TNA Sends Support to Rebel Amid ALS Battle

TNA Wrestling paused its Thursday Night iMPACT broadcast on July 30 to send a message of love and support to Tanea Brooks, the former Knockouts competitor known to fans as Rebel, who is currently battling ALS.

During a break in the show, commentators Tom Hannifan and Matthew Rehwoldt took time to address Brooks directly, reminding viewers that she remains part of the TNA family regardless of how much time has passed since her run with the company. Brooks first appeared in TNA in 2013 and stayed through 2016, then returned for a series of appearances in 2017 and 2018. She became a recognizable presence in the Knockouts division and through her association with The Menagerie stable.

Brooks revealed earlier this year that she is facing a terminal ALS diagnosis, which came in March 2026 after she had already been dealing with primary pulmonary lymphoma, a rare form of lung cancer. She has since disclosed that the disease has begun to affect her speech and mobility, a difficult reality for any performer whose career was built on physical expression and in-ring communication.

Despite the severity of her diagnosis, Brooks has redirected her platform toward advocacy, serving as an ambassador for I AM ALS and pushing for greater awareness and research funding around the disease. That work has resonated throughout the wrestling community, which has increasingly rallied behind her in recent months.

Much of that support has come from AEW, where Brooks has been a fixture since the promotion’s launch in 2019. AEW previously announced it will dedicate a special ‘Rebel Heart’ edition of Dynamite on September 9 in Athens, Georgia, with proceeds from the event going toward I AM ALS and the Team Gleason foundation, another organization focused on assisting people living with ALS.

TNA’s tribute adds another layer to that show of solidarity, underscoring how far Brooks’ impact has traveled across a career that touched multiple promotions rather than just one locker room. It’s a reminder that even in an industry defined by competition and rival brands, moments like this tend to bring the wrestling world together rather than divide it.

As Brooks continues her fight, both TNA and AEW appear intent on keeping her story visible, not just for the sake of nostalgia, but to keep pushing awareness of ALS into the mainstream wrestling conversation. Expect more gestures of support to follow as September’s charity event approaches.

Everybody at TNA would like to send all of our love and support to @RebelTanea. pic.twitter.com/a2IrcQrtz6

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) July 31, 2026