rusev Returns To WWE Action

Following a brief hiatus from WWE TV, Rusev returned on Raw this week and got involved in the baby drama between Mike and Maria Kanellis.

Last night’s edition of RAW featured a gender reveal party that ended with an angry Maria telling Mike that Ricochet was the father of her baby. Frustrated over the revelation, Mike challenged Ricochet to a match … even though the former United States champ denied the accusation.

Ricochet picked up the win with ease and Maria scolded her husband for it afterward. She then said Ricochet obviously wasn’t the father, but teased revealing the father in that moment.

That’s when Rusev’s music hit and he made his way to the ring in tremendous shape with a new look. After a brief interaction in the ring, Rusev demolished Mike Kanellis.

Rusev’s last match in WWE took place back in June at Super ShowDown.

According to sources, Rusev was kept hidden backstage before and during RAW to keep the surprise return a secret. It’s unclear if he’ll eventually be re-paired with Lana, and her status in all of this was also questioned during RAW.

Below are the videos of what happened from last night’s RAW:

Maria Kanellis Pregnancy Update Following WWE RAW

Last night on RAW, WWE shot a backstage segment with Mike and Maria Kanellis approaching Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Maria challenged Lynch and Rollins, referring to Mike as “my bi–h” and saying that they wanted to face Becky and her “bi–h,” which led to a mixed tag team match.

During the mixed tag match, Maria announced that she was pregnant. Maria took the mic and wondered how Mike got her pregnant because he wasn’t man enough. Maria continued to berate Mike on the air before he tapped to Lynch’s “Disarmher” finisher.

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Maria is actually pregnant. That would be the explanation as to why she didn’t compete inside the ring.

Prior to Monday’s RAW, Mike had been wrestling on 205 Live. Both Mike and Maria recently signed new five-year deals with the company. The deal is reportedly worth $500,000 per year.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Highlights 7/1/19 – AJ Styles, The Club, The Undertaker, Strowman & Lashley, Kanellis’s, 24/7 Title, Street Profits & More

Last night on RAW there was a heel turn by AJ Styles and The Club are officially back together as they beat down United States Champion Ricochet after he retained his title in the main event of RAW against Styles.

Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre called out The Undertaker and he came out to the ring and had a message for Shane & Drew.

Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley were both taken by ambulance to the hospital after Strowman speared Lashley through the stage’s LED boards which sparked some explosions.

Mike and Maria Kaneliis had a mix tag team match against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. During the match, Maria announced as Becky was about to hit her that she was pregnant, but that she doesn’t believe Mike was man enough to be the one to have impregnated her. After The Kanellis’ lost, she got on the microphone and further berated her husband.

Drake Maverick regained the 24/7 title from R-Truth just as he was heading out on his honeymoon.

Watch these highlights and more below:

Mike And Maria Kanellis Sign New Multi-Year WWE Contracts

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Mike and Maria Kanellis have signed new WWE contracts. Sources say they recently inked multi-year deals and were happy with their final offers.

Maria Kanellis recently made it known that she and her husband were nearing the end of their deals with a tweet on May 27 saying: “Contracts are up in 3 weeks. Just saying…”

Mike and Maria signed with WWE in 2017. They’re currently featured on 205 Live.

Maria Kanellis Denies Asking For WWE Release

maria kanellis mike denies requesting release wwe contract

Maria Kanellis has released a statement denying that she requested her release from WWE.

It was reported this past week that she and Mike Kanellis asked WWE to release them from their contracts. According to Maria, however, that’s not entirely true.

“I DID NOT ask for my release,” she wrote on Instagram. “Speculation and rumors are running rampant. Someone is playing all the wrestling news sites.”

For what it’s worth, multiple sources confirmed the story. Plus, additional publications have since confirmed their request was denied.

Read Maria’s full statement below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Mike And Maria Kanellis Recently Requested Releases From WWE

Image result for Mike And Maria Kanellis 205 live

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Mike and Maria Kannellis recently asked for WWE officials to release them from their contracts.

According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, the Kanellis’ have been unhappy with the way they’ve been used in WWE for awhile and finally made the decision a few weeks ago to request their releases.

Mike Kanellis has also once again started selling new shirts on Pro Wrestling Tees.

Mike and Maria Kannellis signed with WWE in April of 2017 and debuted in June at Money in the Bank. Months later, Mike revealed he had been battling addiction and Maria announced she was pregnant. The duo weren’t used much on TV after that, until recently resurfacing on 205 Live.

According to CageMatch.net, Mike Kanellis wrestled on SmackDown Live a total of four times since signing with WWE. The rest of his appearances were largely relegated to Main Event and live events.

WWE doesn’t always grant release requests, so it’s possible nothing comes of this and the couple are simply paid to sit at home until the deal expires.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Mike And Maria Kanellis Debut On WWE 205 Live (Video)

Image result for Mike And Maria Kanellis Debut On WWE 205 Live

Mike Kanellis and Maria Kanellis made a surprise appearance on last night’s WWE 205 Live episode. Mike attacked Lince Dorado during Lince’s match with Lio Rush, which began after Rush issued an Open Challenge.