During an appearance on the Wrestling Life Online YouTube channel, Maria Kanellis has opened up about her AEW exit, revealing that her run ended on a frustrating note. Her AEW contract officially expired on January 31, 2025, following a short extension from the original October 2024 date, and she says she didn’t get to accomplish everything she wanted, noting that her tumor diagnosis came at this time. Despite this, the veteran performer remains grateful for the opportunity.

“So, with my time in AEW, I feel like I didn’t really get to accomplish everything that I wanted to. I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate the fact that I got to work with such tremendous talent. But it just, you know, I got my tumor right around the time my contract was ending, and so it just kind of ended.” – Maria Kanellis

44-year-old Maria Kanellis made her AEW debut on the October 14, 2022, episode of Rampage, appearing alongside her husband, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven as part of The Kingdom. The group dramatically interrupted FTR, immediately establishing their presence in the promotions. Then in 2023, she began managing the tag team of Cole Karter and Griff Garrison in AEW’s sister promotion, Ring of Honor. However, after a brief contract extension, Kanellis departed AEW on January 31, 2025, while Bennett remained with the company.

In a no-holds-barred interview, Road Dogg has stated that WWE began to feel like a “money grab” during his final months with the company. Appearing on Busted Open, the WWE Hall of Famer explained that while he once believed the focus was on producing great wrestling, business and financial decisions eventually took priority over everything else. The shift left him unfulfilled and disconnected from the product, prompting him to step down.

“I think the booking used to be about wrestling, and I think the booking’s maybe always been about the money, and I just forgot. I just thought it was about the wrestling. But it feels like it’s just all about the money now. So maybe that goes to what you’re saying, the money. They can go over there and make some money too, so the money’s deciding everything. But I don’t know, man. It just feels like WWE right now, for me, was a money grab. And I don’t know, it didn’t feel right. I wanted to step away from that.” – Road Dogg

Since TKO Group Holdings took control of WWE in 2023, the company has undergone a major financial transformation. Revenue skyrocketed to a record $1.709 billion in 2025, up 22%, driven by major media rights deals with Netflix, higher ticket prices, premium international events, and expanded sponsorships. However, while this corporate approach has delivered impressive profits and growth, it has sparked criticism from insiders like Road Dogg, who felt creative choices were increasingly dictated by money rather than wrestling quality. 

In a press release sent by TNA’s publicist Ross Forman, it was announced that the promotion has come to terms with the releases of Myla Grace and Steve Maclin. While Grace’s departure had already leaked earlier this week, Maclin’s exit comes as a major surprise to fans and insiders alike. The company wished both talents the best in their future endeavors, and there is already speculation that the former TNA World Champion could be headed to AEW, where his wife Deonna Purrazzo currently works.

“TNA Wrestling has come to terms on the release of Myla Grace & Steve Maclin, effective immediately. We wish them the best in their future endeavors.” – Ross Forman

Maclin, 39, whose real name is Stephen Kupryk, is a former U.S. Marine who first debuted in 2013 at Monster Factory Pro Wrestling as Tommy Maclin. From there, he signed with WWE in 2014, where he competed as Steve Cutler in NXT and as part of The Forgotten Sons until his release in 2021. That same year, he joined TNA and quickly rose to prominence with his aggressive, hard-hitting style. Later, Maclin captured the TNA World Championship once and became a two-time TNA International Champion before his surprise departure in June 2026.

Following Jonathan Gresham’s brutal first-round deathmatch against Masashi Takeda at GCW’s Tournament of Survival 11, which left his back severely lacerated and covered in blood, his wife Jordynne Grace has taken a firm stand. The WWE star declared on X.com, “He will NOT be doing this again,” while sharing a conversation with GCW promoter Brett Lauderdale, along with the graphic photo of Gresham’s back, writing that she wasn’t sure who she should “cuss out.”

38-year-old Gresham is widely regarded as one of America’s finest technical wrestlers with a 21-year career that began in 2005. Since then, he has captured several major titles, including the ROH World Championship, ROH Pure Championship, and Progress Unified World Championship. He also won the prestigious wXw 16 Carat Gold Tournament in 2022. A respected pure-style specialist, Gresham continues to freelance after standout runs in ROH and TNA, along with brief appearances in AEW. However, few expected him to begin deathmatch wrestling.

