Booking the Women's Match for Wrestlemania XXIX

Wrestlemania XXIX - The Showcase of Champions

RAW February 25th. Vickie Guerrero announces that Kaitlyn needs a new number one contender for the Divas title. Instead of a battle royal, she sets up a tournament. The winner will face the Divas Champion at Wrestlemania XXIX. The brackets are as follows for the first round matches:

Naomi versus Tamina. Alicia Fox versus Aksana. Natalya versus Rosa Mendes. AJ versus Cameron.

On the same RAW, we see the first two matches. Naomi is barely able to overcome the power of Tamina by utilizing a small package, whereas Alicia puts Aksana away with a German suplex into a bridge. Smackdown that week, Nattie easily gets Rosa to tap with the Sharpshooter. Meanwhile, accompanied by Big E, AJ puts Cameron down with a Shining Wizard. Backstage, Kaitlyn is chatting amiably with Nattie, when AJ interrupts. The petite brunette says she's beaten Nattie once, she can do it again and whoever else she has to in order to get gold. Kaitlyn shoots back that her man Dolph hasn't been able to get any gold, why should his girlfriend be any different? AJ shoves the champ and the two start to fight until Natalya and a few refs break it up. AJ gets in a slap at Nattie before being hustled away by Big E.

RAW March 4th. Naomi and Alicia Fox have a fast paced, exciting match that sees Naomi get the win with a jumping spin kick. Later on, AJ ambushes Nattie backstage prior to their match, attacking her ankle viciously. AJ comes out with Big E, confident of her win. The Hart niece insists on coming out without Khali or Hornswoggle. As expected, AJ targets the ankle throughout the match, leaving Natalya unable to stand towards the end. But she muscles through and is able to lock in the Sharpshooter. Dolph comes running out to distract the referee, while Big E pulls on Nattie's bad ankle, tripping her up. AJ gets a heel hook and Nattie is forced to tap out. Dolph, Big E and AJ celebrate in the ring while Naomi comes out to help Natalya to the back.

Smackdown March 8th. Booker T sets up a mixed tag match at the request of Nattie: Khali and Naomi versus Big E and AJ. Dolph and AJ complain but it does little good. Khali and Naomi dominate until Dolph hands Big E his suitcase. He uses it to knock Khali out, allowing him to get the pin. AJ grabs the suitcase and also knocks out Naomi. The trio gloat as they leave the ring.

RAW March 11th. Vickie Guerrero is out in the ring and announces that due to a concussion, Naomi is unable to wrestle AJ in the number one contenders final. AJ confronts her saying that's tantamount to a forfeit - she should be the number one contender then. Vickie refuses, saying due to the shenanigans during her match with Nattie, she has talked to Booker T and worked out an agreement. On Smackdown this week, they will have a rematch and everyone is banned from ringside. If anyone attempts to interfere on either woman's behalf, they will automatically be disqualified. AJ erupts at her and destroys almost everything at ringside, even slapping Lilian Garcia as well as the stagehands.

Smackdown March 15th. A furious AJ storms down to the ring, followed by an equally furious Natalya who has her ankle heavily bandaged but is not limping too much. The two battle it out, even going to the outside where the referee allows some leeway which sees Nattie wheelbarrow AJ into the barricade. The ref orders them back into the ring but while Natalya is scrambling back in, AJ grabs her by her bad ankle and slams it repeatedly into the ring post. She scrambles back in before the 10 count, drags Nattie into the middle of the ring and locks in the heel hook. Nat manages to make it to the ropes, forcing AJ to break the hold but she attacks the ankle, stomping on it over and over, almost going totally bezerk. At this point, Nattie can't stand up, and when AJ puts the heel hook in for the second time, she taps out. AJ goes from out of control to happy as a clam, even skipping to the back blowing kisses at the crowd. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn comes out from the side of the ramp and helps Nattie to the back.

RAW March 18th. Her doctor has ordered Naomi to wait another week before wrestling again, leaving AJ and Dolph complaining. Vickie orders that since AJ has re-injured Nattie's ankle, she is forcing the two to wrestle Kaitlyn and a partner of her choice since Khali is also suffering from a concussion. Kaitlyn chooses someone who has history with the two: Daniel Bryan. It's war between the four that spills out of the ring, and only ends when Big E throws AJ the suitcase, which she clocks Kaitlyn in the back with for the three count. Daniel Bryan chases all three to the back while the referee helps Kaitlyn.

Smackdown March 22nd. AJ and Dolph are in the ring, complaining about no competition and being left off the show. Booker T orders Dolph to face Kane and orders AJ and Big E to leave the building. They resist until Booker says if they do not, both will be suspended without pay. They leave reluctantly. Dolph beats Kane when Daniel comes out to seemingly help his tag team partner but winds up costing him the match.

RAW March 25th. The doctor has cleared Naomi to wrestle, Vickie announces, so the final match to determine the number one contender will be held tonight. Naomi versus AJ. She bans everyone from ringside again with the same stipulation as before. The two are cautious at the beginning, feeling each other out with headlocks, armdrags, etc. Eventually AJ gets frustrated at being unable to get the better of Naomi and the two go into over-drive with kicks, hits, reversals. AJ snaps and throws Naomi out of the ring, who lands on her feet and trips up AJ, pulling her out to the floor. It's an out and out brawl as they throw each other into the barricades, over the announcers table, into the steel steps. The referee counts both of them out and it takes several referees to break it up and get them both to the back.

Smackdown March 29th. Naomi and AJ are in Booker T's office arguing about what happened on RAW. Booker brings in Kaitlyn and asks her who she thinks should be the number one contender. Kaitlyn says Naomi since back in NXT Season 3, the finals came down to herself and Naomi - AJ was eliminated the week before. Further, Kaitlyn claims that every time Naomi has gotten into the ring she's stolen the show - unlike AJ or her boyfriend. AJ throws a lamp at Kaitlyn and screams at how she never took NXT seriously, all she did was make jokes about Vickie and do stupid dance moves like the Robot. She says Kaitlyn never knew what it was like to pay her dues and go through what she did to make it to WWE. She claims her being in NXT was a fluke, as she was just a last minute replacement. AJ points at Naomi and says she may be athletic but she didn't pay her dues either and all she does now is dance most of the time. She hasn't earned anything either, not like AJ has. AJ bursts into tears screaming that she's busted her ass to get to this point and deserves to wrestle for the Divas title on the grandest stage of them all.

