The Divas of SmackDown [and ECW] have been ‘Santa suiting up’ [bonus points if you get the reference] this weekend on the house show circuit. The team of Mickie James, Maria and Savannah have been taking on Michelle McCool, Layla and Beth Phoenix in ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ matches and Diva Dirt reader Harmony was there … Read more
Welcome to a special edition of the Diva Dirt Style Jury dedicated to the Diva of the Year, Maria! Ms Kanellis has been on TV so much this week, in so many different looks, that we have opted to make her the first Diva to receive her own Style Jury special! Just like the normal edition, we’ll mark each look with a score out of ten — the score with the highest average score will win the title of Maria’s best look for the week. Click each photo to see the look in full size.
Let the proverbial runway show begin!
MONDAY NIGHT RAW Erin: The dress, with its sparkles and bright colors is perfectly Maria, but it kind of looks like a modified Wonder Woman get-up or a cheesy Spartan woman costume. Tone down the gold and it would look a lot better. The giant golden butterfly the landed on the side of her head needs to go, too. 6/10 Melanie: I like the colour of the dress and the gold fits well, but I think there’s far too much of it. I think simpler use of the gold would work better, it looks as though the designer [maybe Maria herself?] has gone for too much detailing with the gold. It’d be nice if it just accentuated the ‘v-shape’ going down her cleavage. 6/10
ECW Erin: Really, really cute. I love the shape of the dress, and the all-over sparklyness looks great and less over-the-top in a simple silver color. It packs Maria’s flashy style in a more down-to-Earth package. 9/10 Melanie: Love it! Simple, cute, fun and flirty. Maria looks gorgeous when she goes for the understated look and this is just perfect. 10/10
Read on for more outfits and to see which has been branded our winner.
As posted earlier in the week, Diva of the Year Maria helped co-host G4TV’s ‘Attack of the Show’ on Thursday night. The show’s website has uploaded some fun and sometimes naughty [see above] behind the scenes pictures of Maria’s experience, including several shots with her rather dishy co-host and also a picture with the director of the legendary ‘Titanic’ and the newly released ‘Avatar’, James Cameron. Check out the pictures below:
For full video of Maria hosting the show, follow the cut:
It’s been the biggest week of Maria‘s career with appearances on all three brands but it ended on a sour note on SmackDown, with Beth Phoenix not only defeating her but stealing the show. Things have progressed at rapid speed for the WWE Divas over the past week; this time last week, we were talking about Michelle McCool vs Mickie James at TLC — a match that has now passed and since then, all the talk has been about Maria’s Diva of the Year win at the Slammys and now we see the rise of the Phoenix, Beth Phoenix that is.
The Glamazon was the one constant for the Divas this week on SmackDown, appearing in all three Divas segments and receiving some much needed character progression. One thing was clear from the moment Beth began speaking though — this was not the Beth Phoenix of yore. It seems as though that face turn many of our readers have been hoping for may just happen as Beth came across as more of a tweener than the big bad heel we’re used to seeing her as. Watch a more docile Beth with Maria and Mickie below:
The segment starts with Maria and Mickie playing the latest SmackDown vs Raw game, complete with silly commentary. I loved Maria’s, “We got ’em both. Got ’em both!” Perhaps my heart is beginning to thaw this yuletide but Maria’s slapstick is beginning to grow on me. In comes Beth as the ‘mom’, rather than act like the brash heel we’re used to seeing her as, it was clear that this was a different Beth. A Beth that was less threatening and more nurturing. It reminds me of that rant on America’s Next Top Model when Tyra yelled at that chick. “I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you.” Rather than get in her former rivals’ faces, she comes across as more of a ‘disappointed friend’. A clear sign that this is a new, tweener Beth. I really liked this segment, I have to say. Beth to me, came across as the voice of the people — the voice of the Diva fan. Sure it’s scripted but the way they’re scripting Beth is what the fans want and it shows that they aren’t out of touch with what the fans want because they have Beth here pretty much saying what’s on our mind. Again Maria cuts in with her humour, and again I’m amused. Damn you, Kanellis! The little ‘congratulations’ and ‘thank you’ between Maria and Mickie was cute too.
Next up, it’s time for ‘Beth goes roaming part two’ as this time she bumps into Layla and Michelle McCool.
