WWE Diva Search
WWE Diva Search | |
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Also known as | WWE Raw Diva Search Diva Search Raw Divas Search |
Created by | Vince McMahon |
Opening theme |
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Country of origin | United States |
No.of seasons | 6 |
No.of episodes | 7 |
Production | |
Camera setup | Multicamera setup |
Original release | |
Network |
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Release | July 1, 2003 |
Related | |
WWE Diva Search(formerlyWWE Raw Diva Search) is an American talent competition that was produced and held byWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE). The first winner was Jaime Koeppe, but she did not receive a contract like subsequent winners of the contest. Other winners includedChristy Hemme,Ashley Massaro,Layla El,Eve TorresandEva Marie.In addition to the winners of the yearly contest, WWE has hired several contestants asDivas,the name that WWE gave at the time to the female performers. As of 2021,Maryse Ouelletis the sole remaining female talents signed with WWE to come from the contest. There were many failed attempts at bringing back the competition over the years following the cancellation of the 2008 season, and was at one point going to return in 2019 under the new nameSuperstar Search,but those plans were scrapped.[1][2][3][4]
2003
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Jaime Koeppe |
Runner-up | Terri Mitchell |
On June 18, 2003, WWE made a public declaration about their intention to embark on a countrywide quest for a fresh addition to their roster of WWE Divas. The organization emphasized that the final decision regarding the selection of the new diva would rest solely in the hands of the fans.
The 2003 WWE Diva Search invited women aged 18 or above who believed they possessed the beauty, strength, and intelligence required to be the next WWE Diva. As part of the application process, participants were required to submit a photograph of themselves along with a brief written explanation of their aspirations to become a WWE Diva.
On July 1, 2003, fans were given the opportunity to cast their votes for their preferred contestants in the Diva competition. Through fan voting, the contestants were narrowed down to a group of 16 by July 20, and then further reduced to 8 finalists by July 29. The final four Diva hopefuls were determined through fan voting, which concluded on August 6. These remaining four contestants were then awarded a trip to WWE'sSummerSlampay-per-view event inPhoenix, Arizona,where they would compete in a final event that would be broadcast live on a special program called Byte This! The winner of the 2003 WWE Diva Search was ultimately Jamie Koeppe, who was also photographed and prominently featured inWWE RAW Magazine.[5]
2004
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Christy Hemme |
Runner-up | Carmella DeCesare |
Release | |
Original network | Spike TV |
Original release | July 15 September 20, 2004 | –
Official themes
[edit]The 2004 WWE Raw $250,000 Diva Search featured four official theme songs.
- "Open Your Eyes"byAlter Bridge
- "Real Good Girl" byJim Johnston[n 1]
- "Time and Time Again" byChronic Future
- "Walk Idiot Walk"byThe Hives[n 2]
- ^"Real Good Girl" byJim Johnstonwas written exclusively for the 2004 WWE Raw $250,000 Diva Search competition. The song was later featured inWWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6.
- ^"Walk Idiot Walk" was also used as the official entrance theme for Christy Hemme after winning the competition.
Top 28
[edit]Open casting calls were held in Los Angeles, NYC, and Chicago in June and July to narrow the field down from thousands to 28 women. The following 28 finalists were chosen from each of the locations:
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Finalists
[edit]Name | Age[a] | Hometown | Eliminated |
---|---|---|---|
Christy Hemme | 23 | Poway, California | Winner[6][7][8][9] |
Carmella DeCesare | 22 | Avon Lake, Ohio | Runner-Up[8][10] |
Joy Giovanni | 26 | Boston, Massachusetts | 3rd Place[10] |
Amy Weber | 34 | Mapleton, Illinois | 4th Place[10] |
Maria Kanellis | 22 | Ottawa, Illinois | 5th Place[11] |
Tracie Wright | 24 | Atlanta, Georgia | 6th Place |
Michelle McCool | 24 | Palatka, Florida | 7th Place[11] |
Chandra Costello | 28 | Liberty, Kentucky | 8th Place |
Camille Anderson | 26 | Dallas, Texas | 9th Place |
Julia Costello | 28 | Liberty, Kentucky | 10th Place |
- ^Ages were at time of filming.
