Part 21 of an in depth look at the growth of women’s wrestling, from noted ring historian The Phantom of the Ring.

The Phantom of the Ring

Lipstick, Dynamite and Glowworms Part 21

State of the Divas: The Models

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A  Happy Accident

When it looked like there would be a long wait until the WWF re-instituted a Women’s Division, along came Sable, whose sudden and unexpected popularity led not only to the reestablishment of a Women’s Title, but also the importation of female wrestlers and performers to work with her. Jacqueline and Luna were brought in as competition, while the arrival of Chyna added even more to the mix. McMahon also cut ties with the past in fully integrating the women into the WWF, instead of merely segregating them, as he had done in the past. The women were now featured in the backstage sketches as well as having angles not primarily concerned with their next match built around them. Women would eventually challenge and hold traditional male belts such as the Intercontinental Title, the Cruiserweight title and the Hardcore Title.

Sable coined the term “Diva” when she referred to herself in that light, and the WWF quickly adopted the term. But it remained to be seen if the Women’s Division could survive the trauma of a star leaving the promotion, which took place when Sable left. In the past, the firing of Wendi Richter and the defection of Madusa all but killed women’s wrestling in the WWF, but with the arrival of such stars as Lita, who brought a more lucha style, and Trish Stratus, who brought not only good looks but an excellent work ethic, the Women’s Division not only survived, but thrived, as McMahon pushed the envelope for higher ratings by incorporating the Divas into more risqué vignettes and angles.

It got to the point where the Women’s Division became self-sustaining, successfully surviving the departure of Chyna and the absence of Lita due to injury. New faces, such as Gail Kim, Jazz, Ivory, Molly Holly and Victoria were brought in and the stable actually grew stronger as the work rate improved. Non-wrestling Divas, such as Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keibler, Dawn Marie Psaltis and Christy Hemme were also brought in, often competing in matches billed as “Pillow Fights,” Bikini Contests,” “Bra and Panties” matches, and “Lingerie” matches, along with the other Divas, living up to the company’s new name of World Wide Entertainment (WWE) and drawing criticism for its misogyny in treating women as sex objects in the angles involving divas. The connection with Playboy has also come under fire; since 2003, a WWE Diva has posed and appeared on the the magazine’s cover every year. (More interesting is the number of Divas that have refused to pose, including Lita, Debra, Stacy Keibler, Sharmell, Trish Stratus, and Melina. Stratus refused because she wanted to be known as a wrestler rather than someone who posed in Playboy. Lita cited the fact that posing conflicted with her character. Keibler refused, saying that some things are better left to one’s imagination.)

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In addition, the issue of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination has also been a major issue. When Rena Mero left in 1999, she filed a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment and the rights to the “Sable” name. Former Divas Nicole Bass and Amy Weber have also filed sexual harassment suits. Dawn Marie Psaltis filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Commission over being released by the company while on maternity leave.

In order to keep a steady supply of talent, WWE joined with MTV in creating a reality show called Tough Enough, where the male and female winners would be given WWE contracts.  Unfortunately, none of the female winners during the show’s four seasons of the show lasted, or even made a real impact with WWE. In 2004, WWE shifted direction with respect to its Divas by signing the winner (and a few of the runners-up), of its “Diva Search Contest” to WWE contracts. As wrestling ability was not necessary, or even required, to win the contest, the quality of  women’s wrestling declined in the WWE. A purge in 2004 removed such talent as Jacqueline, Jazz and Gail Kim from the roster, further weakening the stable. In 2005, Ivory and Molly Holly left, followed in 2006 by the retirement of Trish Stratus and Lita.

As of 2008, however, the pendulum seems to be swinging back the other way. The arrival of Beth Phoenix, Katie Lea Burchill and Nattie Neidhart, along with the development of Victoria and Melina  seems to be moving the Women’s Division back into the business of wrestling, though it will always be wrapped in lingerie.

In any case, the influence of WWE on women’s wrestling has been extensive, as the promotions have moved from the hardcore standard adopted in Japan to a more T & A presentation. This is the foreseeable future, whether we agree with it or not. Down the road, who knows? Perhaps women’s wrestling will branch off into MMA, as is beginning to happen in Japan. It will all depend on the finicky taste of the public.

In taking a look at the current WWE Diva scene, I am breaking down the Divas into three categories: the models, the workers and the wrestlers. We will examine the models first.

