Op-Ed Archives - Page 19 of 23

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes: Glam Slam Mailbag #6 + 2 Glam Slam Reader Profiles

April 1, 2026May 26, 2011 by David

Hello everybody! I hope you all got a chance to watch episode #1 of “Jessie Kaye: Road to the Ring”. I’m really proud of the web series. It’s a fun challenge to bring Jessie’s story to light. She’s a great kid. In general the show is just reason this is an exciting time at Diva … Read more

Blog: Mia Yim Checks In from Japan, Comments on Upcoming Match with Manami Toyota

November 2, 2018May 25, 2011 by Melanie

Wrestler and Diva Dirt contributor, Mia Yim is currently in Japan where she is set to debut for the REINA promotion. Mia will be sending us exclusive blogs and pictures from her trip. Check back for regular updates!

Hello all,

The past few days here in Japan has been pretty relaxing. I was just told I will be wrestling in a tag match. May 28th, it will be me and Aki Kanbayashi vs. Hailey Hatred and Manami Toyota. I am really excited for this match as I will finally be in the ring with one of my closest friends (Hailey) and a legend, in my opinion, in the world (Manami) It will be a great honor and a tough fight for us.

I took a break from training on Sunday and Monday to go and explore Japan. Sunday, Roxie Cotton and I went to Harajuku. Harajuku is one of the fashion capitals in Japan as it still holds unique fashions from Decora to Lolita styles. I wish these fashions would be popular in America. We spent about a few hours in Harajuku, although it is only about half a mile strip of just side shops and foods. We went through most of the stores, looking at all Harajuku has to offer. It was amazing to see the different selections. The snacks was the best part. The Japanese really indulge in their sweets. The sweets are in very small portions but it is soooo delicious in every bite. After a while, it began to rain and we just headed back home to relax for the rest of the day.

Mia Yim Does Japan: Wrestling Hiroyo Matsumoto

November 2, 2018May 16, 2011 by Team DD

Ahnyong all!

It is 8:43am here in Japan (7:43pm in East Coast US time) and typing this in bed. I am so sore! I just had my match with Hiroyo Matsumoto last night, and I think it was my most proudest match yet. It was such an experience to wrestle her. I lost and took a butt whooping, but I guess I’m just good at that according to Melanie ^.^

Mia Yim Does Japan: The Story So Far…

November 2, 2018May 15, 2011 by Team DD

I finally land at the Narita airport May 12 (Thurs here) after a 16 hour flight. The flight itself wasn’t that bad, No crying babies or smelly old people. Decent, enjoyable trip. Once I land, it is already raining here, but I met up with the promoter and wait in the car. About 15 mins later, the promoter brings Roxie Cotton, and we both are just jumping in the back seat, excited as can be. We drive about an hour into the outskirts of the city of Tokyo called Chiba. We stop at the dojo to meet with the joshi girls and lucha girls. After ten mins there, we head to our apartment. Super cute little place. We both have our own bedrooms. Comfortable place, hard to understand how to work the stove and toilet. They are built completely different with different buttons. After settling in for about an hour, we both go out and meet up with Hailey Hatred. I haven’t seen her in about a year or two after she left America to live in Tokyo. It was great seeing her! She takes us into the city and shows us around. We later meet up with Kellie Skater and eat at a Denny’s. This Denny’s is totally different than the American Denny’s. Pancakes here are considered a dessert, and they barely serve any breakfast foods, more Japanese soups and meats. Once we finish eating, it’s about 10pm and both me and Roxie are exhausted. Still jetlagged. We finally take the train back to the apartment and pass out.

A Londoner’s Eye: Thank You, Michelle

June 9, 2017May 2, 2011 by Melanie

I didn’t think much of the school teacher from Palatka, FL seven years ago during a little contest on Monday Night Raw (you may have heard of it). Frankly, said school teacher — while she looked athletic, sure — came across awkward on TV, as if she knew (along with the viewing world) that she didn’t really fit in with the nipped-and-tucked models in bikini tops who made up the rest of the competition. Her thick accent was a little jarring, her looks (which this competition was pretty much based upon) didn’t quite compete with the models and she lacked any distinct personality. Failing to connect with the crowd, the school teacher was cut from the competition in week four. That should’ve been the last we saw of her, but it was just the beginning.