Michelle tries to gain Beth’s favour by saying she hopes she and Layla didn’t rub her the wrong way upon her arrival to SmackDown. This then descends into another excuse for WWE to take jibes at Mickie James. Michelle shows some improvement here and there’s more inflection in her voice than ever before, she’s definitely working on adding more personality to her promos. I was quite tickled by Michelle calling Maria ‘underfed’, oh the irony. The “She ain’t getting no food” was just lame. Michelle’s ‘huge proportions’ line was well delivered but outdone by Layla, who was quite funny in her delivery. Anyway, the camera cuts to Beth Phoenix who realises that all the things they’re saying about Mickie could apply to her too and she speaks up. I’m glad they did this because it’s that old age movie convention — bullies never prosper. It puts all the weeks of ‘Piggie James’ crap into context in that eventually, Michelle and Layla will get what they deserve although it seems, not at the hands of Mickie, but rather at the hands of Beth. It definitely seems like this sets the stage for WWE turning Beth and having her feud with Michelle. And as face turns go, I think this is a very logical way to do it. The sensitive subject of a woman’s weight that WWE is exploiting on national television is disgusting and I think that many of the audience members will be waiting to see Michelle & Layla get their just desserts. Having Beth’s turn face coincide with that could be a genius move, because as a result of serving said just desserts, the crowd will be behind Beth and that will give her momentum. But while Michelle and Layla’s characters may have to pay penance for their actions, the WWE higher ups who are pretty much ‘script-bullying’ Mickie, will likely never get their just desserts. But I digress, that’s a story for another day.
As well as apearing on Raw, ECW and SmackDown this week — Maria found time to make yet another television appearance last night on G4’s Attack of the Show as a guest co-host. Watch a clip below: From the little that we see in the clip, Maria did a great job and showed off her … Read more
Newly crowned Diva of the Year, Maria dropped by ECW last night to appear on the least watched late night show of all time, ‘The Abraham Washington Show’. What makes this both eerie yet funny is that we joked about Maria and the ‘Abe Show’ on Monday night’s Post-Raw Show. Has someone been listening? Anyway, … Read more
Last night’s Raw, in all its bloated 3 hour glory, was the annual Slammy Awards edition. Among the awards to be handed out were Diva of the Year, which was to be voted on by the fans at WWE.com. As we waited on pins and needles (not) to find out who won the award, we pondered whether the award would be given to support a storyline via rigging by the WWE or a popularity contest held by the voting public. As is turns out, it was neither, and I’ll explain my theory as we come to it.
We start our Divas action (not counting the Divas presenting awards throughout the night) with a Jerry Springer-esque evening gown tag team match. The babyfaces–Mickie James, Melina, Brie & Nikki Bella, Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, and Maria are taking on the heels–Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Alicia Fox, and Rosa Mendes. Most look out of place and trashy in their gowns, and I would critique them (I’ll save that for this week’s Style Jury), but I’m much more distracted by the fact that they’re WRESTLING IN EVENING GOWNS. Well, this’ll be one mesmerizing clusterfuck:
Skip to 2:52
They start with a line-up face-off, trading verbal barbs before heading off their their respective corners. Mickie and Rosa start off the match, Rosa takign advantage and tossing Mickie around, pounding her head on the mat. They trade slaps, and Rosa tosses Mickie into the corner. Mickie blocks her attack, locking her head with her legs and hitting a hurricanrana. She then pulls her to her feet, hitting her Mickie-T to get the pin an the win for her team.
I have to say, this is one of the few moments where I’m glad that a Diva match was cut short. I’m glad that no more than two Divas had to humiliate themselves by wrestling in their dresses. Mickie and Rosa did as awkwardly as I expected, but hey, someone had to take the bullet. Now that the match is over, it’s time for the Diva of the Year Slammy to be awarded. The girls line up in anticipation as MVP and Goldust present the award.
Our winner is announced as, drumroll please…. Maria??? MVP’s reaction right before he reads her name says it all, and Maria looks as shocked as the rest of us as she goes up to accept her award, saying a typical acceptance speech before being interrupted by Batista in a douche costume, doing a Kanye West impression that’s not only awful but over 3 months old. If the joke were a carton of milk, it would have expired into a living organism at this point and, ironically, would be more worthy of a Diva of the Year award than Maria. Maria plays Taylor Swift as she left the stage and allowed Dave to be “escorted” off by security.
But as we watch the wild pink-polo-wearing douchebag be captured in his natural habitat, we’re left to ponder the reasoning behind this decision to crown Maria as Diva of the Year. Was is it truly a popularity contest, and she was just the most popular Diva among the fans? Or was it rigged for storyline purposes? As I said earlier, I believe it was neither, because I have a theory. Yes, Maria is popular, and I do not doubt that fans flocked to vote for her in the poll, but I don’t believe her star power amongst the casual fans is that much stronger than, say, a Mickie James or a Kelly Kelly.
Welcome to the Diva Dirt Style Jury! No more are the separate ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ lists, instead we have come up with a scientific approach *cough* to compiling our weekly fashion column. The Diva Dirt team will weigh in on the different looks from the week gone by & mark each look with a score out of ten. The look with the highest average score will be our best look and the look with the lowest average score will be the worst look. Click each photo to see the look in full size.
