One long time wrestling star whose contract is about to expire has options and been in touch with both WWE and AEW!
Maria Kanellis has nearly two decades of experience in the wresting business, making her start as part of the WWE Divas Search in 2004. Since then she’s worked for a number of major promotions including WWE, ROH, and she is currently contracted to IMPACT Wrestling.
During a recent interview with Grapsody, Maria Kanellis revealed that she is on a per-appearance deal with IMPACT that will expire on October 8th.
“I’m on a per-appearance deal with them (IMPACT) until October 8th. It’s so hard to make decisions moving forward because I love what we’re doing in IMPACT and I know the possibilities of where we might go with it and where I might go with it as an individual. Scott D’Amore is a fantastic boss, if I’m not in the Maria Honor No More voice. I absolutely love what we’re doing there.”
Continuing, Maria Kanellis spoke about evaluating her place in Ring of Honor before Scott D’Amore gave her an opportunity in IMPACT.
“When The Kingdom won the tag titles, that meant something, especially after losing what, to me, was going to be the next ten years of my life, if not longer in Ring of Honor. I was looking at Ring of Honor like, ‘Okay, this is going to be the next ten to fifteen years of my life. I’m going to run this women’s division. I’m going to transition completely to the other side. I’m going to help with production. I want to move forward with taking over more responsibilities.’ Then it ended, and Scott gave us an opportunity.”
When it comes to her future after her current contract expires, Kanellis revealed that she’s been in talks with multiple major companies, and her decision will rest on where she can best help other women in wrestling.
“It’s really hard looking ‘where do I go next?’ I talked to Tony Khan, I talked to Triple H, I talk to Scott all the time. Recently, I talked to WOW. It’s a very interesting time for me. For me, it’s about creating opportunities for all of the women I’m working with now.”
The star also reflected on the fact that her husband’s previous run in WWE wasn’t all he envisioned it to be, and that the two may want to take care of unfinished business. She also reflected on her past with ROH and IMPACT, and speculated on the possibility of going to AEW.
“Not only that but then there is the heart of me that says when Mike, my husband, went to WWE and it was his ultimate dream to be in WWE. That’s all he talked about. He was a WWE person from the moment I met him. We got to WWE, and it was not the way he wanted it to go. I think for him, there is still a part of him that thinks there is unfinished business.
“For me, I don’t know if you guys could see it, but when they (Bennett and Matt Taven) won the tag team titles (Impact Tag Titles), there were tears. They are my boys. Taven married us. I was literally standing with the both of them at my wedding going, ‘You are my husband’s best friend and my friend, and this is my husband, we are family.’ The idea of the two of them walking out at WrestleMania and me managing them, of course, that thought is in my mind.
“Then I look at AEW where they have some of the greatest tag teams in the world. Competition-wise, there is that at AEW. The fact that the boys have never gotten in there with FTR. I look at all of these things and go, ‘sh*t.’ Then, where is Ring of Honor going to go? I think it’s an amazing time in wrestling right now.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Kanellis stirred controversy when she suggested bringing back the WWE Divas Championship.
h/t WrestlingNews.co