This week on TNA Impact, the TNA Knockouts were given some good time, and delivered in a 8-woman tag team match. On Raw we also saw a multi-woman match when Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim and Eve Torres faced Maryse, Michelle McCool and Layla

On this week’s Smackdown, Beth Phoenix took on independent wrestler She Nay Nay, and Michelle McCool, Mickie James, Layla and Natalya competed in a Divas Costume Contest.

—Last Night, the WWE Divas competed in a SummerSlam Pre-Show match. Beth Phoenix got the win, in a 15-Diva Battle Royal. The match will be seen on the SummerSlam DVD release.

Beth Phoenix vs Candice Michelle for the WWE Women's title booked for No Mercy

When Beth Phoenix caused Candice Michelle to break her clavicle in October 2007, the then-Women’s Champion admitted the injury and being unable to compete took her to a “really dark place.”

Now, it’s the Candy-coated Diva’s opportunity to once again shed some bright light on her career when she battles Phoenix for the Women’s Championship at No Mercy, the very show at which the Glamazon won her first title over Candice.

Since her recent comeback, a determined Candice has already fired a shot across the bow of the S.S. Glamazon by pinning her in a Six-Diva Tag Match. Pinning Phoenix in a tag match, however, is hardly the same as tackling her one-on-one.

To quench her thirst for revenge after months on the shelf, the Candy-coated Diva will have to counter The Glamazon’s overwhelming size and strength advantage with a combination of both quickness and agility.

And while revenge is a dish best served cold, Beth may be on too much of a hot streak to oblige. Ever since The Glamazon captured the title from Mickie James at SummerSlam, she has been dominating both her opponents and the opponents of her boyfriend, Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella.

Will Candice’s renewed sense of determination and desire for revenge be enough to overcome the dominating force that is The Glamazon?

Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain, there will be No Mercy. Catch the event live, only on pay-per-view.

Stacy Keibler as Karen in Samurai Girl

Over the years in the world of wrestling numerous women have attempted to use their fame as a stepping-stone towards acting ventures. However, their apparent crossover into pop culture—in most cases—didn’t always work out as planned. Others, especially with the recent WWE Diva Search contests, were aspiring models and actresses to begin with. Despite countless attempts, none have managed to reach any noteworthy success as an actress. The success story of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson whom has stared in a number of blockbusters including: Gridiron Gang, The Game Plan, The Scorpion King, and Walking Tall. The question is—can a female who rose to fame in the WWE or TNA Wrestling become a future Hollywood success story?

On this week’s Smackdown! (August 5th), Victoria (Lisa Marie Varon) received a rematch against “Brie Bella,” who made her Smackdown! debut the previous week by defeating her.

Once again, the match was nothing spectacular…Brie Bella made the switch with her sister Nicole Bella after crawling under the ring, who picked up the victory after a roll-up. The crowd wasn’t really into the match, however as noted last week, I feel as if The Bella Twins can be huge for the WWE if the story is done right. These girls are decent in the ring, however not great by any means…a select few current WWE ladies such as Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Mickie James and Victoria could wrestler circles around them.

Victoria vs Brie Bella. Photo: (C) WWE

– Regarding the recent release of Cherry (real name Kara Drew), 33, she was said to not be a favorite among key people in World Wrestling Entertainment as some of them believed she wasn’t thin enough to be WWE Diva. She originally got in due to her partnership with Deuce & Domino as the act was well-received by the creative team when they were in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Additionally, most of the women in the WWE are either in the company for bikini speads, or in some cases, because they can wrestle well, and she didn’t fit either category particularly well. It’s also interesting to note that Cherry handled most of the business with the office for both Deuce & Domino. (source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Credit: Rajah.com)

– Mickie James landed the guest appearance on the USA Network show Psych because James Roday – the lead actor of the show as the faux-psychic character Shawn Spencer – is a big wrestling fan and personally requested her services after he found out about the episode’s scheduled storyline. James told ComedyCentric.com that she spending a lot of time on skates while filming the show. However, she also said it was no big deal since she had prior exposure through her mom’s former job at a place called Skateland. (Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Credit: Rajah.com)

Katie Lea did an interview for a new article on the Daily Star…

Katie Lea (Katarina Waters)

INTERVIEW WITH KATIE LEA
5th September 2008

In this WORLD EXCLUSIVE Patrick Lennon speaks to WWE star Katie Lea...