Let the proverbial runway show begin!
JILLIAN Erin: Jillian’s ring outfits are usually pretty dull, but this one is a bit interesting with that color and pattern. It’s still not much, though. 6/10 Melanie: I actually really like this. It’s cute without being boring as with her past outfits. 6/10 Steven: I like the color on her, but would love to see her do something more with her wardrobe. The black pants/colored top combo is getting kinda old. 6/10
KELLY KELLY Erin: Too “Flashdance” for my taste. I don’t know.. The naked shoulder just looks a little try-hard. It’s not awful, though. 6/10 Melanie: Don’t like it. The top just isn’t flattering on her and I’d prefer pants. 3/10 Steven: Like we said on the Post-Raw Show, Kelly’s outfit this week was… strange. Looks like she grabbed the nearest black bedsheet and fashioned it into an outfit. 4/10
Read on for more of this week’s outfits and to see who’s been branded our winner and loser.
Congratulations are in order for the Divas of SmackDown as I can positively say that this week’s episode was the best Divas action that I’ve seen in quite some time. From the #1 Contenders Match featuring three of the most talented women in the WWE, actual storyline set up afterwards and the return of a Diva — WWE managed to pack a lot into 10 minutes [which is pretty long for a Divas segment on TV] but it all came across as being important. Watch the action below:
On paper, the triple threat match between Beth Phoenix, Mickie James and Natalya seemed full-proof and it was. The work between all three Divas was fantastic, particularly the interaction between the power houses of WWE’s women’s division — Phoenix and Natalya. The way the pair cleared the ring of Mickie James in the early going and then fought among themselves was a great touch. Natalya is probably one of the most talented Divas to ever step foot into the WWE but hasn’t received the same opportunities as Phoenix or James. If we didn’t have spoilers prior, Natalya would be the one I would be rooting for — and to be completely honest, even though I knew the outcome, I still kind of did hope for her to win!
Some beautiful spots in this match including Mickie’s hurricanrana on Natalya, and Natalya’s discus clothesline on Mickie. But perhaps the most impressive is Beth’s effortless Glam Slam on a woman that equals her in stature. A fantastic spot.
The end sees Mickie James dropkick Beth out of the ring and ‘steal’ the victory. I really liked Mickie’s placement in this match, she couldn’t conceivably be considered as physical as Beth or Natalya, so they used her as a scrappy underdog fighting against the larger Divas.
Meanwhile, the real greatness in this match was the work between Beth and Natalya. I’d absolutely love to see a secondary between these two as a result of this week’s show, in addition to Michelle-Mickie. With Beth squashing Divas left, right and center, here she got an opponent that can step toe-to-toe with her and have a knock-down fight with. Perhaps market Natalya as almost an equal to Beth and see which Diva comes out on top.
The upcoming third season of Celebrity Apprentice finished shooting last week, freeing up SmackDown Diva, Maria to return to the ring at anytime. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as lone babyface, Mickie James needs an equalizer against Michelle McCool and Layla. Now isn’t that something to be thankful for? ;)
In celebration of Thanksgiving, this edition of Unwrapped will feature the Divas’ Thanksgiving-themed photoshoot, in which each dress in their best (or most stereotypical) Native American costumes. (Click here to see the full photoshoot.)
We’ll give you the chance to give your own grade to each photoshoot, “branding” each like so: Sweet means it’s great, Bland means it’s on the fence, and Sour means it’s just awful. Now, let’s unwrap this eye candy:
Alicia Fox Grade: Bland. The color and fit of the dress make it look more like a potato sack than a dress. The matching blue trim and headband are cute, though, and the red feather absolutely pops. But still, for someone we’ve dubbed “Alicia Fierce”, she could have cooked up a far more fierce costume than this!
[poll id=”450″]
Beth Phoenix Grade: Sweet. I love that Beth went pretty bare-bones and wore (what looks like) a deer skin outfit fashioned with her own two hands. I’d totally buy it if you told me Beth took down and skinned the deer herself. So sexy! ..Not the “killing animals” part, of course. You know what I mean.
[poll id=”451″]
Read more to see the rest of the Thanksgiving looks and vote for your favorite.
We’ve modified our Unwrapped feature a bit. On top of our grading, we’ll give you the chance to give your own grade to each photoshoot, “branding” each like so:
Sweet (Great)/Bland (Iffy)/Sour (Awful)
Eve Torres‘s Like a Glove Grade: Sweet. Eve’s minidress is in a gorgeous color, and though it’s super tight, it doesn’t look all hoochie. She wears it well–keeping it from looking trashy by posing in sort of a “retro”, pin-up fashion. Her big hair adds to that retro feel as well.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
[poll id=”444″]
Katie Lea‘s Living Art Grade: Bland. The graffiti takes center stage and makes for awesome scenery, and she doesn’t look too bad herself. The clothes and poses are typical Katie Lea, though, so it’s nothing we haven’t seen before in that department.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
[poll id=”445″]
Read more to see the rest of this week’s photoshoots.
