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Maria Kanellis reflects on contrasting WWE releases from 2010 and 2020

Wrestling Inc • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 13, 2026, 1:00 AM

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

Maria Kanellis reflects on contrasting WWE releases from 2010 and 2020
Summary

Maria Kanellis spoke about her two WWE releases during an interview on Wrestling Life Online, emphasizing how her 2020 departure was particularly distressing. Released alongside her husband, Mike Bennett, during the pandemic, Kanellis had a newborn at home and faced significant uncertainty. She highlighted the different circumstances of her past release in 2010, where she turned down a contract due to low pay while managing a heavy workload. The cancellation of Ring of Honor's operations further complicated her situation after the 2020 release, leaving her family in a precarious financial position.

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Wrestling Inc
Key Details
  • •Kanellis and Bennett were released by WWE in April 2020.
  • •Kanellis described her 2020 release as a 'terrifying' time for her family.
  • •In 2010, Kanellis opted not to accept a low contract offer from WWE.
  • •She faced additional challenges when Ring of Honor closed down due to the pandemic.
  • •Kanellis and her husband exhausted their savings after the ROH shutdown.
Latest Updates
  • 1:00 AMWrestling Inc — Maria Kanellis Compares WWE Departures From 2010 & 2020
What they're saying
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Maria Kanellis has contrasted her WWE releases in 2010 and 2020, explaining how the latter was a terrifying period for her and her family.

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WWEWrestling

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