The Models

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Christy Hemme (Born Christina Lee Hemme October 28, 1980, in Poway, California) began her career as a model, appearing in magazines and on television commercials. She was also featured on Comedy Central’s The Man Show as part of “The Jiggy Dance Squad.”

In summer, 2004, Hemme entered and won the WWE Diva Search Contest, the prize being a one year contract worth $250,000 with WWE. Her first angle was a feud with runner-up Carmella DeCesare that led to a “lingerie pillow fight” at the October 19, 2004, Taboo Tuesday PPV.

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In 2005 her angles included feuds with Trish Stratus for the Women’s Championship, and Victoria (who defeated her at the June 26, 2005, Vengeance PPV). She and Stacy Keibler were moved to SmackDown! on August 25, 2005, with Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson moving to Raw. Hemme then began a feud with Melina (the valet of MNM at the time) and allied herself with the Legion of Doom. They defeated MNM at the October 9th No Mercy PPV, with Hemme pinning Melina.  The feud with Melina ended in late November as Hemme was sent to the developmental Ohio Valley Wrestling, where she worked with Beth Phoenix and Shelly Martinez. WWE released her that December, citing budget cuts.

Hemme signed with TNA in April, 2006, and made her debut on April 23 at the Lockdown PPV. She worked as a commentator and referee, and won the TNA 2006 “Knockout of the Year” contest. In November, 2006, she appeared for the Queens of Chaos promotion in France.

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Hemme made her TNA wrestling debut at the February 11, 2007, Against All Odds PPV, defeating “The Big Fat Oily Guy” in a “Tuxedo” match. but after his match Kip James (Monte “Kip” Sopp, aka Billy Gunn) stripped her. This led to a feud between her and The Voodoo Kin Mafia (B.G. James and Kip James, formerly WWE’s New Age Outlaws) with Hemme recruiting tag teams to do her fighting. She joined with Jimmy Rave (James Guffey) and Lance Hoyt to form The Rock ‘n Rave Connection. In January, 2007, they entered into a feud with LAX and their “assailant,” who was later revealed to be Shelly Martinez.

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TNAWrestling.com — photos by Lee South

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On the singles front, Hemme took part in a “Knockouts Battle Royal” for the TNA Women’s title at the October 14, 2007, Bound for Glory PPV. She was quickly eliminated by Awesome Kong (Kia Stevens).

At the April 13, 2008, Lockdown PPV, Hemme was a participant in the first “Queen of the Cage” match, along with Roxxi Laveaux (Nicole Raczynski), Angelina Love (Angel Williams), Velvet Sky (Jamie Szantyr), Salinas (Shelly Martinez), Rhaka Khan (Trenesha Biggers), Traci Brooks (Tracy Brookshaw), Jacqueline (Jacqueline Moore). Laveaux won the match when she pinned Love. At the the next month’s Sacrifice PPV (May 11) she was booked in a “Knockouts Make Over Battle Royal,” won by Gail Kim. As of this writing she is still working for TNA, and training to improve her wrestling skills.

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Candice Michelle (Born Candice Michelle Beckman September 30, 1978, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin), also began as a model. She studied Theater Arts at Santa Monica College in California and appeared in small roles on such shows as Party of Five and 7th Heaven, in addition to movies such as A Man Apart and Anger Management. As a model she appeared in various car and bodybuilding magazines. She has also served as the model for the “Go Daddy” television commercials.

In July, 2004, she auditioned for the WWE Diva Search contest. Despite failing to make the final ten, she was signed to a contract and appeared in several Diva contests that year.

On May 7, 2005, she married Dr. Ken Gee Ehrlich, a West Los Angeles chiropractor.

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On June 30, 2005, she was moved to SmackDown! and became involved in an angle between Torrie Wilson and Melina, serving as guest referee for a “Bra and Panties” match between Melina and Wilson at the July 24 Great American Bash PPV. She and Wilson were moved to Raw shortly later, where they became heels by taunting 2005 Diva Search winner Ashley Massaro and joined with Victoria to form a group first known  as “Ladies in Pink,” and later as Vince’s Devils. Their feud with Massaro culminated when Trish Stratus took Massaro’s side in the feud.

Her first shot at the WWE Women’s Championship came in the “Fulfill Your Fantasy Battle Royal” at the November 1, 2005, Taboo Tuesday PPV. She was the second diva eliminated.