Fast forward seven years and that school teacher, Michelle McCool, is perhaps the most decorated WWE Diva of the last several years. And like any public figure worth knowing about, she’s as controversial as she is talented.

The once doe-eyed school teacher won over many — including myself — and now, as we say goodbye to her, I want to say thank you, Michelle.

Mr. Glamazon Reports from WrestleMania 27 – Day 2 (Art Show)

November 5, 2018March 31, 2011 by David

Diva Dirt’s Mr Glamazon brings us her exclusive daily blog detailing her adventures in Atlanta for WrestleMania 27 this weekend. Check back each day for a new entry!

I admit I stress about it too much. What am I going to wear? What tie should I pick out? Did I wear this color last year? It basically takes me a few weeks to make a decision. This year I even jumped on eBay and bought a new pocket square… you know in case I wanted to go with a pocket square (what am I, 60?) I hang the suit in my closet and try all sorts of color combinations. Finally I settle on an outfit, until I change my mind a few days later. It’s exhausting.

But it’s all worth it because the WrestleMania Art Show is one of my favorite nights of the year. I had such a good time the past few years that now I have really high hopes. So yeah I go overboard but when a normal night is sitting on our couch, watching American Idol, and drinking a bottle of cheap wine, well, you tend to get really excited for these things. (I truly wish we had 4 more kids, 2 just isn’t enough work…)

So I finally put it all together: black suit, blue striped shirt, black and blue tie. Perfect.

Mr Glamazon Reports from WrestleMania 27 – Day 1

November 5, 2018March 30, 2011 by David

Diva Dirt’s Mr Glamazon brings us her exclusive daily blog detailing her adventures in Atlanta for WrestleMania 27 this weekend. Check back each day for a new entry!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the WWE Art Show is the best event of the year for wrestling fans. You may not believe me but here’s the deal. It is the first event of the week so a lot of fans aren’t in town yet. It is nice and intimate. The food is great. The drinks are flowing. The art is interesting (and for sale). The WWE stars are relaxed and just hanging around. If you want to meet one of your favorite stars, trust me, the Art Show is the way to go. The Axxess sessions are a lot of fun too, but there are a ton of people there, the lines are long, and you only get a brief moment with the star. Tonight will be my third Art Show and if it’s anything like the first two, I’m going to have a blast.

Two years ago it was all about Beth.

It was all about meeting Beth and thanking her for being such an inspiration. Thanking her for being a great role model. Thanking her for the Glamasuits, the tiaras, the Glam Slam…everything. (And um, I do find her kind of attractive…so that’s nice too.)

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #25) – Hell’s Kitchen

April 1, 2026March 28, 2011 by David

At some point in your life you have told Vincent Kennedy McMahon to go to hell.

We all have. Every single one of us. Every single wrestling fan has done this at one time or another. Whether you’re a casual fan who just watches Monday Night Raw or a hardcore fan that attends WrestleMania every year. You have done this. I guarantee it.

You have yelled at him through your television. You have bitched about him to your friends. You have made fun of him. You have made fun of his family. You have chastised him. You have criticized him. You have used his name in vain. You have wanted to punch him in the nose.

But I bet you have never stopped watching his product.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #24) – Third Time is a Charm

April 1, 2026March 3, 2011 by David

“Why now?”

Shantelle Taylor was asking me why now, of all times, I had finally decided to pursue my dream of being a ring announcer. I thought about it for a minute and then told her, “Because now I have the opportunity.” But I’m not completely sure that was the entire answer. Truth is I still don’t know exactly “why now”. I mean, why didn’t I try this years ago? I’ve always wanted to get involved in professional wrestling…so what was holding me back? Really, why now?

I guess one day I just woke up and realized “Hey, I’m 37, if not now…when? I’m not getting any younger. Am I going to let this dream just disappear forever?”

A Londoner’s Eye: Give Rima Fakih a Chance on Tough Enough…

November 2, 2018February 19, 2011 by Melanie

(Well this is awkward… After a four month absence, I am back with just my second blog post. David puts me to shame, don’t he?)

The news earlier this week that reigning Miss USA, Rima Fakih, will be a contestant on the impending revival of WWE Tough Enough lit a fire under my pen. And it seems it also lit a fire under a lot of you too. The recurring theme seems to be: “Great, another model in WWE.” Other criticisms that have popped up include: “It’s a slap in the face to the masses of independent wrestlers that auditioned,” and “Why doesn’t she just do the Diva Search?”

