Maria Kanellis
She blended glamour with grit, evolving from a WWE 'Diva' into a respected wrestler and powerful advocate for women in the industry.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American professional wrestler, manager, singer and model·Birthday: February 25·Millennials
Biography
Maria Kanellis entered the WWE universe through the 2004 *Raw* Diva Search, initially framed as the archetype of glamour. But she possessed a fierce determination to be more than a backdrop. She leveraged her early fame into developing real in-ring skill, becoming a capable competitor and a standout manager whose 'Power of Love' gimmick was both catchy and effective. After navigating the peaks and valleys of WWE and TNA, Kanellis emerged as a potent voice for change. Her return to WWE in 2017, alongside her husband Mike Bennett, coincided with her own pregnancy, and she publicly challenged the company's former classification of female talent as 'Divas,' advocating for better maternity policies. Today, as a promoter and performer, she represents a generation of wrestlers who fought to redefine what a woman's role in the business could be.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Maria was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maria Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Maria's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the WWE Divas Championship in 2010, defeating Michelle McCool.
- Became one of the first women to sign with Ring of Honor, helping to elevate its women's division.
- Co-founded the wrestling promotion Women's Wrestling Army (WWA) with her husband.
- Was a featured cast member on the reality television series 'The Celebrity Apprentice 5'.
Did You Know?
She released a pop single called 'Fantasy' in 2009, which was used as an entrance theme in WWE.
She and her husband Mike Bennett were the first married couple in WWE history to be granted contractual maternity/paternity leave.
She is an avid fan of the band Hanson and has attended dozens of their concerts.
She posed for Playboy magazine in 2008, and the cover was used in a WWE storyline.
“I fought to be seen as more than just a pretty face.”
