First it was Drew Galloway. Then tag champions Matt and Jeff Hardy. Now it looks like Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett are the next to leave TNA.
According to Mike Johnson at PWInsider, both have decided to not re-sign after their contracts recently expired. The report states they are finished and will not be appearing on the tapings set to tape just two days from now.
The couple debuted on Impact in January of 2016 and were both featured players in the last year. Maria Kanellis was a major part of the Knockouts division as the division’s top heel, breathing much needed life into that division. Bennett, who was nicknamed the Miracle, had a big feud with EC3 early last year, being the first person to ever pin him. He also had feuds with Moose and Cody Rhodes. (And as the person who reviewed Impact the last two years, I found both Maria and the Miracle very entertaining their tenure in TNA.)
The exodus of wrestlers who were featured heavily last year like the Hardys, Drew Galloway, and Maria and Mike Bennett are likely to give fans pause concerning new management. It could always just be business, but having news of talent leaving daily, it’s not a good look.
It also leaves a hole of talent that needs to be filled. Former TNA wrestler Matt Morgan has recently said he’ll be back on TV and it’s easy to guess that will be Impact. But they’ll need to sign more to replace who they’ve lost, especially an act like the Hardys who were clearly TNA’s biggest draw.
Stay tuned.