The outpouring of criticism from fans and purists to Fakih’s appointment, in my perhaps unpopular opinion, is shortsighted and once again exemplifies the hasty nature of the Internet. (Shocking, right?)

As soon as a story is out there, there’s a knee-jerk reaction it seems. Look no further than Henry Cavill being cast as Superman. That news a few weeks ago spurred outcries that too many iconic superhero roles were going to British actors and not American ones. Sure, Superman may represent Americana but first of all, it’s fiction! Secondly, the character is not going to be British, so what difference does it make? Before a single frame of footage had been shot, poor (gorgeous) Henry Cavill had a target on his back.

Sound familiar?

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #23) – I Can Handle the Truth

April 1, 2026February 10, 2011 by David

If you listen to Diva Dirt LIVE, you know that I get fired almost every week. I really do try my best but inevitably I screw something up – either by calling someone the wrong name, or messing up the switchboard, or making some lame joke that not even my co-hosts will sell. Whatever the reason I always find myself on shaky ground, which stinks because I really do love hosting the show. Interacting with the callers and special guests is a lot of fun and if I can learn something about the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” along the way, all the better! Fortunately for me Melanie usually has a change of heart during the week and lets me keep my job, so basically I’m working on a series of 1-week contracts (although what Melanie doesn’t know is that I’m kind of like a stray cat…feed me once and I’m hard to get rid of.) So I never know how long this gig will last, but Diva Dirt LIVE has been on the air since June 2010 and I’m extremely proud of that.

Now, if there ever WAS a reason for Melanie to fire me it was during this past Royal Rumble in Boston (and no, I’m not talking about the plaid shirt I wore.) I admit, I dropped the ball…big time. See the WWE sold t-shirts at the event that advertised the Divas Championship as a fatal 4-way match, which is fine except no one was supposed to know that before the “anonymous general manager” changed the match at the last minute. As Natalya was all set to defend her Divas title vs. Lay-Cool in a handicap match, Michael Cole received an email essentially adding a fourth competitor.

Of course I would have already known that had I just read the back of my son’s t-shirt. UGH!

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes: Glam Slam Mailbag #5 + Glam Slam Reader Profile

April 1, 2026January 27, 2011 by David

Hello everyone! I hope your 2011 is off to a flying start. I’m excited for the year ahead and the Glam Slam mailbag is one of the main reasons. I really enjoy answering your questions, plus I think the Reader Redux is another cool way for you to voice your opinions. It’s catching on. Look for two more great essays in this mailbag!

Once again, thanks to all of you who submitted questions!

Reader: Ohiofan5

“What are you New Year’s Eve traditions and what are your resolutions for [this] year?”

Mr. G – Man, New Year’s Eve is a LOT different now that we have kids. In the old days my wife and I used to love going out to parties and visiting with friends. Now we put the kids to bed, open up some champagne, and watch the network count-down shows. Usually one of us doesn’t even stay awake long enough to see the ball drop! I know, I know…we live like rock stars. As for resolutions, I normally don’t make any because I try to make positive changes every day. But this year I did make two – drink more water and get more sleep – because, let’s face it, these bags under my eyes really aren’t attractive.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #22) – The Divas Started the Fire (New Song)

April 1, 2026January 12, 2011 by David

2010, what a year. Talk about highs and lows! In April all of us Beth Phoenix fans celebrated her championship victory at Extreme Rules only to have the Glamazon injure her knee several weeks later, in effect ending her title reign. When Beth officially lost the belt to Layla (and Michelle) it felt like a funeral, a cruel twist considering how well Beth’s face turn had been handled and how emotional she seemed when she won. Then it was announced Beth would be out of action for many, many months. Basically the rest of the year; it felt like ‘the longest time’.

Top of the mountain to the bottom of the barrel. Obviously this was terrible for Beth, but it was also terrible for her fans. Truthfully, I didn’t handle it very well. My inspiration, my role model, my main reason for watching WWE was going to be out for a long period of time. How could I even watch “Smackdown” anymore? How could I even watch WRESTLING anymore? I could just see myself bored to tears, basically ‘sleeping with the television on’. I shut down. I was hoping I could pick myself up and find enjoyment in wrestling again, at least until Beth returned, but I was constantly haunted by the same thought, “What if she didn’t recover?” Gulp. It was going to be hard to ‘keep the faith’ and I knew I wasn’t going to get through this alone. I started spending a lot of time with ‘Captain Jack’ (or Johnny, as I call him).

