All Elite Wrestling aired a tribute to wrestler Tanea “Rebel” Brooks following her announcement that she has been diagnosed with “terminal” amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“You probably know by social media that one of our fine athletes has some very serious health problems,” announcer Tony Schiavone told viewers on the Saturday, May 2, episode of AEW Collision. “We want [Tanea] to know you are big part of AEW and we are thinking about you right now and we are praying for you, that you will pull through.”
Schiavone, 68, mentioned that there were “a lot of signs” from fans attending AEW Collision at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois, offering encouragement to Brooks, 47. (The wrestler has competed under the name “Rebel” during her six years with All Elite Wrestling.)
“Rebel, we hope you’ll get better. Pray for Rebel,” Schiavone added. “My dear, we’re thinking about you. She’s a wonderful young lady.”
Brooks shared with her social media followers on Friday, May 1, that she was recently diagnosed with “terminal ALS,” a nervous system disease that impacts the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS — which is alternatively known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or Motor Neurone Disease — causes a gradual loss of ability to control speech, breathing and eating. There is no known cure.
The wrestler has been on a longterm health journey, having battled primary pulmonary lymphoma, a rare type of lung cancer, since 2024. In Friday’s vlog, Brooks explained that recent developments in her cancer fight led doctors to discover that she has ALS.
“The thing is, sometimes we don’t want to hear that answer to our prayers. And so, while I was waiting to have lung surgery for the masses on my lung, the doctors at Mayo [Clinic] finally found what’s going on,” she told viewers.
Brooks admitted that her medical team “do[es] not know how long” she has to live since “there is not a lot of research behind ALS.”
“It explains why I have trouble walking and talking [and] all my functions will soon decline. But now, we can prepare for the future and what is to come,” she acknowledged.
Tanea Brooks Courtesy Instagram / Tanea Brooks
The 12-year pro wrestling veteran personally thanked All Elite Wrestling owner Tony Khan for supporting her through her health problems.
“I want to say thank you to Tony Khan and AEW for supporting me on this medical journey,” a tearful Brooks said. “It has been a blessing that is unheard of and, from the bottom of my heart, thank you and thank you to all of you for your prayers.”
She asked fans to keep her in their thoughts, saying, “Please continue to pray for a peaceful journey and a peaceful passing. I love you.”
Brooks received overwhelming support from wrestlers signed to both AEW and its competitor WWE, with former WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill writing to her, “Sending you all the love. My prayers are with you Rebel.”
“Sending you nothing but love. We will keep you in our prayers,” former AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara vowed in the Instagram comments section.
AEW wrestler and executive vice president Matt Jackson also shared well-wishes, writing, “Nothing but love.”
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