It’s clear that our favorite Fox was inspired by S&M songstress, Rihanna’s red tresses when she changed up her ‘do last year, but last night, I can’t lie: We totally did a double-take when Alicia appeared on screen during WWE’s ‘Be a Star’ commercial at Over the Limit.

Alicia Fox‘s resemblance to the Bajan popstar is uncanny in this commercial. But that’s not a bad thing at all. Foxy looks amazing with her red locks straightened.

Watch the clip below:

The WWE roster and Merriman happened to be in Costa Rica at the same time this past weekend when Punk tweeted: “Watching Shawne Merriman of the Buffalo Bills hit on our divas and strike out. Reminds me of the Bills in the Super Bowl.”

This led to some to-and-fro between the pair on Twitter that has caught some buzz.

Speaking to the Chicago Tribune earlier today, Punk explained what happened:

“All I did was observe him walking around poolside, back and fourth, around in circles. I had no clue who he was, just knew that this guy was obviously trying to get noticed. When that didn’t work, he sent his publicist after the girls, which is the most lacking of testicles thing ever. That’s how we found out who he was.

“When THAT didn’t work I watched him run after them as they tried to leave. Dude clowned himself and all I did was report the facts and laugh about it. On the road, the WWE is a family. The divas are my sisters, and like any big brother, I don’t want creeps around my little sisters.”

More here.

Thoughts: Regardless of whether it’s just friendly banter or legit tension, I’d have to agree with one of Punk’s tweets. Merriman comes off looking skeezy by Punk’s account. Considering his list of exes includes Tila Tequila, I don’t blame the Divas for turning him down.

Watch another clip after the cut.

Can anyone think of a name for Maryse’s dance trend?

Watch the clip below:

Okay, so this may have just been an excuse to get some Soup/Joel McHale’s hotness on Diva Dirt, but it was funny nonetheless. Obviously, we’re not on E! or anything, but we too mocked Hasselhoff’s creepy uncle act on last week’s Post Raw & Impact Show, but it’s more appealing when Joel McHale does it.

Upon flicking through some of the photos on WWE.com from the current European tour, the above photo stood out to me. Inititally because it was one of the first pictures of Eve Torres as Divas Champ since winning on Monday night, but then I looked around and noticed the spectacle surrounding Eve.

Looks like WWE is pulling out all the stops for the new Divas Champion, and I guess being highly regarded by management helps a little. I wonder if they’ll begin incorporating it into TV on Monday night? I look forward to seeing it in motion.

Rarely have the Divas been afforded such grandeur in their entrances, the only Divas I can recall getting pyro regularly are Ashley Massaro near the end of her run and Chyna.

EDIT: According to a few commenters, it’s not unusual for the Divas to have pyro in their entrances during house show loops. Luke says: “Divas like Candice Michelle, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly and Mickie James have had pyro like this in the past at house shows.”

Former WWE Diva, Torrie Wilson revealed on Twitter a ‘funny story’ that happened to her last night. She writes:

Last night I was alone and scared so I pulled out my pistol for protection and pulled the safey and let go and it SHOT outta my hands into the bathroom & through the ceiling! Crazy and glad [I] didn’t kill a dog!

Err… I’m not sure whether to laugh or be worried? The fact Torrie owns a pistol and pulls it out when she’s alone and scared is a pretty funny thought in itself. Oh, that Torrie!

Brackets are subject to change if WWE changes up the semi-final matches.

We’ve also put together a play-along brackets sheet for you to print off and/or mess around with in Photoshop/Paint/whatever. Just fill out your predictions, upload it somewhere and reply here in the comments with the link or send it to us via Twitter [@divadirt]. Warning: contains spoilers.

For an example of how it could be filled out, click here. Send us your completed play-along sheets by Friday! Happy predicting!

Oh wait… except she’s not. This, my friends, is the latest Internet meme and hate propaganda being used against the Women’s Champion. Just this past week I was reading an article [for class, not for shits & giggles] on how right wing Republicans scoured the interwebz high & low earlier this year looking for dirt on then would-be Supreme Court electorate Sonia Sotomayor. Something so scandalous that it would overshadow Obama picking her for such an important job. Case in point being, I guess Michelle should be flattered someone thought she was ~srs bsns~ enough to constitute similar hawk-eyed attention. And just like the Sotomayor case, the whole drama has been taken out of context; so while the video [and proceeding 'news articles'] may be titled: “Michelle McCool Slaps Fan,” the context in which it took place is vastly different from the juicy headline. Oh Internet fans, how you make me lulz so.