Notes
[edit]In 2004, WWE decided to make an extension of the Diva Search, which included a one-year contract worth $250,000 and was held onRaw.[9][12]Over 7,000 females applied to be a part of the contest.[6]The final ten contestants were chosen on a casting special aired onSpike TVon July 15, with guest judgesTriple H,Randy Orton,Chris JerichoandEdge.[12]
They began airing the weekly Raw Diva Search segments on July 19.[9][12]Despite reported claims by the company that the contest would be handled in a classy manner, the contest involved prospective divas performing suggestive acts on livetelevision,such as "seducing" a male wrestler. Fans were allowed to vote for the winners,[9]but the outcome of the voting process was questioned by media outlets. The eventual winner of the competition was Christy Hemme, who went on to pose inPlayboyand competed atWrestleMania 21for the WWE Women's Championship where she was accompanied to the ring byLita,but ended up withTrish Stratusretaining the title.[7]
Finalists (winner Hemme, runner-up Carmella DeCesare, Amy Weber, and Joy Giovanni)[10]took part in a segment titled "Diss the Diva" on August 30, 2004,[13]which was censored at several points due to foul language and obscenities from the contestants when they were asked to taunt one another verbally. Backstage, the four contestants bickered with and disliked each other, as well.[10]Also, during an earlier segment in the competition, Maria Kanellis gave DeCesare themiddle finger.[11]
Despite only one winner being crowned in the competition each year, WWE hired a large number of the contestants from past contests and immediately placed them in on-camera in non-wrestling roles. From the 2004 Diva Search, Michelle McCool, Amy Weber,[10]Candice Michelle,[12]Maria Kanellis,[11]and Joy Giovanni all received contracts after losing the contest. Several of the girls were sent toOhio Valley Wrestlingto train.
Candice Michelle would become the first Diva Search contestant to win a championship on the main roster, defeatingMelinafor theWWE Women's ChampionshipatVengeance: Night of Champions.
Gia Allemandwas a contestant for the Diva Search.[14]It is unknown what season she was in. Allemand died on August 14, 2013, at 29.
2005
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Ashley Massaro |
Runner-up | Leyla Milani |
Release | |
Original network | Spike TV |
Original release | June 27 August 15, 2005 | –
Official theme
[edit]The 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search featured one official theme song.
- ^"Be Yourself" was also used as the official entrance theme for Ashley Massaro after winning the competition.
Contestants
[edit]Name | Age[a] | Hometown | Eliminated |
---|---|---|---|
Ashley Massaro† | 26 | Babylon, New York | Winner[10][15] |
Leyla Milani | 23 | Toronto, Ontario | Runner-Up |
Elisabeth Rouffaer | 22 | Santa Cruz, California | 3rd Place |
Kristal Marshall | 21 | Los Angeles, California | 4th Place |
Summer DeLin | 24 | Shreveport, Louisiana | 5th Place |
Cameron Haven | 24 | Lake Worth Beach, Florida | 6th Place |
Simona Fusco | 25 | Milan,Italy | 7th Place |
Alexis Ondrade | 23 | Costa Mesa, California | 8th Place |
- ^Ages were at time of filming.
Notes
[edit]For the 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search, the eight finalists began appearing onRawon June 27. One contestant was eliminated each week until there were a final three.[15]Contestant Leyla Milani accidentally exposed herself by falling out of her top while attempting to navigate an obstacle course on the July 4 edition ofRaw,leading to a "disqualification" in the contest.[16]
Ashley Massaro was declared the winner on August 15 and received $250,000.[15]As in 2004, other contestants were hired by WWE, including Kristal Marshall,[17]Trenesha Biggers(eliminated in the Top 25) and Elisabeth Rouffaer.[18]
Leyla Milaniwould later appear onDeal or No Dealas a briefcase model. Alexis Ondrade would later appear onFlavor of Love (season 1)under the nickname "Smiley". She would later appear in other "Of Love" spinoff shows under the same nickname or her real name "Leilene Ondrade".
Massaro died on May 16, 2019, at the age of 39.
2006
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Layla El |
Runner-up | Jen England |
Release | |
Original network | USA Network |
Original release | July 10 August 16, 2006 | –
Official themes
[edit]The 2006 WWE Raw Diva Search featured three official theme songs.