Although Bryan Danielson went on to become a major WWE star, Vince McMahon reportedly had serious reservations about pushing him beyond the mid-card at one point. And according to Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho, McMahon’s doubts weren’t just due to Danielson’s smaller size and indie wrestling background. They also stemmed from the fact that the future star didn’t eat steak, as he had adopted a vegan lifestyle for health reasons. This revelation goes to poove the old-school promoter’s closed-minded approach to things he didn’t understand.

“He didn’t like Bryan because Bryan was a vegan. Classic Vince.” – Chris Jericho

Ultimately, Danielson, performing as Daniel Bryan, went on to have an extraordinary WWE career. Despite the early skepticism, his exceptional in-ring talent and the organic Yes Movement propelled him to global superstardom. The former Ring of Honor wrestler captured multiple world championships and headlined WrestleMania 30 and 37, which are feats few thought possible when he first signed. Toward the end of his WWE tenure, Danielson also worked closely with McMahon in creative, offering fresh ideas that helped transform their professional relationship into one of mutual collaboration and admiration by the time he departed in 2021.

During an interview with Wrestling Life Online, Maria Kanellis opened up about the harsh backlash she faced from top WWE stars for dating CM Punk in the mid-2000s. At a time when independent wrestlers were heavily looked down upon, she was repeatedly told she was “dumb” for being with the rising straight-edge star. Kanellis described the criticism as a reflection of the old guard’s dismissive attitude toward indie talent.

“It used to be that indie guys were looked down upon. I was around plenty of top guys that would tell me how dumb I was for dating CM Punk when I was dating him, and it was just the start of the whole indie wrestling research not even a research but takeover of WWE and so like there was that time where Indy guys never made it into WWE and then all of a sudden they were allowed to be in WWE.” – Maria Kanellis

CM Punk’s dating history has long been intertwined with the wrestling business. In the mid-2000s, he was romantically linked to several female wrestlers, including Mickie James, Daffney, Tracy Brooks, and Maria Kanellis. Additionally, he later dated Lita for several years and was reportedly involved with Beth Phoenix. However, since 2013, Punk has been with AJ Lee, whom he married in June 2014, and the couple continues to enjoy a strong relationship today.

In a recent Instagram Stories Q&A session, Andrade El Idolo has firmly shut down rumors of a new romance following his high-profile divorce from WWE star Charlotte Flair, emphatically saying “NOOOOOOOOOO!” when asked if he had a girlfriend. This comes several months after he publicly accepted full responsibility for the marriage’s end and praised his now- ex-wife as an “amazing woman.”

One of the most entertaining parts of Andrade’s current AEW run is his gimmick of posing with attractive women in the front row of shows and occasionally exchanging numbers. This feeds into his ladies’-man persona, with the charismatic luchador seemingly more interested in getting a potential date than in his match. However, this is all kayfabe, as the women who typically flirt with Andrade are usually indie wrestlers who work with AEW.

The Clearwater Police Department has officially closed its investigation into the death of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, declaring it an attended natural death with no evidence of criminal activity. On July 24, 2025, the 71-year-old Terry Bollea suffered cardiac arrest at his Clearwater Beach, Florida home, with paramedics responding promptly at 9:51 a.m., transporting him to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m. A detailed 72-page report, supported by medical records, witness statements, and a private autopsy, now puts to rest claims of any foul play.

“Following an exhaustive review of the statements, medical records, surveillance footage from within the residence, and a visual inspection of Mr. Bollea’s body, there has been no evidence to indicate the death of Terry Bollea was anything other than natural. Through the course of the investigation, there has been no evidence to indicate any criminal wrongdoing related to his death. This case will be closed, and will be considered solved, non-criminal.” – ClearWaterPolice

Hogan’s official cause of death was acute myocardial infarction, a heart attack, complicated by his long-standing atrial fibrillation and battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Recent neck spinal fusion and heart valve surgeries had further weakened the WWE Hall of Famer’s health in his final months. However, Hogan’s estranged daughter, Brooke, soon publicly raised concerns about possible criminal involvement, believing her father was far healthier than he actually was.

Nikki Bella has set social media ablaze with a stunning summer selfie that’s leaving fans speechless. Rocking a chic wide-brim hat and glowing with confidence, the WWE legend flaunted her radiant skin and toned physique in a bold, sun-soaked shot uploaded to Instagram and captioned “summertime has officially begun.” Her effortless beauty and undeniable star power sparked an outpouring of admiration, with fans flooding the comments praising her timeless appeal and ability to captivate both in and out of the ring. 

