wrestling / News

UPDATEx2: ROH Confirms Official Contract Signings for Mike Bennett & Maria Kanellis

April 15, 2021 | Posted by Joseph Lee
Mike and Maria Kanellis WWE 205 LIve

UPDATE 2: Ring of Honor has now made the news of Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis re-signing official with the following announcements:

MIKE BENNETT RE-SIGNS WITH ROH

Ring of Honor is pleased to announce that Mike Bennett has re-signed with the company.

Bennett returned to ROH last fall after a five-year absence and reunited with longtime best friend Matt Taven to form The OGK.

Having overcome personal demons and professional frustration during his time away from ROH, Bennett has shown that he’s better than ever.

Bennett’s roots in ROH run deep. He won ROH’s first Top Prospect Tournament in 2011 and went on to form The Kingdom, which would become one of ROH’s top factions, with his girlfriend (now wife) Maria Kanellis, Matt Hardy and Adam Cole.

Taven later joined The Kingdom, and he and Bennett won the ROH World Tag Team Championship and New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

MARIA KANELLIS-BENNETT RE-SIGNS WITH ROH

Ring of Honor is pleased to announce that Maria Kanellis-Bennett has re-signed with the company.

The First Lady of Professional Wrestling returned to ROH in December after a five-year absence to announce the launch of ROH The Experience and her involvement in the groundbreaking fan-engagement initiative. She will continue to play a vital role behind the scenes in ROH in addition to being an on-air talent.

Kanellis-Bennett made her ROH debut in 2011 and went on to be a founding member of The Kingdom, which would become one of ROH’s top factions, with her boyfriend (now husband) Mike Bennett, Matt Hardy and Adam Cole.

After Matt Taven joined The Kingdom, Kanellis-Bennett led him and Bennett to the ROH World Tag Team Championship and New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. She also wrestled on occasion.

Outside of pro wrestling, the former WWE Diva of the Year has appeared in reality shows, including “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and graced the cover of Playboy.

UPDATE: Fightful Select spoke with Mike Bennett about the news that he has signed a deal with ROH today. Bennett said that he and Maria Kanellis signed completely new contracts with ROH. This replaces the original agreement they had, which Maria had previously said would keep them in the company until June.

Original: PWInsider reports that Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett have officially signed with Ring of Honor after making their return last year. The two revealed the news during an interview with the website that has yet to be published. ROH is expected to make an official announcement soon.