With the Divas Battle Royal at WrestleMania 25 quickly approaching, Diva Dirt has decided to take a closer look at each of the known and rumored participants in the matchup and assess their odds of winning as being High, Moderate, or Low. The winner, of course, will be crowned the first ever “Miss WrestleMania.†This is a new feature that will take place right up until the big day in Houston, TX on April 5th, 2009 and will be covered by yours truly, the “Mouth of the South,†Hassan! I will save my prediction for the winner as the very last WrestleMania Spotlight profile I do. Be sure to leave your opinion in the comments! Let’s get right into it… golf claps for SmackDown Diva Maria!
Diva: Maria
Real Name: Maria Kanellis
Hometown: Chicago, IllinoisÂ
Birthday: February 25, 1982
Brand: SmackDown
Height:Â 5’7″
Weight:Â 120 lbs.
Finisher: Beautiful Bulldog (Running Bulldog)
WWE Debut: November 1, 2004
Career Highlights: Placed 5th in the 2004 Diva Search, Playboy Covergirl (April 2008), competed on reality show Outback Jack in 2004, ranked #29 out of the 50 best female wrestlers by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, ranked the 84th sexiest woman of 2008 by FHM magazine, has appeared on Family Feud, Project Runway, Sunset Tan, and VH1′s Top 20 Video Countdown
“Did You Know?†Fact: Maria, who regularly competed in beauty pageants, was first asked to pose for Playboy when she was 19 years old, but turned down the offer several times. She also dated CM Punk for a period of time, though the relationship is now over
If there was ever a Diva we love to hate, it would be Ashley Maria. As a huge supporter of the Divas, there is always bound to be that one lemon that gets the brunt of the negative attention; for me, this Diva is Maria. I just can’t grasp why someone who has minimal wrestling experience, can’t really act, hasn’t really developed character-wise in 5 years, and only puts on a minimally passable wrestling match once in a blue moon has gone as far as Maria has, passing other Divas who deserve it a lot more than she does.Â
The 2004 Diva Search was how Maria got her break into the WWE. Her notorious elimination was probably how she really got the attention of the WWE and subsequently, a job. When her elimination was announced, she turned and gave Carmella DeCesare the finger before exiting the ring. The WWE sent her down to OVW following the Diva Search, but all she did was contribute booking ideas to director Paul Heyman. She was then sent to Raw as the clueless backstage interviewer, asking dumb questions and irritating Superstars and Divas alike. One time, she was even slapped by Trish Stratus so hard that one of her fillings fell out! Her first matchup was on Raw of January 10, 2005, where she lost a Lingerie Pillow Fight to 2004 Diva Search winner, Christy Hemme.
Throughout 2006 and early 2007, Maria wrestled on and off in the ring, often feuding with Melina and Vince’s Devils: Victoria, Candice, and Torrie Wilson. In June of 2007, Maria engaged in an on-screen relationship with Santino Marella, playing the role of a neglected girlfriend. Ashley Massaro’s return to the WWE in 2008 began the Maria-Playboy storyline, where Ashley suggested that Maria pose for the magazine, angering Santino. On February 18, 2008, Maria defeated Beth Phoenix to earn the right to pose for Playboy. Santino had enough and gave Maria an ultimatum, him or Playboy. Maria chose Playboy and the relationship with Santino was over. Maria and Ashley lost to Beth and Melina at WrestleMania XXIV. August 1, 2008 saw the debut of Maria on SmackDown. She won the right to face Michelle and Maryse on various occasions for the Divas Title, but always came up short.
As JR would say, “bless her heart,” but no matter how hard I try I can’t force myself to like Maria. She calls herself a fashion designer and an aspiring singer, but why doesn’t she put WRESTLER on this list? Her fashion choices are horrifying 90% of the time, and what bugs me is how she intentionally does this to “stand out.” Her ring outfits are no less tragic. Her pouting in pictures really irks me as well; Maria, you’re not a model, you’re in the WWE! World… Wrestling… Entertainment! The biggest mistake was letting Maria out of OVW so early to head to Raw. She should’ve stayed there until she was trained to wrestle like every other Diva. Just throwing her in the ring for 4 years won’t turn the ugly duckling into a swan; just look at her matches on SmackDown. Or better yet, just look at her post-match run in attack against Michelle McCool, otherwise known as her infamous arm-flailing slap attack.
