Maria Kanellis Reflects on Michelle McCool’s Impact and Hall of Fame Induction

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Former WWE star Maria Kanellis opened up about her experiences in the ring during an appearance on the podcast “Adult Conversations,” focusing on her match with Michelle McCool and her contributions to women’s wrestling.

Kanellis recalled her notable match with McCool, stating, “I always talk about this match that I had with Michelle McCool. To me, it was super important because I wasn’t having all these title matches, and someone came up and said it was their favorite match that I was ever in. I thought to myself, ‘Yeah, that was really so much fun.’”

She praised McCool’s dedication to her craft, emphasizing the effort she put into achieving success in the wrestling world. “She deserves her flowers because she worked so very hard. She worked harder than anybody to get it right, to get the wrestling right,” Kanellis said.

In addition to reminiscing about their match, Kanellis expressed excitement for McCool’s recent induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. “I would go with her before the house shows, and we would get there early so that we could get it right,” she said, highlighting their collaborative efforts in preparation for performances.

Kanellis acknowledged McCool’s advocacy for women in wrestling: “Now, Michelle McCool is going into the Hall of Fame, and she fought for the women to get more time, she fought to be able to do bigger moves, she fought for more exposure,” Kanellis stated. “She fought, and I’m just so incredibly blessed that I had such good people to work with.”

The full interview and Kanellis’ heartfelt reflections can be viewed online.