We’re resurrecting an old beloved feature: Screen Sirens! If you’re not familiar with it, what we do is take a female role in any field of entertainment, be it a television show, film, or even a book, and cast a Diva or Knockout in the role based on her personality, looks, and some good old-fashioned imagination. Oscars may not be in their future but the women of wrestling, in all their shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds are surely diverse and interesting enough to make the speculation nearly as fun as seeing them on the big screen.

This edition conveniently coincides with the week of Comic-Con, the massive convention that brings together fans of genre television, movies, and literature. It has become the place to be for casts and crews of major movies and television shows to build hype for their upcoming projects and reveal exclusive clips and news to fans from around the world. It’s no longer merely a haven for so-called “geeks” – it’s become a pop culture phenomenon. Click here to learn more about Comic-Con.

To celebrate this weekend’s event, I’ve decided to take some of the more popular and interesting women from comic book history and profile them, assigning one Knockout or Diva to each. I’ll give my reasoning, and provide a poll at the end for you to vote for your favorite. This will take place in two parts, as it’s a pretty massive list. Now that we’ve completed part one, we’ve made it to part two. Got it ? Good. All that’s left is to open your minds and use your imagination. Let’s begin!

Character: Mary Jane Watson, former wife of Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man. She is considered by many to be Parker’s “true love”, and is one of the most recognizable of all the superhero “significant others”. She’s more casually known as MJ, and coined the phrase “Go get ‘em, tiger” which has become her catch phrase and a pop culture star all in itself.
Trademark: Fiery red hair, feisty attitude, partial to the word “tiger”
Played Previously By: Kirsten Dunst in 2002′s Spider-Man, 2004′s Spider-Man 2, 2007′s Spider-Man 3, and 2011′s Spider-Man 4.
Diva: Mickie James
Why?: Mickie could be described as “happy go lucky” in most situations, and Mary Jane’s spunky personality certainly lends to a happy disposition more often than not. Even though she’s portrayed in the movies as more level-headed, Kirsten’s MJ has still got a bit of spark to her. Arguably, Mickie’s got more spark than any Diva, and if anyone could capture MJ’s spirit, it’d be her. The similar “MJ” initials are a funny coincidence, but it’s not why I chose her – she’s easily the WWE’s most peppy Diva (dressing in bright colors, hopping to the ring), and if you want to be Spidey’s love, you’ve got to be able to keep up with his wisecracking. Oh, and the ability to hang on as he swings from building to building does hurt either, and let’s just say Mickie’s got experience flying around in the air.
Alternatives: Christy Hemme, Trish Stratus, or Taylor Wilde.

Character: Betty Ross, a research scientist and girlfriend of Dr. Bruce Banner, AKA the incredible Hulk. She is the daughter of General Ross, the short-tempered pursuer of Banner who is constantly seeking to leech the Hulk’s power for his own use. Betty is the only one who can reason with the Hulk, connecting to Bruce inside of the beast. She is usually calm and collected, in sharp contrast to the rage-fueled Hulk. Intelligent, kind, and matter-of-fact, Betty is the only person in Bruce’s life that he can trust and count on.
Trademark: Dark hair, extensive medical knowledge, calming presence
Played Previously By: Jennifer Connelly in 2003′s Hulk and 2008′s The Incredible Hulk.
Diva: Molly Holly
Why?: Molly’s arguably one of wrestling’s most understated and “formal” Divas, never getting far into the T&A side of the business, and becoming a big participator in charities and fundraisers. Many have said that she’s too “nice” for wrestling, and if Betty Ross is anything, she’s a contrast to her environment. Her father is a tyrant, she’s caught up in military conspiracy, and her boyfriend’s alter ego is an terrifyingly unrestrained gamma-irradiated monster that could level an entire city in a matter of minutes. As a babyface, Molly was the epitome of sweet and innocent, almost to the point of appearing to be a “country bumpkin”. Even as a heel, Molly had a sense of purpose to her – she was adamantly against the objectification of women in the WWE, and spoke out regularly against the likes of Trish Stratus and Torrie Wilson playing to the crowd using their good looks. With that, she had a deep sense of morality to her, even as a lying, cheating heel. She wasn’t shallow, as many heels tend to be. With that unique quality of innocence, Molly mirrors Betty – both women show that not everyone is a product of their environment.
Alternatives: Tori (she tamed the monster Kane, after all), Lilian Garcia (Viscera, anyone?), or Melina.

Character: Sif, Asgardian warrior and lover of thunder god Thor. She is unshakably faithful to Thor, even when he was banished to Earth. She is considered to be the greatest female warrior in Asgard, outclassing many men as well.
Trademark: Dark hair (naturally blonde, but enchanted and turned dark by a jealous Loki), extremely tall and well built, highly skilled warrior
Played Previously By: No one yet, but it has been rumored that Jessica Biel will play her in 2011′s Thor.
Diva: Natalya
Why?: Who’s more ferocious than Natalya? She’s always screaming, laughing manically, or tossing her opponents around like rag dolls. She certainly has the heart of a warrior, even if she’s nowhere near tall enough to be an Asgardian (Hollywood magic could fix that). She has looks that mirror Sif’s – intense eyes, muscle-bound body, confident stance – and is the WWE’s most explosive Diva by a longshot. If I had to choose a Diva to lead me into battle, I’d choose Natalya in a heartbeat.
Alternatives: Chyna, Beth Phoenix, or Victoria.

