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Mike Kanellis has returned to in-ring action at a NXT live event in Melbourne, FL.
Mike Kanellis and Tony Nese defeated Nick Ogarelli and Mohamed Fahim in a tag-team match at the event.
@marykayfabe look who I get to see @RealMikeBennett #NXTMelbourne pic.twitter.com/s8gaRgHVjW
— Mia Simmons (@Poohbaby925) January 18, 2020
It was Tony Time tonight at #NXTMelbourne pic.twitter.com/e7yN2bSj6l
— Dane Creque (@DaneCreque) January 18, 2020
Kannelis has been absent from WWE since requesting his release from the company in October.
Mike has not appeared on television since September. In October he posted a message on Twitter indicating he has requested his release from the company, months after signing new five-year contracts.
Today I asked for my release from WWE. I want to thank everyone in the company who has helped me out and who I have shared a locker room with. I love you all. I’ve been with the company for almost 3 years and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. However it is time for me to move on. I am only 34 years old and feel I have way to much left in the tank. Working 1 day a week is just not going to cut it for me. I came to WWE to work and that opportunity does not exist right now. I re-signed with the company back in June because I thought it was what was best for my family, and maybe from a financial standpoint it was. But I quickly realized that bringing my work frustrations and misery home with me, is not good for my family and I no longer want my daughter to constantly see me come home defeated, sad and angry. It’s not fair to her or my wife. Being a pro wrestler was and is my lifelong dream and I’m just not ready to give that up yet. I wasted 4 years of my life addicted to drugs and not caring, when I should have been having the best matches of my life. Now that I am clean, sober and motivated, I want to have those 30 minute matches. I want to travel the world and wrestle in front of UK crowds, German crowds, Japanese Crowds. I want to feel the love and excitement wrestling once gave me. I also want my daughter to be able to see me wrestle. I want her to see her daddy work for his money. I’ve never been ok with just collecting a paycheck and I can’t in good conscience tell my daughter she has to work her ass off to get ahead in life, then not do it myself. I don’t know what the future holds, but for the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful and excited. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me and had my back. I love you.
It’s unknown if Kannelis will be featured on NXT television going forward.