In January, 2006, Candice appeared at the New Year’s Revolution PPV  in a  “Bra and Panties Gauntlet Match,” being eliminated by Maria.  A victory in the “Number One Contender’s Diva Battle Royal” gave her a title shot at Trish Stratus on Raw. She lost and blamed Torrie for the loss, later turning on her with Victoria during Candice’s Playboy cover unveiling segment. This led to Candice meeting Torrie in a “Playboy Pillow Fight” match at WrestleMania 22, won by Wilson.

On the July 17 edition of Raw, Candice became a baby face when she was the Special Guest Referee in a tag team match with Stratus and Wilson facing Victoria and Mickie James. When James entered without a tag, Candice threw her out of the ring, allowing Stratus to pin Victoria. On the November 27th Raw, Candice suffered a broken nose at the hands of Victoria during a Diva battle royal. She underwent surgery a few days later to repair the damage.

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Candice returned to action at the January 7, 2007, New Year’s Revolution PPV, entering the ring with Maria to block Melina’s attempt to interfere in the Trish Stratus-Mickie James title match. This renewed her feud with Melina, which culminated at the June 3, 2007, One Night Stand PPV, as Candice defeated Melina in a match held in a swimming pool full of pudding. Candice later defeated Melina to become WWE Women’s Champion at the June 24th Vengeance PPV (the first ever WWE Diva Search contestant to do so). The feud with Melina was ironic because the two had a real-life feud during this period. (Candice had accused Melina of stealing one of her signature moves, to which Melina posted a picture on her blog proving that she had used the move long before Candice began wrestling.) As the feud escalated, WWE turned it into an angle.

Candice later dropped the belt to Beth Phoenix on October 7 at the No Mercy PPV. In a two out of three falls rematch on October 22, Candice suffered a cracked clavicle, putting her on the sidelines for 14 weeks.

She returned on the February 18, 2008, Raw, distracting Beth Phoenix during her match with Maria. She returned to wrestling on March 17, teaming with Maria to defeat Jillian Hall and Victoria and re-injuring her clavicle, breaking it in four places. She underwent surgery in March and returned to Raw on September 1 in a 6-diva tag match, where she pinned Beth Phoenix.

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Ashley Marie Massaro (born May 26, 1979, on New York) comes from a wrestling family. Both her her father and brother were amateur wrestlers. She grew up on Long Island and received a B.A. in Communications from the State University of New York.

Massaro won the 2005 Raw Diva Search and made her WWE debut on the August 21, 2005, episode of Sunday Night Heat, conducting interviews with fans. Later that night, at SummerSlam, she was seen with the other bikini-clad divas washing Vince McMahon’s stretch limo.

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On the following night’s Raw, Massaro became involved in her first angle when she was triple-teamed by Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle and Victoria. Ashley was later joined by Trish Stratus, and the duo defeated the three divas in a 3 on 2 “Bra and Panties Match” at the September 18 Unforgiven PPV. She also took part in the “Fulfill Your Fantasy Diva Battle Royal,” eliminated by Victoria. At the New Year’s Revolution PPV she won the “Bra and Panties Gauntlet Match.

On the the February 20, 2006, Raw, Ashley fractured her left tibia and fibula during a Women’s Battle Royal, and needed a plate in her leg during surgery. She returned on the June 2 SmackDown! as a special guest commentator during the Kristal Marshall vs. Jillian Hall match. She won her SmackDown! debut on July 21, teaming with Hall to defeat Michelle McCool and Marshall. At The Great American Bash on July 23, Massaro won the “Fatal Four-Way Bra and Panties Match” against Kristal Marshall, Jillian Hall, and Michelle McCool.  Later, on the August 4th SmackDown!, Ashley broke her knuckle in a match with Marshall.

She returned on the September 8th SmackDown! and joined Paul London and Brian Kendrick in defeating Idol Stevens, K.C. James and Michelle McCool in a Six-Person Tag match.  Afterward she became the valet for London and Kendrick.

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In a segment on the February 16, 2007, SmackDown!, Ashley unveiled her Playboy cover, which led to a feud with Jillian Hall over who was the most talented Diva on SmackDown! At the No Way Out PPV on February 18, she won the first ever Diva Invitational when she removed her top to reveal her breasts (covered with Playboy bunny pasties). Ashley then began a feud with Women’s Champion Melina, which culminated at WrestleMania 23 when Melina defeated her in a “Lumberjills Match.”

