WWE is a place where you can succeed as a pro-wrestler, to become a legend or to go straight to nowhere or the indie scene/TNA!
Sometimes
there are financial issues that can cost your job and the end of your promising career. Sometimes it's a lack of ideas from the writing team.
Sometimes it's just a "personal matters" - you just press the wrong
buttons and you pissed several people (which is an unprofessional reason of
them all).
We
in AWOW selected 10 women who have the potential to be WWE Superstars.
They were part of WWE and its developmental territories, some of them make it to the main roster, others don't.
BROOKE ADAMS
Sometimes WWE didn't give a chance to reveal, extend or release your talent. Especially when you are beautiful
girl in the post-Attitude Era!
When
ECW was reborn as a third brand for WWE, it was filled with former ECW
legends and newly-born promising stars. Back in the days of that revival
I remember that I was so active in fantasy booking and that I have one
of the first variation of ECW Roster where you can see Kelly Kelly,
Layla and Brooke.
At
the beginning The Extreme Expose was used as ECW's mix of striptease and cabaret. Watching these three girls in their earlier day you will never imagine them as Divas and Knockouts champions. As strippers "yes",
as serious wrestler and title holder -"No"! Thanks to their bookers at the time.
Almost
nobody, remembers that Brooke was part of DSW (like Maryse, Kristal,
Angel Williams & etc.). There she had important rivalries, with future Knockout Angelina Love (then Angel Williams).
Brooke
received two matches, a member of the Expose - battle royals. Her last was a memorable Halloween battle royal in RAW, won by Kelly Kelly.
WWE
decided to release her, like they did, ago with many former Divas
Search winners. They didn't give her a chance to evolve, to train and to compete seriously. She threatened as another beauty who just pass through WWE, who they can't imagine how to use except for half-naked and swim wearing costumes photo-shoots.
TNA
didn't make the same mistake. They "used" Brooke and revealed her full wrestling potential. They saw her real possibilities, and she was an
epic story-changing Knockout for them, with 3 reigns as Knockout
Champion and 1 as TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with Tara (aka
Victoria /WWE)!
To
bring more insult they put her in a gallery named "Divas you forgot that exist". No, WWE! Sorry, but TNA helped us to remember that Brooke Adams exist! Maybe you should add her in your Alumni section to earn some dividends from the fact that you discovered her and trained her for a
while! Just a little gesture of respect which she deserves!
KATARINA LEIGH WATERS
Another missing from the Alumni section competitor!
Born
in Germany, Katarina Waters is one of the fiercest competitors. She had a long way to WWE and TNA, through the independent scene. She earned a lot of credits in OVW when it was WWE's developmental territory.
As
Katie Lea Burchill, she had several unsuccessful title shots against
then champion Mickie James, by defeating then-reigning Champion in a
series of matches. The angle with Paul Burchill was like the last nail
in her WWE career's coffin.
She
was dominant and great as a heel. They just Drafted her to ECW, where she
had no real competition in the face of then rookies Alicia Fox, The
Bella Twins and Tiffany. To jobbing for them, was part of her job, but it was a little bit under her quality and skills.
2 years, and s****ed up the end of a career in WWE!
SERENA DEEB
Serena Deeb is an icon!
Her wrestling career is epic and she worked for almost every known promotion in the USA and worldwide. Now when she is retired, we can look back at her best days.
She had an "affair" - short-lived with WWE.
WWE realized her potential. They have seen it in FCW. They may watch in OVW and SHIMMER. Actually, Serena won her first and only main roster match as a part of CM Punk's Straight Edge Society, with Luke Gallows. She pinned the rising Kelly Kelly. Many of the WWE's fans remember her as the second woman in the company's history whose head was shaved on the ring (Molly Holly is better known, prior Deeb).
She was released because she refuses to act like her gimmick character in real life. Everyone knows, that most of the things and action we see in WWE and outside of it is well scripted and directed. Is it really necessary to live your life like your character from wrestling show, even when you are not on wrestling event? Well, I think that this is not serious. That "live your gimmick or leave" thing is too much. Many stars did it and succeeded, but for many of them their gimmick was created with collaboration with them - it was near to their real personality.
Serena used her time with WWE, for future angles. When she needed to establish herself as an ignorant heel, she just told her opponent in the indie scene, that she was in WWE and they need to give her respect and title shots immediately.
Too short and too s*r*wed period for Serena. A woman who was capable of more.
TARYN TERRELL
Former ECW manager and SmackDown! Diva. 1-time Knockouts and OVW Women's Champion.
WWE fans remember her as Tiffany. Tiffany had a title shot at the Women's title, teamed up with Kelly Kelly and was a wife of the other promising Superstar - Drew Galloway.