In order to consolidate our Eye Candy coverage, we’ve developed a new feature: Unwrapped! We’ll take all the new photoshoots from the week and grade (or “brand”) each based on the following criteria:
• Appearance(hair, clothes, makeup.. you get the drift)
• Poses(are they versatile or just glorified statues?)
• Uniqueness(have we seen this photoshoot a billion times before?) Grading scale: Sweet (Great)/Bland (Iffy)/Sour (Awful)
Beth Phoenix‘s Gray Area Appearance: Tight pants, tight vest, high heels;Beth is dressing sexier than ever. The combination isn’t flawless–it kind of looks piled-on–but Beth works it, and the fact that the shoot is in black and white kind of levels it out. The headband keeps Beth’s signature “head gear” look going without sticking out like a sore thumb. All in all, it’s a flashier look than we’re accustomed to seeing Beth in, but I like it. Poses: Beth’s complimenting her sexier look with sexier poses, and they look even better in black and white. Maybe the colorless shoot doesn’t work as well in a place as stark as a locker room, but it works beautifully against Beth’s face. Uniqueness: Like I said, Beth’s looking flashier than she ever has. It sort of looks like she’s carving out a new image for herself, a sexier one. This is definitely a continued step in a new direction. Grade: Sweet. The outfit could be better, but all in all I like Beth taking new chances.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Lauren Mayhew‘s New Kid on the Block Appearance: New announcer Lauren is wearing a pretty brown dress. It’s simple and slim, but the detailing around the bust and the single shoulder strap are gorgeous. The brass heels go with the dress perfectly. Poses: I’ll give her a pass for being a new Diva, but she kind of looks like she’s posing for a clothing catalog. It’s just kind of boring, and she’s showing shades of Kelly Kelly with her perma-smile. Hopefully she’ll grow beyond the bland posing. Uniqueness: First photoshoot! She didn’t really make a mark, but introducing yourself is a one-time thing, which kind of makes it unique in itself. Grade: Bland. The clothing is great, but she just needs to inject some personality in her shoots–she can’t just be another smiley blonde!
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Maria‘s Wild at Heart Appearance: Some bondage-reminiscent clothing is right up Maria’s alley–it’s black and metal everywhere. Few could pull off this extreme of a look, but I think Maria can. The brass knuckle earrings might be a little too kitsch, though. Poses: Break out the wind machines! Maria’s hair is flying every which way, and her poses–all arms–compliment that. The wild hair wouldn’t work with every shoot, but it’s already an over-the-top shoot with the outfit, so why not? Uniqueness: Wild hair, wild clothes.. Sounds like a regular Maria shoot, but it looks surprisingly unique for her. Grade: Sweet. Get on with your bad self, Maria. Just don’t try to fight anyone with those tiny brass knucks.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Read more to see the rest of this week’s photoshoots and vote for your favorite.
Blue brand Diva, Maria has been absent [as well documented] filming The Celebrity Apprentice. Yesterday, Maria took part in a charity fitness class during one of the tasks which is being called a ‘Rock Star Boot Camp Workout’. Spoiler alert: Also with Maria were Sharon Osbourne and Bret Michaels, so I’m guessing they’re on her … Read more
We’re baaack! You may remember us offering costume advice last year to Divas participating in the now-defunct Cyber Sunday Halloween costume contest. Well, we’re extending that tradition this year, extending the love to TNA’s Knockouts as well. We’ll offer costume possibilities to nearly every Diva and Knockout over 3 installments, all leading up to Halloween night. Get your popcorn ready!
Alissa Flash Costume: Horror movie victim Why?: It seems like every Melissa Anderson character is getting “killed off” of TNA, or at least decimated. What better way for her to poke fun at this massacre than to smear yourself with fake blood and scream your head off? Bonus points for fake wounds. Let’s see Awesome Kong do this kind of damage. Get the look: Make some fake blood, tear up some old clothes, and apply some strategically-placed dark makeup for that crucial gaunt look.
Brie & Nikki Bella Costume: The twins from “The Shining” Why?: Have there ever been two creepier twins in horror movie history? I think not. Dress the Bellas up in those famous blue dresses and place them in an empty hallway. Get them to say “Come play with us!” in unison and you’ve got something even scarier than Jack Nicholson armed with an axe. Get the look: Find your twin (or someone who bears a striking resemblance) and dress yourselves in matching prim and proper power blue dresses. Don’t forget the blank stares!