Michelle, I am shocked I tells you. Shocked to my very core. How could you?!

Diva Dirt in no way condones violence, but if you too, would like to be struck by the hand of McCool [ha] we have the next best thing. Michelle put pen to paper 8×10 for our Diva Dirt Gives Back charity drive. Click here to bid.

Maryse‘s Twitter has taken a life of it’s own, with fans [read: me] just waiting to read what crazy thing she will say next. From having her top ripped off her in public to this Desperate Housewives moment.

We, the good people of Diva Dirt, mark this day so we shall ~never forget~

Big thank you to Ryan Short for giving me my first good chuckle of the day, I hope this e-mail hits the spot for you guys too!

WARNING: Contains strong language, so follow the cut to read:

from ryan short <adamsh2008@hotmail.com>
to divadirt@gmail.com
date Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Ok you know what melanie i am so sick of you never ever ever having a good word at all to say about maria. I’ve never seen you criticize anyone but maria. She can’t do a damn thing right can she. But Oh big ol Torrie Wilson can do know fucking worng can she. A FUCKING DIVA LEGEND? No Trish is a diva legend. You love her so god damn much your blind to the fact she never improved one bit as a wrestler. You dont believe me, go to the wrestlecrap forums and look up what some of them have said about torrie. SHe never did a damn thing of note other than playboy. True Maria has done that as well but unlike torrie being generic blonde 14634563, Maria had a character and had more charisma than torrie could ever hope to have. No wonder she could never make it in hollywood. We all know why you hate Maria you big bitch. You’ll never look as good as her. And unlike Kelly or mccunt, She never bangs everyone in sight like missy hyatt or sleep ith the dead just to get a title. Ad fucking mit it. Mccunt gets absolutly no no no reaction at all. She is not and is never getting over at all. But you just ignore the fact that maria gets big reactions at smackdown, at raw, at ppvs.

Seriously what has she ever done to you personally to warrent this hate. Is it because unlike whorrie wilson she doesnt need to cake on 5 pounds of make up to look beautiful cause maria is all naturall and never needs to get a tit job unlike whorrie wilson. If you were a little more fair and said good things as well than i wouldnt care but you can’t say a single god damn thing aobut her can you. She cares about her fans. I love to know what the fuck you know about fashion. Did you go to school for it it? No. Maria designs her own outfits which i doubt any other diva does. Give her credit for that that you the hypocritical bitch will not.

And dont try to argue back that she doesnt really love wrestling cause she got in through the diva search. Torrie wilson only got in for blowing kevin nash.

And here is the biggest hypocritical part of all. Your wishing Lilian luck and that ” oh my god we love you!!!” Never fucking once has she improved at her job. She constantly flubs her linjes all te fucking time. Alicia Keys? What the fuck is that?

But i know you’ll never fucking respond to this e-mail you hypocritical bitch. Whatever. Im gonna enjoy all the time maria spends in WWE I know she prob wont get a title but the day she does im gonna email you again and im gonna rub your fucking nose in it bitch.

And before i go enjoy

http://img44.imageshack.us/i/maria16.jpg/

http://img44.imageshack.us/i/20080301maria.jpg/

http://img44.imageshack.us/i/mariabikiniadrlaveyah4.gif/

BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH
BITCH BITCH

Thanks Ryan! Please note: E-mails of a similar lulzyness will result in public display for all to enjoy.

Is it just me or is Maria the most gullible WWE Diva in history? No, I’m not knocking her… I mean the way she’s scripted. Maria the character hasn’t had much luck in the man stakes, has she? Current beau, Dolph Ziggler is your typical bad boy, the one that all your friends warn you away from and you don’t listen. Oh Maria, if only you had learned from the countless teen soaps…

Let’s look at her man history: Thankfully, unlike countless Divas before her, Maria hasn’t been entangled with Vince McMahon… yet. However her first ‘love affair’, if you could call it that was with one John Cena. Not much happened there, it was kind of a ‘dine and dash’ situation; he kissed her one week and then acted like she didn’t exist the next. Let us reminisce on that ~magical kiss~

Perhaps it was the cold shoulder from the former WWE Champion that led her astray to her future boyfriends…

Let’s surmise; former boyfriend Santino, somewhere between dating and Maria and Beth Phoenix, decided to become a cross dresser. Current boyfriend, Ziggler, was a male cheerleader. Boy, does she know how to pick ‘em or what?