My wife is usually very supportive of my wrestling habit but she got tired of me moping around the house every day moaning about bad luck, knee injuries, and co-Women’s champions. Of course I thought she was completely overreacting. So what if I wouldn’t take off my Glamasuit…that ‘ain’t no crime’ in my book. I started resenting her as a way to channel my frustration. As a result there was a definite ‘storm front’ brewing.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #21) – Mark My Words

April 1, 2026December 31, 2010 by David

I had a poker night a few weeks ago, something I try to do approximately every four months. The cards are basically the excuse we use to get out of the house for a few hours. Bring a 6-pack, throw in a $20, and you’re good to go. We always play “dealer’s choice” which is fun because there are a million different poker games out there – Night Baseball, Chicago, Follow the Queen, Omaha, whatever – so that keeps the table running.

Every now and again we’ll play a game someone hasn’t heard of and we’ll have to stop and explain the rules. No big deal. We explain the game, clear up any confusion, and then deal out the cards. At this last poker night, a buddy of mine pulled me aside and apologized because he didn’t know many of the games. He just didn’t play cards all that often. I assured him it wasn’t a problem. He is a great guy, so what if poker isn’t his thing? He wanted to join in and I guaranteed him he was more than welcome.

Nobody gave him a hard time that night. However if someone would have picked on him I would have asked that person to leave immediately. See, I’ve been there. I’ve been the odd man out at the poker table. The guy who didn’t understand the rules and got roundly, repeatedly, and viciously harassed for it. That was five years ago and I haven’t forgotten the feeling. It’s not good. I wasn’t “smartened” up to all the games so I took a beating for it. Nobody was going to make someone feel that way in my own house. You want to play at my table? There is always a seat open and a cold beer waiting.

What does this have to do with wrestling? Well, in my personal opinion, no community is as fractured, judgmental, and condescending as professional wrestling fans. Of course, that’s just my opinion. We’re allowed to have those, right? Right??

Well…maybe not.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes: Glam Slam Mailbag #4 + Glam Slam Reader Profile

April 1, 2026December 15, 2010 by David

Happy holidays everybody! I hope you enjoy my “Hitting the Ropes” Glam Slam holiday mailbag and let’s make 2011 a year to remember!

Once again, thanks to all of you who submitted questions!

Reader: The_JM

“After seeing the whole season of NXT do you think it was a good thing? Or do you think just a regular debut on Raw or Smackdown would have been fine?”

Mr. G – Overall I enjoyed the Diva’s season of NXT. As the show progressed I found myself invested in the characters and hoping that several of them would find themselves on the main roster. We’ve seen from previous seasons you don’t have to “win” the show to get a WWE contract, so I hope we see Kaitlyn, Naomi, and AJ (at least) added to the roster, which would infuse some much needed energy to the Divas division. I thought Aksana was hilarious although I am not in love with her as a wrestler. In any case I was happy to see the girls get their own show and I think it was an effective was to present them to the WWE Universe. It allowed the WWE to “market test” the girls and it appears several of them cultivated a nice fan base, which I think would have been difficult to do had they just been booked straight to Raw or Smackdown.

Now…that being said, there were problems with the show. The constant berating and belittling from the announcers was way over the top. Whatever you think about the Divas, these girls are still trying to do their best, and this is still their careers. I didn’t understand WWE allowing that type of verbal abuse from their own employees. After a while it became mean-spirited. Also, switching to WWE.com was disruptive and I’m still disappointed that Isis the Amazon was not allowed on the program.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #20) – The 12 Divas of Christmas

April 1, 2026December 1, 2010 by David

I have a lot of names on my Christmas list this year. I have been working for Diva Dirt for close to a year now and it’s time to square up and show my gratitude to the hard working women who get up every day and try to entertain their fans around the world. To show my appreciation I am going to brave the crowds and pick them out some great gifts. Let me grab my Neil Diamond Christmas CD and we’ll head to the mall (by the way, has any Jewish artist NOT made a Christmas CD?)