- "Face Down"byThe Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
- "Move Along"byThe All-American Rejects[n 1]
- "Out Here All Night"byDamone
- ^"Move Along" was briefly used as the official entrance theme for Layla El after winning the competition.
Contestants
[edit]Name | Age[a] | Hometown | Eliminated |
---|---|---|---|
Layla El | 29 | London,England | Winner[19] |
Jennifer England | 27 | Lansing, Michigan | Runner-Up[19] |
J.T. Tinney | 25 | Phoenix, Arizona | 3rd Place[19] |
Milena Roucka | 26 | Vancouver, British Columbia | 4th Place[19] |
Erica Chevillar | 23 | Boca Raton, Florida | 5th Place[19] |
Rebecca DiPietro | 26 | Rehoboth, Massachusetts | 6th Place[19] |
Maryse Ouellet | 23 | Montreal,Quebec | 7th Place[19] |
Amy Zidian | 20 | Orlando, Florida | 8th Place[19] |
- ^Ages were at time of filming.
Notes
[edit]The eight finalists made their first appearance on WWE programming onRawon July 10.[20]The Diva Search had an awkward beginning on July 10 with an introductory segment onRawfeaturing new hostMike Mizanin.During the segment, Mizanin appeared to have forgotten his lines and stammered on for several minutes when trying to explain the voting procedures for the contest.[21]When introducing the contestants, Mizanin mispronounced names and looked uncomfortable in his new role as Diva Search emcee.[21]Each week, the contestants appeared on bothRawandSmackDown!.[20]The final three appeared on a special that aired on August 16, 2006, on theUSA Network,where the winner was announced.
Layla El won the 3rd annual Raw Diva Search[19]and was placed onSmackDown!in late 2006. WWE also hired several of the eliminated Diva contestants including Maryse Ouellet,The Bella Twins,Rebecca DiPietro,Brooke Adams,Amy Zidian, and Milena Roucka.The Bella Twinswould become the first Diva Search contestants to be inducted into theWWE Hall of Fameas part of theclass of 2020
Also former 2006 Diva Search contestant Maryse became the first ever two timeWWE Divas Championand first ever longest reigning WWE Divas Champion at 216 days & a combined reign at 265 days and noticed by WWE at 212 days & 261 combined days during years 2008 & 2010[22][23]and former 2006 Diva Search participantsBrie Bella&Nikki Bellawon the WWE Divas Championship on separate occasions as well years after the 2006 diva search.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]
2007
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Eve Torres |
Runner-up | Brooke Gilbertsen |
Release | |
Original network | WWE.com |
Original release | September 10 October 29, 2007 | –
Official theme song
[edit]The official theme song for the 2007 WWE Diva Search was "Let it Roll" byVelvet Revolverfrom the band's second studio album,Libertad,which was released on July 3, 2007. At the time of release, Velvet Revolver was an Americanhard rocksupergroupthat featured vocalistScott Weiland,guitaristsSlashandDave Kushner,bassistDuff McKaganand drummerMatt Sorum."Let it Roll" was only used as the official theme song for the competition and was not used as the official entrance theme song for the winner of the competition.Special thanks to Velvet Revolver
Contestants
[edit]Name | Age[a] | Hometown | Eliminated |
---|---|---|---|
Eve Torres | 22 | Denver,Colorado | Winner[31] |
Brooke Gilbertsen | 22 | Chicago,Illinois | Runner-Up |
Lena Yada | 27 | Los Angeles,California | 3rd Place |
Taryn Terrell | 21 | New Orleans,Louisiana | 4th Place[32] |
Jessica Hatch | 26 | Montreal,Quebec | 5th Place[33] |
J. Kim | 24 | Catawba, North Carolina | 6th Place[34] |
Lyndy Frieson | 22 | Vancouver, British Columbia | 7th Place[35] |
Naomi Kirk | 24 | West Yorkshire,England | 8th Place[36] |
- ^Ages were at time of filming.
Notes
[edit]The first competition was on WWE.com on September 10, which was also when the voting started. The winner was announced on the October 29 edition ofRaw.Unlike past Diva Searches, this Search was the first to take place exclusively on WWE.com with most of the pre-taped segments TV. Taryn Terrell,Angela Fongand Lena Yada were called up to the roster despite being eliminated.