Overzealous boyfriend, Santino, who we shall call ‘Raw boyfriend’ wasn’t happy when Maria decided to pose for Playboy. This resulted in the once lovable, ditzy Maria becoming a whiny, argumentative and petulant in her bid for ~independence~ Sadly, I don’t think posing for Playboy is what the Suffragettes were thinking of, homegirl. After breaking up with Santino and having her clock cleaned by the future Mrs Santino and Melina at WrestleMania 24, in true Jerry Springer style, Maria and Santino fought… literally:

And now that brings us to current boyfriend, Dolphus Ziggalarus aka ‘SmackDown boyfriend’. Let’s be honest, Ziggy is one fine piece of ass minus the bleach blonde hair, but the plot with him, Maria & Melina is the kind of white people drama we expect from 90210, not a wrestling show. Among the romantic Ziggy-Maria dates includes a quickie in the closet:

Ah the makings of true love! Then disaster strikes… Melina, of all people, decides to stick her oar in. I don’t know what’s worse, Melina and Maria acting like they’re friends or Melina having to act like she gives a sh*t about Maria’s love life.

So the plot thickens… This week on SmackDown, the ~love story~ meets another Gossip Girl style turn.

It seems like Maria has been involved in more of these stupid love storylines than any other Diva and every time, gets her poor, ickle heart broken. Torrie Wilson was the go-to girl for T&A in WWE, has Maria become the go-to girl for romantic tragedies? And how soon before the Titanic that is Ziggy & Maria hits the iceberg?

Discuss: So this week on SmackDown, Melina tells Maria she saw Dolph with another girl. I wonder if they might make said ‘other girl’ into a character? No doubt, a character that conveniently knows how to wrestle… Which FCW Diva would you cast in the role of Maria’s antagonist?

Whenever I watch wrestling, my mind begins to whir and think all these things that aren’t actually important. It’s like word vomit of the mind. But don’t worry, Desperate Housewives has taught me that in a few years I can pop my kids’ ADD pills. Only joking… kinda.

So as I watched last night’s fatal four-way, yup you guessed it, mind vomit. So I thought I’d share some of my ~random observations~ from Raw with you. Think of it as the retarded cousin of the Raw Redux, if you will.

- Why are all the videos of the match on YouTube f’d up? FML.
- That referee has been calling all the Divas matches on Raw & SmackDown for the past few weeks. He’s either very bad at his job or very lucky, can’t decide which.
- Nice to see Kelly Kelly dress the part this week.
- Either Lilian lights up a doobie before the show or she knows she’s going soon and doesn’t give a fuck anymore. ‘Alicia Keys’, really?
- I’m sorry, I must’ve changed the channel to ‘Rollupalooza’
- Alicia stepping to Beth Phoenix proves that our ‘Alicia Fierce’ nickname is in fact true. *Dusts shoulder off*
- I’m thinking Gail still watches Impact, because that crossbody was a challenge to Sarita.
- Remember when Kelly couldn’t hit the handpsring elbow?
- Anyone else feeling airsick?
- Three Diva pile-up or three weave pile-up? You decide.
- Beth Phoenix climbing the turnbuckle must have been what it felt like to see King Kong climb the Empire State Building. [Yes, I do realise King Kong is fictional]
- I do hope the bottom of Gail’s boots are clean. Wouldn’t it suck if she had a big ole piece of gum stuck on it and Foxy had to have that all up in her facial area.
- Gail’s post-win ‘prayer’ position could also be interpreted as “Thank you God for not giving me my period during a match.”
- It could also be interpreted as constipation.

More ~serious~ thoughts on Raw later today in the Raw Redux.

My girl Torrie Wilson has done the impossible — she’s made it through to the final of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! This post is somewhat gratuitous but Torrie needs and deserves your votes to WIN the show!

VOTE FOR TORRIE TO WIN
1-877-5-KEEP-11
1-877-553-37-11
CLICK HERE TO VOTE ON NBC.COM

You can vote 10 times by phone and 10 times online, so that’s 20 possible votes per person. Phone votes are toll free from landlines, so get your mom off the phone and vote!

Last night’s SmackDown house show saw the passing of a title belt – the Women’s Championship – as Melina temporarily passed the title onto an unlikely ‘new champion’ in Chris Jericho, lol.