After WrestleMania, Ashley continued to accompany Paul London and Brian Kendrick. During this time she loosened a screw in her surgically repaired ankle that necessitated another operation. (In order to provide a cover, she worked an angle where she was attacked by Jillian Hall.) Shortly after she returned she learned that she was chosen as a contestant on the CBS television show Survivor: China.  In order to let her film the series, she was “suspended” by Vince McMahon on the June 8th SmackDown! for “spilling” coffee on him. (She was voted off on the second episode.)

Ashley returned on January 7, 2008; this time to Raw, winning a “Divas Lingerie Pillow Fight” against Maria, Jillian Hall, Melina, and Mickie James. Ashley replaced the injured Candice Michelle in the “Playboy Bunnymania Lumberjill Match” at WrestleMania XXIV teaming with Maria in a loss to Beth Phoenix and Melina.

Ashley was released from her WWE contract On July 9, 2008; the reason given was that she asked to be released to tend to her sick daughter.

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Maria Kanellis (Born February 25, 1982, in Ottawa, Illinois) competed in the 2004 Raw Diva Search, finishing fifth.  She was signed to a contract and worked at the Ohio Valley Wrestling training facility under head trainer Paul Heyman. She was brought to Raw in November, 2004, as a backstage interviewer who always seemed to ask the wrong questions.

Maria’s first official WWE match was a losing effort to Christy Hemme in a Lingerie Pillow Fight on the January 10, 2005, Raw.  She later competed in the “Fulfill Your Fantasy Diva Battle Royal” at the Taboo Tuesday PPV. On November 14, Maria competed in a non-title Diva Battle Royal at the Eddie Guerrero tribute Raw show, the angle being that she stood by herself throughout most of the match, involving herself only when she saw an opportunity to eliminate a diva. She was one of the last three left before being eliminated by Melina and Trish Stratus

At the New Year’s Revolution PPV in 2006, Maria eliminated Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson in the Gauntlet match before being eliminated by Victoria. On the February 6th Raw, Maria and John Cena defeated Edge and Lita when Maria pinned Lita after Edge accidentally speared her.  A month later on Raw, Lita won in a rematch. After the match, Edge was preparing to spear Maria, but Mick Foley ran in to make the save.

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On the January 1, 2007, Raw, Maria was slapped by Melina while attempting to interview Kevin Federline, which led to a short feud between the two. Her next angle was a “romance” with Santino Marella in June, 2007. She also returned to the ring, often jobbing in short matches. On the November 5th Raw, she and Marella were hosed down with beer by the returning Stone Cold Steve Austin for criticizing his movie, The Condemned.

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The angle with Santino Marella climaxed with Maria’s appearance on the April, 2008 cover of Playboy magazine. As a part of the angle, Maria ended Beth Phoenix’s undefeated streak on February 18, 2008, to “earn” the right to be on the magazine cover. But when the cover was unveiled, Maria discovered that Marella had plastered over the image with pictures of himself. He then gave her an ultimatum of “the magazine or me,” to which she replied that no one except herself is going to make the decision for her, and “broke up” with Marella.  At WrestleMania XXIV Maria and Ashley lost to Beth Phoenix and Melina  in a “Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjack Match.”

Maria was drafted to the SmackDown brand and debuted on the August 1st episode, defeating Victoria.

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Kelly Kelly (Born Barbara Jean Blank on January 15, 1987) was a Hawaiian Tropic bikini model before being contacted and invited to join WWE. She began her wrestling career in the Ohio Valley Wrestling territory, working first as a ring announcer, then as a wrestler.

Blank made her debut on the first ECW television program on June 13, 2006, as the girlfriend of wrestler Mike Knox. She played an exhibitionist who danced and stripped before being interrupted by Knox, who was “upset” with her behavior.

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Kelly and Knox were moved into an angle with CM Punk in which Kelly had a “crush” on Punk, and Knox was jealous. This led to a match between Knox and Punk, with Kelly rooting on Punk. At the December to Dismember PPV (December 3, 2006) Kelly and Knox met Ariel (Shelly Martinez) and Kevin Thorn in a mixed tag match. After the match Knox left her to the mercy of Ariel. On the following episode of ECW television, Kelly defeated Ariel, after which Knox entered the ring with flowers. Instead of handing them to her, he threw them in her face and hit her with his swinging reverse STO. “Injured,” she was off television for six weeks.

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She returned on January 16, 2007, announcing she was bringing back Kelly’s Exposé. The next week saw the debut of  Extreme Exposé, where Kelly was joined in her dancing by Brooke (Brooke Adams) and Layla (Layla El). After Brooke was released from the company in November,  Extreme Exposé dissolved with Kelly now competing in matches against Layla. Kelly was then moved to Raw in July, 2008.

