Diva Dirt » Perfect 10 of 2008

Perfect 10 of 2008: The Complete List

Melanie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:28:55 +0000

Diva Dirt has now unveiled it’s complete Perfect 10 of 2008. Check out the individual profiles below:

10. The Beautiful People
9. Taylor Wilde
8. Kelly Kelly
7. Melina
6. Gail Kim
5. Mickie James
4. Maryse
3. Awesome Kong
2. Beth Phoenix
1. Michelle McCool

Perfect 10 of 2008: Michelle McCool (#1)

Melanie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:04:59 +0000

Welcome to the Perfect 10 of 2008, the countdown that highlights Diva Dirt‘s ten top Divas and Knockouts of ’08! Which Divas/Knockouts have made the biggest impact? From champions to talented wrestlers to big personalities, the Perfect 10 has them all!

1. MICHELLE MCCOOL
Despite four years on WWE’s books, 2008 was the year Michelle McCool truly arrived. She became the top Diva of Friday nights, helped launch a brand new women’s division and became the first ever Divas Champion.

Michelle kicked off 2008 involved in a bitter love triangle between Chuck Palumbo and Jamie Noble, considered just another blonde in the WWE Universe. But by 2008′s end, Michelle proved her worth as a wrestler and became one of WWE’s top Divas. It all began when Michelle won SmackDown’s “Top Diva” contest in April, from there the show launched it’s own women’s division and title.

The Great American Bash proved to be Michelle’s crowning moment, when she became the first ever Divas Champion. Battling many for the title, Michelle’s rivals included Natalya, Maryse and Maria.

The final months of 2008 peeled new layers to Michelle. 2009 is set to see a darker new side to the now former Divas Champ.

Perfect 10 of 2008: Beth Phoenix (#2)

Melanie — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:55:19 +0000

2. BETH PHOENIX
She entered 2008 as Women’s Champion and she leaves 2008 as Women’s Champion. Beth Phoenix has had quite the year and truly proved that her moniker rings true – she is the Glamazon.

2007 was a good year too for Beth, but this year Beth truly showed personality and acting chops as she was teamed up with Santino Marella to form Glamarella in the summer of 2008. 2008 saw Beth involved with two of Raw’s high profile feuds: she battled and briefly lost her title to Mickie James and then over the summer, she feuded with her former ally, Melina. Other crowning moments include competing at WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.

Ending 2008 with her gold and her man, Beth is on course to continue her dominance well into 2009. Headlining WrestleMania 25 doesn’t seem far off for the Diva.

Perfect 10 of 2008: Awesome Kong (#3)

Melanie — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:31:24 +0000

3. AWESOME KONG
Striking fear in the hearts of all of the TNA Knockouts is the powerhouse herself, Awesome Kong. Dominating the Knockouts division for well over a year, Kong showed no sign of relinquishing her stranglehold in 2008.

Kicking off 2008 continuing her epic feud with Gail Kim, Kong finally picked up the Knockout Championship in January in the main event of Impact. On that same night, Kong introduced her new manager/mouth-piece/part-time-wrestler, Raisha Saeed.

Kong continued to reign over the Knockouts division until pesky newcomer, Taylor Wilde joined TNA in May and defeated Kong for the Knockout Championship. But Taylor’s reign would soon come to an end in November, when Kong regained the title, to become the the first two-time title holder of the Knockout Championship.

2008 saw more of the same dominance we’ve come to expect from Kong… will she finally get some new challenges in 2009? Perhaps competing with the men?

Check back tomorrow for #2

Perfect 10 of 2008: Maryse (#4)

Melanie — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:45:52 +0000

4. MARYSE
Ooh oui, indeed! French-Canadian bombshell, Maryse came out of no where and stole all of our hearts in 2008. Despite being part of the SmackDown roster for two years, Maryse was hardly ever seen on television until April when she took part in SmackDown’s “Top Diva” competition.

In May, we saw Maryse compete in her first wrestling match on WWE television against Cherry and the rest as they say, is history. Maryse’s cocky attitude and surprising lack of wrestling ability garnered her a fast ride to the top of the Divas division. By the second half of 2008, she was the top heel Diva on SmackDown and feuded with Michelle McCool over the Divas Championship putting on a thrilling trilogy of matches.

Maryse has to be considered the runaway success story of 2008 and what’s more, she wasn’t even on the radar when 2008 started. In her rookie year, Maryse proved to be all around great Diva: sultry looks, good in-ring skills, great persona and gorgeous photoshoots. And now she can add another accolade to the list: the Divas Champion.