The Intercontinental Champion accidentally left his belt at his hotel room, which meant he had an Intercontinental Championship match but no Intercontinental title. Instead, Jericho brought a partially taped Women’s title down to the ring for his match.

I wonder if we can have Chris recognised as an official Women’s Champion on WWE.com or Wikipedia?

We need pictures please! Fly my pretties & report back here!

Watch as Kelly shows a softer side, oh how far she has come from the days of peeing in a sink. She seems like a total sweetie, so don’t be shy… next time she’s at your local airport, stop by and stalk her say hello.

 

BEFORE:

 
 

AFTER:

 

Wow, what a difference a few years can make. In her first singles match against Beth Phoenix, Alicia looked like she was in the middle of her first week of training. She wasn’t horrible, but the whole match seemed really stiff and rehearsed, a far cry from her recent work. As you can see above Alicia has surpassed expectations by putting out a great match with a season veteran like Natalya. If she can keep up this progression, I imagine we’ll see her with gold before too long.

 

BEFORE:

 

 

AFTER:

 

Katie Lea has been competing for way longer than the average Diva and it’s evident in these matches. The biggest difference between now and then is Katie Lea personality. Katie doesnt have the same charisma that made her the top heel in OVW. Hopefully, with the scarce Diva roster on ECW, Katie can stand out and make a name for herself

 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

Mickie, Mickie, Mickie. Mickie James‘ skill level in OVW is about the same as the present day. The biggest change Mickie made for her WWE debut was her image.Unfortunely, Mickie didn’t dress as well as she wrestled. The style change is definately welcome. I have a feeling all those bright colors and mismatched sneakers wouldn’t fly in WWE. I guess theres no lights in the locker rooms in Kentucky.

My first thought was Sunny, she’s got an acid tongue for certain, but the writer disses her. My next thought was Dawn Marie, but again she’s dissed here too. So just who could it be? I doubt it was anyone like Trish, Lita, Torrie or Victoria. An unlikely author could be ex-SmackDown Diva, Kristal… but then I wonder if she’s even versed in the history of the WWE Divas to know who the likes of Sunny and Dawn Marie are?

1. Don’t worry, it will grow back fine… just cut it down and stop bleaching it dummy. Now your natural color will be seen as a “new look” and you will experience refreshed marketability. Take some brand new all natural 8×10′s at Wal-Mart and work it girl!

2. Remember you can always bleach your hair again back to the “classic look” to boost your self esteem for a week. If you ever get cancer from the dye, just ask Dawn Marie to sell her unwashed panties through Wrestlers Rescue to help pay for the medical bills.

3. If your just coming off TV, then your used to the schedule. Always starve yourself before every appearance and pig out at your favorite fast food restaurant afterwards. Nothing new. Eating disorders and binging cycles are totally normal and healthy. It’s a Diva’s way of life, 4-life.

4. If you haven’t done so already, you need to go F**k either Scott Levy, Batista or Ric Flair before he dies. Do a few lines of coke with them too. It makes for a great tell all shoot and high self worth.

5. The wrestling convention circuit is 10×200. The same 10 money marks will book you and the same 200 losers will show up each time. Milk ‘em for all they are worth cause it’s all you got left. Virgil will be at every show so you might as well get to know him too. And yes, he is a real creep.

6. Appearing at 3 Flea Markets per week is officially known as “doing a tour”. Congrats on the success!

7. Letting men touch your breasts for an extra $5 during photo-ops is an excellent business strategy.

8. If the photo-op printer ever stalls and delays, just give them an index card with your own lip prints on it. It will make their day that you were soooo selfless, giving and thoughtful of their patience.

9. It’s perfectly normal to refer to other human beings as “fans”, “clients” and “followers” but to their face- always call them “friend”.

10. Always smile and play nice with the co-workers you haven’t seen in 5 years. These are your “best friends in the whole world”….somehow? That’s how the wrestling family illusion rolls on.

11. Treat the disabled extra nice. Them pockets are deep with Social Security money and they spend like mad at the gimmick table.

12. You will never draw like Trish Stratus, you will never look like Trish Stratus and you will flat out never be Trish Stratus… but don’t ever stop trying hun’.

13. But yes, I know you are still a big star… right in your head.

14. Even if you got fired, always say that you left “on your own terms” or because of an “undisclosed dispute”. This will always make you appear above the business.