ANYONE who tells you todays WWE Divas are vacuous airhead bimbos with as much wrestling ability as me haven’t met Katie Lea.

Granted, about two years ago, after an ill-advised talent cull, the womens division better resembled a beauty pageant than a wrestling roster, populated as it was by bikini contest wannabes with all the wrestling experience of the remedial class in a hairdressing college.

Make no mistake about it, womens wrestling is back with a vengeance in WWE.

Having been made a laughing stock with Playboy pillowfights and Thanksgiving bastings in a kids swimming pool, WWE bookers have got their brains in gear and re-engaged the girls.

In the mix for top spot of a talented group is our very own Katie Lea, a national treasure in the making. The story of Kat Waters is a vindication of one womans dedication, passion and application to her dream, and it all began in Blighty.

Stalwart fans of the British scene will remember Nikita from the FWA rings, a standout, sexy performer who would stop at nothing to wrestle, and take sick bumps to make her name in a mysogenistic industry. She hit the big time with a developmental contract in 2006, and hasn’t looked back on her trip to the big time.

The last time we met, she stretched me out pretty well (pictured), so I was happy she was on the other end of a phone across the pond this time. She is blooming, and happy with her lot, and tv was worth the wait, she says

“It’s awesome, I’m having the time of my life. You appreciate it all the more now. I am grateful for every day I had in OVW, because now I get a chance to apply what I’ve learned. At the time, you are desperate to get on and take the next step, but now I’m very glad of the time I spent there.”

Ever the pragmatist, Kat is delighted with the top of the wrestling tree, but as ever she looks at her career objectively. WWE is not a place to be starstruck, she tells me.

“When you’re doing it, all the time you’re thinking I’m at work, this is normal, but sometimes you look around at the people backstage or peer through the curtain at the thousands of people in the arenas and it’s just crazy.”

The much lamented womens division is changing for the better, the arrival of Beth Phoenix, who was a training mate and rival in OVW, and the marked improvement of Mickie James all contributing factors. Gail Kim being pinched from TNA will redress the perceptive balance away from mere tits and ass in the eyes of fans.

“I think there are a lot of very good girls on Raw and Smackdown, ” Katie says. “There’s a lot of effort put in and the producers are taking it very seriously, I think the division is on the way up.”

“Audiences see the guys more as the hero figures and the girls as glamorous. We are not seen as superhumans. In terms of match quality, I would say the girls are the same as the guys now.”

WWE are due back on our shores in November, and Katie isn’t sure what reception to expect from the WWE masses, who may not appreciate her lineage here. She muses.

“Probably a lot of people don’t know about my background, because they are strictly WWE fans, unlike the internet fans. I’m certainly curious to see what the reaction is to me, if they boo me or whatever I don’t care. I’m always glad to come home to the UK.

Whoever visits a WWE show can be sure of one thing, they are getting a quality and polished performer who has earned her place in the limelight.

Love her or hate her, this young woman has the world at her feet. She’s not above playing with you either, telling me,

“It’s actually my birthday on the 10th November, so maybe I can get them to sing happy birthday to me…”

Womens Champion before the end of the year. You heard it here.

MANY and various spiky complaints puncturing the FT inbox this week concerning the decision to move the live broadcast of Unforgiven from Sky Sports 1 to Sky Sports 3 this weekend.

FT went to our friends at Sky, brandishing the torch of indignance on your behalf, and were told the weekend sport schedules were stuffed as full as Berbatovs brand new gold wallet, so the axe fell on the wrestling.

A statement read, “It’s in order to fit the large amount of live sport we have on Sunday night/Monday morning. We also have the US Open Tennis Final that night which could well overrun past 1am on Sky Sports 1 & NFL on Sky
Sports 2.”

