Professional wrestler Tanea Brooks, who competed under the ring name Rebel, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with terminal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The announcement was made this week, marking the end of a prolonged and challenging medical journey.
Understanding ALS
ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare and incurable degenerative condition that progressively impairs the nervous system, leading to increasing muscle paralysis. Approximately half of those diagnosed with ALS have a life expectancy of three years after symptoms first appear, although some individuals may survive for decades.
Brooks' Health Struggles
Before receiving her ALS diagnosis, Brooks endured years of health issues. Initially, doctors attributed her symptoms to cryptococcal pneumonia before discovering a rare form of lung cancer. In November 2025, she also disclosed that she had developed functional neurological disorder (FND), which left her reliant on a walker and affected her speech and motor skills.
On Friday, Brooks shared that physicians at the Mayo Clinic had informed her of the terminal ALS diagnosis. In an emotional Instagram video, she stated, "It's been a two-year medical journey trying to find out what is wrong, and finally, our prayers have been answered." She added, "The thing is, sometimes we don't wanna hear that answer to our prayers."
Brooks expressed gratitude to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its founder Tony Khan for their support throughout her medical ordeal, describing it as "a blessing that is unheard of." She also thanked her fans, saying, "Please continue to pray for a peaceful journey and a peaceful passing. I love you."
Previous Diagnoses
In November 2025, Brooks revealed that she had been diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma, a rare lung cancer, the previous year. She also shared her battle with FND, which had significantly impacted her mobility and speech.
ALS in the Public Eye
Brooks' diagnosis comes less than three months after the death of actor Eric Dane, known for his role as "McSteamy" on Grey's Anatomy, who succumbed to ALS. Other notable figures affected by the disease include Sandra Bullock's partner Bryan Randall, SpongeBob SquarePants creator Stephen Hillenburg, physicist Stephen Hawking, singer Roberta Flack, actor David Niven, and actor Sam Shepard. Former NFL player Steve Gleason continues to live with ALS since his diagnosis in 2011.