15. Always say that a WWE return is “right around the corner” and “never say never” when you know damn well they wouldn’t take you back if you begged.

16. When the going get’s tough, selling your used tampons on eBay is a great way to make some additional cash.

17. I know the crows feet and wrinkles are building up. It’s ok, no one is going to seriously book your used up, worn out ass after age 45 anyway. It’s now time to assume the Moolah role.

18. There’s nothing wrong with forever living in the past. Tammy Sytch still lives in 1996, and look there’s nothing wrong with her.

19. Why have any normal relationships? You can have every lonely pervert from Philadelphia to Oakland lusting after you. Being emotionally unstable is F U N!

20. Remember that Jesus forgives you for all of your sins, so everything listed above is A-OK. Just rinse and repeat.

In closing: Yes this is one sad life but hey it’s all you know…. so do it like a professional!

Discuss! What are your favourite ‘rules’? Mine is definitely #12! And who do you think posesses the poison pen? Sound off in the comments.

OVW Divas Gauntlet

That has to be a record! I don’t think anyone has ever lost a match before they got to the ring. Good work, Kelly! The standout star here had to be Katie Lea. It’s really too bad WWE doesn’t let Katie stand out like this. Katie went from top Diva in OVW to jobber extraordinaire in WWE. But who knows? Maybe the Draft will change all that.

Sure must suck to be injured Diva, Candice Michelle, who’ll have to watch all of her fellow Divas and even some past ones go out to the ring tomorrow night for WrestleMania while she’s stuck in the back watching it on the monitor.

But it looks like injury prone Candice could have a new career up her sleeve, if her days truly are numbered within WWE. What do you do after you leave the WWE and still want fame? Fetish films or trashy reality TV! The former Women’s Champion was spotted at WWE’s golfing event earlier in the week, doing all sorts of whacky crap. So here’s the set-up: “Golfing with Candice”, Candice hosts her own trashy reality show where she takes unsuspecting groups to a golf course where they compete in a tournament and the winner wins a cash prize. However, all the while through, Candice tries her best to put everyone off their game.

Sounds like something FOX would pick up in a heart beat (and cancel after two episodes).

SmackDown Divas, Eve Torres and ‘a Bella’ as WWE.com so kindly put it, unveiled their own artwork at WWE’s WrestleManiArt event in Houston earlier this week. Check out Eve’s expressionist take on what it means to be a Diva. The collage is not unlike what you’d find on someone’s bedroom wall, but nonetheless it’s kinda cool don’t you think? If nothing else, it’s fun for a game of ‘spot the Diva’.

Then there’s this self portrait by ‘a Bella’, 50-50 chance as to which one did it, I guess. So what do you think of our Divas’ artistic sides? Hit or miss? Have your say in the old comment box!

The cull is unlike anything the company has done before; it seems they are specifically looking to target Diva fansites. The alarmingly high number of fansites being targeted, is also a major cause for concern.

What makes the matter worse is that these often scary and scathing cease and desist letters are being sent out by e-mail to fansite owners, who are typically, high school teenagers. The threat of legal action to someone so young is inexcusable on WWE’s part, considering maintaining a fansite is generally just a pastime.

In most cases, it is in fact the website owners who pour hundreds, even thousands, of dollars into their website and make no profit from them. Their support is lent to WWE by purchasing magazines, pay per views etc. Not to mention the free publicity and exposure they are giving that Diva.

One must also consider the timing of this rampage, with WrestleMania just days away. I guess people are trying to show they’re good at their jobs so they don’t lose them when it draws a lousy buyrate. WrestleMania provides much of the profit for WWE’s fiscal year. It’s funny how they are sending their customers cease and desist letters, and these are the same fans they expect to pay $55 for the pay per view.

It’s a huge shame that the company feels the need to scare young, impressionable teenagers in such a manner. Receiving a cease and desist letter by e-mail must be an incredibly daunting experience. It is times like this that the Internet Diva community should pull together. These actions are nothing short of reprehensible.

• If you are one of the webmasters caught up in WWE’s WrestleMania Week Rampage, we’d love to hear your story. Please leave your comments and your advice for fellow fansite owners!

I don’t know about you guys, but today is shaping up to be ROFLtastic. Between Jimmy Hart’s Wrestlicious and this, it’s either a dark day for women’s wrestling or if you’re like me and Erin, you take some perverse pleasure in it all.

