Eh, WWE.com Alumni Section!
Maybe, there are not so many of you who are browsing it weekly, filled with nostalgia, but I love it and missing some names in it make me sad! Well, that is not the important topic of them all, but I need some time-out and decided to suggest several former then-Divas, to the current Alumni section!
SHELLY MARTINEZ a.k.a. ARIEL
Some of you might not know that Shelly Martinez had a relationships with WWE from 2005 - 2007.
She was signed to OVW, then developmental territory. She worked with Beth Phoenix and other WWE future-Suerstars, until she was called to the newly re-born ECW, as Kevin Thorn and Gangerel's valet named Ariel, forming a vampire stable for a while. Later she managed Thorn only, using an unique upside-down 'bat'-like entrance in addition to her seductress look and vampire's teeth. During her run with ECW she and Thorn had rivalries with the likes of Balls Mahoney & Francine, as well as with Kelly Kelly and Mike Knox! Her in-ring debut was actually, against the Extreme Icon Francine, in a match that ending in a no-contest!
She was released in 2007.
Shelly worked for Impact Wrestling, then TNA as Salinas - as a valet of LAX. She performed on the independent circuit, until 2017, when she retired.
Martinez (and Gangrel and Thorn, even) deserve to have her Alumna spot in WWE, according to her work, not only for the company, but overall. Her other activities are out of the picture. WWE can honor that former ECW Vixen as it honored her friends Melina, Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall and Mickie James, at the time, with Alumni section profiles.
QUEEN SHARMELL
Sharmell is not famous with her matches in WWE. She is more famous with her gimmick and managing her husband Booker T, during some of his greatest rivalries (most memorable with The Boogeyman, she even was 'worm kissed'by him at WM 22).
Actually her career started in 1998 as one of the WCW Nitro Girls, named Storm. Her in-ring debut for the promotion was against the Hall of Famer Tammy Lynn Sytch/ Sunny in WWE, winning the match. She was released in 2001 when WWE bought WCW.
In 2005 she was rehired by WWE and given the gimmick of her real-life husband's valet, as she was face at the time, before turning heel and helping her husband to defeat Chris Benoit for the US Championship. After Booker win of the King of the Ring Tournament in 2006, she was dubbed 'Queen Sharmell' next to her husband 'King Booker'. The couple requested their release in 2007 and it was granted.
Sharmell were more in ring involved in TNA/Imapct Wrestling, as she defeated Ms. Brooks (Traci Brooks) in her debut mixed tag team match, next to her husband. She competed in several mixed matches with Booker T, before some period of inactivity. When she returned she was involved in a six-women tag team match at Final Resolution, teaming with the Beautiful People against ODB, Taylor Wilde and Roxxi, in a losing effort. Then Sharmell allied herself with Traci Brooks to participate in the Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament, but her team lost to Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed. Her last appearance next to her husband Booker T, was at Bound For Glory in 2009. Then she retired.
Sharmell is one of the valets, that many of us remember. Without a single women's match, she was good enough to add more finesse to Booker's presence and to get involved in his matches, as the 'worm kiss'she received from Boogeyman, in her WM 22 debut, was a moment for the history! So, she deserve a spot as well, form her valet position.
KRISTAL MARSHALL
Fan-favorite, former Diva Search contestant, interviewer and wrestler!
Kristal Marshall was part of an era, where women's beauty was the main factor, despite her matches against the likes of Jillian Hall and Ashley Massaro. One of her memorable moments was her wedding with Theodore Long, that ended with Teddy's heart attack and ruing of the ceremony. She was released from her contract in 2007.
In 2009 she debuted for TNA/Impact Wrestling, as her in-ring debut was in a losing effort, in a mixed tag team match with her boyfriend Bobby Lashley versus Awesome Kong and Scott Steiner. She was released in 2010, from her TNA's contract.
Kristal is my suggestion for WWE.com Alumni addition, just as a part of the Divas Search Generation and her role as Diva on SmackDown.
BROOKE ADAMS
Better known just as Brooke from Extreme Expose, Adams could be added for her overall wrestling career, that started from WWE.
Overall WWE didn't make anything for Brooke's career. Her main storylines were related to Extreme Expose and ECW, which she represents in several tri-brands battle royals.
Brooke (then known as Tessmacher) made a serious statement for a wrestling career in Impact, where she work from 2010 to 2015, returning in 2017 for series of matches. She won the KO's title three times and KO's tag team title - 1 time (with Tara)!
She worked for the indies, for a while, as well.
WWE can capitalize on Brooke's fame, because they were the first promotion to give her a 'taste of the business'. She might be underrated, but many fans remembered from where and how she started and that is not bad at all! No, that is the perfect example of total development and transformation - from half-naked dancer to honored multiple-time KO Champion, with great in-ring skills! No one has to be ashamed of anything!
KATIE LEAH BURCHILL
While Brooke and Kristal were used more as eye-candy type of characters, with limited in-ring appearance, Katie Leah was a serious player!
Experienced in-ring, Leah walked the way from OVW where she was two-time OVW Women's Champion to Raw, SmackDown and ECW brands. Despite not winning qny title at the time and her gimmick change at the last moment, as addition to Paul Burchill's pirate character, Katarina Waters (real name) was great worker in the ring, but badly underrated. She had faced the likes of Mickie James, Melina, The Bella Twins, Maria, during her time with the company (from 2008-2010), when she was released.
In 2010 she was signed (quickly) by TNA, where she presented herself as sort of balck magic using witch-fan of Angelina Love, that mind controled Love to turn on Velvet Sky. Later Winter (as she was known) become a KO Tag Team Champion with Love! Later she added two well deserved KO title reigns to her accomplishments, as well.