So the Christmas season is here and I have to admit I’m pretty excited. Not because of the upcoming Slammy Awards (which I do enjoy by the way, though sadly I can’t remember who won the 2008 “Diva of the Year”.) No, I really look forward to this time of year because now I’m a part of all of this. Santa Claus, the carols, the presents, the tinsel, the tree, the stockings. Since getting married in 1999 my wife has educated me on the importance of the holiday season, of all the things we need to do to satisfy our Christmas traditions each year. She grew up with fun Christmas memories and now it is important to her we pass those down to our children.

My wife’s favorite holiday tradition is putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving because God forbid we just sit around, relax, watch football, and recover from our huge turkey dinner. But I don’t really complain. Like I said, I really am just excited to be a part of all this Christmas stuff. Growing up Jewish I always felt like I was missing out. If Christmas was just December 25^th that would be one thing, but Christmas is obviously an entire season. As a Jewish boy this was challenging, especially growing up in a community with very little Jewish influence. Being one of the only Jewish kids in your neighborhood makes you feel like everyone else is having a party…and you’re not invited.

A Pocket Volcano’s Eruption (Issue #1) – An Ode to a Scream Queen

November 2, 2018November 29, 2010 by Team DD

Greetings and salutations everyone! When the offer was made to Diva Dirt’s team members to come up with their own articles, I hopped on this bandwagon. I love to write, and what better way to share my thoughts and opinions on female wrestling? (The title of my articles came from a friend – he thinks of me as a volcano and this sprung to mind. I like it!) I struggled to come up with a subject for my first column, and it struck me whilst watching a match on SHIMMER Volume 14. I’m going to take this opportunity to fully expound on exactly why I idolize one wrestler in particular.

My number one is a peculiar choice, as there are others who are more technically skilled in the ring (as she, herself, would most likely agree), or others whose resume is filled with accolades and belts. However, this woman grabbed my attention the very first time I saw her on my television. I’ve followed her career through its ups and downs, its highs and lows. Her perseverance and good spirit is refreshing in a business that can chew you up and spit you out. Who is this lady? Read on…

Southern Belle Smack (Issue #2) – Why One Diva SHOULDN’T Be Divas Champion

June 9, 2017November 21, 2010 by Cryssi

Interesting title, right?

Welcome everyone to another fabulous edition of the Southern Belle Smack proudly sponsored by… err hang on. This isn’t audio, is it? This is a column, blog, whatever you want to call it and it just so happens that this is the second edition of Diva Dirt‘s Southern Belle Smack. It’s been so long since I’ve written one of these that I don’t even remember what the first one was about. NXT perhaps? If that’s true then the last (and only) SBS appeared about ten weeks ago. Yikes. So much for weekly/bi-weekly feature, eh?

Notice how I threw in a little Canadian lingo there?

A Canadian is the subject of this blog today and that woman just happens to be competing in Miami tonight at the WWE Fall classic known as Survivor Series. Natalya, our Canadian subject in case you’ve already tuned out, will have a third crack at the Divas Championship when she steps inside the ring to face Lay-Cool in a 2-on-1 handicap match. There’s an old saying that seems fitting for tonight: the third time’s the charm. All signs would certainly indicate that Natalya is poised to walk out of the American Airlines Arena as the newly crowned queen of the WWE.

If anyone deserves this accolade, it’s the third generation Diva. She’s arguably the most skilled girl they have on the roster and she’s one of the best in the world. That alone should make her a shoo-in to become champ and I believe in my heart that she will finally get her first taste of WWE purple gold tonight. But my head… well that’s another story. My head sees Natalya losing tonight. Once again she’ll find herself robbed of championship glory and this time she will be out of chances.

And you know what? I’m fine with that. In my humble opinion, Natalya shouldn’t be Divas Champion.

Introducing A Londoner’s Eye (Issue #1) – Beth Phoenix: A Lady Amongst Divas

June 9, 2017November 21, 2010 by Melanie

Hello one and all! Welcome to a new column, ‘A Londoner’s Eye’ here at Diva Dirt piggybacking building off of the success of David’s wonderful column. I always get emails and questions about my opinion on this, that and the other and as you all know by now, I am highly opinionated on pretty much everything, so this new column will be a notebook of sorts which I hope to regularly update with my thoughts on what’s going on in the world of women’s wrestling. There likely won’t be any regaling tales from my childhood, though — I’ll leave that to David.