Character: She-Hulk, AKA Jennifer Walters, defense lawyer and cousin of Bruce Banner, AKA the Hulk. After Jennifer finds herself in a life-threatening situation, Banner uses some of his blood for a blood transfusion, and thus creates She-Hulk. She took on a decidedly Amazonian appearance, and her mutated form was originally explained as being molded by her subconscious desire to look like the ideal woman. At first, anger would trigger her transformation into her green alter ago, but she eventually gained control of it, and was even healed of her blood disorder. Later, she decided to stay permanently in her She-Hulk form, preferring the freedom, confidence, and assertiveness that it gave her compared to her more fragile “normal” form.
Trademark: Amazonian frame, green skin, wears various types of purple attire
Played Previously By: No one yet, but during the planning stages for a She-Hulk movie that was eventually scrapped,Brigitte Nielsen posed for promo pictures as She-Hulk and Jennifer Walters in the studio’s attempt to attract interest to making the movie.
Diva: ODB
Why?: She’s no Amazon, but ODB has all the attitude and guts to play someone as eye-catching as She-Hulk. It takes a certain level of gusto to play a 7 foot tall green-skinned woman, and a woman famed for taking swigs from a flask on the way to the ring is certainly not shy. For a role as over-the-top as She-Hulk, ODB would undoubtedly fit the bill – she’s loud, confident, and can definitely kick ass. Playing frail Jennifer Walters would be a bit of a stretch, but paint her green, Lou Ferrigno style, and you’re on your way.
Alternatives: Chyna, Natalya, or Melina.

Character: Storm, the reigning queen of Wakanda and major teammate of the X-Men. Storm possesses the psionic ability to control all forms of weather over vast areas. She can control the temperature of the environment, control all forms of precipitation, humidity and moisture, generate lightning and other electromagnetic atmospheric phenomena. She can incite all forms of meteorological tempests, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, blizzards, and is capable of summoning a hurricane, as well as mist. She can dissipate such weather to form clear skies as well.
Trademark: White hair, Kenyan accent, power over all forms of weather
Played Previously By: Halle Berry in 2000′s X-Men, 2003′s X2, and 2006′s X3: The Last Stand.
Diva: Sharmell
Why?: Who better to play a queen than a queen herself? Sharmell was all too happy to don a crown and evening gown to accompany Booker T during his “King Booker” phase, exhibiting a regal appearance and demeanor that was pretty convincing, even for a heel gimmick. Storm’s power of weather control rests highly on eye expression (her eye turn solid white when utilizing her powers), and Sharmell undoubtedly has an intimidating glare that could summon storm clouds and foster tornadoes. Although not a regular wrestler, Sharmell exhibited a fighting spirit, going after people at ringside and needing to be literally torn away from her unlucky foe.
Alternatives: Alicia Fox, Sojourner Bolt, or Layla.

Character: Pepper Potts, personal assistant to Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man. She pretty much runs Stark Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of military-grade weapons. Her duties largely include scheduling Stark’s duties and getting him to meetings in one piece, despite his ever-procrastinating style. In more recent comic books, she has become a superhero herself after surviving an accident. She needed an arc reactor placed into her chest, much like Stark’s, and adopted an iron suit, the Mark 1616, designed for “heavy rescue and recovery.”
Trademark: Red hair, designer professional attire, immaculately organized and prepared
Played Previously By: Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008′s Iron Man and 2010′s Iron Man 2.
Diva: Stacy Keibler
Why?: Despite being largely what you’d call a “T&A Diva”, Stacy always has a certain poise about her. She’d rarely lose her cool, and knew just how to use a man to her advantage – having ridiculously long legs didn’t hurt, I’d think. She was mostly a manager, helping the likes of The Dudley Boyz, Test, and Scott Steiner. Doing that, she displayed management skills that Pepper herself uses, whether it be in saving Tony’s life (like at the end of Iron Man) or finally getting him to a meeting he’s 3 hour late for. And, let us not forget Miss Hancock, which was largely a caricature of a personal assistant. Stacy pranced around in a skirt and heels, wearing glasses she clearly didn’t need. Even though this was a pretty goofy gimmick, she mirrored Pepper’s style, if in a more risque way. The ever-present clipboard looks like something that would be glued to Pepper’s forearm, that’s for sure. Stacy exhibited a strange quality that despite all the shenanigans she took part in in WCW and the WWE, she managed to maintain a sense of collectedness, not relegating herself to the ranks of dumb blondes and bimbo Divas.
Alternatives: Trish Stratus, Tiffany, or Michelle McCool.

Character: Harley Quinn, obsessive would-be girlfriend of the Joker and accomplice of Poison Ivy. She was an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who falls in love with the Joker and becomes his accomplice, losing her mind in the process. Her origin stemmed from a character created for a televised Batman cartoon, and proved to be so popular that they wrote her into the comic book continuity.
Trademark: Traditional harlequin jester garb, manic personality, high-pitched voice
Played Previously By: No one yet, but there is an ever-present fanboy movement for Kristen Bell to play her in a future Batman movie.
Diva: Taylor Wilde
Why?: Taylor’s got a bit of spunk to her, and it doesn’t hurt that she reminds me a bit of Kristen Bell, the fanboy golden girl when it comes to Harley Quinn casting suggestions. Taylor’s short and tiny, like Quinn, and it’s almost too easy to picture her in the white and black face paint and the harlequin costume. The high, squeaky voice would probably take some work, but who is born with that type of voice? Whoever they are, I don’t envy them. Also, I can easily picture Taylor as a respected psychiatrist (she has a sense of gravitas to her), which Harley is before she treats the Joker and subsequently loses her mind in obsession for him.
Alternatives: Jillian, Mickie James, Velvet Sky.

