Not even gonna do the “we haven’t seen Britt Baker since…” bit. If you’re looking for the latest on what we know about the DMD and AEW, head here.
This is about Tanea “Rebel” Brooks, the former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader many of us first saw during the 2010s while she was with TNA, and who later charmed a lot of us as Baker’s put-upon assistant in the early days of Tony Khan’s start-up. She’s been missing from AEW screens for even longer than Britt. In Rebel’s case, we knew it was health problems.
Sadly, a couple months back, Rebel found out the underlying cause of many of her issues: terminal ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
When I was younger, we always called it Lou Gehrig’s disease. For non-baseball fans and the younger crowd, ALS may be more closely associated with that old 2014 internet trend The Ice Bucket Challenge, which was an ALS awareness and fundraising effort.
Rebel’s taken the personality and spirit that got her over in the days when Baker could never get her name right into the rest of her life, which she seems dedicated to using to raise awareness of and money for ALS. It just so happens the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a bit of a comeback.
You probably see where I’m going with this (or you read the stuff at the top in bigger letters). Rebel posted a video of herself getting a bucket of ice dumped on her by a surprise guest, and tagging an impressive list of big wrestling and football names in the process.
Britt’s wasn’t one of those names, but she’d already been challenged by AEW and ROH’s Capt. Shawn Dean, so she sat for an ice cold soaking. First, she threw out her own impressive list of names — a list that it’s nice to see includes lots of folks at AEW, and her ex Adam Cole (BAY BAY). Baker and Cole said they were still friends, so it wasn’t that or anything. I’m just hoping this means Cole’s feeling okay, even if it seems he’ll never wrestle again.
Another guest makes an appearance to help Rebel with the bucket dumping, the one and only Gail Kim! But before that happens the DMD and her assistant conspire to add one more name… Britt’s old rival, in Lights Out Steel Cage matches and resolved (we think?) backstage beefs, Thunder Rosa!
We’ll see if CM Punk, Troy Aikman, Renee Paquette with special guest Jon Moxley or Thunder Rosa take the challenge. You can keep up with Rebel’s journey and learn more about ALS on her social media, where she shares “Tanea’s Tidbits” with the help of many familiar faces from her past
You can also buy a shirt or bracelet from AEW; all proceeds go to the ALS fight.
Of course, you can always just keep a good thought for Rebel and everyone with ALS. Or all of the above!
* Right before the internet turned heel, and epic storyline humanity is still mired in to this day.