Jillian Costume: Lady Gaga Why?: Jillian’s adoration may have shifted from Britney to Lady Gaga, if her performance of “Paparazzi” following her Divas Championship win was any indication. From one outrageous Diva to another, Jillian could make the transition easily with her blonde hair. She just needs to pick any crazy outfit Gaga’s worn (such as her infamous bubble ensemble), apply some heavy eyeliner, and she’s golden! Get the look: Toss on this Lady Gaga-inspired wig, apply some bold makeup, and pick your favorite Gaga fashion statement. FYI–chances are you won’t be wearing pants.
In order to consolidate our Eye Candy coverage, we’ve developed a new feature: Unwrapped! We’ll take all the new photoshoots from the week and grade (or “brand”) each based on the following criteria:
• Appearance(hair, clothes, makeup.. you get the drift)
• Poses(are they versatile or just glorified statues?)
• Uniqueness(have we seen this photoshoot a billion times before?) Grading scale: Sweet (Great)/Bland (Iffy)/Sour (Awful)
Brie & Nikki Bella‘s Sticking to the Pattern Appearance: Brie and Nikki are wearing matching patterned dresses; Brie is in red, Nikki in gray. I’ve got to say, it’s mile ahead of the directly matching outfits. The girls don’t look as much like they’re in Kindergarten and their mother dressed them identically. It’s a more creative way to embrace their ‘twin’-ness. I can’t say I love their dresses on their own, though–they’re cute, but they wouldn’t look half as interesting on just one Diva instead of two. Poses: The poses are rather dull, and seem to just be based on them standing next to each other and switching positions slightly. I know there’s only so much you can do with two people in one shoot but this is astoundingly boring, like a cheesy family portrait. Uniqueness: Brie and Nikki are dressed similarly! What a novel idea! Grade: Bland. The duo photoshoots are quickly losing their shine. Just let Brie and Nikki do their own things–the results are much more interesting.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Kelly Kelly‘s Enchanting Appearance: Kelly’s wearing a long blue gown in a pretty aquamarine color. It’s pretty, but looks sort of out of place in a WWE photoshoot. Maybe if the dress was shorter or looked a bit more casual it wouldn’t look like Kelly was about to go to a ball or compete in a Miss America competition. Poses: It’s your standard Kelly Kelly photoshoot, with not much going on around the face. She uses her arms and the rest of her body to make this a bit more interesting, but her posing still bears shades of a mannequin. The floor-length dress doesn’t do much to dispel that illusion. Uniqueness: A Diva wearing a floor-length dress is something of an anomaly around these parts, I must say. Grade: Bland. Kelly never seems to put much effort into making her photoshoots interesting. I don’t know why.. Maybe she’s just letting her looks do the talking.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Maria‘s En Fuego Appearance: It’s Maria, so we know a few things are for certain: there will be bright colors, bold prints, and a single glove. Check, check, and check. I can’t say a red leopard print vest is my cup of tea, but it certainly fits her style. The shiny black pants and silver heels keep the wild theme running, but somehow keep it grounded a bit with their neutral tones. Poses: This is where the shoot goes off the tracks. I understand and appreciate the attempts to excite and surprise the viewer, but posing with a random fire extinguisher just looks odd, and balancing on a chair and the wall don’t look surreal in a Salvador Dali sort of way–it just looks kind of weird. To be fair, I’m always telling Divas to mix it up and makes things exciting, but I think this is taking that a bit too far and into the deep end. I don’t think the objective of a WWE shoot should be to get people gawking, like you’re modeling in a high fashion magazine or something. Uniqueness: Well, it’s definitely unique. I’m sure that was the intent of this mess. Grade: Bland. I appreciate her gumption, I really do. It’s just.. not unique in a good way–more of a head-scratching way.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Read more to see the rest of this week’s photoshoots and vote for your favorite.
Pictured once again filming Celebrity Apprentice, did The Donald’s resident Diva dress up for Halloween a tad early? Maria was rocking a top not dissimilar to that of screen slashing legend, Freddy Krueger in New York yesterday. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think many would be scared if Freddy popped up in their … Read more
SmackDown Diva, Maria continued filming for the third season of Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice in New York over the weekend. As pictured, Maria and the women’s team which includes: Summer Sanders, Holly Robinson Peete, Sharon Osbourne, Cyndi Lauper and Carol Leifer. Also, Wrestlezone.com has footage of Maria flipping burgers on Monday at Burger Heaven, assumably … Read more
The first image of the new Celebrity Apprentice cast has been released. The photo was taken in New York yesterday as the cast filmed the title sequence for the season. Maria, in her business best, is spotted at the far right. EDIT: Even more on-set pictures of Maria with Bret Michaels, Sharon Osbourne and er… … Read more
SmackDown Diva Maria is stepping out of the ring and into the boardroom, according to the New York Post. Maria has been announced as a cast member on the upcoming third season of The Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump. Maria will be joined by fellow celebrities including former X Factor and current America’s Got … Read more
In order to consolidate our Eye Candy coverage, we’ve developed a new feature: Unwrapped! We’ll take all the new photoshoots from the week and grade (or “brand”) each based on the following criteria:
• Appearance(hair, clothes, makeup.. you get the drift)
• Poses(are they versatile or just glorified statues?)