Character: Sue Storm, AKA the Invisible Woman, member of the Fantastic Four, wife of Reed Richards, and sister of Johnny Storm. She has the ability to turn invisible at will, as well as mentally generate and project force fields of tremendous strength, which she manipulates for a variety of effects. The fields are able to repel solid objects, even those of great mass and momentum, and can repel all but the very strongest energy attacks. She is also a loyal mother to two children, Franklin and Val.
Trademark: Blonde hair, blue “Fantastic Four” suit, power of invisibility
Played Previously By: Jessica Alba in 2005′s Fantastic Four and 2007′s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Diva: Torrie Wilson
Why?: For someone as family-oriented as Sue, a Diva must be proven to be a loyal friend and confident. Torrie has seen her share of bust-ups, but she has rarely been the one to initiate it. Her “Vince’s Devil” teammates turned on her, leaving her in the dust, and her father Al Wilson turned his back on her in favor of Dawn Marie. She has been burned plenty of times, but has never been outright malicious, adopting a sweet persona. She’s always been a fan favorite, winning countless bikini contests and other forms of popularity contests. As for Sue’s motherly affections, Torrie hasn’t had the chance to enact those yet, but her ever-present smile and bouncy personality make it clear that she has to potential to be a terrific mother. Sue’s powers at times seem pretty passive, not requiring much hand-to-hand combat, but Torrie was never a full-blown competitor in the ring, whether that be to her wishes or not. Torrie’s regrettable lack of ring time mirrors Sue’s overshadowing by her more powerful teammates. Still, with all that, both women show that in times of pressure, they can pull out some truly stunning moves and get the job done like no one else.
Alternatives: Trish Stratus (remember those casting rumors?), Kelly Kelly, or Stacy Keibler.

Character: Lois Lane, wife of Clark Kent, AKA Superman, and a tough-as-nails journalist. She has a quick wit, and is considered to be an intellectual equal to Superman. She has almost always been portrayed as a determined, strong-willed person, being viewed by many as being the archetypal superhero love interest.
Trademark: Dark hair, quick wit, superior investigative journalism skills
Played Previously By: Margot Kidder in 1978′s Superman, 1980′s Superman II, 1983′s Superman III and 1987′s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace She was also played by Terri Hatcher in the 1990s television series Lois and Clark, Kate Bosworth in 2006′s Superman Returns, and by Erica Durance in the 2000s television series Smallville.
Diva: Trish Stratus
Why?: Whether a heel or a babyface, Trish has always demenstrated a witty personality. She’s outsmarted foes and spat insults on the microphone, comparative to Lois’s trademark wit. Her determination and drive in the ring is similar to Lois when chasing a lead or competing for a story – no one can get in her way. Both women are funny and beautiful – a combination that makes them two of the most highly desired women in their respective fields – wrestling and comic books. It takes a lot of smarts to be an intellectual equal to Superman, but Trish certainly packs enough mental heat to make it an even match. and hey, she’s a brunette now! That makes the comparison even easier to visualize.
Alternatives: Ivory, Stacy Keibler, or Melina.

Character: Wonder Woman, Amazonian woman and arguably the most famous female superhero of all time. Her powers include super strength, super speed and stamina, and flight. She is highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat and in the art of tactical warfare. She also possesses an animal-like cunning and a natural rapport with animals, which has in the past been presented as an actual ability to communicate with the animal kingdom. She also makes use of her Lasso of Truth (which forces those bound by it to tell the truth), a pair of indestructible bracelets, and an invisible plane.
Trademark: Long jet black hair, red/yellow/blue attire, unmatched poise
Played Previously By: Lynda Carter in the 1970s Wonder Woman television series.
Diva: Victoria
Why?: Her height, strength, and dark hair certainly call to mind the look of Wonder Woman, and Victoria’s poise (when not her psycho persona) easily reflects the regal hero. Wonder Woman is seen by many to be pretty campy (hence the ever-stalled movie adaptation), but Victoria is pretty goofy, and isn’t afraid to go all-out in the name of a character (pulling out hair, licking faces, dancing her way to the ring, befriending a tarantula), and there’s no doubt in my mind that she could pull off such crazy character aspects as the Lasso of Truth, the spinning teleportation, and the invisible plane. She slightly resembles Lynda Carter too, even if that corset would never fit a woman as muscle-bound as Victoria. But hey, Victoria’s more of an Amazon than Lynda could ever be!
Alternatives: Beth Phoenix, Trish Stratus (Halloween costume, anyone?), or Chyna.

Which casting did you most agree with? Vote below and sound off in the comments!

That’s it for our Comic-Con-themed feature. I hope you enjoyed it! Stayed tuned for more Screen Sirens goodness, coming soon to Diva Dirt!

We’re resurrecting an old beloved feature: Screen Sirens! If you’re not familiar with it, what we do is take a female role in any field of entertainment, be it a television show, film, or even a book, and cast a Diva or Knockout in the role based on her personality, looks, and some good old-fashioned imagination. Oscars may not be in their future but the women of wrestling, in all their shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds are surely diverse and interesting enough to make the speculation nearly as fun as seeing them on the big screen.

