Maria Kanellis, American professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Maria Louis Kanellis-Bennett (born February 25, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling manager, actress, model and singer, currently appearing in Impact Wrestling, and is known for her time with Ring of Honor (ROH). She is best known for her time in WWE. She is also known for her 2008 Playboy magazine pictorial and 2010 appearances on the Celebrity Apprentice television series.
Kanellis' career began as a contestant on the reality show Outback Jack in 2004. In the same year, she placed fifth in the Diva Search, and was later hired by WWE as a backstage interviewer. Kanellis began competing in the ring as a professional wrestler in 2005 and received the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year in 2009. She released her debut album Sevin Sins in 2010 and departed WWE that year. After departing WWE, she worked for Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), often appearing with her husband Mike Bennett. In TNA, she is a former TNA Knockouts Champion. Along with Bennett, she returned to WWE from 2017 to 2020 and held the WWE 24/7 Championship once. She is also the first ever pregnant champion in WWE history.
1982Feb, 25
Maria Kanellis
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Events on 1982
- 4May
Falklands War
Twenty sailors are killed when the British Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield is hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile during the Falklands War. - 25May
Falklands War
HMS Coventry is sunk during the Falklands War. - 6Jun
Operation Peace for the Galilee
The Lebanon War begins. Forces under Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon invade southern Lebanon during Operation Peace for the Galilee, eventually reaching as far north as the capital Beirut. - 11Sep
1982 Invasion of Lebanon
The international forces that were guaranteeing the safety of Palestinian refugees following Israel's 1982 Invasion of Lebanon leave Beirut. Five days later, several thousand refugees are massacred in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps by Phalange forces. - 14Oct
War on Drugs
U.S. President Ronald Reagan proclaims a War on Drugs.