Maria Kanellis Biography: Awards, TV Shows, Songs, Net Worth, WWE, Twitter, Height, Age, Spouse, Children

Maria Louise Kanellis, born on February 25, 1982, is an American professional wrestling manager, wrestler, singer, and model.

Widely recognized for her time in WWE, TNA, and Ring of Honor, she is known for her fiery personality, in-ring charisma, and contributions to women’s wrestling both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Profile

• Full Name: Maria Louise Kanellis
• Stage Name: Maria Kanellis
• Born: February 25, 1982
• Age: 43 years old
• Birthplace: Ottawa, Illinois, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Professional wrestling manager, wrestler, singer, model, producer
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
• Parent: Mr. Kanellis, Mrs. Kanellis
• Siblings: Bill Kanellis, Janny Kanellis
• Spouse: Mike Bennett
• Children: Frederick Michael Bennett, Carver Mars Bennett
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2.5 million

Early Life and Education

Maria Louise Kanellis was born on February 25, 1982, in Ottawa, Illinois, and she is 43 years old.

She was raised by Mr. Kanellis and Mrs. Kanellis alongside her siblings, Bill Kanellis and Janny Kanellis.

She is of Greek-American ethnicity and practices Christianity.

Maria was active in sports during high school, participating in volleyball, basketball, and track.

She attended Northern Illinois University, where she studied sports management before entering the entertainment world through modeling and television appearances.

Her breakthrough came when she competed in the 2004 WWE Diva Search, which launched her wrestling career.

Career

Maria began her wrestling journey after participating in the WWE Diva Search in 2004, where her bubbly personality and charm won fans over.

Although she didn’t win, WWE signed her to a contract, and she made her debut as a backstage interviewer on WWE Raw.

She transitioned into an in-ring performer, wrestling in various feuds and forming alliances with stars like Santino Marella, Ashley Massaro, andJohn Cena.

Maria became a fan favorite for her improvement in the ring and dynamic presence.

In 2009, she received the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year, and in 2010, she departed WWE to pursue other ventures, including modeling, acting, and music.

She released an EP titled Sevin Sins and appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Maria returned to wrestling through Ring of Honor (ROH) and Impact Wrestling (TNA), where she worked alongside her husband Mike Bennett, playing a managerial and in-ring role.

She gained respect for her character work and leadership, particularly as part of The Kingdom faction in ROH.

In 2017, Maria and Mike Bennett returned to WWE, appearing on SmackDown and later 205 Live.

She competed during the Women’s Evolution era, and in 2019, she became the first pregnant woman to win the WWE 24/7 Championship, creating a comedic yet historic moment.

After being released in 2020 due to company cutbacks, Maria returned to ROH, taking on a backstage and talent development role, helping to shape the Women’s Division.

In 2022, she and Mike Bennett joined AEW (All Elite Wrestling) as part of The Kingdom.

Awards and Nominations

• WWE Slammy Award – Diva of the Year (2009)
• First pregnant WWE 24/7 Champion (2019)
• Women of Honor innovator and talent producer (ROH)
• PWI Female 50 – Ranked multiple times
• Impact Knockouts Storyline Nominee (2016)

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @mariakanellis
• Facebook handle: Maria Kanellis Official
• Twitter handle: @MariaLKanellis

Personal Life

Maria Kanellis is married to professional wrestler Mike Bennett, whom she wed on October 10, 2014. The couple share two children, Frederick Michael Bennett (born 2018) and Carver Mars Bennett (born 2020).

She was previously in a romantic relationship with CM Punk, American professional wrestler from 2005 to 2006.

Regarding her height, Maria Kanellis stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall which is approximately (170 cm) and is admired for her bold fashion, strong voice, and passionate views on women’s representation in wrestling.

Discography

Music:

• Sevin Sins (EP, 2010)

Television:

• WWE Raw, SmackDown, 205 Live, ROH TV, TNA Impact, AEW
• The Celebrity Apprentice (2010)
• Family Feud (WWE edition)

Video Games:

• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
• WWE 2K20 (DLC content)

Net Worth

Maria Kanellis has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million, earned through her wrestling career, music, TV appearances, brand endorsements, and executive roles in wrestling promotions.

She remains a vocal and active figure in the industry, committed to building platforms for future female talent.