This edition conveniently coincides with the week of Comic-Con, the massive convention that brings together fans of genre television, movies, and literature. It has become the place to be for casts and crews of major movies and television shows to build hype for their upcoming projects and reveal exclusive clips and news to fans from around the world. It’s no longer merely a haven for so-called “geeks” – it’s become a pop culture phenomenon. Click here to learn more about Comic-Con.

To celebrate this weekend’s event, I’ve decided to take some of the more popular and interesting women from comic book history and profile them, assigning one Knockout or Diva to each. I’ll give my reasoning, and provide a poll at the end for you to vote for your favorite. This will take place in two parts, as it’s a pretty massive list. This, of course, is part one. Got it ? Good. All that’s left is to open your minds and use your imagination. Let’s begin!

Character: Catwoman, AKA Selina Kyle, a supervillian of Batman who is often portrayed as an antihero. She is a whip-carrying burglar with a taste for high-stake thefts and dresses in a costume resembling a cat. She is one of the most famous supervillians in comic book history.
Trademark: Dark mask and catsuit, whip, catlike agility.
Played Previously By: Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992′s Batman Returns and Halle Berry in 2005′s Catwoman.
Diva: Melina
Why?: Melina’s always been agile, moving and posing gracefully and showboating in a manner that calls to mind the slinky movements of Catwoman. As a heel, the fans love to hate her, much like Catwoman’s antihero status. Melina’s move-set is calculated and sleek, using fast-paced moves and deadly submissions to defeat her opponents – one could say she has the grace and cunning of a feline. She had wit and out schemed the competition while managing MNM, stealing wins for her team much like Selina would steal precious jewels and other expensive goods. Melina would fool men and women alike, outsmarting people to meet her own goals. To Melina, championship gold might as well be a precious diamond in the grasp of Batman’s feared cat burglar.
Alternatives: Sable, Candice Michelle, Maryse.

Character: Jean Grey, AKA the Phoenix, an X-Men member and mutant born with telepathic and telekinetic powers. She is a caring, nurturing figure, but she also must deal with being an Omega-level mutant and the physical manifestation of the cosmic Phoenix Force, which grants her god-like powers. As the Phoenix, she has seemingly limitless powers, having complete control over matter, energy, thought, and unlimited psionic energies. As Jean Grey, she has one of the world’s most powerful telepathic minds.
Trademark: Fire-red hair, telepathic mind, massively powerful demeanor.
Played Previously By: Famke Janssen in 2000′s X-Men, 2003′s X2, and 2006′s X3: The Last Stand
Diva: Beth Phoenix
Why?: Well, her name for one. You think it’s a coincidence that Beth chose to name herself Phoenix? The power and might that the name instills has a lot to do with the character of Jean Grey, and there’s little chance that Beth didn’t intend to connect herself with the X-Men character in naming herself. Beth is undoubtedly the WWE’s most powerful Diva, as Jean is the most powerful mutant. Both are intimidating, strong, and beautiful – a deadly combination. At their best, they can charm and allure you. At their worst, well, let’s just say no one’s going home in one piece.
Alternatives: Natalya, Katie Lea, or Victoria.

Character: Elektra, ninja assassin and mercenary who is a major love interest of Daredevil. She has a very violent nature and wields two bladed sai as her trademark weapons.
Trademark: Violent temper, highly skilled at martial arts and weaponry, extremely agile and self-disciplined.
Played Previously By: Daredevil (Ben Affleck)’s real-life wife Jennifer Garner in 2003′s Daredevil and 2005′s Elektra.
Diva: Katie Lea Burchill
Why?: Katie Lea always seems to have some darker side to her – her eyes look sinister, and even though she may not have the skills of an assassin, she’s intimidating enough on her own. Elektra has a dark past, and has been resurrected from the dead numerous times. Katie Lea, with her spooky looks and attitude, seems otherworldly at times. Her demeanor is cool and composed, which Elektra can be when not on the attack. Elektra has no problem killing people, and does her job as an assassin often without remorse. Katie Lea has always been a heel, and seems to have no problem playing the bad girl. Neither need sympathy or adoration to do their jobs. And ever heard the phrase “if looks could kill?” Yeah.. if that were true, Katie Lea would be a full-on assassin.
Alternatives: Melina, Gail Kim, or Lita.

Character: Rogue, a member of the mutant supergroup X-Men. She’s the group’s self-described southern belle, possessing powers that are more like a curse. She involuntarily absorbs the memories, physical strength, and (in the case of superpowered persons) the abilities of anyone she touches.
Trademark: White streak of hair, thick southern accent, unwanted mutant powers.
Played Previously By: Anna Paquin in 2000′s X-Men, 2003′s X2, and 2006′s X3: The Last Stand
Diva: Angelina Love
Why?: Angelina’s not known as a move-stealer (though, don’t the Beautiful People remind you a bit of Vince’s Devils?), but she doesn’t have the cleanest reputation. She plays dirty, and does whatever it takes for her, Velvet, or Madison to get the win. She’s one of TNA’s top heel Knockouts, like Rogue, who started out as a baddie in the comics. But with rumors of a Beautiful People bust-up on the horizon, Angelina may very well turn babyface, going from bad to good much like Rogue did herself. She’s got the take-charge, kind of bitchy attitude that Rogue tends to be known for, and as much as she struts around in skimpy clothing, she’s hardly just a pretty face. Angelina hails from Canada, so a southern accent isn’t going to come naturally from her. Still, you can’t do much worse than Anna Paquin’s faux drawl.
Alternatives: Michelle McCool, Lita, or Christy Hemme.