Perfect 10 of 2008: Mickie James (#5)

Melanie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:04:57 +0000

5. MICKIE JAMES
Unless your name is Trish Stratus or Lita, four Women’s Championship plus is more than any Diva could wish for in this day and age. But Mickie James joined the ranks of the future Hall of Famers aforementioned, when she scored her fourth title reign in April 2008.

Mickie’s shock win in London, England ended Beth Phoenix’s reign however the Glamazon would pick up the title once again just four months later. Their feud took up the early part of the year, until Mickie locked horns with newcomer, Katie Lea over the summer.

Mickie’s unfading popularity proves that she is the most popular Diva in WWE today, despite taking a backseat to others in the past year or so.

Check back tomorrow for #4

Perfect 10 of 2008: Gail Kim (#6)

Melanie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:37 +0000

6. GAIL KIM
Responsible for one of the year’s biggest headlines is Gail Kim, the former TNA Knockout Champion. 2008 started on a high for Gail, riding the praise that was thrown at the newly formed Knockouts division in late 2007. She was the company’s first Knockout Champ and was the pioneer of said division.

In the first week of ’08 though, Gail lost her title to Awesome Kong but continued to be the top babyface for the next 8 months. Her rivalries included a continuing programme with Kong followed by a feud with the Beautiful People.

In August, Gail called it quits with TNA and just days later signed a new deal with her former home, WWE. Many speculated that the Asian Sensation would join the ranks in 2008 but her debut looks set to kick off 2009 with a big bang when she joins SmackDown! Jumping from one company to another, Gail has arguably had the biggest year of any Diva or Knockout.

Perfect 10 of 2008: Melina (#7)

Melanie — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:54:47 +0000

7. MELINA
2008 may not have been as golden for Melina, as 2007 was but that didn’t stop her from having one hell of a year. The A-List Diva transformed from the bitch we love to hate to a fan favourite, in a rather smooth transition.

For a Diva who plays the bad girl so well, 2008 saw a new side of Melina and it was a side we loved. The Diva stepped up her game ten-fold this year, looking more impressive in the ring than ever before. So imagine the fans’ disappointment when Melina went down with an injury in June.

And while she didn’t pick up the Women’s Championship, her accolades include appearing at WrestleMania, battling Beth Phoenix in the first ever Divas “I Quit” match at One Night Stand and returning triumphantly from injury in November.

Melina looks set to become the #1 Contender for the title in 2009, will she earn her third title reign?

Check back tomorrow for #6

Perfect 10 of 2008: Kelly Kelly (#8)

Melanie — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:39:25 +0000

8. KELLY KELLY
From generic blonde #35465 to a Diva worthy of her contract, 2008 was the year Kelly Kelly can look back on and truly say, “This is where it all began…”

Despite joining the company in 2006, it was this year that we saw Kelly adapt in all facets of the business: Her wrestling skills improved vastly, she proved that she has acting chops in backstage segments and her fanbase grew prominently. Moving to Raw in June, Kelly has since scored two victories over the Glamazon, Beth Phoenix and is becoming a well-rounded performer.

She ranks at #8 this year but we have a feeling that next year, she’ll be even higher. 2009 looks to be a bright year indeed for WWE’s youngest Diva.

Check back tomorrow for #7

Perfect 10 of 2008: Taylor Wilde (#9)

Melanie — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:21:14 +0000

9. TAYLOR WILDE
What a year it was for rookie, Taylor Wilde in 2008. Beginning the year with her dreams shattered after being dropped from her development deal with WWE, but by May 2008 her troubles were over…

Taylor joined TNA and over the summer of ’08, she became the company’s fastest rising star. Taylor was initially pushed into a programme with Awesome Kong which saw her becoming the third TNA Knockout Champion and winning a $25,000 cash prize by pinning the dominant Knockout.

Since toppling TNA’s biggest monster, Taylor battled and overcame the Beautiful People before finally dropping the title back to Kong. Not bad for a rookie year!

Check back tomorrow for #8

Perfect 10 of 2008: The Beautiful People (#10)

Melanie — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:28:36 +0000

10. THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Kicking off the festivities is TNA’s Beautiful People – Angelina Love and Velvet Sky. Since joining TNA last October, the Beautiful People have become a force to be reckoned with among the Knockouts division in 2008.

Changing their attitude from babyfaces to heels was the key to turning these two devious Knockouts into one of the hottest double acts in professional wrestling! In 2008, the duo battled with the likes of Gail Kim, ODB, Roxxi and more.

Among their 2008 highlights, the Beautiful People competed in the Makeover Battle Royal at Sacrifice, costing Roxxi her hair. Angelina Love challenged for the Knockout Championship and in August 2008, the Knockouts aligned themselves with veteran, Kip James who became the third member of the group as Cute Kip.

Check back tomorrow for #9