WWE Rumor Roundup - Bayley breaks up with AEW star, Backstage reaction to Superstar mentioning AEW on RAW, 3-Time Champion coming out of retirement?- 21st February 2021

#2. Kevin Owens "fought" for WWE to sign Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis

Mike and Maria Kanellis in WWE

Maria Kanellis was a guest on the Dropkick podcast, and the former WWE Superstar spoke about Kevin Owens' influence in her WWE return.

Kanellis revealed that Owens went out of his way to get the couple signed by WWE. Maria Kanellis returned to the WWE with her husband, Mike Bennett. WWE pushed them as an on-screen couple, but their WWE stint quickly went off the rails.

Kanellis even added that Owens apologizes to them for their WWE run to this very day.

"Kevin Owens was fighting for us to come into WWE, he still apologizes, but the plan was to build Mike as a singles wrestler."

Maria Kanellis revealed that the original plan was for Mike to be pushed as a singles Superstar. However, Maria's pregnancy and Mike's struggles with addiction forced WWE to change its plans.

"Somewhere along the way, and I have a feeling it has a lot to do with him coming out with his addiction and then me announcing that I was pregnant. I think they just kind of took a step back from us and everything they wanted to do with us, but I say this to Mike all the time that the second week we were there, we were already dead in the water." H/t Danial Ali From The DropKick Podcast

Never say never. No I don’t like or watch WWE as a company but I do keep up with the amazing talent over there. All the wrestlers there keep WWE afloat, that are incredibly hard working & not “soft.” ROH is on different times depending on the area you live. https://t.co/Lgrdzt8kb1

— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) February 1, 2021

Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis returned to Ring of Honor following their WWE release.