Character: Typhoid Mary, an enemy and former lover of Daredevil with low level psionic powers, including telekinesis and pyrokinesis. She has been a professional criminal employed by organized crime syndicates as an assassin in the past. She is also truly and gravely mentally ill, suffering from dissociative identity disorder, Mary Walker has three other abnormal personalities in addition to her seemingly healthy one. Her “Mary” personality is a timid, quiet, pacifist; her “Typhoid” personality is adventurous, lustful, and violent; and her “Bloody Mary” persona is brutal, sadistic, and hates all men.
Trademark: Multiple personality disorder, gothic appearance, distrusting attitude.
Played Previously By: Natassia Malthe in 2005′s Elektra, though the character bears little resemblance to the Typhoid Mary of the comics.
Diva: Daffney
Why?: Daffney’s always had a “gothic” persona – dark hair, pale skin, bad attitude. At times, she’s been described as “crazy”, her trademark scream hardly helping convince people of her mental stability. In WCW, she constantly changed her hair color, which I suppose could be construed as having multiple personalities, akin to Typhoid Mary’s most recognizable trait. Daffney may not be known as a “man-hater”, as Mary is, but her bust-up with David Flair undoubtedly left a foul taste in her mouth when it came to the male population. Typhoid Mary is unnervingly resilient, and if Daffney surviving two consecutive thumbtack matches doesn’t qualify her as tough, I don’t know what does.
Alternatives: MsChif (of SHIMMER fame), Victoria, or Mickie James (remember crazy Mickie?).

Character: Poison Ivy, a Batman villain and one of the world’s most prominent eco-terrorists. She is obsessed with plants, botany, and environmentalism. She uses toxins from plants and her own bloodstream for her criminal activities, which are usually aimed at protecting the natural environment.
Trademark: Wild red hair, plant-themed attire, accomplished botanist.
Played Previously By: Uma Thurman in 1997′s Batman and Robin.
Diva: Maria
Why?: I can’t shake the resemblance I see between Maria and the comic book illustration above. It’s uncanny, no? Aside from that, Maria has always been a bit different than her fellow Divas, dressing in her own way and in general doing her own thing. Ivy, like her, is decidedly different in her obsession with botany and using extreme methods to protect the environment. I can easily picture Maria slinking around in leaves fashioned into a bodice (have you seen her ring attire lately?) and spouting cheesy one-liners in the fashion of Uma Thurman’s take on the character. Though that may not be the way to go (that movie is hated by pretty much everyone), Maria can still take the sexiness from that movie, the smarts from the comic book and make the character come to life without damaging George Clooney’s career in the process.
Alternatives: Christy Hemme, Katie Lea, or Daffney.

Character: Wasp, AKA Janet Pym, superhero member of the Avengers. She coined the team’s name herself, and was the first female member of the group. She was married to Dr. Hank Pym, AKA Ant-Man, and has the ability to shrink to microscopic size at will, as well as fly and fire energy blasts.
Trademark: Ability to shrink to the height of a few centimeters, resourceful, craves action.
Played Previously By: No one yet, but it has been rumored that Eva Longoria is in talks to play the character in 2012′s The Avengers.
Diva: Gail Kim
Why?: What Diva is quicker on her feet than Gail? She’s a tiny girl (not microscopic, but it’s a start) and can wrestle circles around many of the men. Clearly, she can hang with the boys, and with her fast-paced wrestling style, few can keep up with her. She flies around the ring as if she has wings – coincidence, then, that she’s fit to play the Wasp?
Alternatives: Taylor Wilde, Lita, or Melina.

Character: Gwen Stacy, the first love of Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man. She was his college sweetheart up until her tragic death that Spider-Man himself inadvertently caused.
Trademark: Platinum blonde hair, sweet disposition, ever-present black headband.
Played Previously By: Bryce Dallas Howard in 2007′s Spider-Man 3.
Diva: Kelly Kelly
Why?: Kelly may not be as conservative or innocent as Gwen, but she’s always been a babyface, and the fans have never known her as anything but a good girl. She’s always smiling, is friendly, and doesn’t play dirty. In the comics, Gwen is decidedly more serious and grounded compared to the wild child Mary Jane, but in the WWE it’s tough for a babyface to be that, what with all the prancing around in bikinis and doing T&A matches. Still, as far as Divas go, Kelly is about as sweet and loveable as you can get. A bit naive? Maybe, but that just makes her an even better fit for do-gooder Gwen.
Alternatives: Stacy Keibler, Tiffany, or Molly Holly.

