The trio of Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven, known collectively as The Kingdom, recently made their AEW debuts during the recent episode of Rampage in Toronto, as the team made a challenge to FTR for the ROH World Tag Team Titles. According to a new report from Fightful Select, FTR themselves pushed for The Kingdom to be involved in the ROH Tag Team division, although they were unsure of the context behind FTR’s request.
During the time of their initial appearance on AEW Rampage, Bennett and Taven were still canonically the IMPACT Tag Team Champions, although they had recently dropped the titles at the Bound For Glory tapings, however these were yet to air at the time. Fightful Select have now provided an insight into the trio’s contract status following their departure from IMPACT, noting that whilst they weren’t tied to a deal with the company at the time of their Rampage appearance, this has now changed.
“Upon their first appearance, they weren’t actually inked to contracts. Since then, we’re told that all three have signed multi-year contracts with All Elite Wrestling.”
-Fightful
Prior to signing with AEW, WWE were rumoured to be interested in signing Matt Taven, with Fightful Select also noting that Bennett and Kanellis have spoken to their former employers in recent weeks, however they’re currently aware of any formal offers having been made.
Despite speaking openly about being open to helping book in ROH or the women’s division, Fightful are reporting that as of writing, Maria Kanellis is only contracted to AEW/ROH as a talent. Her recent AEW appearance now means that Kanellis joins Awesome Kong and Brandi Rhodes as the only women to have appeared for AEW, ROH, WWE, IMPACT, and NJPW.