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Maryse Ouellet (Born January 21, 1983 in Quebec, Canada) began her career as a model, appearing on several television programs and in magazines, including Playboy.  She was involved in the 2006 WWE Diva Search and made the final eight before being cut. She was then signed to a developmental and sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Shortly after she began managing Rene Dupree at house shows. She made her wrestling debut on December 16, 2006, in an 10-woman tag match. In 2007 she took part in the “Miss OVW Contest,” won by ODB. Later that summer she also took part in the “OVW Divalympics.”

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When Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) opened in the summer of 2007, Maryse was sent there for additional training. She made her debut there on September 25 as the valet of Ryan O’Reilly. After O’Reilly left WWE in October, Maryse then began wrestling in singles and tag teams. Also in October, Maryse toured Europe with the SmackDown! brand, teaming with Michelle McCool against Victoria and Katie Lea in a regularly featured tag match.

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In May, 2008 an angle was worked where Deuce and Domino dumped their valet, Cherry, and hired Maryse. On the May 16th SmackDown!, she made her wrestling debut, losing to Cherry.  In a rematch a couple of weeks later, Maryse won by delivering a roundhouse kick. A continuing feud had Maryse teaming with Victoria and Natalya against Cherry, Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly. At the September 7, 2008, Unforgiven PPV, Maryse wrestled Michelle McCool for the Diva’s Championship, but was unsuccessful.

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Michelle Leigh McCool (Born January 25, 1980) was a a seventh grade teacher in Palatka, Florida before entering the 2004 WWE Diva Search. Though she was the fourth eliminated, she was signed to a three-year contract and debuted on SmackDown! with a personal training gimmick in a number of vignettes. On March 3, 2005, she made her SmackDown! wrestling debut with the Big Show, defeating Dawn Marie and Rene Dupree.

McCool was then sent to the Deep South Wrestling (DSW) developmental territory. There she not only wrestled, but performed interviews and became a color commentator. While in DSW she was hospitalized after taking prescribed medicine and was out several weeks for recovery. She was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, where she managed the team of Amish Roadkill and K.C. James.

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She returned on the June 2, 2006, SmackDown! this time as a heel with a “hot teacher” gimmick. She joined with fellow heel Kristal to feud with Jillian Hall and Ashley. This led to a “Fatal Four-Way Bra and Panties Match” at The Great American Bash PPV on July 23, which was won by Ashley. McCool won her singles debut on the June 28th SmackDown!, when she pinned Hall using the ropes for leverage.

She next became the valet for K. C. James and Idol Stevens, who were nicknamed “The Teacher’s Pets.” They began feuding with Paul London and Brian Kendrick (and their valet Ashley) for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but were unsuccessful. The feud ended when London and Kendrick won the final match at the No Mercy PPV in October. On November 28, McCool was hospitalized for an enlarged kidney and a broken sternum, being released from the hospital on December 2.

She made her return on the March 30, 2007, SmackDown!, taking part in a 10-Diva Tag Team match. On the April 13th  SmackDown!, McCool turned babyface when she came to the aid of Ashley after she was attacked by Jillian Hall backstage. This, in turn led to a feud with Hall, in which McCool came out on top. On the May 28th Raw, she won the Memorial Day Bikini Beach Splash Battle Royal by eliminating Melina. McCool then feuded with Victoria, teaming with Chuck Palumbo in a series of tag matches against Victoria and Kenny Dykstra.

McCool then became involved in a feud between Palumbo and Jamie Noble, which eventually saw Palumbo turning heel and Noble turning babyface after Palumbo pushed Noble into McCool during a tag match and later shoved her aside, knocking her out.

McCool then competed in a series of contests with Victoria, Eve Torres, Maryse and Cherry to determine SmackDown!’s top diva, winning the title. Her celebration was ruined when Victoria and Nattie Neidhart attacked both her and runner-up Cherry.  On the July 4th SmackDown!, Michelle won the second “Golden Dreams” match to challenge the previous Dreams winner Natalya for the Divas Championship. At The Great American Bash PPV on July 20, 2008, Michelle defeated Natalya to become the first Divas Champion.

Next: State of the Divas: The Workers

– The Phantom of the Ring

You can write to the Phantom care of Karen Belcher

kabelchr@verizon.net

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