The life of a professional wrestler often plays out in the public eye, but some battles are more real than the ones fought inside the ring. Today, former WWE star Maria Kanellis shared one of those personal fights, revealing a recent health scare.
In a post on X/Twitter, Kanellis announced she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mole from her leg. She confirmed the diagnosis was for “type 0 skin cancer,” which was thankfully caught early. Sharing photos from her hospital bed, she noted the procedure would leave her with a “beautiful 3 inch scar” and explained that an eye drawn on her leg pre-surgery was meant “to keep away bad spirits.”
Kanellis used her experience to issue an important public service announcement, writing, “PSA: get your moles checked!!!”
This health update comes during a significant period of transition for Kanellis. Her contract with AEW officially ended on January 31 of this year, where she had been managing in Ring of Honor. Just last week, she posted on Instagram about embarking on a “totally new career” and explained she had been “MIA” recently.
Despite feeling “draining” and “exhausted” from the ordeal, Kanellis remains engaged with her audience, turning a personal challenge into a powerful message of awareness.