Maria Kanellis Returns To WWE Alongside Husband Mike

The couple brought "the power of love" to Money In The Bank 2017.

by Andy H Murray
Money In The Bank Maria Kanellis
WWE.com

Maria Kanellis appeared on WWE programming for the first time in seven years when she and husband Mike Bennett debuted as a couple at last night's Money In The Bank pay-per-view.

Having been introduced as "Maria and Mike Kanellis," the former stated that she'd spent the past seven years "searching for the perfect partner," and found Mike. The duo announced they'd arrived to show everyone on SmackDown Live "the power of love," before making their exit to a bombastic '80s power ballad.

Rumours of the couple's imminent WWE signings started shortly after they were released from Impact Wrestling in March, with talk that they'd soon debut on SmackDown intensifying over the past few weeks. It finally paid-off last night, with Maria seemingly adopting a version of the 'First Lady' gimmick she'd previously used in Impact and Ring Of Honor.

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Maria has served as Mike's manager since December 2011, when she debuted in ROH. The two were married in 2014, and left ROH for Impact in January 2016, where Maria eventually became Knockouts Champion, and Mike scored the X Division Title.

Their WWE debut segment can be viewed below:-

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.