Tanea Brooks, known to wrestling fans as Rebel, announced in an emotional video on Sunday that she has been diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma, a form of cancer in the lungs.
The diagnosis comes after a challenging 18-month health battle that Brooks revealed was based on an initial misdiagnosis.
Brooks, 47, first shared news of her health struggles in May 2024, when she was hospitalised for what doctors believed was cryptococcal pneumonia, which she described as “fungal masses on my lungs.”
In her video posted to X, she explained that the treatment had not worked.
“I went a year on antifungals and, after a year… I was not getting better,” Brooks said. “After a year of not getting better, I decided to go to the Mayo Clinic… and they found that it was not cryptococcal pneumonia this whole time, and that it is primary pulmonary lymphoma.”
She added a note of optimism, stating, “If there is a best-case scenario, then I have it, so that’s good.”
Along with the cancer diagnosis, Brooks revealed she is also battling a serious secondary condition.
Along this tumultuous journey, I have picked up a little disorder called functional neurological disorder [FND], and it has taken my ability to walk. I now walk with a walker, and it has also affected my ability to speak clearly.
Brooks detailed the impact of the FND, which affects the nervous system’s ability to send and receive signals. “I’ve also lost some ability and function in my right hand,” she said. “I kind of have like a claw hand, and it’s hard for me to use my right, dominant hand.”
Brooks outlined a two-pronged recovery plan. Starting Monday, November 17, she will begin an intensive, full-time rehabilitation programme to combat the FND and regain motor function.
Her cancer treatment, however, must wait.
“To address the cancer… I have a very serious infection right now, so I’m on I.V. antibiotics, and I have to clear this infection first before I can address the cancer,” she explained.
She is hopeful she can clear the infection in December and undergo a third bronchoscopy to determine the specific course of treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.
“Hopefully I’ll be keeping you posted on my journey,” she told her followers. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.”
Health update. Asking for your prayers and support 🙏🏼. I hope to keep you updated in my rehab journey. #lymphoma #cancer #nonhodgkinslymphoma #lungs #fnd #css #mycobacteriumabscessus #rebel pic.twitter.com/hi9fzKZQ9j
— REBEL (@RebelTanea) November 16, 2025
Tanea Brooks, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, began her mainstream wrestling career in TNA in 2014 as part of The Menagerie stable.
She is best known for her run in All Elite Wrestling. She became a popular comedic figure as “Reba,” the long-suffering assistant to Britt Baker, accompanying her through Baker’s rise and eventual AEW Women’s World Championship reign.
More recently, she transitioned from the ring to a role in AEW’s makeup department.