Naomi calmly waits until AJ is done then points out that yes, she never went through what AJ has and never "paid her dues." However, she says that she has been patient - despite impressing fans and officials alike during her FCW days and during NXT Season Three, when she was brought up she was paired with Cameron to be a backup dancer for Brodus Clay. She had fun with it but her heart was always in the ring. Every chance she got to wrestle, she threw herself into it never knowing when the next opportunity would present itself. When she got the chance to wrestle Eve for the Divas title on PPV it only whetted her desire to be a full time competitor and go for the gold again. Naomi says that she respects what all AJ has gone through but says her behavior in the last year, and especially the last few months, has been appalling - she isn't worthy of a title shot. AJ almost loses it again but realizes that would only prove Naomi's point. Kaitlyn has listened to both women and now looks conflicted. She tells Booker T that both deserve a shot, as she can't deny her former Chickbuster's arguments, nor can she say that Naomi doesn't deserve one either. Booker T says he is going to have a conference call with Vickie Guerrero and the Board of Directors to settle this over the weekend.

RAW April 1st. Vickie Guerrero and Booker T come out to the ring. They have Naomi, AJ and Kaitlyn come out to join them. The two say they have discussed what to do for Wrestlemania with the Board of Directors and with each other extensively. They've taken in the arguments, the discussions and the track records of each woman. Vickie reveals she was over-ridden in the final decision, but will abide by it. They announce that this Sunday at Wrestlemania XXIX, Kaitlyn will defend the Divas Championship against...Naomi and AJ! All three look shocked, but then Naomi and Kaitlyn look pleased and shake hands. AJ looks like she's going to explode for a moment, but when the other two offer their hands, she shakes them. Booker T says that on Smackdown, all three will have matches but warns against interference in any of them.

Smackdown April 5th. AJ takes out her aggression on Alicia Fox, almost taking her head off with a Shining Wizard. She grabs a mic and says that much like her Ziggles, she will steal the show at Wrestlemania and leave with gold around her waist. Naomi wrestles Cameron in a friendly matchup which sees Naomi bust out a suplex and rolls into a Guillotine Choke for the submission. Afterwards the two hug and Cameron wishes her fellow Funkadactyl good luck. Lastly, Kaitlyn faces off against Natalya. However, she refuses to target Nattie's still-bandaged ankle, the two trading holds and power moves until Kaitlyn hits the spear for the win. Nattie gets a mic and says that she's helped train Kaitlyn in the past year and her progress has been amazing. She wishes her protege good luck and hugs her, both women clearly emotional.

Wrestlemania XXIX April 7th. Backstage, AJ has new gear and tells Dolph and Big E to stay behind, she can do this. Dolph gives her a good luck kiss and tells her to steal the show and the title. She comes out to the ring first. Naomi is shown, also in new gear, being given a pep talk by Cameron and Brodus Clay. Clay tells her to win this for all the little Funkateers. Naomi says she's ready to prove herself and walks out and down to the ring. Kaitlyn is shown last, in brand new gear, talking quietly with Natalya. The Divas title is around her waist. The two nod and shake hands, and Kaitlyn walks out of the curtain and down to the ring. She hands the title over to the referee, who presents it to the other two women, then to the crowd. Once it's out of the ring, the ref checks all three...then calls for the bell. The match is underway...

 Will Kaitlyn retain? Will Naomi break out of Brodus Clay's shadow? Or will AJ steal the show?

Wrestling, Chick-Fil-A, and Homophobia - Enough

When do you finally say enough is enough and it's time for a change? Owen Hart's words ring so true in this day and age, when a lot of wrestling fans are getting fed up with being mocked (subtly or not so subtly), antagonised and outright shitted on because they are women, another race, or, increasingly, LGBT. Social media has broken what was left of kayfabe and thanks to Twitter, Facebook and other sites, we can see wrestlers at their best and their worst. True, we only see what they present for us to see, but if regular people are capable of abusing social media, or typing something in the heat of the moment, so are people in the entertainment world. We have seen it with actors and other sports figures - so too are we seeing it with wrestlers. Even if something offensive is posted and deleted, nothing is ever truly deleted from the internet. It only takes a moment for something to spread like wildfire.

Recently, someone I'm acquainted with on Twitter posted a response to something someone under the Twitter account "NWALegends" had said. What the person under that account said is below in screen caps. (Click to enlarge and read from bottom to top.)

I later found out that the man behind this account is Greg Price, someone who is well known in the wrestling world for organizing the NWA Fan Fests, as well as being the mastermind behind the short-lived NWA: New Beginnings, which was based out of Charlotte, NC. He is also the organizer of the NWA Wrestling Legends Hall of Heroes, which, while not being officially endorsed by the NWA, has been given permission to use the name. So while not working officially FOR the NWA, this is a man that has close ties with the long running, esteemed promotion.

Unfortunately this is nothing new, someone in wrestling commenting on homosexuality. We have seen several examples in the past, most notably with one half of the Ring of Honor tag team the Briscoe Brothers, Jay Briscoe, shooting off right before one of their iPPVs last year. (Cageside Seats has the story: http://www.cagesideseats.com/2011/6/27/2247315/rohs-jay-briscoe-shows-questionable-twitter-judgement ) March of 2011 saw one of WWE's most prominent figures, Michael Cole, tweet his college Josh Matthews, calling him a 'faggot' - the tweet was later deleted and Cole apologised, as did WWE. (TMZ reported it http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/26/wwe-glaad-gay-slur-homophobic-twitter-michael-cole-josh-mathews/ ) Just last month, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn "The Heartbreak Kid" Michaels tweeted to a fan who had asked about his hairline "Another dude obsessed w/my hair #homo". As is par for the course, HBK deleted it after negative feedback. (http://www.prowrestlingscoops.com/wwe/wwe-news/hbk-tweets-homophobic-remark-alicia-fox-pics/) And TNA star AJ Styles has long made his opinions on homosexuals known.

However, the recent controversy with Chick-Fil-A has apparently made some wrestlers bold enough to state that they stand with the company, citing that it's an issue of "freedom of speech" rather than one of bigotry, hatred or homophobia. Yesterday, August 1st, was announced as "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and people were urged to eat there to show their support for the beleaguered company. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/mike-huckabee-chick-fil-a-appreciation-day_n_1696648.html) Some wrestlers showed their support by posting pictures of them eating at the fast food chain, such as Brad Cain aka Lodi (of Lenny and Lodi fame) https://twitter.com/lodi1brad/status/230746827639623680 Several wrestlers took to their twitter to sound off.