Character: Black Widow, AKA Natasha Romanoff, a Russian super-spy who works as a double-agent and is highly skilled in combat and firearms. She often seduces male heroes in order to complete her objective or meet her own ends.
Trademark: Thick Russian accent, red hair, svelte figure often clothed in catsuits.
Played Previously By: Scarlett Johansson in 2010′s Iron Man 2.
Diva: Maryse
Why?: I’m not saying French and Russian accents are one in the same, but trading one thick European accent for another isn’t too big of a leap, is it? Maryse is one of the WWE’s most confidently sexy Divas, always seeming “above it all” and in control. The way she treats Miz gives her shades of the “man eater” persona Widow’s adopted, and her ring skills show that she’s no slouch in defending herself. She may not be able to wield endless types of guns, but that can be learned, can’t it? I’m pretty sure Scarlett Johansson isn’t a firearm expert herself. Maryse has the looks of the old-school movie female super-spies – foreign, sexy, mysterious, slightly distrustful.. Besides, I think she could fill out the black catsuit pretty well, don’t you?
Alternatives: Trish Stratus, Candice Michelle, Eve Torres.

Character: Silk Spectre II, AKA Laurie Juspeczyk, a costumed hero that is part of the superhero team Watchmen. She is skilled at hand-to-hand combat, trained by her mother Sally Jupiter, the original Silk Spectre and member of the original superhero team, the Minutemen. She fights crime in the mid-1980s, recalling the political and social climate of the time. This all takes place in the groundbreaking graphic novel Watchmen.
Trademark: Extremely long and dark hair, black and yellow latex costume, 80′s-centric clothing and accessories
Played Previously By: Malin Akerman in 2009′s Watchmen.
Diva: Michelle McCool
Why?: Nepotism doesn’t have much to do with Michelle’s success, but people can’t seem to let go of the connection between her and the Undertaker. His influence likely helped her get were she is today, much like Laurie, who, against her wishes, was groomed into a crimefighter by her ambitious mother. She is somewhat resentful of that and the monitoring of her by the government as part of her association with the god-like Dr. Manhattan. Similarly, both are unfairly branded as “sluts” at times. Like Michelle, Laurie can be nice at times, and others, not so much. When someone gets in her way, she can be bitchy and ruthless, much like we’ve seen Michelle in recent months. Michelle, like Laurie, can handle herself in a fight, though Michelle probably can’t do it in sky high heels. Laurie seems a little lost, and Michelle, now without her sidekick Alicia, probably isn’t secure in what her place is either. Maybe she’ll find a clear character path, though hopefully without the apocalyptic situation that triggered Laurie’s self-realizations.
Alternatives: Layla, Alicia Fox, or Kelly Kelly.

Which casting did you most agree with? Vote below and sound off in the comments!

That’s it for part one of our Comic-Con-themed feature. Check back later this weekend for part two!

Maria in “Independence Day”

We’re debuting a new format for our Eye Candy posts – complete with more detailed critiques and “graded” categories. View the photoshoot we’ve “hung” on our wall, read our critique, vote, and last but not least – sound off in the comments!

The Look: Call me un-American if you want, but ensembles inspired by the American flag have always seemed a bit tacky to me. So I suppose it’s fitting that Maria’s gone absolutely over-the-top with it. I know it’s the Fourth of July, but it is possible to pay tribute to America with a bit more subtlety. A stars-and-stripes bikini adorned with bows, knee-high blue boots, a blue starred glove, gigantic star earrings, and blue nail polish all point towards a outfit crafted towards the “TEAM AMERICA!! #1!!!” crowd (you know, the type that chants “USA” whenever a foreign-born heel cuts a promo) in its sheer excess. I know that it’s a bit pointless to nitpick the look, as it is about as themed as you can get, but I can’t get past the sheer eyesore of it. And if that wasn’t enough, Maria drapes herself in the American flag, effectively smacking you in the face with a shovel full of patriotism. Grade: C-

The Poses: Maria uses her flag prop to her advantage, draping herself in it and waving it around. She uses it pretty well for some cute poses, and her facial expressions are as peppy and bright as any fireworks display. Still, I can’t help but think of the thought process behind this as the fireworks equivalent of a hand-held sparkler (i.e., weak). It’s as if they tossed her the flag willy nilly and told her to go to town. It doesn’t look bad, don’t get me wrong – it just looks tacked-on. Grade: B

Uniqueness: Holiday photoshoots are always a break from the ordinary, so this one is pretty unique right off the bat. And, where other Divas might toss on a red-white-and-blue bikini and call it a day, Maria really went all out. It may not be to the best results, but the effort is noticeable. Grade: A

Overall: If there’s one Diva I wouldn’t want to have a Fourth of July photoshoot, it’d be Maria. The combined tackiness of America-themed clothing and Maria sound like the makings of a visual disaster. Still, it could be worse – it didn’t burn my retinas or anything.. I just don’t like it very much. Grade: C+

Today is Earth Day, of course, and in true WWE fashion, they’re celebrating through a photoshoot. This time it’s Brie Bella‘s “Earth Diva” shoot. She’s sporting a trendy recycling t-shirt which I assume is from Victoria’s Secret (note the PINK on the bottom). She looks cute all casual, going barefoot in a t-shirt and jeans. It’s obviously become pretty damn trendy and popular to be all “green”, and while it’s one thing to say it and another to do it, it’s nice to see that conservation is being a really big thing – I mean, hello! People are actually acknowledging Earth Day. If that doesn’t say it, then nothing will. But hey, if you want to do a little good and see a good movie, see Earth this week and Disney will plant a tree in your honor – seriously, they will. Check out the cute polar bears and help the Earth at the same time – I’m sure Brie would approve.

