On this day in history:
October 12th, 2009 | Virtually no one expected Jillian to defeat Divas Champion Mickie James, but, using the ropes as leverage, Jillian was able to skew the odds, pin Mickie and become the new Divas Champ. She was as shocked as the rest of us, screaming and giving an acceptance speech, capping it all off with a rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”. She was interrupted by guest GM Nancy O’Dell, who announced that Melina had been traded to Raw and would be facing Jillian in her first title defense–right then and there. Melina made short work of Jillian, pinning her and becoming the third Diva to hold the championship that night. Jillian, meanwhile, earned the distinction of having the shortest Divas Title reign in history.
What are your memories of this moment? Tell us in the comments!
50 Comments
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Poor old Jillian definitely deserved a longer reign. I really miss her, hope she does get signed with TNA and really gets a chance to shine.
Saying that the knockouts aren’t being treated to well either
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i felt bad for jillian, she deserved a better reign. i tho it was humiliating for her to lose the title so quick. i was sooo happy when she won but upset when she lost. nothing against melina, i like her but she did nothing to deserve that title reign, there were more girls who worked hard towards that title before her like gail and alicia.
The K@rmic HeeL Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
Alicia o_O
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One of her most embarassing moments but in the meanwhile, it was also highlight of her career.
WWFoverWWE Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
She had been a loyal worker, always jobbing weekly and never even complaining it for over 4 years. So they gave her this title win to get her name in the records book. It was her ‘thank you’ gift.
CW Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
Actually, it was really just a quick way to get the title off of Mickie and on to Melina without too much effort.
WWFoverWWE Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
While that is true, that was not the only reason.
at
This was definitely a bittersweet moment for me as a fan. Other than the singing gimmick, I was a fan of hers in WWE so seeing her win and then lose the title annoyed me greatly.
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I was so happy when she won it, then she lost it and i was like meh~ I enjoyed it but i wish she got a lengthier reign :( oh well it was really funny
at
she really deserved a real reign
i wasnt a huge fan of hers till the end of her run
saying that when melina took the title i was happy cause i loved melina
i did think it was unfair to lose the title the night you won it
at
I was so disheartened when that happened and couldn’t believe that they did such a thing.
Everytime I see her saying “it’s mine” with almost tears in her eyes I’m starting to tearing up with her because I felt for her and because she definately deserved to be a champion at least once.
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Jillian’s 5 minute reign was actually one of the more interesting reigns sad to say! I was looking at some old stuff with Jillian lately and I just realized that’s she’s pretty underrated as an entertainer. Yes, the singing gimmick was a joke but she really made it her own and had some pretty funny promo’s and actually drew hate. Hopefully, tna signs her so we can see what she can really do!
TheLadySamantha Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
I thought black people were a myth.
Like Mike Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
0_____0
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I remember when that happened. I was very shocked. After this they feuded and had a series of awful matches which had every botched possible in them.
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jillian is one of my least favorite divas of all time but wwe did her so wrong here.
at
Boy do I remember this moment…It sucks that someone as talented as Jillian wins the Divas Championship, then loses it five minutes later. Jillian at least deserved one good, lengthy championship reign. Them putting the title on Melina was okay, but honestly, Melina had just had a championship reign not that long ago. I love Melina and I think that she’s one of the most talented female wrestlers ever, but WWE should’ve given Jillian a chance.
I also do recall a rumor that Mickie lost the divas title and was moved to Smackdown as punishment for her weight gain and attitude backstage.
And…I do believe that the original plan was to have Jillian and Melina feud, but plans fell through for that.
at
I’m realy sorry if I offend people, but I honestly felt those few minutes with her as Divas Champion were a waay better reign than that of other reigns in WWE. For example Mickie James and Layla (After her win against the Bellas) you just felt the emotions in every second she held it, as if she generally won the lottery and the raw emotion of knowing you’re probably going to lose it. I truly miss Jillian, and am happy she’s atleast in the books as a champion.
at
I remember watching this match live. Imblike I really really wish they would let Jillian win. But it won’t happen. And then bamb it happens. I litter ally could not believe it. I was extremely happy for her. And then that Nancy girl came out and before she even said anything I was like CRAP!!!!! I knew right away that she would b losing this championship. Ugh I was disappointed. But then I thought about it. Yes I woulda LOVED if she got a lengthy run with the title. But at least she got something. There r other girls that worked really hard and didn’t even get this oppertunity. At least she will b recognized as a champion. If only for 5 min
at
It’d be nice if TNA does decide to let Jillian be a part of TNA. I’m pretty sure they’d let her become KO champion. I wouldn’t mind seeing a feud between her and Brooke or her and Tara over the title. Hey, I wouldn’t even mind seeing a triple threat feud.
at
For better or worse, this is more memorable than 90% of the diva title changes from this particular era. Jillian was by far the most entertaining one in this segment. For all those that insist Mickie and Melina “carried” the division in these years, just watch this clip again. The crowd doesn’t care about either one of them. That’s why both of their unprofessional butts were out the door less than two years later.
Queen Bee Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
LOL Thats why Mickie was cheered over Trish in her WM Match. Fail
ajfan83 Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
And? That was three years before this. Mickie fans constantly fall back on Wrestlemania as proof she is super popular, ignoring that she never came close to that type of reaction again. Pretty pathetic she’s still living off of one crowd cheering for her six years ago because she played a lesbian. All I know is by the time this match took place nobody really gave two craps about her anymore, and I can hear it with my own ears.