So the Americans are to blame either way. Lovely. Wrestling obviously nestles snugly at the foot of the priority table, unless we’re paying for it, which Vince will no doubt be delighted to hear.

Michelle McCool vs. Maryse Announced for Unforgiven

WWE.com announced today that Michelle McCool will defend the WWE Divas Championship against Maryse at Unforgiven.

At Unforgiven, proud Divas Champion Michelle McCool will risk the gold she has tirelessly fought for against the cunning Maryse in a match of toughness and sheer determination to be the top Diva on Friday Nights.

Since making history by overcoming Natalya to become the first-ever Divas Champion at The Great American Bash, Michelle has done everything in her power to bring integrity and class to her reign, while setting the bar high for her challengers. Her considerable ability is only surpassed by the belief she has in herself and what she is capable of inside the squared circle.

Maryse has demonstrated little respect for the champion and even less modesty, noting that the gold would look better around her waist. Tensions have built to a fever pitch as the sultry Diva has aggressively pursued the champion, going so far as to attack her prey at the conclusion of their tag team competition in recent weeks, initiating a knockdown brawl between the two. Maryse insists she is the sexiest of the sexy and desires nothing more than to capture the gold.

At Unforgiven, Michelle will attempt to silence her outspoken challenger once and for all. If Maryse hopes to unseat the All-American Champion, she will need to bring the skills to match her silver tongue.

Find out which of the Sexiest Women on Television will reign supreme by watching Unforgiven, live Sunday, Sept. 7, only on pay-per-view.

On last week’s Smackdown!, we saw Maryse move over Natalya Neidhart to become the number #1 contender for the Divas title after brawling with McCool—It was bad enough that Michelle went over Natalya at the The Great American Bash the become the first Divas Champion, now she’s taking a backseat while Maryse gets a title shot.

Women’s Wrestling in the WWE will continue to get flack for these very reasons. Natalie Neidhart, a third generation wrestler, part of the renowned Hart family, with years experience on both Maryse and Michelle—a woman who was in the right place at the right time to give the title some instant credibility, takes a back seat. The only redemption right now is perhaps this is a short rivalry that serves the purpose of Michelle having a successful Pay Per View title defense.

Candice Michelle made her in ring return on August 29th in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at a WWE House show in a Winner take All match versus Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix, agaisnt her partner being Kofi Kingston, in which they lost.

Candice Michelle returns to Raw. Photo: (c) WWE

On last night’s Raw (September 01, 2008), Candice made her television in-ring return in a Six-Diva Tag Team match along with partners Kelly Kelly & Mickie James against Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall & Katie Lea. Candice Michelle picked up the win after rolling up Beth Phoenix.

Candice Michelle was portrayed as being equal to Beth Phoenix— going toe to toe against her as she tagged in, attacking with a kick, followed by tenaciousness forearms…the irony here is, just a couple of weeks ago, a much more capable wrestler Mickie James was booked as having to struggle against the power of the Glamazon, as with Melina Perez…Certainly not as absurd as Kelly Kelly being able to work competitive matches against Beth and pick up singles victories (as seen on last week’s Raw). Candice Michelle certainly has much more in-ring presence than Kelly Kelly, which was the highlight of her return–Did she look amazing or what? purely from a physical standpoint, which has a lot to do with her new look…

I certainly can’t forgive the botched headscissors takeover by Candice and a few shaky moments, with such a short time to execute her spots, she should have been flawless—all with taking into consideration ring rust, and the fact she and Beth had the opportunity the night before during a house show to get back in tune with each other.

Hopefully Micke James doesn’t get pushed to the side now that Candice is back.

Candice Michelle, Kelly Kelly & Mickie James vs Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall & Katie Lea. Photo (c) WWE

Here’s the WWE.com results…

All eyes on her

Though Orton is still recovering from his injuries, former Women’s Champion Candice Michelle appeared on Raw fully healed and ready to go. The returning Diva worked together with Mickie James & Kelly Kelly to take on the team of Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix, Jillian & Katie Lea Burchill. In spite of The Glamazon’s boasts about her strength and power, Candice led her team to victory by pinning Phoenix, the woman who injured her months ago