Here are tweets from Kirby Mac:

Scorpio Sky (who has previously made homophobic statements on Twitter last year; however, I am unfortunately unable to locate them) - note that the Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson agreed with Sky:

The Twitter exchange with Greg Price/NWALegends was listed at the start of this post. Former WCW star (if you can call him that) Lash LeRoux posted this on his Facebook page (http://www.gerweck.net/2012/08/02/former-wcw-star-comments-on-the-chik-fil-a-controversary/):

Congratulations on such a phenomenally successful Appreciation Day, Chick-fil-A! I have noticed a few people posting derisive remarks and quietly scoffing at the outpouring of support Chick-fil-A received yesterday. Most such commentary seemed to be initiated by those who agreed with Chick-fil-A’s position in principle, yet they cynically viewed the Appreciation Day as a marketing ploy by the fast food giant in an attempt to capitalize on the current controversy. The implication is those who stood in lines for hours were duped by franchise owners who sought nothing more than a spike in profits. However, such a jaded view overlooks the heart of the issue: Christians and conservatives who have increasingly faced insults, mockery and verbal abuse for their fundamental beliefs and convictions. On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, that silent majority stood up and made their voices heard through the power of their purse.
Now a day removed from this massive outpouring, I find it ironic that those who think such efforts were insignificant and trivial seem to be the same who lament that our nation sat quietly by while prayer was removed from school, the Ten Commandments torn out of the courtroom and God was no longer welcomed in the public square. Our generation has learned an indispensable lesson: Silence is capitulation and conviction is not hate.

Now this is only a taste of what is out there. Imagine being a wrestling fan who is also gay and has for years put up with the fact that there is homophobia in wrestling and homophobic wrestlers. Imagine trying to keep your passion alive as it is something that you've loved for years. Now imagine going online during all this controversy to see so many people speaking out in support of CFA, seeing it Tweeted and Facebooked until all the noise, the vitriol and the hatred swirls around in your head until there's a veritable tornado in your mind. And you just cannot take it anymore.

This is what happened to my acquaintance Caelen (WrestlingUpdate on Twitter) yesterday. He had also been one of the people tweeting Mr. Price about his comments. We all have our breaking points and his was yesterday. He posted this for everyone to see and ReTweet:

NEWSFLASH: THE GAYS ARE FANS TOO. (PLS RT)

For so long now I have bitten my lip, simply reporting on Professional Wrestling and keeping my personal life and politics well away from this twitter account.

A few months back I challenged a pro wrestler on homophobic subtext to their blog, they replied with a polite, friendly response but otherwise not adressing any of the points I made - I decided not to take this any further with them as I believed there was no malicious intent. Around the same time I witnessed a blatant display of hate speech coming from one half of a very well known tag-team, I simply unfollowed as I found the content rather disturbing - he has since apologised.

Since then I have seen more and more attacks on homosexuality, much of it masked by "religion" "free-speech" or "MY opinion" which leads me to yesterday.

A well known wrestling organisation professed it's support to Chick-Fil-A as well as it's support for "traditional" marriage - comparing two men or two women marrying to paedophilia. I challenged this to no reply, then a short while ago I noticed the original wrestler I discussed claiming #unity in supporting Chick-Fil-A defiantly on twitter. I'm done. THIS is where I draw the line and speak up.

Chick-Fil-A corporate profits support the Family Research Council. The FRC is officially listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center - along side the KKK, Westboro Baptist Church and American Nazi Party. In 2010 The FRC spend $25,000 lobbying congress NOT to condemn Uganda's "Kill the gays" bill.

I am a wrestling fan, I buy merchandise, DVDs, BluRays, tickets to events, promote said events online, promote wrestlers online - my money goes into YOUR pockets each and every week, and I just so happen to be gay.

I knew I was a wrestling fan before I knew I was gay, there's no seedy interest (if you were to see my partner you would certainly see he is NOT wrestler build) I just love the sport, has been a passion for as long as I can remember.

They say to never meet your idols, well never add them on twitter either - in the past week I have been nothing but disappointed by pro-wrestlers using their position to support causes which discriminate towards homosexuals, so much so it has made me not only consider walking away from this twitter account but walking away from wrestling entirely - I am just utterly despondant that these people who I SUPPORT persist on supporting the criminality of equality.

I am starting to see how the frustration Chris Kanyon felt would take him to such low places, some of these people even claimed to have been his friends!

Religion or personal beliefs are no excuse to discriminate against a person due to their sexuality, race or sex - it's 2012, it's not acceptable.

Caelen is from the United Kingdom, where he is currently engaged to his boyfriend. He's been a wrestling fan since 1983, and he is by no means alone in his disgust with this issue. Wrestling is a niche product as it is, so it is astounding that wrestlers and promotions think they can afford to alienate part of their fan base. Then again, given how companies like World Wrestling Entertainment treat their gay fan base (as well as their female fan base and their minority fan base {see: the lack of talented female wrestlers on television; the Abraham Washington rape joke from July 30th 2012 RAW; Jerry Lawler's racist comment on the same broadcast; Lord Tensai's racist Tout from July 31st 2012; and the many, many racist gimmicks minorities have been cast to work}), this is probably not as surprising it may sound.

However, the Chick-Fil-A controversy goes much deeper than freedom of speech, despite what people want to believe. After all, if you speak your mind in the United States, that's fine. However, words have consequences and so do actions. It is Dan Cathy's actions, as president of CFA that have drawn the most criticism.

This stemmed from an interview done with K. Allan Blume for the Biblical Recorder and posted on the Baptist Press. The link can be found here: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271 What drew notice was his stance at the bottom on supporting "traditional marriage." Cathy says,

Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.

"We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

Some writers did some investigation, and it turns out that this is more than Cathy supporting traditional marriage and strengthening families. The New Civil Rights Movement website published this report on July 19th (http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/chick-fil-a-so-whats-the-big-deal-its-just-some-chicken-right/politics/2012/07/19/44029):

Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chick-Fil-A, recently was reported as saying in an interview with the Baptist Press that he and Chick-Fil-A are “guilty as charged” when defining family units as one man and one woman. His verbal support of this corporate philosophy validates concerns expressed for well over a year by many LGBT organizations. Chick-Fil-A actively donates and supports organizations working to strip rights away and exclude gays and lesbians from such things as job protection, hospital visitation, inheritance rights, adoption, and marriage.

Equality Matters released information on Chick-Fil-A’s $2 million in donations in 2010 to anti-gay and anti-gay marriage organizations in the United States. It is important to note that all of the organizations referenced have taken an active role toward the discrimination of gays and lesbians.