What’s even more annoying is that the WWE continues to push her above other Divas. While Natalya walks to the ring as a manger, Maria is getting title shots. Why is this acceptable? She is even expected to have an eventual title run with the Divas Championship before she intends on heading back to Raw and winning the Women’s Championship. What’s worse is that I can totally see her “winning” the Divas Championship in the future, just because the WWE likes her so much. Why? I’ll never understand. All she’s done since entering the WWE 5 years ago is act brainless and take a million pictures on WWE.com. Send Maria to FCW and push a Diva who deserves it like Katie Lea, Alicia Fox, Natalya, Jillian… the list goes on and on. If she can get her act together, I’m all for having her around. But really, she doesn’t deserve what she’s gotten so far just because she posed for Playboy.
Just for the sole fact that WWE is in love with Maria so much and a lot of male fans cheer for her since she’s sooooo “hot,” I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Maria won the Battle Royal at WrestleMania. It’s all the ingredients to a typical WWE set-up: attractive Diva, no real wrestling ability, popular among (male) fans, over-pushed, and would make absolutely no sense to do. Â
Maria’s Odds of Winning On The Hassan-O-Meter: Moderate
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12 Comments
DUUDE i agree with you 100% on everything you said haha
“While Natalya walks to the ring as a manger, Maria is getting title shots.”
The job Natalya has done as Kidd’s manager isn’t going to convince WWE to give her a big push, either. I don’t know if any manager has even been more of a non-factor to the wrestler he/she is managing than Natalya has with Kidd.
I also agree with everything you said.
“She is even expected to have an eventual title run with the Divas Championship before she intends on heading back to Raw and winning the Women’s Championship.” I dont think thats true, if so, source?
I am definitely in no way a “fan” of Maria’s, but I do think that this blog is a bit harsh. I agree that she has not improved in the ring, and I agree with you when you say other ladies deserve a push more than Maria does. When it comes to wrestling and in-ring talent, Maria is one of the worst, if not THE worst, among her fellow divas. I’m fine with that. Some of the most memorable divas were never very accomplished in the ring – Terri, Sunny, Elizabeth, Stacy, Debra… I disagree with her being pushed as a competitor, but it’s happened in the WWE before. She is well-liked backstage and with the fans. She and “wrestling” just don’t click. But she can find her place in WWE. Terri Runnels only put on a few “minimally passable wrestling matches once in a blue moon,” but she wasn’t adored by fans for her wrestling ability. She was with the WWE from 1996 to 2004. I don’t want to directly compare Maria to Terri or any other of these ladies; I’m only pointing out that this is an entertainment industry, and longevity in this business isn’t only due to “wrestling.” Maria can find her place. She’s not championship material, but I always enjoyed her interviews. She needs to step away from the squared circle and become a valet or go back to interviewing. She wouldn’t still be in WWE if there weren’t anything there. Some of us are just still waiting to see more… She’s no Trish, but she’s no Trashley. Give her a break.
Maria sucks, if she wins ILL BE SO MAD, ILL DESTROY MY TV !!
I hope she doesnt win. I think shes a little above Trashley, but she still sucks…along with Smelly Kelly and Candice Slutchelle :)
Well, @ beau, I did mention that Maria was my least favorite Diva. I don’t think she deserves what she has gotten handed to her. I am a big Terri fan, but that’s because Terri knew her place and she was good at what she did; manage. Maria should not be in the ring just yet, as I said and you said. I said in the post that if she can get her character together and learn to put on a match, then I’m all for her. I have no problem with any of the other Divas, although I obviously have my favorites. If Maria is going to be PUT in a wrestling role, then she needs to learn how to DO that role. Terri never claimed to be a wrestler, Maria does. Maria can sure find her place, but the WWE is pushing her so hard and giving her title shots. Terri never had title shots; if she did, you could probably count them on one hand. i’ll give her a break when she stops acting like something she isn’t. again, i have nothing against her as a person or an individual or anything. im sure she’s knowledged, but she isn’t a good wrestler and both her and the WWE creative team should stop pretending that she is one of smackdown’s best. that’s all im saying.
@ mace: that information came directly from maria. she said herself she wants to go on to Raw to win the title there. for the divas title, it was rumored around it’s creation time that she would be one of the first Divas to win it, and when Michelle turned heel, it was speculated that she might be the one to take the title off her. thankfully, that didnt happen.
gotcha… well put, Hassan.
Maria has been improving this year. At the moment I haven’t seen her have a bad match yet. I don’t think she will win the match but I see her eliminating a few divas
I understand Hassan, it was just worded a bit funny, tho pretty good article.
I don’t mind Maria. Her in-ring skills aren’t the best, but she appears to be making the effort to improve, and she’s quite charismatic (some might not agree) however when she attacked Michelle after THAT match, i was shouting at the TV “stop it! stop it NOW!”
the arm flapping was tragic.
and she pulls extremely annoying faces in her photoshoots.