However, this first column does have some connection to our self-professed Mr Glamazon, as you can probably guess by the title. This one is all about a certain glamorous amazon, who like her name suggests, we are all eagerly awaiting to rise from the ashes in the coming days or weeks.

I admire Beth Phoenix for a number of reasons: her determination and passion for the industry, to me, shines through. She had a long journey to get to WWE and now she’s living her dream and seems like she doesn’t take it for granted one bit. Then there’s her striking physique. Furthermore Beth, in my opinion, fits perfectly into WWE’s PG era along with the likes of John Cena, because she’s a great role model regardless of whether she’s a babyface or heel.

As a babyface, she’s able to connect with her fans and be that role model a little more, but even as a heel Beth was always smart, savvy and headstrong — attributes that women and young girls can look up to. Beth has made her character come across elegant — even though she slams girls into the mat — and you’d never dream to hear the word ‘whore’ come out of this Diva’s mouth. No sir. Leave that to the Knockouts. Though we’d love to have seen Beth tussle with the likes of Trish, Lita, Victoria et al, somehow I’ve always felt she fits much better into this era than the last. Though the Divas then didn’t curse as much as the Knockouts, they were pretty sexually suggestive and explicit themselves. Beth Phoenix, the elegant, graceful, Parents Television Council-friendly Glamazon wouldn’t have worked quite as well as it does now.

Yet for all the praise I have heaped on Beth in that last paragraph, I haven’t always been so enamored with Beth.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #19) – Kelly Kelly: A Bridge to Nowhere?

April 1, 2026November 18, 2010 by David

If you normally read my column you know I am full of theories. I guess it comes from being an engineer, always trying to figure stuff out, always trying to see how things work. It’s kind of ironic because that is certainly not how I was raised. My dad couldn’t change a light bulb and just watched TV all day. My mom was a dancer and was always listening to show tunes (where is the couch Dr. Freud?) In any event somewhere along the line I got interested in science, eventually majoring in mathematics once I got to college. When I had to declare a minor I chose Classical Studies, because, you know, “Clash of the Titans” was a cool movie (the original, not the brutal remake). So, after 4 years of Nintendo, beer, and flag football, I graduated college as a deep thinker filled with numbers and Greek philosophy, perfect for analyzing and writing about women’s professional wrestling.

I have already shared with you several of my theories, such as my Kate Winslet Theory (Lay-Cool), my Beyonce Theory (Gail Kim) and my Sandra Bullock Theory (the Bella Twins). Each one more enlightening than the last. Well it’s time to reach even higher, to break through the intellectual clouds, and to share with you my latest and greatest brainwave. I hope you’re sitting down…

I give to you…my “Sarah Palin Theory”! *clap clap clap* You see, to me it is quite clear that Kelly Kelly is the Sarah Palin of the WWE.

Now, I could jump right into my analysis and immediately break this down, presenting the facts in an honest effort to convince you my theory is correct. But as you know by now there has to be a personal back story to all of my articles, so here we go (this is the point most of you stop reading…thanks for coming, don’t forget to tip the waiters…)

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes: Glam Slam Mailbag #3 + Glam Slam Reader Profile

April 1, 2026November 11, 2010 by David

It’s time for the third “Hitting the Ropes” Glam Slam mailbag! Once again, thanks to all of you who submitted questions!

OK, let’s kick things off…

Reader: Billy James

“Do you think that Mickie James will cement her place in Women’s Wrestling History as one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time plus silence her critics when Mickie wins the TNA Knockout championship and becomes the 1st Triple Crown Women’s champion? Also when do you see Mickie winning the Knockouts title?”

