AEW’s Rebel (Tanea Brooks) Reveals Terminal ALS Diagnosis

AEW performer Rebel (Tanea Brooks) announced on May 1, 2026 that she has been diagnosed with terminal ALS after a two-year medical search. In a social media video, Brooks said doctors at the Mayo Clinic made the diagnosis while she was awaiting lung surgery; she explained the condition accounts for recent trouble walking and talking and asked fans for prayers for a peaceful journey and passing, also thanking Tony Khan and AEW for their support.

Brooks’ health struggles date to May 2024 when she was hospitalized for a lung mass initially treated as pneumonia; she underwent surgery to remove a tumor in June 2025 and was later diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma in November 2025, entering an inpatient rehabilitation program in February. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and Brooks said while there is little research on the disease, the diagnosis at least allows her and her family to prepare for the future.

Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aews-rebel-reveals-terminal-als-diagnosis/