• Uniqueness(have we seen this photoshoot a billion times before?) Grading scale: Sweet (Great)/Bland (Iffy)/Sour (Awful)
Beth Phoenix‘s On the Spot Appearance: In a very un-Beth-like move, the Glamazon is wearing a girly polka-dotted dress. It looks good on her, though, and the cut shows off her rock-hard back in a very sexy way. I can’t help but think it’s probably too girly for her frame, with the frilly-ness and the polka dots and the bow, but I like that she’s venturing out a bit. The color is quite pretty, too. The black heels are killer. Poses: She goes for a whole variety of poses, some serious, some sweet. It shows her range, and I absolutely love the back-exposing pose–it shows off her sculpted frame, and she almost looks like a statue (in a good way, not a Kelly Kelly way). Uniqueness: Beth’s wearing a pretty little party dress! That’s new to me! Grade: Sweet. I’m sure this isn’t a lasting thing, but I like seeing this different side to Beth. It shows that she’s more than the “muscular chick”.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Lacey Von Erich‘s Peep Show Appearance: Lacey’s wearing a hot pink tube top and black leather shorts, but I have a feeling the clothes don’t matter, because she sheds the top. Maybe that’s a good thing, because she’s one pair of thigh-high boots away from looking like a streetwalker. Poses: I’ll forgive Lacey for this, since she’s new, but this is the absolute opposite of subtlety. It’s worse than cheesy, it’s cheesecake-y. I wish we were beyond girls in wrestling taking their tops off, but I guess we aren’t. Uniqueness: Playing into a stereotype is about the least unique a person can be. Yuck. Grade: Sour. I think I slipped back into the late 90s with this shoot. It wasn’t a fun trip.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Layla‘s Voyez les Vues Appearance: Layla’s a jet-setter, donning head-to-toe black and striking sunglasses. It’s not very exciting, but I suppose the sights are meant to take center stage. She tosses on a beret in a few shots, which, while cute, is kind of distractingly cliche. Poses: A few are fun (jumping for joy in from of the Eiffel Tower), but others are just kinda blah.. I understand that the scenery is the focus, and it’s gorgeous, but Layla is kind of just standing there. She could make it look a whole lot more exciting instead of just looking like a tourist caught in a candid photo. Uniqueness: Ah, Paris! That’ll beat the traditional black backdrop any day.. Grade: Bland. The sights are gorgeous, but the Diva isn’t pulling her weight. The poses bore, and make me look at what’s behind her instead, which I’m sure wasn’t the objective of the shoot.
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
Read more to see the rest of this week’s photoshoots and vote for your favorite.
Welcome to the Diva Dirt Style Jury! No more are the separate ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ lists, instead we have come up with a scientific approach *cough* to compiling our weekly fashion column. The Diva Dirt team will weigh in on the different looks from the week gone by & mark each look with a score out of ten. The look with the highest average score will be our best look and the look with the lowest average score will be the worst look. Click each photo to see the look in full size.
Let the proverbial runway show begin!
ALICIA FOX Erin: Not digging the mosaic or whatever’s going on on her tights. There’s just too much going on, and a crazy pattern like that isn’t all that figure-flattering, even though Alicia’s a really skinny girl. Her hair and headband kick ass, though. 5/10 Melanie: I like it, but I’m not loving it. I felt she could’ve gone for more of a black sequined look like Michelle wore on SmackDown or Torrie used to wear, that would’ve looked better. As is, I think it looks a little garish. 5/10 Steven: Alicia’s really been on a black kick as of late, huh? This is probably my favorite of all of Alicia’s in-ring outfits. 9/10 Tiffany: I was digging this attire on Ms. Foxy. Alicia has proven time and time again that black suits her and that she can work it quite well. 7/10
EVE TORRES Erin: Eve kind of looks like she stepped out of the 80’s: members only jacket, black sequins, tights, belly chain, teased hair.. I wasn’t too coherent/alive for the 80s, so I’m not an expert on the style of the era, but I’ve never been too big on it. On Eve, it doesn’t look as “costume party” as it could, but I’m still not liking it all that much. Though, I do like the seafoam color on the jacket. 6/10 Melanie: Not feeling this one at all. The jacket looked Ninja Turtle-y, the bra under the jacket was trashy. The pants, I thought the bottom half may be salvagable but on closer look they had this weird look to it and the crotch looks really gah. Oh and the Jessie Spano hair? Put down your Saved by the Bell DVDs, Eve. 4/10 Steven: Loving the green leather jacket, but I could do without the tights. Overall, not a bad look. 7/10 Tiffany: I don’t understand the concept of cropped jackets (especially matched with teeny-weeny tops). Then again, I don’t understand the outfit altogether. Perhaps if the sleeves were a bit longer and the jacket was zipped up more (think Lacey Von Erich circa her TNA debut), then it’d be more to my liking. As it stands right now, this outfit doesn’t do much for me. Pass on the shiny tights. 6/10
Read on for more of this week’s outfits and to see who’s been branded our winner and loser.