Mr. G – As a 5-time Women’s Champion as well as a Divas Champion, there is no denying the impact and accomplishments of Mickie James in the WWE. She was a very valuable piece of the Divas division and was involved in some great storylines (Trish’s stalker, obviously, but I also liked her matches with Beth and her recent work with Lay-Cool). But I am not sold on Mickie as one of the greatest of all time. If you are going strictly on number of championships, then that is indisputable. But in professional wrestling we know championships don’t necessarily equal career success (for example, Jake Roberts never won a WWE title but few people were bigger stars at the time.) I think Mickie is an above-average wrestler who is just mediocre on the microphone, and I only love her matches when she is paired with a dynamic opponent. Mickie may win the TNA Knockout’s title in the next few weeks but I still wouldn’t put her in the same category as the true legends of women’s wrestling. (Sorry Billy…)

The Women of Tough Enough: Where Are They Now? (Part 2)

May 22, 2021November 8, 2010 by Team DD

Lee Burton returns with the second part of his look at the women of Tough Enough, this time focusing on the best of the rest. Click here to read part one.

In the original part of this look back of The Women of Tough Enough, we checked out the three winners – Nidia Guenard, Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda Haas. In this concluding part, we should take a peek at some of the other contestants who ended up in the biz, as well as the applicants who didn’t make it into the house but still forged a career in wrestling anyway.

So let’s go through it season by season…

Tough Enough 1
As mentioned in the previous article, Nidia won the original season after being picked over her only other real competition, Taylor Matheny (now 30). At the finale, Taylor promised that she wouldn’t quit her dream of making it as a wrestler, and stuck to her promise… at first.

Taylor was a salty character on Tough Enough. Participating in the show at the disapproval of her parents and being very focused on the prize at the end, she pushed herself in the ring and was dedicated to learning the craft. However, things went south when the remaining contestants went on the road with Al Snow, as she got utterly hammered in a bar and was very delicate the next day. If anything, this might have been an indicator to the WWF that she had pangs of irresponsibility and had some growing up to do. If anything, Taylor wanted it TOO much.

Nobody could doubt her desire though – as evidenced on the final live episode where she looked utterly crushed when Nidia was announced as the victor.

After TE1 ended, Matheny wrestled dates in the US, Canada and Japan (most notably with the celebrated ARSION promotion), defeating the likes of Cheerleader Melissa along the way, and tangling with the likes of SHIMMER co-founder Allison Danger, earning her a 3rd runner-up spot in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year rankings. The problem was that by the time she had earned that honour, Taylor was starting to wind down as a wrestler.

In 2004, Matheny quit wrestling to take up a course studying Hollywood make-up, though she did appear in the Florida promotion Full Impact Pro in a special guest appearance with her then-boyfriend, now-husband. His name: Brian Kendrick.

Yes, THE Brian Kendrick – the one who held the WWE Tag Team Championship for a year and currently plies his craft in TNA. Even after removing herself from wrestling, Taylor’s still associated with it, thanks to her marijuana-loving beau.

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #18) – These Wrestling Boots Are Made For Walking

April 1, 2026November 1, 2010 by David

I know Mickie James and Kat Waters didn’t actually have to pack their suitcases or rent U-Hauls. They didn’t have to get new driver’s licenses or schedule service appointments with DirecTV. But none the less each girl just went through a very big move. Since leaving the WWE in the spring of 2010 both girls have signed deals with Total Nonstop Action wrestling, effectively packing up one stage of their respective careers and moving to totally new surroundings.

Fortunately Mickie and Kat are going to be just fine. Both are working for a high-profile company that will showcase them on television and keep them in the spotlight. The paychecks might not be as big, but money isn’t everything. Each should feel somewhat fortunate because professional wrestling is brutally competitive, with many athletes vying for precious few spots on a roster. At the end of the day wrestlers better love what they do because the odds of hitting the big time are daunting. And if they do get a break, they have to work extremely hard to keep their spot. Mickie and “Winter”, as Kat is now called, are two of the survivors.

I give each girl a tremendous amount of credit. Admittedly I’m not a wrestling insider, but I am familiar with some of the stress and anxiety associated with this type of transition. I’ve seen it first-hand.

The Women of Tough Enough: Where Are They Now?

November 2, 2018October 24, 2010 by Team DD

Roughly ten years ago, a group of eager wannabes queued up on the bitterly cold streets of New York City to audition for a new WWF concept. Tough Enough was looking for a group of 13 men and women to learn how to wrestle from scratch over 9 weeks. Two winners would be chosen, given WWF contracts and be on their way to becoming WWF Superstars.