Former Diva Search rejects, Amy Weber and Joy Giovanni have resorted to making a pseudo-fetish wrestling DVD, entitled Amy vs Joy. The pair were part of the 2004 Diva Search which was eventually won by Christy Hemme. However soon after the Search was over, the pair, along with the real winners of that particular season – Maria and Michelle McCool – were signed up by WWE. Both eventually left the company in 2005.

Looks like the recession has hit these two hard as they resort to selling themselves on DVD. You can check out the official website for what I’m sure will be a hotly in-demand event, by clicking here.

It’s funny how time flies! I remember like yesterday, these two ‘tards making fools of themselves on national television in the ‘Diss the Diva’ contest. The out-and-out bullying of Carmella DeCesare was cruel but I guess she’s got the last laugh since she’s now married to an NFL linebacker and in the money?

Then there’s the comparisons to the likes of Christy, Maria and Michelle. Of the lot, I would say Michelle is the true winner of the Class of 2004. She’s managed to shake her ‘Diva Search’ tag and is doing big things in WWE.

Oh dear Lord. Familiar names include Leyla Milani and Lacey Von Erich. Leyla, who was the runner up in the 2005 Diva Search, will serve as co-host with Hart. The logo reminds me of the hot dogs they sell at my local cinema, click here.

In case you didn’t know, the Bella Twins are no longer friends. Boo-hoo. Family counselling. Which means we are now obligated to be able to tell them apart here at Diva Dirt, yup no more winging it! So instead of sending a private memo to our writers, we thought if we have to figure out which one’s which, you should too! So sit at your desks. Spit out your gum. Class is in session…

I shall use fabulous pictorial examples from last night’s episode of ECW, as you can see above. On the left standing next to a mariachi band member looking Primo Colon, is Brie Bella who we shall dub the Good Bella. And by deduction we must assume (unless there’s a third twin) that Nikki Bella is the one next to The Miz, who we shall dub the Bad Bella.

Okay, now pop quiz…
- The Bella in a threesome with Carlito & Primo is…
- The Bella in a threesome with Miz & Morrison is…

Class dismissed.

Holding a hot pink, Barbie-esque title belt is every female wrestler’s dream. Well now you can live the dream too! WWE will finally be releasing authentic Divas Championship replica belts for sale. And only $300? Money well spent in this time of economic recession!

The belts will go on sale next month, but you can preorder yours at Highspots.com right now!

As I was trolling Youtube for videos of my favorite Divas, I found an absolute gem and I just had to share it with you guys. First, a little backstory.

Mickie James. Ex-psycho/stalker. 4 time WWE Womens Champion. Former TNA Knockout?! *gasp*. While it may be no surprise to fellow Mickie marks like myself, before Mickie was the buxom bombshell we know today she was a scrappy, young upstart on TNA’s roster known as Alexis Laree. And boy did she have a mouth on her. Which brings us to my hidden Youtube treasure. Check out this clip of ‘Alexis’ telling poor Goldylocks off in one of her first appearances in TNA.

What? What was that? You’d like another? Why sure! Here’s another clip of Mickie letting Goldylocks have it, followed promptly by Jeff Jarrett putting her in her place.

I have to say, she had that coming. Attacking old ladies, Mickie?! Shame on you! Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed that blast from the past. Leave your thoughts on old Mickie in the comments.

Cast your minds back to when Candice was champion. I can’t. I have successfully erased that memory clear from my mind. It is nada, zip, gone, kaput. All I know is that somehow… it happened. She won the title. I’m not saying she can’t can’t wrestle, she’s improved and good on her, but Candice as champion means inevitable dramatic increase backstage and ring segments where she has to open her mouth and… speak. Mhmm, that’s right, we would have to sit through her slur of words and stifled giggles.

So, here’s a little (I hope) wishful thinking from Candice, she’ll be back on top. During the No Way Out live blog she said;

7:06	[Comment From Deanna] Candice. We miss your wrestling!

7:06	[Comment From Ona] candice kisses from spain!!

7:06	[Comment From Beth] candice you rock. your my idol

7:07	Candice:  i miss wrestling too!   matter of fact, i hate not working!   but i promise you i have stuff in the works and i will be back an back on top!

Stuff in the works? Hmm, I hope she’s just pleasing the fans by telling them what they want to hear. Don’t get me wrong, Candice is a lovely girl who has improved imensely, but she’s not Championship material.

