10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Maria Kanellis

8. Company Criticism

Maria Kanellis’ first WWE run came to an end in February 2010, and like countless other wrestlers who find themselves cut loose by the industry’s biggest company, she wasn’t shy in voicing her criticisms of the promotion.

Maria took part in a Highspots shoot interview shortly after her departure, ripping into the company for underpaying their employees, and their handling of women’s wrestling in general. She was particularly vociferous in decrying the Divas’ locker room for their apparent cliquishness, and the criticism continued over various post-WWE media appearances.

Women’s wrestling was, of course, a completely different scene during Maria’s initial run, and things have improved tenfold over the past few years. Still, it was hard to disagree with her as she bemoaned the division’s lack of television time, and stated that WWE were wasting a talented group by not allowing them to do more on camera.

WWE and Maria mended their rift a few years later, and given the way that women’s wrestling has evolved since then, they’d be hard pressed to find issue with her criticisms. Still, the company’s hierarchy are notoriously thin skinned, and they’d rather you thought their relationship with Maria had never been anything but harmonious.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.