Maria Kanellis, known for her time in WWE, ROH, and AEW, left Tony Khan’s promotion unexpectedly at the end of January 2025. Since stepping away from wrestling, she has launched her own businesses and embraced motherhood. Recently, during an appearance on “Wrestling Life Hall of Fame,” Maria shared insights about her current life and future plans.
“I’m not very involved with wrestling at all right now. That’s not to say the door is closed, but I’m really enjoying what I’m doing,” she explained.
Maria has ventured into the florist industry and event management, and she’s also working on a book. She admitted that her exit from wrestling wasn’t how she envisioned it, and it took time to come to terms with the sudden end to her wrestling career.
“It just kind of abruptly ended, and it took me a long time to move past that and be like, ‘But I spent 20 years in it. Why don’t I have this send-off?’ And I didn’t. I didn’t have a send-off. Which is fine. It took me a while to accept it, but now I’m thankful for it because it gave me the opportunity to try other things and be involved with other things,” Kanellis said.
She emphasized the importance of closure but noted that no wrestling company has approached her with an offer that excites her so far.
“If something comes along that I think will bring me joy, or it gives me the opportunity to work with my Kingdom one more time, that would be it,” she added.
If quoting from this piece, please credit “Wrestling Life Hall of Fame” and acknowledge Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: Maria Kanellis’s departure highlights the unpredictable nature of careers in professional wrestling and underscores the challenges athletes face when transitioning to life beyond the ring. Her openness about seeking meaningful opportunities signals potential future collaborations that could inspire fans and bring fresh energy to the sport.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