Click for full view

All I can say is gasp.

You’re forgiven if you mistakenly read that as ‘Survival of the Sluttiest’, because that’s exactly what happened to me when I glanced over WWE.com. I nearly spat out my drink, before I took a second look. Maybe the WWE.com tech geeks are purposely trying to confuse us lol? Subliminal messages!

Eve‘s brother is pretty darn cute.

Be careful what you wish for ’cause you just might get it! Here’s Raw Divas, Candice Michelle and Kelly Kelly standing outside the Coliseum in Rome dressed as though they’re waiting to audition for Pussycat Dolls Present Search for the Next Doll. Sorry to be the one to break it to you girls but that show got cancelled…

And the classiness doesn’t stop there! Kelly and Candice rock up to one of the fashion capitals of the world dressed in hot pink dresses (accentuated with leopard print scarves, because they go so well together) and see through tops with their bras on display. Versace would be proud.

Here’s a conundrum… if they’re all the way over in Italy, does that mean that they won’t be on Raw tonight?

It’s been nearly one year since Candice Michelle went down with an injury, but tonight she makes her return… her mini-comeback at WrestleMania time doesn’t count. Last year, Candice was praised by WWE, the fans and critics alike on her improvements, she was rewarded with the Women’s Championship and at the end of the year won many accolades for “Most Improved Wrestler”. However, in the time since Candice has been away, so many more Divas have broken out into the spotlight and won over fans with their skills. Michelle McCool made Friday nights her stomping grounds and has developed into a fine wrestler and Diva, Kelly Kelly broke out of her ECW shell and has delivered some great matches on SmackDown and Raw. And Candice’s fellow Diva Search alumni, Layla and Maryse have shown they are more than capable in the ring too. Somehow though, I don’t see Michelle, Kelly, Layla or Maryse winning titles like “Most Improved Wrestler of the Year” from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Here’s why…

A lot has changed since Candice received her mammoth push and eventual Women’s Championship win. Between then and now, WWE has definitely renewed it’s focus on women’s wrestling, with Divas an integral part of not only Raw but SmackDown also. When Candice received her push, this action was limited to Raw and Candice was cut a real break by WWE, giving her the confidence to wrestle on a regular basis and become the Women’s Champion. Now? It’s almost like a rule of thumb that these Divas must be adaquete in the ring. I don’t see all these wrestling news sites and the WWE announcers putting over the aforementioned four Divas as hard as they sold Candice to us last year. And I certainly don’t see all of these Divas being awarded a championship for their efforts, sure one or two will break through to become future Women’s and Divas Champions but not all of them. This time last year, there were not nearly as many opportunities for the Divas as there are now, Candice’s big break was a meet of opportunity and Candice’s own hard work.

But here and now in September 2008, can Candice cut the mustard with the new breed of Diva? The four Divas I’ve mentioned have improved, just like Candice, to less fanfare. I’ll be honest, when Candice got her big push, I wasn’t much of a wrestling fan at the time so I can’t recall many of her matches but I do remember the hype on every site I visited about how she’d improved. Now we’re seeing so many of our Divas getting better and better, no any one individual can receive the same hype as she did. But hype or no hype, one year on, I have my doubts about Candice. I certainly don’t think Candice is as good in the ring as the Divas Champion, Michelle McCool but we all have our own opinions. It’ll be interesting to see and compare Candice to her new counterparts in Michelle, Maryse, Kelly and Layla. Who’ll be better in the ring? We’ll soon find out, as we’ll be able to contrast Candice’s matches to those of Michelle and company’s.

Marketing gaffe or just poor timing? The poster for TNA’s Bound for Glory Pay-Per-View, which doesn’t take place until October, features one Gail Kim, whom we all know has recently made an exit from the company. Obviously, the poster holds no bearing towards her status with TNA, but it’s proof positive that her departure was rather abrupt and unexpected.

Click the thumbnail below to see a larger version.

It seems to me that this Sunday’s Unforgiven pay per view will be going to the ladies of Friday nights. If you read spoilers from both Raw and SmackDown’s tapings last night, it certainly seems SmackDown is the more progressive and “PPV ready” of the two brands at this stage. Raw is in a state of transition, no real feuds or storylines have been mapped out meanwhile SmackDown definitely has a clear cut Divas Championship match between Michelle McCool and Maryse. We’ll see if the announcement is made during SmackDown or on WWE.com this weekend.