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Maria Kanellis-Bennett Celebrates Milestone After AEW Debut

By John Canton • Published 17th October 2022
maria kanellis mike benett matt taven aew rampage

Maria Kanellis-Bennett is in a great mood after appearing on AEW Rampage along with Kingdom thanks to some history she made.

When WWE fans first saw Maria Kanellis it was during the 2004 Diva Search when she was one of the contestants in that competition. While Christy Hemme was the winner of the competition, WWE also Maria and Michelle McCool after the competition. Maria worked for WWE as a wrestler/manager/interviewer for six years before her 2010 release. She returned along with her husband Mike Bennett (known as Mike Kanellis in WWE) from 2017 to 2020.

During her time away from WWE, Maria also worked for other major pro wrestling companies like Impact Wrestling, which is where the Knockouts Championships. She also worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor as well.

Following the October 14 edition of Rampage, Maria can add AEW to the list. Maria appeared at the end of Rampage along with Bennett and Matt Taven – the group is collectively known as The Kingdom. Maria issued a warning of sorts to ROH Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler). It led to The Kingdom joining The Embassy in attacking FTR and Shawn Spears until Wardlow and Samoa Joe made the save.

The 40-year-old mother of two went on Twitter to commemorate the appearance on Rampage with this message:

Today,
I feel blessed and grateful.
I am one of 2 women to work for 5 of the top wrestling companies in the world. @AEW @ringofhonor @WWE @IMPACTWRESTLING @njpwworld.

I am 40 years old.
I have 2 children.
I have been married for 8 years.
I have been on TV for 18 yrs

The first woman to work for those companies? Awesome Kong, who wrestled as Kharma during her brief WWE run.