• Exodus International
• National Christian Foundation
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Family Research Council
• Marriage and Family Foundation
• Georgia Family Council

The largest donation of over $1 million was reported to have gone to Marriage and Family Foundation (focused on fighting against gay marriage).

The organizations referenced mask their intentions as being family-focused and of Christian orientation.  This type of positioning is reminiscent of the arguments used to protect Klu Klux Klan organizations during the 50’s/60’s/70’s. Hate groups used the concept of “preservation of family” and “Christian values” to defend their racist agendas/ambitions. Over time these organizations dehumanized entire classes of people, often leading to violence.
One important point: some of the organizations mentioned also provide a variety of quality services for families and Christian communities. Their mission and intention are not exclusively anti-gay.

This information from EqualityMatters.org was published in November of 2011, but it did not make the waves that Cathy's recent statements have. Now, finally, it seems to be making headway thanks to the controversy his statements have stirred up. Here is the link to the facts about where Cathy's donations (money that CFA has made from the consumers - meaning, money from people who may not have known where their cash was going) are going: http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201111010001 Excerpts from the article:

WinShape Is Chick-Fil-A's Charitable Arm. The WinShape Foundation is Chick-fil-A's charitable arm, created by Chick-fil-A founder and chairman S. Truett Cathy in 1984. WinShape has received a substantial amount of funding from Chick-fil-A: in 2009 alone, WinShape received $7,814,788 from Chick-fil-A Inc. [Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center, accessed 10/28/11] 

WinShape Gave Over $1.7 Million To Anti-Gay Groups. In 2009 alone, WinShape donated $1,733,699 to multiple anti-gay groups:

• Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: $994,199
• Fellowship Of Christian Athletes: $480,000
• National Christian Foundation: $240,000
• Focus On The Family: $12,500
• Eagle Forum: $5,000
• Exodus International: $1,000
• Family Research Council: $1,000

[Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center, accessed 10/28/11]

Fellowship Of Christian Athletes (FCA)

Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Conference Has "Freed" People From Homosexuality. Every year, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) holds a National College Conference that Danny Burns, the conference Program Director, described as one in which "God freed some people from homosexuality, sexual sins, addictions and even ushered newcomers into His Kingdom." Burns’ comment has since been edited on FCA’s website. [Equality Matters, 3/22/11, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, accessed 10/28/11]

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Website Highlights Coach Who Was “Delivered From Homosexuality. [Fellowship of Christian Athletes, accessed 10/28/11]

 

FCA Ministry Leader Application Condemns "Impure Lifestyle" of Gays. The application to become an FCA Ministry Leader requires applicants to agree with the FCA's Sexual Purity Statement, which condemns gays as engaging in an "impure lifestyle":

God desires His children to lead pure lives of holiness. The Bible is clear in teaching on sexual sin including sex outside of marriage and homosexual acts. Neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any homosexual act constitute an alternate lifestyle acceptable to God.

While upholding God’s standard of holiness, FCA strongly affirms God’s love and redemptive power in the individual who chooses to follow Him. FCA’s desire is to encourage individuals to trust in Jesus and turn away from any impure lifestyle. [FCA Application, accessed 10/28/11]

WinShape Donated $480,000 To Fellowship of Christian Athletes. WinShape donated $480,000 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2009. [Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center, accessed 10/28/11]

Eagle Forum

Eagle Forum Is An Extreme Right-Wing Anti-Gay Group. Phyllis Schafly’s Eagle Forum consistently promotes disparaging claims about LGBT people. The group opposed the Supreme Court’s decision to decriminalize homosexuality in 2003 and has railed against courts for promoting a “gay agenda” in schools. [Eagle Forum, 7/18/03, August 2006]

WinShape Donated $5,000 To Eagle Forum. WinShape donated $5,000 to Eagle Forum in 2009. [Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center, accessed 10/28/11]

Exodus International

Exodus International Promotes “Ex-Gay” Therapy. Exodus International is one of the world’s largest promoters of “ex-gay” therapy,  the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight. The organization refers to being LGBT as “perverse” and a form of “sexual brokenness.” [Truth Wins Out, accessed 10/28/11]

WinShape Donated $1,000 To Exodus International. WinShape donated $1,000 to Exodus International in 2009. [Winshape 2009 Publicly Available IRS 990 Form via Foundation Center, accessed 10/28/11] 

Is it clear yet why this is not an issue of free speech? Is it clear yet why Chick-Fil-A donating money to these organizations is a problem? All the money is documented in the public IRS forms. This is not a lie, a scam or false accusations. CFA is guilty of donating consumer money to anti-gay organizations. "So what?" you may say. "Other businesses donate money to organizations I may not agree with." Fair enough, but it's worth pointing out that Exodus International promotes "Conversion Therapy" (otherwise known as "Reparative Therapy"), which is therapy that seeks to change the sexual orientation of people. It's built around the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disease and can be 'fixed' via different types of therapy which include masturbatory reconditioning; social skills training; prayer groups and even aversive treatments, like the application of electric shock to the genitals.

Former 'patients' of Exodus have claimed to have been subjected to such shock treatment. All this, despite the fact that in 1973 the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. The American Psychological Association Council of Representatives did the same in 1975 and other major mental health organizations followed until, in 1990, the World Health Organization declassified it as well. Yet, these groups still insist that it is a mental disorder that can be and needs to be corrected.

Imagine being a gay teenager dragged off to one of these groups and subjected to such "therapy." Imagine being told that your love for a person of your own sex is "unnatural" and a "mental disease" along the lines of schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. Now imagine being a wrestling fan since 1983 and being faced with such blatant homophobia from people that you admired and respected, and said homophobia is not only tolerated in the sport you love but in some places actively encouraged. This is nothing new, of course, since the "gay stereotype" is a trope in wrestling story lines - but this is no stereotype speaking, these are the people behind the characters that are speaking out now. Letting their dislike and disgust for LGBT people shine openly.

Is it any wonder that Caelen, along with hundreds of wrestling fans that are also gay, have finally had enough? The only wonder is that it did not happen sooner, although with the explosion of social media in this day and age, it is easier to catch a glimpse into a famous person's mind than ever before. Some people have said, "It's not a big deal, it's always been this way." Many things have "always been this way" - slavery, women and African Americans being unable to vote, minorities being unable to hold certain jobs, so on and so forth.