42-year-old Bella, real name Nikki Garcia, is making steady progress in her recovery from a serious ankle injury sustained during her March 27, 2026, SmackDown match. After fracturing, tearing, and spraining her ankle, she underwent surgery and, unfortunately, missed WrestleMania 42, where Paige replaced her. However, she has recently moved from a walking boot to an ankle brace after regaining strength through physical therapy, and it’s speculated this could lead to a return as early as the end of June.

Cathy Kelley has left fans absolutely wowed with a series of breathtaking snaps shared on Instagram that radiate pure confidence and summer glamour. Lounging elegantly on the polished deck of a luxury yacht, the WWE talent showcased her sculpted abs and toned physique in a delicate pink bikini while soaking up the Mediterranean sun. In another striking image, she commands attention on a wooden dock in a stylish olive-green embellished two-piece, perfectly framing her athletic figure.

37-year-old Kelley is a highly respected WWE backstage interviewer and on-screen personality on SmackDown. She first gained recognition as a host of AfterBuzz TV recaps before joining WWE in 2016 and debuting at NXT TakeOver: Dallas. After a brief hiatus in 2020 to pursue other interests, Kelley returned in 2022 and has since impressed fans with her quick wit and standout interviews. Additionally, it’s even been speculated that she could eventually step into the ring herself, having trained at the WWE Performance Center.

Former WCW star Van Hammer passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 66 in Boynton Beach, Florida, with his former colleague Marc Mero sharing the sad news on social media, with no cause of death disclosed. However,  Pro Wrestling Stories has since spoken to Van Hammer’s widow,  Diane Hildreth, who has divulged that he died jobless and alone, with the autopsy listing the official cause of death as complications of chronic ethanolism. This would stem from years of severe alcohol abuse despite his repeated attempts at sobriety.

“Diane Hildreth, who lived through those final years beside him, exclusively shared the details of his passing with Pro Wrestling Stories in June 2026 after waiting for his autopsy report to be completed. According to her, Mark Hildreth passed away on April 18, 2026, jobless and alone. The autopsy reported a 2.5-inch laceration on the back of his head, two fractured anterior ribs, and evidence of long-term substance dependency in the liver. The cause of death was recorded as complications of chronic ethanolism.” – Pro Wrestling Stories

Van Hammer, real name Mark Hildreth, born November 1, 1959, served in the U.S. Navy before training under Boris Malenko and joining WCW. Exploding onto the scene in 1991 as the heavily promoted “Heavy Metal” Van Hammer, a charismatic 6’6”, 280-pound rock star who debuted with a lightning-fast squash victories. Though blessed with impressive size and presence, he faced in-ring limitations and personal struggles that stalled his momentum, and he later departed the company. Still, he later returned as part of Raven’s Flock and the Misfits in Action, going on to tour Japan and working the independents before quietly retiring around 2009.

Hannibal has once again made headlines with his latest boundary-pushing stunt, with the outspoken wrestler-turned-YouTuber opting to stream his second penis enlargement surgery on the platform from a Miami hospital room. The Canadian wrestler framed the intimate elective procedure as the next chapter in his quest for self-improvement and even teased opening an OnlyFans. While some of his followers applauded his transparency, many critics flooded social media with shock and ridicule, calling him an attention seeker.

“This is my second operation. This is pure fun operations. Who knows? I may start an OnlyFans one day. But I think everyone wants to be bigger. You can look at all this — I mean, that’s what I’m going to be injected with today. And then I come back again, either six weeks or two months, and get my final operation, which is the lengthening. That’s basically where they release — everyone’s different — but there can be up to an inch, an inch and a half inside of you. I guess they release that. But they like to do the thickening first, prior to that. So that’s why I’m having shaft and glands thickening again today, as well as some injections in the balls just to get them nice and big and full.” – Hannibal

43-year-old Hannibal, real name Devon Nicholson, famously secured a $2.3 million lawsuit victory against WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher after contracting hepatitis C in a 2007 match, although whether he was ever paid is unclear. Therefore, it was somewhat ironic when he generated international headlines in 20021 after allegedly stabbing a referee in the ring in an attempt to get over his “Bloodhunter” gimmick. And while he is now focused on building his YouTube channel, he remains controversial, having feuded with many wrestlers far more famous than he is, including Ric Flair, after questioning his lifestyle.