Well, for those of you who were upset at the lack of Candice, Maryse, or Kelly in last week’s “March Madness: First Round” photoshoot, you can go ahead and have your hissy fit, because the “Second Round” is up, and it’s the same Divas as last time, just different poses. There’s not much to say, as it’s not too different. Although, I must say that Michelle McCool has probably already won the title for “Dumbest Pose of the Year” with that one where she’s sitting IN the hoop. Really? REALLY? Sigh.. Maybe there will be more Divas coming along in photoshoots for the Elite Eight and Final Four. I hope so, because it looks like the inspirational well has run dry for some of these girls.

With NCAA March Madness kicking off today, the Divas donned jerseys of their favorite teams (but really just the ones with the prettiest colors) and posed for a photoshoot that WWE.com is calling “March Madness: Round One”, which leads me to believe there’s more to come from the Divas we don’t see here. Some of them mix it up, posing with basketballs and hanging on the hoop (gee, Layla must be tall!). Though, it’s (not) interesting to see how they manage to (not) mix up the requisite long jersey-and-booty shorts combo. Kudos to Beth Phoenix and Natalya for breaking the trend. And for the girls appearing to be not wearing any shorts at all (Alicia, Rosa), you need to fix that. You know that ain’t sanitary – you don’t know where that basketball’s been. Mostly, this photoshoot is interesting to see what Divas went with what school – (*cough*Yay Michelle!!*cough*), and it was a fun challenge for me to try and remember the mascots for each school in order to fill out the poll below. Let’s just say I did pretty well. Oh, and for shit and giggles, feel free to check out my March Madness bracket. It’s sure to fully demonstrate my bias and thus be entirely useless.

In the interest of time and energy, I’ve covered all of tonight’s female Oscar nominees into one convenient condensed post. Check them all out below and vote for your favorite! Be sure to tune into the show tonight and see which ladies go home with the real prize. Feel free to use this as a Oscar discussion post, if you so wish!

So, which idea do you like the best? Cast your ballot below and discuss!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

If you remember all the way back to last summer, we used a feature known as Screen Sirens to compare the lovely women of wrestling to certain female characters in film. Back then, we covered movies like Iron Man, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight. This time around, we’re taking advantage of Oscar season being in full swing, examining different Oscar-nominated roles and seeing which (if any) Divas or Knockouts match up with these critically acclaimed characters. You’ll probably never see a Diva win an Oscar (maybe a Razzie), so this is the closest you’ll get – relish it!

Today, we’re looking at Penélope Cruz’s fiery character in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”. In a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, Penélope plays María Elena, an artist with a volatile temper and a colorful past. She is at times helpful and kind, and others unstable and uncontrollable. She is the ex-wife of Juan Antonio, the seductive painter that captures the attentions of two female American tourists. María is the antithesis of them, despite her claims that Juan is always looking for a duplicate of her. Their relationship, it seems, never really ended – they still love one another, but cannot coexist without clashing.

Her art shows her brilliance, but it comes at a price – with her violent mood swings, María is often drawn to extremes, whether it be in harming herself or others. This temperament brings out both the best and the worst in her, making her arguably the most captivating character in the film. You wonder if María Elena really is Juan Antonio’s soulmate and if, despite everything, she a good person underneath. It’s safe to say that there’s much more to her than the “crazy chick” stereotype.

So, which Diva/Knockout/etc. would best fit this role? The one Diva that springs to mind is Melina. While Melina is of Mexican descent and that’s clearly not the same as being Spanish, she has shown the same aptitude for fiery outbursts that María Elena launches into in the film. Just take a look at Melina’s managing experience – whenever she was at ringside for MNM, you can best she’d be screaming or getting physically involved. It’s easy to picture Melina go through the highs and lows and still pull off the seductive act that draws people to her in the first place. Her look is a lot like Penélope’s too, with her tiny frame, long dark hair, and dark eyes. Add to that the fact that Melina’s fluent in Spanish and you’re good to go!

See for yourself:
• Find out more about “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.
• Find out more about Penélope Cruz.

So what do you think? Do you disagree with my opinion? Do you think another Knockout or Diva would better fit this role? Sound off in the comments!

If you remember all the way back to last summer, we used a feature known as Screen Sirens to compare the lovely women of wrestling to certain female characters in film. Back then, we covered movies like Iron Man, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight. This time around, we’re taking advantage of Oscar season being in full swing, examining different Oscar-nominated roles and seeing which (if any) Divas or Knockouts match up with these critically acclaimed characters. You’ll probably never see a Diva win an Oscar (maybe a Razzie), so this is the closest you’ll get – relish it!

Next up, we’re looking at Anne Hathaway’s Best Actress Oscar-nominated role in “Rachel Getting Married”. Anne plays Kym, a volatile recovering drug addict who is released from rehab to attend her sister’s wedding. Having been estranged from her family for some time, Kym’s reemergence puts tension on the entire weekend and causes old, hurt feelings to resurface.

Kym has obviously had a hectic past few years, having been in and out of rehab for the last decade. Relations with her family aren’t good, to say the least. Throughout the movie, Kym makes mistakes that hurts both herself and her loved ones, causing tension to build up until they come to a dramatic (and violent) climax. Her sarcastic humor and self-destructive behavior build a character that you simultaneously root for and against.