There is absolutely no excuse for homophobia in wrestling. Not if wrestlers and promotions want to continue to exist. You cannot afford to alienate your fan base and make no mistake - you have LGBT fans in your audience. They exist. Why alienate them? You have an opinion about gay people? Keep it to yourself and off social media, unless you want to lose money. I personally stopped supporting Ring of Honor after Jay Briscoes'  tweet last year. In recent years, any promotion that utilizes their female talent in a degrading, humiliating way I drop all support for. I'm one person, but if more people start using their power and their voices yes, things can change.

Power lies in the wallet. If we want these wrestlers and promotions to stop alienating parts of their fan base, we must use this power. Stop purchasing DVDs, stop watching their television programs, stop buying their merchandise and start speaking out on social media. Things do not change unless we make them.

This has been a long post, but I feel it appropriate to end it with Caelen's own post (http://wrestlingupdateplus.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-gays-are-fans-too-blog.html) since he inspired this.

Yes, I know.. for years now I said @WrestlingUpdate would always be a stand alone feature, no website, no blog, no facebook.. a lone twitter entity. Well, that changed - I am primarily posting this due to being asked so many times about a tweet I made a few days ago, here it is, in it's entirety.

NEWSFLASH: THE GAYS ARE FANS TOO. (PLS RT)

For so long now I have bitten my lip, simply reporting on Professional Wrestling and keeping my personal life and politics well away from this twitter account.

A few months back I challenged a pro wrestler on homophobic subtext to their blog, they replied with a polite, friendly response but otherwise not adressing any of the points I made - I decided not to take this any further with them as I believed there was no malicious intent. Around the same time I witnessed a blatant display of hate speech coming from one half of a very well known tag-team, I simply unfollowed as I found the content rather disturbing - he has since apologised.

Since then I have seen more and more attacks on homosexuality, much of it masked by "religion" "free-speech" or "MY opinion" which leads me to yesterday. A well known wrestling organisation professed it's support to Chick-Fil-A as well as it's support for "traditional" marriage - comparing two men or two women marrying to paedophilia. I challenged this to no reply, then a short while ago I noticed the original wrestler I discussed claiming #unity in supporting Chick-Fil-A defiantly on twitter. I'm done. THIS is where I draw the line and speak up.

Chick-Fil-A corporate profits support the Family Research Council. The FRC is officially listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center - along side the KKK, Westboro Baptist Church and American Nazi Party. In 2010 The FRC spend $25,000 lobbying congress NOT to condemn Uganda's "Kill the gays" bill.

I am a wrestling fan, I buy merchandise, DVDs, BluRays, tickets to events, promote said events online, promote wrestlers online - my money goes into YOUR pockets each and every week, and I just so happen to be gay.

I knew I was a wrestling fan before I knew I was gay, there's no seedy interest (if you were to see my partner you would certainly see he is NOT wrestler build) I just love the sport, has been a passion for as long as I can remember.

They say to never meet your idols, well never add them on twitter either - in the past week I have been nothing but disappointed by pro-wrestlers using their position to support causes which discriminate towards homosexuals, so much so it has made me not only consider walking away from this twitter account but walking away from wrestling entirely - I am just utterly despondant that these people who I SUPPORT persist on supporting the criminality of equality.

I am starting to see how the frustration Chris Kanyon felt would take him to such low places, some of these people even claimed to have been his friends! Religion or personal beliefs are no excuse to discriminate against a person due to their sexuality, race or sex - it's 2012, it's not acceptable.

There was so much more I wanted to say but was aware if I rambled and went on forever, no-one would read - this said I was taken aback by just HOW MUCH it was read, I recieved hundreds and hundreds of retweets yesterday- many from wrestlers who have been in WWE/TNA/ROH.

I have never been easy to offend or overly dramatic as I am sure my followers will attest to, I have never really been exposed to such a level of homophobia - masked or otherwise as my family, friends and community see me as I am, not who I sleep with. I have no problems with acceptance - in life it is all I know.

With all that said, I never believed that the one constant in my life since 1983 would be the first exposure I had to real hatred, hatred of something which is a part of me. This has been lifted by the masses of support recieved but a part of me will always remember that those people, whose pockets I lined with money do not see me as their equal.

I am going to call this a day now, I never intended to become some sort of gay, caped wrestling crusader or the voice of the people- I just wanted people to hear the voice of me. I had never intended to flood peoples timelines or end up in a heated debate with Tatanka (yes, it was as bizarre as it sounds) over freedom of speech - I just needed for 5 minutes to express myself as Caelen King, not @WrestlingUpdate.

That said, the question remains: how to strike the balance between free speech and mutual respect in this mixed-up world, both blessed and cursed with instant communication? We should not fight fire with fire, threats with threats.
Timothy Garton Ash

What is a Dream?

Merriam Webster dictionary describes a "dream" as: a : a strongly desired goal or purpose <a dream of becoming president> as number four on the list of definitions. We all have dreams. Some are big dreams, some are small, but all are important to us, despite how they may look to others.

The Kings and Queen of Wrestling. Picture by Mike Mastrandrea

I can imagine how people reacted to when Sara Del Rey stated that working for World Wrestling Entertainment was a goal of hers. Actually, I can do more than that, I've read reactions online to when she's stated that. Everything from, "That's awesome, hope she makes it!" to "Why would they hire her? She's not a model and isn't attractive." Some reactions were far worse. It's ironic, no one ever said that she wouldn't make it because she wasn't a great wrestler. Her nickname "The Queen of Wrestling" may have come about from when she was partnered with The Kings of Wrestling, Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero, in Ring of Honor, but it's a nickname that truly defines her. She is the Queen, one of the best wrestlers in the world by far.

Sara made her debut in 2001 and never looked back. She mostly stayed on the west coast but then began to branch out. She was trained by some of the best in the business, such as the All Pro Wrestling boot camp where she was trained by Bryan Danielson, and in the New Japan Pro Wrestling Inoki Dojo. You want to talk about promotions? She's wrestled for promotions in Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia and all over the United States...

All Pro Wrestling.
A to Z in Japan (formerly ARISON).
Impact Zone Wrestling (not to be confused with Total Impact Wrestling/Impact Wrestling).
Lucha Libre Femenil.
Big Time Wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling Iron.
Pro-Wrestling Guerrilla.
Alternative Wrestling Show.
Revolution X.
Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South.
Ring of Honor.
SHIMMER Women Athletes.
ChickFight.
CHIKARA Pro.
All-American Wrestling.
WORLD-1.
Full Impact Pro.
New England Championship Wrestling World Women's Wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling Unplugged.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling.
Canadian Wrestling Revolution.
International Wrestling Cartel.
Pure Wrestling Assocation.
New Elite Wrestling.
Carolina Wrestling Association.
Pro-Wrestling Association of Queensland (Australia).
Squared Circle Wrestling.
Northern Championship Wrestling Femmes Fatales.
Real Championship Wrestling.
Anarchy Championship Wrestling.
Remix Pro.
Absolute Intense Wrestling.