Katie Leah was really great while she was in WWE, as well as she was in TNA, and she is in Impact Wrestling. She deserves to be put in the Alumni section, next to other underrated Superstars like Jillian Hall, with who she had worked. Leah will build legacy in the future and her love and devotion to the business, the ring is obvious. So, let's make a space for her in the Alumni's.
TORI
I don't know why WWE needs reminder for this one?
She never won the WWF/E Women's Championship, despite being so close, but she is iconic character from the Attitude Era. Sabele's fan. Kane's girlfriend. Part of DX-Generation, as there she helped Stephanie McmHaon, to pin Jacqueline for the title. Thrown through a table by the Dudleyz. The Black Ninja's story...
Tori is ICONIC! She deserves to be remembered officialy with a profile in the section, for people who were art of WWE and help it less or a lot (in her case a lot). She was serious competitor and great performer.
NIDIA
At least Nidia, deserve to be honored with Alumni spot, because of the fact that she was one of the first two winners of the inaugural season of Tough Enough!
Since then this lady was impressive in her gimmick and ring appearence that lead her two several Women's title matches against the likes of Trish Stratus and Molly Holly. She was a really good in-ring worker, with some funny angles related to her feud with Torrie Wilson. She was with the company from 2002 to 2004. two years, with dynamic, that many women in WWE had build in decades.
She was really nice addition to WWE and I am surprised that they don't honored her for her contribution!
THE KAT
Stacy Carter, also known as the Kat is a character that embodied the beginning of the Attitude Era to turn into one of it's iconic women!
1-time Women's Champion, defeating Ivory, BB and Jacqueline in a pool! Her involvement with Chyna and Terri Runnels, were something to remember. She was charismatic and fan-favorite. Used mostly as a sex-symbol, she wasn't afraid of competition. Oh, let's not forget her marriage to Jerry 'The King' Lawler!
Her legacy as WWF Diva is an important part of the current existence of the women's division, despite the controversy. She deserve a spot in the Alumni roster for sure!
DEBRA
Sable... The Kat... Terri Runnels... Sunny... Debra!
Names of blond-bombshells, that we associate with bra 'n' panties matches, evening gown title chages, bikini contests, etc. Sexual exploitation of the women's image in the Attitude Era and prior it. But those ladies, there were there as a valets! They appeared in storylines and despite not being well bounded to wrestling as Molly Holly, Lita, Ivory or Jacqueline. Despite not transition from pretty dolls to wrestling legends like Trish Stratus. They are part of the legacy!
One of the indirect reason we might not seeing Debra in the Alumni section is eventually he problems with WWE's favorite Superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin! Or maybe Debra her own, don't want to be associated with WWE? Who knows?
Debra was more well known as a valet, manager and appearing in angles, despite her WWF Women's title reign and several in-ring rivalries. Like Sunny, she is Iconic beauty, a ringside presence that counts and give hope that this might be a phase in your career or a piece of art if you want. No matter how you get it, you must get the maximum of that experience and Debra did it, as many other 'eye-candies'! She was example for employee, who was where you need her! In the ring, at ringside, in the locker room, on the beach doing bikini photo-shoot!
It was hard for this ladies. The hidden harassment. The underrating. The sexualization. So Debra and several others, deserve to be honered at least with one Alumni spot, aside from outside problems. I have a lot of respect, despite the fact that I prefer women's wrestlers character. The valet has her role, she can be a spicy addition to every story and Debra with Sunny, Terri, etc. turned that image into something that a woman should be proud and a gimmick that you can make attractive as a high-flying move! That's why her presence in the section that honoring former Superstars is important for me and should be for you!
GAIL KIM
You'll say: 'That will never happen!'
Why?
WWE kept Tiffany's profile in the Alumni section, when she was active wrestler for TNA/Impact Wrestling known as Tarryn Terell! They didn't remove Jacqueline, who had a lot of time spent with the rival promotion. They kept Maria's profile. Kharma's profile. WTF?
Oh, they have tension! They have bitter taste in their mouths from their relationships! Gail Kim was disappointed... Instead of working from the inside she decided to get disappointed!
Gail's legacy in Impact is priceless. She helped building the KO's division with the likes of Awesome Kong, The Beautiful People, ODB, Roxxi, many more and that's why the KOs are still existing! She was the inaugural KO Champion and accomplish title reigns multiple times! She is the example and the standard for future KOs! Well deserving Hall of Famer for Impact!
But the fact is that she is WWE ALUMNA! That in her first run, she was pushed to become the first woman to win WWE Women's Championship in her first match! That she is the first woman from Korean descend to hold that belt! In her disappointment Gail think that fans in WWE don't appreciate and remeber her rivalries with Trish Stratus, Lita, Molly, Victoria, Melina (in the second run)... Gail, accepted the disappointment, hug it and use it as excuse, not to participate on 100% in the Women's Wrestling Evolution in WWE! She closed the door, leaving many of us waiting for her...
WWE may make a steps for 'ceasefire'or just to capitalize on the fame of their Alumna. One profile! I am not leaving my egoistic goal behind and I to have her picture, in the Alumni section to remind me how great she is! Gail can't erase her experience and her past with WWE and it wasn't that bad as she thought it was... ask the fans! There were memorable moments even in her controversial second run... So let see her in WWE.com/Alumni!!! Pls!
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| ASHLEY |
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| TRINITY |
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| BERTHA FAYE |
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| MISS JACKIE (w. Charlie Haas) |