YouCanLookButYouCan'tTouch Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
I find it kind of interesting and funny that you’d say that the fans didn’t care about her, yet I do believe that 99.9% of the time Mickie James came out, the fans instantly cheered and popped for her. The fans in my opinion liked Mickie James alot. She was one of the top babyfaces in the WWE after all.
ajfan83 Reply:
October 12th, 2012 at
Well, they didn’t pop when she came out for this match, so I guess this must be the .1%
Look, I know some of the people on this site think they represent the majority and know what the fans REALLY want, but they don’t. It’s the same group that thinks CM Punk is a god, despite the fact that ratings and buyrates continue to sink with him as the champion.
Mickie, Melina, and Beth all got big pushes from WWE, and the division continued to sink further and further in popularity. Mickie and Melina ended up being fodder for Laycool and then got fired, Beth is about to leave and barely anyone will notice she’s gone. Truth be told, Kelly, Maryse, the Bellas, and Eve were more valuable to the company in the long run since they were actually marketable. I know the IWC pretends that doesn’t matter, but really that’s ALL that matters.
MickieFan226 Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
Fail! Look up Mickie & Kelly vs. Beth & Victoria from Raw in February 2008. Mickie got the same reaction John Cena gets. Not even Trish got those pops while in WWE.
Valese Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
Haha Ajfan83, you speak the truth about CM Punk.
However, Mickie did receive good pops. I wouldn’t say of the ‘John Cena’ kind.
ajfan83 Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
“Got the same reacton John Cena gets”
Oh please. If that were true she would still be with the company.
christopher_cc Reply:
October 15th, 2012 at
how are kelly kelly and eve and the bellas better than Mickie James and melina your judging by eye candy rather than talent either that or your a fan who don’t know what their talking about
Juan Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
I still think they carried the division. I mean look at the division now a days. Mickie, Melina and Beth are gone and the divas get little to no reaction from the crowd. The divas also get even less time for matches than when those 3 were around. And you are insane if you think Maryse, The Bellas and Eve got better reactions than Mickie, Melina and Beth.
ajfan83 Reply:
October 14th, 2012 at
I didn’t say Maryse, Eve, or the Bellas got bigger reactions. I’m saying they were more marketable. Even when the divas were at their peak, most of the money came from calendars, photo shoots and posters. So yeah, I’m saying the Maryses, Eves, and Bellas were more valuable.
christopher_cc Reply:
October 15th, 2012 at
your stereotyping diva fans is what your really doing
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Jillian was originally supposed to have a one-month title where she was gonna get all her wins by cheating. It was gonna lead to Melina returning to Raw to challenge for the title, and win it.
What cost Jillian was the Bragging Rights PPV which was one week away and the Raw divas were gonna face the Smackdown Divas. Since Michelle was the heel captain on SD, they needed a babyface team Captain for Raw, so Jillian wasn’t really an option to be leader.
Now this title change could’ve easily happened after Bragging Rights and Mickie james could’ve been the Raw team Captain, but the backstage drama of Mickie’s weight led to them wanting her off Raw right away.
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Loved Jillian but she never could find her niche in WWE outside of her hilarious gimmick. I found most of her matches were sloppy botch fests and she struggled quite a bit. But she got her name in the books and this clip is popular on YouTube so there’s that.
at
one of the dumbest and stupid decisions making Jillian having a reign(?!?!?!?) like that.
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Lmao.. Can’t help laugh at Jillian… She’s so retarded its funny but sad that she doesn’t even want to let go of the belt lol poor jilly
Melina even feels bad haha.. Weird how they traded Melina for mickie and beth on Smackdown
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As a Mickie Mark hated this day so much.I was stunned and angry when it happened.
at
I was like ‘wtf’ when this happened. And can I just say that Melina and Jillan never really worked well together once Melina turned face and Jillian was the heel. They had the great match at Judgment Day 2006 but once the face/heel dynamics changed there was always some kind of botch in the match.
at
Also, it never made much sense that they made Jillian defend the title immediately after she won it. This would’ve never happened to a babyface…it just goes to show how little respect Jillian got when it came to booking.
The bad luck even happened in 2007. Jillian was the one who supposed to fued with Candice for the womens championship (which was one of the main reasons she was traded to Raw), but once Beth Phoenix was called up to the main roster, they went with her instead of Jillian.
at
Remember watching this match and feeling so happy that Jillian won the title (and even more happy it was off of Mickie)… but then Melina came out and I was conflicted. Love them both and wished they would have had more of a feud.
BUT… I do think Jillian deserved a longer reign. Even Jillian said Melina was a little upset at having to take the title from Jillian immediately after she won it.
at
This was symbolic on many levels: the official dethroning of the Diva brand’s premiere starlet (Mickie James, who was banished to Smackdown) and the coronation of her next-in-line (enter a radiant Melina, fresh from critical acclaim for her work with Michelle McCool). The fact Jillian happened to be both the division’s longest running joke and a hardworking jobber made her brief moment of glory all the more bittersweet — not to mention an added kick to a fallen-from-grace Mickie James, who would then author the final chapter of her WWE career.
ajfan83 Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
A little dramatic, no? Mickie got jobbed out because she was a pain in the ass backstage. She wore out her welcome and cashed her ticket out of the company. Same thing happened to Melina a year later.
divaindemise Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at
Which is basically what I said regarding Mickie, except less from the perspective of a blatant detractor. Have a nice day.
at
I felt bad for Jillian,i loved her bad singing gimmick because she was entertaining….