I'm sure I'm missing some, but that's enough to drive home the point, which is that when promotions want a solid, dependable worker, they bring in Sara Del Rey, be her opponent man or woman. Her matches are always superb and she can bring out the best in anyone. She lives for the gym and for wrestling. You never hear a shred of gossip about her. People of both genders want to work with her. Whole divisions have been built on her hard work and dedication.

SHIMMER's First Champion

On the first volume of SHIMMER, her and Mercedes Martinez went to a 20 limit time draw and Allison Danger on commentary said that if someone wanted to know what female wrestling was all about, she would show them that match. I would as well. If someone wanted to know what females are capable of, I'd show them a Sara Del Rey match. She was SHIMMER's first champion, beating Lacey in a title tournament, and the first woman in the promotion to become a double champion when Courtney Rush won the tag team titles for them in March of 2012. She won the eighth Torneo Cibernetico in CHIKARA last year by being the last woman on her team to survive, and came close to winning the Grand Championship in the same promotion, only falling to Mike Quackenbush after a hard fought contest.

It is a bittersweet feeling for us fans - we hate to lose someone, especially when they are as good as the Queen. Her upcoming matches for AIW (against Hailey Hatred, someone she faced a few years ago at AIW and also in JAPW - it will be a vastly different match at Girls Night Out 7 considering how much both women have changed), CHIKARA (she faces current Grand Champion Eddie Kingston in a title match), Remix Pro (Sassy Stephie is challenging for her title there), and SHINE (a dream match - Jazz v Sara Del Rey is the main event for their very first show) will be well attended by fans who want to see her on her last rotation.

Yet, we are not truly losing her. She is moving to another stage in her career. We should be happy for her. Despite jaded and cynical fans reactions to this news, this is a dream for Sara. I'm of the mind that if you are a fan of someone, you follow and support them in all their decisions (except, you know, if they're harming themselves or other people). I know fans who stopped following Awesome Kong when she signed to WWE, which I found petty. A person doesn't stop being who they are or stop being capable of what they can do just because they sign to another company. Considering what all Sara has accomplished in her storied career, there was not much else to achieve on the independent scene. Wrestling Manami Toyota and Aja Kong (the latter her hero) in CHIKARA was achieved in 2010 and 2011 respectively. She has toured the world, wrestling in several countries. Really, what else is there left, aside from the CHIKARA Grand Championship?

It's a shame for Ring of Honor, considering she had just came back to the promotion to combat the so-called "First Lady of ROH" Maria. However, given their financial situation is up in the air, no one can blame her for choosing WWE. Lets face facts - the money is better in WWE. I'm sure they don't pay their Divas as well as their Superstars, but they don't need to take other bookings or second jobs, and if they are injured the company takes care of them. Plus, there is the obvious advantage of television exposure if she makes it out of FCW.

Do I believe this is the start of the rejuvenation of the women's division? To be very blunt, no. Considering at the moment that AJ is the only woman who is receiving any attention from the creative writers, and she isn't even the champion, it doesn't look good. Kharma is supposedly training for a return but who knows when that will be, even if it happens? Down in NXT/FCW things look good, the stand out being Britani "Paige" Knight who came in with a wealth of knowledge thanks to having been wrestling since she was 15 (18 when she was signed) and growing up in a family of wrestlers. Otherwise you have Ivelisse "Sofia Cortez" Velez who was Juliette the Huntress on the independents, and despite how it appeared on Tough Enough, she has looked great down in the developmental camp. Most recently you have Buggy Nova, who is apparently going under her real name of Natalie. She's a West Coast independent wrestler who competed for NWA Hollywood and Big Time Wrestling. She made her SPARKLE debut in October 2011 and was well received by fans. Her look is somewhat 'alternative' and is sure to make her stand out. However, just because there is a good crop in FCW/NXT does not translate to time and attention on RAW or Smackdown.

At the end of the day, however, this is about Sara Del Rey. This is about a woman who is crossing another achievement off of her list. This is about another woman proving those who said she wasn't "tv friendly" wrong. This is about another woman breaking barriers.

The Queen waves to her loyal subjects.

This is about a woman who had a dream and is going to see it come true. This is what matters in the end. I offer my wholehearted congratulations to her - you did it Sara! All the best for the future!

Five Years. One name.

I still have this picture on my computer. It's the only one that survived the purge after the horrific events five years ago. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because it's a picture of the Chris Benoit that myself as well as hundreds of thousands of fans and even close friends and relatives knew. He looks so proud, so calm and content as WWE's World Heavyweight Champion, silhouetted by the Canadian flag in the background.

Over the past weekend, from time to time I would dwell on what happened that horrid weekend in June of 2007. I saw a lot of conversation about it, and Benoit, over various social media. Then I took a look back at my Live Journal to see what I had posted about it. I'm copying and pasting those entries here. This first is from June 25th:

"WWE.com is saying that Chris Benoit and his wife, Nancy aka "Woman" from ECW/WCW, were found dead in their home in Atlanta today. They had 2 kids, no word if they're dead as well since the news only said "Chris Benoit and his family" were found..

This is messed up. I know you see on the news various deaths, disappearances, what not and I feel bad...but this one I actually screamed when I just read it..good God what the fuck? This had to be murder. HAD TO BE. Good God I'm in shock and there's no news...

He's just dead. Chris Benoit is dead. Good God.

*Edit* And his son, Daniel. Jesus.."

This next is from June 26th (appropriately the journal title was "The Walls We Build"):

"...I still absolutely refuse to condemn Christopher Benoit until all the facts, and I mean ALL the facts, are out and open. That means waiting for the toxicology reports which take up to two weeks to my knowledge.

However I'm slowly trying to absorb all the info thrown out there, to sort what's real and what's rumor, and now the mainstream media has gotten ahold of the story. And you know what that means.

Steroids.