So, which Diva/Knockout/etc. would best fit this role? This may seem like an unlikely choice, but I like Katie Lea. She’s definitely an eccentric Diva, what with her perma-scowl, hypnotic glares, and haughty attitude. Even just on the surface, it’s easy to tell that Katie Lea’s not like the rest of the Divas, much like Kym when you get your first glimpse of her in the film. There’s an aura of eccentricity that you can’t merely fabricate. I think Katie Lea could definitely pull off the dark role, even if she might have to work on perfecting an American accent. But hey, it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility to set the film overseas and allow Katie Lea to be an English Kym. Though, I still would like to hear her take on an American accent – that’d be a trip.

See for yourself:
• Find out more about “Rachel Getting Married”.
• Find out more about Anne Hathaway.

So what do you think? Do you disagree with my opinion? Do you think another Knockout or Diva would better fit this role? Sound off in the comments!

If you remember all the way back to last summer, we used a feature known as Screen Sirens to compare the lovely women of wrestling to certain female characters in film. Back then, we covered movies like Iron Man, Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, and The Dark Knight. This time around, we’re taking advantage of Oscar season being in full swing, examining different Oscar-nominated roles and seeing which (if any) Divas or Knockouts match up with these critically acclaimed characters. You’ll probably never see a Diva win an Oscar (maybe a Razzie), so this is the closest you’ll get – relish it!

Today we’re looking at, coincidentally, a movie tied closely to professional wrestling – “The Wrestler”. Mickey Rourke (as Randy the Ram) may be receiving the biggest buzz, but I’m choosing to focus on the role of Cassidy, played by Marisa Tomei and nominated for an Oscar in the “Best Supporting Actress” category. Cassidy is a single mother and full-time stripper, befriending the lonely and down-on-his-luck wrestler. Within the walls of the local strip club, she provides an attentive ear and a caring demeanor. Randy seems to always turn to her when he needs advice or someone to talk to – it’s clear that Cassidy is the closest thing he has to a true friend.

Now, she’s much more than your standard “hooker with a heart of gold” – she’s working to support her son and clearly cares about Randy’s well being, but she’s not going to become a doormat for him. She sticks up for herself and refuses to turn the relationship into something she deems unprofessional. She’s fallible, as everyone in the film is, but when it seems as though everyone in Randy’s life has turned him away, she’s there. As she says in the film, “I’m really here.” She’s Randy’s one connection to the world outside of wrestling, for better or for worse.

So, which Diva/Knockout/etc. would best fit this role? Well, when I watched the film, there’s one woman that Cassidy reminded me of – Dawn Marie. That’s not to say I view Dawn as a stripper, but Marisa Tomei’s uncanny resemblance to her, as well as Dawn’s association with some of the less glamorous sides of wrestling, make for some eery parallels. Melanie even suggested that the character of Cassidy could have been modeled after Dawn Marie, as Randy the Ram could have been modeled after Mick Foley. Those things said, I feel it’d be tough to find a Diva that would fit that role better than her.

See for yourself:
• Find out more about “The Wrestler”.
• Find out more about Marisa Tomei.

So what do you think? Do you disagree with my opinion? Do you think another Knockout or Diva would better fit this role? Sound off in the comments!

The year 2008 is literally coming to a close all around the world as we speak, so Diva Dirt would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! And of course, as with any major holiday, the Divas have been gussied up and posed for a few photos to celebrate the occasion. Maria, Kelly Kelly, Tiffany, Eve Torres, Candice Michelle, Maryse, Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Jillian Hall, Melina, Mickie James have joined the party, all looking bright and shiny. They all fit the theme pretty well. Many of them look pretty tacky, but I suppose if they’re using the big, sparkly New Years ball as reference, they’re spot on. And hell, maybe those plastic “2009″ glasses would complete the look, if they’re not too over-the-top already (hey there, Maria).

Who do you think looks most fit to count down to 2009 tonight? Cast your vote below and sound off in the comments!

And if you don’t make it happen, I’ll find a witch doctor that’ll give Maria and Candice, Divas and Women’s Championship reigns respectively. And no one wants to see that! Here’s what I want for Christmas, pretty please!

- A Women’s Championship reign for Melina, hopefully winning the title at WrestleMania 25.
- For Gail Kim to hurry up and get her butt on TV and kick some SmackDown ass.
- Speaking of SmackDown, how’s about a Divas Championship reign for Natalya?
- And speaking of Natalya, move her to Raw during the Draft and go ahead and give her a run with the Women’s title too. Who better to make history than the first ever third-gen Diva?
- Please Santa, make sure Layla isn’t wished well in her future endeavors. I know she doesn’t do much but we love her anyway.
- And Santa, being a symbol of goodwill and cheer, help us be rid of Maria and Candice!
- Let Kelly Kelly’s pseudo-reality show (“From Slutty to Superstar”) continue on in 2009. She’s proving a lot of people wrong and we’re kinda beginning to like her…
- Sprinkle a little pixie dust on Beth Phoenix to ensure she’s as entertaining on her own as she is right now with Santino, coz we so know they’re headed to Splitsville.
- While you’ve got said pixie dust out, a little for Michelle McCool too? Girl’s got the skills now all she needs is a little more personality.
- Let us not forget our little French poodle, Maryse. May her star continue to rise, but try not to overinflate her ego. As much as I love her, she seems like the kinda gal fame can get to easily.
- Give us some shiny new faces that can wrestle and look hot!
- Be nice and let Victoria retire gracefully!
- And last but not least, let 2009 top what has been a rather great year for our Divas in ’08.

What would be on your wish list?