10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Maria Kanellis

4. Criticising Donald Trump

WWE love Donald Trump. The 45th President of the United States first became affiliated with the company when he sponsored WrestleMania IV in 1988, and their positive relationship has persisted ever since. He popped up as a face in the crowd at ‘Mania VII, and in 2007, Trump was booked in a feud against Vince McMahon, culminating with Vince being shaved bald before the live crowd at WrestleMania 23.

In 2010, the WWE/Trump relationship facilitated Maria’s presence as a contestant on Donald’s Celebrity Apprentice show. She placed fifth out of 14 total contestants, but as Trump understandably caught flak for his obnoxious “locker room talk” ahead of the 2016 presidential election, Maria spoke out on the way she’d allegedly been treated as a cast member.

Maria stated that Trump became obsessed with a mole on her shoulder, highlighting it as an imperfection, and telling her to have it removed. Kanellis obviously took umbrage with this, but given Linda McMahon current sits on the presidential cabinet, the company are no doubt pretending that this minor clash never happened.

Ironically, the reason Maria was fired from the Celebrity Apprentice was for treating Trump’s boardroom “like a locker room.”

You can’t make this stuff up.

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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.