This week: With Michelle defeating Melina, does that close the curtains on their feud, and if so, will both go their separate ways this week? Will Maria finally take some initiative?
We kick off the show with Eve Torres making her way to the ring. It’s been a while since we’ve seen her in one-on-one action, so this should be a bit of fresh air. Next out is Michelle McCool, bedazzled knee brace and all. I wonder if Michelle’s having violent flashbacks to that ill-fated house show match with Eve that landed her with that bum knee in the first place..
At the start of the match, the two fight for momentum, struggling against one another in a tie-up. Michelle eventually gets Eve in the corner, pounding her fiercely. Eve tries to get out, but Michelle shoves her back in, showing some great aggression. She pauses for a moment and Eve takes advantage of this, turning the tables and taking her to task in the corner. Dragging Michelle to the center of the ring, Eve whips her back into that same corner, as if Michelle were a boomerang. She goes for the attack, but only gets a face full of Michelle’s elbow.
Michelle goes after Eve, but Eve sweeps her legs out from under her, mounting and pounding her in the head. This turns into a bit of a cat fight, Michelle flipping to the top and putting in her licks. Eve eventually shoves her off, and Michelle retreats outside the ring. Eve follows, and they go for a quick chase before Michelle slides back into the ring, looking to attack Eve upon her entrance. Eve, though, telegraphs Michelle’s kick, catching her leg. She clotheslines her and goes for a unsuccessful pin attempt. Both are slow to their feet, but as Eve goes to grab Michelle, Michelle makes a grab of her own, pulling Eve face-first into the second turnbuckle. She lays prone in the corner, and Michelle takes a run at her, slamming her thigh into her face.
Eve demonstrates some great selling, looking absolutely exhausted as she’s sprawled out on the mat. Michelle admires her work before yanking Eve foot-first to the middle of the ring, mounting her and punching her in the head. Eve looks to be moving slower and slower as Michelle hovers over, kicking and driving her braced knee into her head one, two, three times, finishing it off with a good old-fashioned leg drop. She then grabs Eve behind by the neck, placing her knee square on her back and yanking her head back, choking her. The referee checks her hands to make sure it’s not an actual choke, but it’s close enough–Michelle’s obviously not focusing on taking out Eve’s back.
She grows tired of this, letting for and allowing Eve’s face to slam into the mat. Not giving her any time to breathe, Michelle grabs her hands, criss-crossing them in front of herself and pulling back. This submission isn’t as easy, as Eve seems to be fighting back a bit. Resistance is futile though, because Michelle eventually gets Eve to her knees, locking in the hold and shaking her back and forth violently for good measure. Eve tries to fight out, but Michelle keeps her on her knees. Eve finally gets to her feet, using brute strength to get the advantage. She goes to flip Michelle forward, but the Women’s Champ only performs a cartwheel in response, staying on her feet. Though, Eve meets her quickly with a clothesline, finally knocking her down.
We’re again bringing you a special edition of Unwrapped, where we cover multi-Diva shoots in a miniaturized version of our regular “unwrappings”, focusing on the looks and ensembles our Divas have put together. This time, we’re taking a look at the “Diva Bowl” photoshoot, in which last Monday’s participants in Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s tag team match show off their football-themed ring gear. Click here to see the full photoshoot.
Alicia Fox Grade: Sweet. Cutting her jersey into little bits, Alicia took the bland heel jersey (what, no Pittsburgh rival jersey?) to the next level, giving it some spunk. It’s refreshing to not see something modified merely to show more chest or stomach. The studded headband is awesome too, and gives the look that Alicia touch. I love it–the whole thing screams “Alicia”, but still fits the theme perfectly.
Beth Phoenix Grade: Sweet. Of course, her requisite Glamazon headband is there, but it fits in perfectly with the white attire. I like how the jersey is cut into slits like male athletes to do the back of their shirts. It’s sexy, but not cheeky. If you look closely, the sleeves are braided too–nice touch. I love the close-up pose too–I’ve bet you’ve never seen a holder look that intimidating.