I've read so much conflicting stuff about what steroids can do to you I'm so confused. But the press release from wwe.com makes excellent points...is it going to be taboo to mention Chris Benoit's contribution to the wrestling world? How am I supposed to feel, as a fan of his, if it does turn out he did all this purposely, steroids or no? Am I supposed to defend his actions, make excuses and suffer the stares of people who never saw his work or feel his emotion in and out of the ring? Am I supposed to forget the skill and beauty of his work, his passion and ethusiasm for the art of wrestling? Am I supposed to condemn him utterly and forget all he did?

I can't and I won't and I pray God something's wrong, something will turn up in the investigation that clears him. I'm clinging to my memories of him...and to that night, to RAW's Eddie G tribute show, when he broke down and cried, literally sobbed, making me break down too. He showed just how genuine and deeply he felt for another man who was akin to a brother. He could feel and he DID feel.

I cling to the memory of that man. And I pray he's exonorated.

And FUCK the media who decry the WWE and Vince for honoring him last night! No one knew the details! And why NOT honor him at that time?? Before all this bullshit, before all the questions and the rumors, when his image was uncluttered and untarnished by suspicion? No, they did the RIGHT THING and fuck Fox news, fuck MSBNC (Scarrsborough County to be precise), and fuck the others who are rushing to judgement and condemnation, both on the WWE and on Chris Benoit.

Maybe I'm stupid and in denial. I don't care. This is my right, as a fan of Christopher's. I will remain true to him until concrete proof. I couldn't do otherwise. And I won't."

June 29th:

"This week has been a nightmare. I swear, if it wasn't for routine work/sleep/food/reading I'd go crazy. People may think I'm overreacting to the Chris Benoit situation...after all he's not a friend or family member..

But I looked up to this man. I admired him. I thought he was handsome, noble, a wonderful husband and father, a skillful performer....and this just shocks the hell out of me. I still can't wrap my head around it and I still refuse to believe fully that he did this. Or, at the very least, did it on purpose.

I could find it easier to accept if some type of drug or steroid even had altered his mood so that he did this in an altered state and once back to normal realized what he'd done and took his own life in remorse. That fits better with the knowledge I had of him, but even the fact something could've made this very disciplined man "snap" and kill the two people he loved most on this earth (besides his other son and daughter) then himself...it's just not right.

And the media is going hog wild, blaming Vince, steroids, a "code of silence" in the WWE (that was Debra's claim)...but it looked like all drugs and scripts in his house were legal, including the steroids which to my knowledge do have a medical use? I'm not sure on that, if anyone has any info it'd be appreciated it...but if he'd been taking them for awhile, why would it just NOW have an effect on his mind/mood?

God bless Chris Jericho. Out of all the former wrestlers/WWE employees to speak out, he's the voice of reason. He was just on Greta Van Sustren's show on Fox (she wasn't hosting, there was a guest host since Greta's out tonight), and the lady interviewing him was very respectful, seemed to know something about the business of wrestling, didn't push the steroids and didn't go after Benoit or Chris Jericho for defending his reputation as a family man. You could see the pain in his eyes, however...it hurts to know he's hurting.

We're all hurting - friends, family and the thousands of fans. We just want to know why and how and we may never know...I think that hurts the most."

I never wrote about it again. At least publicly. It threw me for such a loop that even though I didn't get out of wrestling (in September I went to Unforgiven in Memphis), I couldn't bring myself to think about it. Later in June/early July I went to a friend's wedding in Oregon and I remember seeing the People magazine with Benoit on the cover. I stopped and flipped through it but I don't think I bought one. I even talked about it with friends who weren't into wrestling. I just couldn't understand.

Five years later, I have more understanding but still mixed feelings. From all the studies done on Chris Benoit's brain, apparently his style of wrestling gave him so many concussions and injuries that it aged him to where (according to his father) his brain was like that of an 85 year old Alzheimer's patient. That would explain why a man that was so upright and devoted to his family would commit acts that were wholly against his nature. But it still doesn't explain it fully. For instance, even if killing his wife Nancy was an accident (and that's a stretch considering she was bound hand and foot - not an accident), he killed Daniel a day later. He had a full day to consider his actions and realise what he had done. But a day later he killed his own son (from what I've read, when he was still asleep in bed) and then killed himself after sending out text messages on Sunday. I think that's the sequence.

The fact is...Chris Benoit deliberately killed his family and then himself. He placed Bibles by them, which, speaking solely from my point of view, seems to signify remorse or asking for forgiveness. But who knows what that truly means. I read somewhere that in a Bible that was in the possessions his ex-wife received there was a note stating that he was preparing to leave this life. If true, that's the closest thing to a suicide note.

Five years later...I'm still conflicted as to if I should feel guilty for watching his matches or not. Because he was, without a doubt, one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. I have pictures of him from the events I attended, such as a Smackdown taping and Judgment Day 2000 (where he had one of my favourite matches against Chris Jericho) that I couldn't get rid of. When Lee mentioned he had the Eddie Guerrero "Cheating Death, Stealing Life" and Chris Benoit "Hard Knocks" DVDs he was going to get rid of, I asked for them and he gave them to me. That was over a year ago and I still haven't been able to watch them. Yet I've watched the three way at Wrestlemania XX where he won the World Heavyweight Title a few times in the past five years. And at the end I cry every time. Every fucking time.

There are fans who can watch his matches with no guilt. There are fans who never speak his name. I don't begrudge them their choices, because each fan has had to deal with this in their own way. What I can't abide are the people who somehow still think that Benoit was set up or somehow wasn't responsible for the murders. That just isn't true. You look at the facts of the investigation that have come out and it's undeniable. Benoit killed Nancy, Daniel and then himself. What I also can't abide are the people who still want to argue that he deserves to be honoured for his accomplishments in wrestling, even given an entry into WWE's Hall of Fame.

Now, granted, WWE's HOF isn't exactly the illustrious pinnacle that WWE wants you to think it is. After all, Drew Carey and Pete Rose are in there (ironic that Rose is in a wrestling HOF and will probably never be in the baseball HOF). Last year they inducted Mike Tyson, a man who was convicted of rape and served a prison sentence. Him, however, I can overlook - Tyson has changed dramatically and turned his life around. He served his time and it seems to have made him realise he had to change. Plus, he was actually convicted of rape, unlike the hundreds of rapists that go scott free without any type of remorse.

But the fact that fans would still like to see a man who killed his wife and son, and then killed himself honored....no. That is appalling to me because, as great of an athlete as he was, his last actions overshadow everything he did. He took innocent lives and then, instead of facing the consequences of his actions, he killed himself and denied his family, coworkers and friends an explanation for his actions. We don't even know why he killed himself - was it remorse? Regret? Pain? To escape the legal consequences or the guilt? There are so many things we will never know.