Taryn Terrell and Angela Fong would find more success in other promotions. Taryn Terrell competed forTotal Nonstop Action,where she held theTNA Knockouts Championshipfor a record-setting 279 days, which would be later broken byTaya Valkyrie.Terrell most recently had did commentary and went on to wrestle forNational Wrestling Alliance,until her retirement in 2022. Angela Fong wrestled forLucha Undergroundunder the ring name "Black Lotus". She had a singles match againstEl Dragon Azteca Jr.atUltima Lucha Dos.
2013
[edit]WWE Diva Search | |
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Winner | Eva Marie |
Runner-up | JoJo Offerman |
Release | |
Original network | WWE.com /E!(TV ShowTotal Divas) (2013) |
Original release | July 28 December 15, 2013 | –
Official theme song
[edit]The 2013 WWE Diva Search featured one official theme song.
- ^The song was also used for WWE's reality TV Show by the name ofTotal Divas.
Contestants
[edit]TheWrestling Observer Newsletterreported in February 2013 that WWE held an un-aired diva search in theLos Angelesarea.[37]Among the prospects that participated were future WWE performersEva Marie,Alexa Bliss,Lana,JoJo,Devin Taylor,and Veronica Lane, with the former winning the contest. Other participants were Maysa Quy, Olivia Karpinski and Sarah Backman who were all models.[38][39]
Notes
[edit]Former contestant Lana competed againstNaomifor theWWE SmackDown Women's ChampionshipatWWE Money in the Bankof 2017 but was not successful.[40]
Also another former contestant by the name ofAlexa Blissbecame a very successful female wrestling star in the WWE after working for and wrestling inWWE's NXTand attempting to go for theWWE NXT Women's Championshipby entering the NXT Women's Championship tournament wherePaigewas successful at winning the Inaugural version of the NXT Women's title tournament but later on was forced to vacate the NXT Women's title due to being on the main roster and also due to having the WWE Divas Championship after that Alexa entered the second NXT Women's title tournament but afterwards lost toCharlotteafter being successful at beatingAlicia Foxin the tournament.
Afterwards Alexa went on to faceSasha BanksandBayleyin NXT for the NXT Women's Championship individually in separate matches and on separate occasions but was not successful.[41][42]Later on in Alexa Bliss career Alexa was called up to the main roster and became a multi-time WWE Women's Champion winning all the WWE SmackDown Women's Championships,WWE Raw Women's Championships,andWWE Women's Tag Team Championshipsmultiple times.[43][44][45]
Future
[edit]DuringWrestleMania 31,WWE announced that new shows will air on theWWE Network,including a returningWWE Diva Search,which was expected to premiere in the fall of 2015.[46]There was no additional information given until July 2016, when WWE surveyed fans about potential new WWE Network shows, including a new season of Diva Search under a new name (WWE Superstar Search) due to the fact that the term "Diva" was ultimately phased out that year. In addition, the show would've been hosted byLitaandTrish Stratus.[47]
WWE originally announced on January 25, 2019, that the competition would return as a competition show, similar toNXT Seasons 1-5re-entitled,WWE Starsin association withBunim-Murray Productionsincluding casting.[2][3]But on September 29 that year, Squared Circle Sirens reporter Casey Michael confirmed it was canceled.[4]At that time, the focus of the WWE Women's Division has shifted from sex appeal to true athleticism not to mention the fact that indie wrestlers, mixed martial artists and other athletes have pretty much replaced the models when it came to hiring women.
Winners
[edit]Year Won | Winners |
---|---|
2003 | Jaime Koeppe |
2004 | Christy Hemme |
2005 | Ashley Massaro† |
2006 | Layla El |
2007 | Eve Torres |
2013 | Eva Marie |
See also
[edit]References
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- ^abCasey Michael (September 29, 2019)."WWE canceled the superstar search. SIGH".Twitter.
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- ^ab"Christy Hemme".PurrfectAngelz.com. Archived fromthe originalon August 9, 2007.RetrievedAugust 6,2007.
- ^abBaines, Tim (March 9, 2005)."Christy Hemme: A naked conversation".The Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012.RetrievedAugust 6,2007.
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