Brie Bella Grade: Sweet. Finally, a place where the Bella headband works! Granted, its an sports headband, but still.. Brie made a unique modification to her jersey, snipping out the front completely but leaving the back hanging. It’s strange, but I kind of like it. Did you notice that she and Nikki are sharing a pair of gloves? Ah, the sacrifices of being a twin!
Eve Torres Grade: Sweet. A few yellow touches with ribbons and yellow high-top Converse look really cute, especially with her hair tied into pigtails. Perhaps it’s a little too cutesy, but I’ll be damned it she doesn’t look adorable. Someone needs to tell her to take the stickers off the bottom of her shoes, though..
Follow the cut to see the rest of the Divas in the photoshoot.
Last night, Diva fans were ‘treated’ to the first annual~! Diva Bowl featuring girls from all three brands. What’s that I hear you cry? “Lulz ‘all three brands’ sure, more like they called in the troops because most of the Raw Divas are injured.” What? You mean to say that the first annual~! Diva Bowl … Read more
Welcome to the Diva Dirt Style Jury! No more are the separate ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ lists, instead we have come up with a scientific approach *cough* to compiling our weekly fashion column. The Diva Dirt team will weigh in on the different looks from the week gone by & mark each look with a score out of ten. The look with the highest average score will be our best look and the look with the lowest average score will be the worst look. Click each photo to see the look in full size.
Let the proverbial runway show begin!
ALICIA FOX #1 Erin: It’s sexy without being skin tight, and I like that. The off-the-shoulder look works well on her. I love her hair too. I have to say, she probably has some of the best “street wear” style of all the Divas. Most end up looking like street walkers (see Friday’s SmackDown), but she doesn’t–not at all. 8/10 Melanie: Another solid black look from Alicia after her killer outfit last week. With the Beyonce-licious legs she has, she should show them off more! 8/10 Steven: Love this look on Alicia. The shorts really show off her killer legs and the chain on the side is a nice touch. Not sure how I feel about the top half though… 7/10 Tiffany: Alicia proved once again that she looks good in black (as most Divas do). It was an acceptable outfit for ringside attire. I’m just not a fan of loose-fitting wear that makes women appear larger than they really are. Though, she pretty much rocked it either way. 8/10
ALICIA FOX #2 Erin: This one isn’t as flattering as the last one, but I like that she’s trying different styles with the one-pieces. It’s just too busy and sparkly for my taste. 5/10 Melanie: I am not a huge fan of rompers so this doesn’t work entirely for me. That said, I love that she’s showing off her legs more and she looks utterly confident in all of her fashion choices. 5/10 Steven: Have I mentioned how much I hate animal print? Similar to her outfit on Raw, but not nearly as cute. The billowy top does nothing for her figure and I can’t stand the shoestring headband. 4/10 Tiffany: I didn’t quite understand Alicia’s choice on SmackDown. I can’t quite explain it, but it is certainly a step down from her Raw outfit. The pattern and style just don’t do it for me. 6/10
THE BELLA TWINS Erin: I think they’re cute, and the all-over lace doesn’t look as trashy when it’s in such a pretty color. The cut out back is sexy too, and the fact that the neckline is so high balances out the skin exposure. Though, it’s probably too flashy of an outfit for both of them to wear at once without looking silly. 7/10 Melanie: I really love this look, the dresses are so cute and you can’t see it in the picture, but they are also backless which makes it even more stylish. 7/10 Steven: Something about these dresses rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the high neckline, or perhaps the lacey material. I do love the color though. 6/10 Tiffany: Blending in with the color of your outfit is not a good look. Seriously, do they have to match…all the time? They’re twins; we get it. 5/10
BETH PHOENIX Erin: It’s probably tough for Beth to find street clothes that don’t clash against her tough girl persona, so she’s stuck with denim and leather. I don’t hate the look, but she could have done better. Just because you’re tough doesn’t mean you automatically have to look like you just blew in on a motorcycle–not that there’s anything wrong with that. 6/10 Melanie: Not loving it. There’s something about the vest top that looks kind of ‘butch’, I would’ve like to see something that puts the glamorous in Glamazon. 4/10 Steven: I find that Beth looks her best when in casual gear and this is no exception. Feeling the belt, but the vest is a little too ‘biker chick’ for me. 8/10 Tiffany: Beth looked more biker chick than ‘chic.’ She seems to be bursting out her top, and the jeans are not flattering. Not her best. Her last backstage outfit attempt was much better. 6/10
Read on for more of this week’s outfits and to see who’s been branded our winner and loser.
MONDAY NIGHT RAW
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