It had its critics – most notably Triple H, who thought it exposed the business too much, and he might have had a point, as the first season gave every viewer a rough guide on how to bump, which must have resulted in a few shocked vertebrae – but it was a big hit on MTV, where it was hosted. Three seasons were produced for the network, with a fourth featuring on SmackDown in 2004 and was a rough blueprint for the wonderful programme we know and love called NXT.

Now we have been informed that USA Network is planning to revive Tough Enough, though it is still unclear what the format will be. It could follow the format of the original three seasons by taking novices and teaching them from the bottom. It could bring in indie wrestlers and polish them, reminiscent of The Ultimate Fighter; or it could take WWE contracted wrestlers currently plying their craft in Florida Championship Wrestling and put them in a house – though that version will probably be more scripted and moulded towards who WWE want to push. However, to judge how successful any potential winner of Tough Enough: The Return would be, it would be a good idea to look into its history.

Tough Enough produced seven winners – three female, four male – with John Morrison being the most successful of the bunch. But if they have a Y chromosome, we’re not really interested in them, no matter how long and floppy their hair is. So in this two-part piece, we’ll have a look at the fates of the women of Tough Enough, what happened to their careers, and what they are up to these days.

To start with, let us examine the fortunes of the three female winners – in the second part coming next week, we can have a nose around at the other contestants who didn’t win, and the ones who didn’t even make it into the house.

So why don’t we kick off with the originator…?

Mr. Glamazon’s Hitting the Ropes (Issue #17) – SHIMMER Cappuccino

April 1, 2026October 18, 2010 by David

Hey, I make no apologies, I’m a WWE guy. I know the WWE is no different than McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, and Starbucks, a huge, publicly traded company that is first and foremost concerned with profitability and market share. It’s a wildly successful business run by a man whose sole objective is to make money. The actual wrestling is secondary, really just a vehicle to showcase the individual Superstars, who in turn grab the attention of fans eager to buy the t-shirts, action figures, and Glamasuits that keep the money rolling in. And as long as the WWE is making money, Vince is going to stick with what works no matter how much some fans wish he would revamp certain aspects of his product (like booking the Divas strong on TV). Starbucks may burn their coffee, but they sell a boatload of it every day. I may grumble about the quality, and I may grumble about the price, but there I am every day ordering a white chocolate mocha from the barista (no, not Batista…although if this MMA thing doesn’t work out, you never know…)

A little known fact about me: I can’t function in the morning without a monster cup of coffee. I’m not one of those people that bounce out of bed when I wake up. I’m grouchy and irritable. My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I stumble around like Ric Flair after an all-night bender. Truthfully, my wife’s not much better, but since she gets up with the kids she already has a pot of coffee brewing by the time I stagger into the kitchen (God bless her, it’s the little things that keep love alive). I don’t even say hi to my family until I’m one cup down. Once I get that first cup in me, though, I start to get excited for the day ahead and I’m a pretty easy guy to be around. But before that?

What’s Next for Melina?

November 2, 2018October 10, 2010 by Melanie

Barring injury, it’s been a good two years for Melina dating back to her first comeback from injury in November 2008. The three-time Women’s Champion and two-time Divas Champion has spent most, if not all, of her run between November ’08 till Night of Champions last month at the top of the Divas division. That is, of course, excluding the 7 months Melina spent on the shelf between January and July this year.

A brief history lesson: Returning from her injury suffered in June 2008, Melina returned triumphant in November of that year, and chased Beth Phoenix for the Women’s Championship, putting the exclamation point on her comeback by winning the belt at Royal Rumble 2009. Next, Melina moved to SmackDown and began a months-long feud with Michelle McCool over the belt, including that Match of the Year winning bout at Night of Champions 2009. Traded back to Raw in October, Melina became the Divas Champion on her first night back and held the belt till her ACL injury in December. Returning in time for SummerSlam, she regained the Divas Championship only to lose it a month later in that high profile title unification match — and now here we are.

It’s not often that a Diva can command the spotlight for so long, so it seemed inevitable that the A-List Diva would join the queue of fellow former champions turned ‘another face in the crowd’ along with Eve, Alicia etc. following her loss against Michelle McCool at Night of Champions. That ‘face in the crowd’ status was further cemented by her and Gail Kim filling the usual Bella Twins spot of schmoozing with the guest host on Raw last Monday. But while it’s a breath of fresh air to see the likes of Natalya get a chance to shine, I can’t help but question… what is next for Melina?

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