In the aftermath, Nancy's family set up this foundation as a tribute. http://www.nancyanddanielbenoitfoundation.com/  That, and the knowledge about how much damage concussions can do over time, are the good things that have come out of this. I pray that the knowledge has come in time to make significant and lasting changes in wrestling and other sports.

As for me, my views have changed since writing those heart broken journal entries. He wasn't exonerated. Instead it was proven that he killed his family and then himself. Be it due to brain injuries or something that just "broke" inside him, he deliberately killed his wife and son a day apart. That leans towards having the intent, the purpose and the will to commit these horrid actions. Then he made plans that would enable them to be found within a day or two. Then he killed himself. And I can't over look that. I just can't. Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever be able to watch his matches again without feeling guilty. And that's okay.

Five years on, my passion for wrestling burns brighter than ever. I pray that somewhere, Nancy and Daniel have found peace.  Maybe one day I can bring myself to pray for Chris' soul as well. Just...not right now.

A Shift in WWE Female Talent?

Mo4r Buggy?

It was reported today that independent wrestler Buggy Nova has appeared at a FCW house show. This would suggest that she has been signed to a WWE Developmental Deal, and you can read more details here: http://ringbellesonline.com/2012/06/21/buggy-nova-appears-on-fcw-show/

I find this very interesting as it seems to strengthen the recent trend of signing women that are outside of the normal "Diva" standard. Back in late 2010/early 2011, the mold was completely broken when the news came out that Amazing Kong (Kharma) had been signed. It was a dream come true for the woman who had worked all over the world and had made it known her ultimate goal was to get to WWE. In September 2011, a contact was officially signed by Britani Knight (Paige) despite rumors that they had signed her earlier in the year, and she reported to FCW in January 2012. Now you have Buggy Nova, who has a decidedly gothic look to her. Three women who are trained wrestlers with stand out looks - is this shift in WWE hiring permanent or just a phase?

We saw back in the early 2000s a handful of women that were already trained before being hired, such as Molly Holly, Jazz, Lita and Gail Kim. Combining them with the women who were already there (Ivory, Jackie), and women who were trained in WWE developmental (Trish, Victoria), you had a roster packed full of women that were not only beautiful but talented in the ring. When the Diva Search came along, however, the trend started to shift towards hiring women that were supermodel beautiful but no previous experience whatsoever. A bunch of women were hired and fired, barely blips on the screen. There were a few that stuck it out and became pretty good in the ring, such as Michelle McCool, Eve and Layla. There were also a few that were hired with previous training, such as Mickie James, Beth Phoenix and Nattie Neidhart. But in the past few years, with 1-2 minute Divas matches, no promo time to speak of and getting shifted off of RAW when there was no time for them, the women's division has been lifeless.

That could change with the aforementioned three women. Plus you have Ivelisse (Sofia Cortez), Audrey Marie (who was trained solely in FCW but is steadily improving), and possibly Tenille (who was never actually signed to a developmental deal, opting to have shoulder surgery instead and who may or may not be signed after all). If WWE is staying on this course, allow me to suggest five names who have actively expressed a desire to be signed by the company. They are beautiful and extremely talented, and would need either little or no time in FCW to adapt to the "WWE Style" of wrestling.

The Queen of Wrestling

*Sara Del Rey. This woman has done just about everything there is to do on the independent level. Her matches are stellar, be it against men or women, and her promo skills are excellent. She is driven, focused, hard working and dedicated. Plus, you never hear a bad word about her professionally or personally. She eats, breathes and lives the gym/wrestling. A few years ago, TNA reportedly turned her down because she "didn't have enough of what the Beautiful People (Angelina Love & Velvet Sky) have." Quite the insult, considering Del Rey can out-wrestle both of them. She is an asset for any company, and considering she has stated her goal is to make it to WWE, they should definitely hire her.

Everybody's Favourite Girlfriend

*Jessie McKay. "Everybody's Favorite Girlfriend" is all set. She already has "the Diva look" (SHIMMER even built a rivalry around this between her and Nicole Matthews) and a skill set that would easily adapt to the WWE style. In interviews she has repeatedly said she wants to be hired by TNA or WWE. A former PWWA Women's Champion, she was trained by the best in Australia, namely Madison Eagles. Jessie is also hard working and dedicated. An added bonus is the fact she is young, and has experience playing heel and face (whereas Del Rey is a stronger heel), and can make either work for her. On top of all that, who doesn't like a pretty woman with an accent? She would fit right in.

The Blossom Twins

*Hannah and Holly Blossom, the Blossom Twins. With the exit of the Bella Twins, Nikki and Brie, WWE may not be looking for another set any time soon. However, if they were, Hannah and Holly more than fit the bill. The two were a mainstay in former WWE developmental camp Ohio Valley Wrestling for a few years, although they have shifted back to their homeland of England, competing for Pro-Wrestling EVE and other various promotions. These two women are natural born faces, being cute and sweet as the cupcakes they frequently offer, have worked with numerous women with different styles (therefore having the bonus of a lot of knowledge and experience), and they're harder to tell apart than Brie and Nikki were. The Blossoms have expressed a desire to be signed by either WWE or TNA. Despite the fact OVW is now TNA's developmental camp, knowing they made OVW their home base in America could lend itself as a bonus in their favor. If WWE wants more Twin Magic, Hannah and Holly would be the perfect Twins to turn to.

The Super Hardcore Anime

*Lufisto. My personal bias aside, Lufisto has more than earned a spot in the so-called big leagues. Much like Del Rey, the Super Hardcore Anime has done almost everything on the independent level, including getting a law overturned in Ontario that prevented inter-gender wrestling, helped start an all-female sister promotion to NCW called "Femmes Fatales", wrestled in hardcore death matches, been around the world, developed into a fantastic technical wrestler, has a terrific character that can be deadly serious as well as hilarious and came back from serious health problems to sculpt her body into a well oiled machine. A fifteen year veteran, her knowledge and experience is off the charts. She is a dedicated professional, always giving her all in every match. There are several things she brings to every place she competes, and WWE would be no exception. Lufi has given her all for this business and it would be wonderful for a broader audience to see even a fraction of her talent, drive and courage.


These five would all bring something unique to the table. Will any of them get a shot? If I'm realistic (and I'm always pessimistic when it comes to WWE), then probably not. But the fact that the 'E has signed 3 very different women to the roster is a positive step forward. Only time will tell if this is a permanent shift or not.