After suspension and inactivity, she was released, after she was displaying a lot of skills, potential, and desire for wrestling. They've could use her in Kelly's support role. They could've been drafted her to RAW, to revive her career, they could've changed her gimmick. The had a lot of opportunities for Taryn/Tiffany, which they decided to ignore. As they did at the time: "She is just another pretty girl! We can allow yourself to release her! We will find another! The world is full of beautiful girls, hungry for fame!". Yes, it is full of beautiful girls hungry for fame, but without a drop of real love and desire for wrestling.
Before her "Christianity-catharsis" (no comment on that), she proved WWE wrong, by joining TNA and make a legacy in their women's division. Actually, I didn't realize that she worked for TNA for almost three years. I ought it was a lot of time, that she had spent with that company.
Luckily WWE respects her time with the company and includes her in their Alumni section. Something they didn't do with many other iconic women wrestlers and valets like Gail Kim, Nidia, Terri, The Kat, Debra, Tori and etc.
ANGELINA LOVE
Another development territory shut down! Another real talent is kicked out off the boar during a transfer of stars from one territory to another.
Angelina Love, TNA's 6-time Knockouts Champion, co-founder of one of the most famous heel women's stable - The Beautiful People, had her own WWE experience.
Under the ring name Angel Williams, she trained and worked in DSW, then WWE's development territory. She had a very promising future in the company, she had rivalries with Brooke Adams, Chrissy Vain and other rising female talents.
This WWE fairytale ended, when DSW was closed and everyone was transferred in OVW. There Angel defeated Serena (Deeb) in a Drak match and later she was released.
her way to TNA was long. She even fights for the Mexican top promotion AAA. Angelina Love had a long history with TNA - she has several runs with that promotion, all of them historical. All of this may happen in WWE if their road agents and trainers were open their eyes at the time and helped her to release her full wrestling potential for OVW/WWE.
Just another story for a talent, who was not allowed to continue her evolution.
ODB
ODB is a unique lady!
She is not the typical character and maybe she is one tough for swallow gimmick for WWE.
ODB is the first OVW Women's Champion, as she self-proclaimed herself for a title holder. ODB started her career in OVW, facing the likes of Serena Deeb, Alicia Fox (then Victoria Crowford), Katie Lea and Milena Roucka (now known as Rosa Mendes).
Actually, ODB was the perfect addition to WWE then women's roster who was mixed of beauties and wrestlers. Melina, Mickie James, Victoria were still part of the company, so ODB was able to put a lot of freaky competition to them. She is tough enough to be between the best.
Well, it's a little bit controversial why WWE didn't appreciate her. TNA do it again. It played the role of True Believer and signed ODB on several occasions, risking with her sort-of rude, not typical model-alike gimmick. The fans loved her.
Now ODB is in ROH, as they didn't include her in their official roster. She had fought Maria before in there, now she can fight the amazing Taeler Hendrix and Amber Gallows.
Pretending that they are searching for the best mix of beauty and wrestling skills, WWE missed another capable of a lot in the ring, fresh, not typical competitor, who is wild, charismatic and charming! Sorry!
VELVET SKY
Velvet Sky may be excluded from WWE's development policy for any of the reasons above or for all of them. Back there in 2005-2006, it wasn't clear what WWE search in their female talents- beauty and skills, beauty and intellect, beauty and beauty!!!!
If you watch her tryout-type match (as Talia Madison) against Victoria, you will see that she was good. I don't get it and this will be a mystery for us (because we don't want to dig into it). Whatever reason they have to reject her, she proves them wrong through the years.
She is one of the iconic TNA Knockout(even not working for TNA at the moment) and respected indie worker. Velvet Sky loves to wrestle and loves challenges. WWE will not lose anything if they sign her even as a Duchess of Dudleyiville.
AUDREY MARIE
Somehow she resembles Mickie James to me and other fans. She had worked almost a year in NXT, before being mysteriously released. Before NXT, she had built a solid career in FCW.
What went wrong with that girl is mastery. She was one of the NXT's first major stars, she had potential and skills. She was charismatic. She was able to make history and name for herself in NXT and in WWE later. But something went wrong.
IVELISSE VELEZ
 |
| Ivelisse as Sofia Cortez |
FCW was a pace full of talents. Many current Superstars begin or just pass through their careers in there like Paige, Summer Rae, Rosa Mendes, Alicia Fox, Tamina and etc.
One specific girl, who dyed her hair blond, compete in Tough Enough and later received a contract. Her team with Paige and Raquel Diaz was promising. The Anti-Divas had the potential to be a solid foundation for these three talented ladies. Then FCW was closed. NXT emerge. Its bookers decided that The Anti-Divas didn't deserve their attention and disband the team. They pushed Sofia for a while, until the stupid backstage scandal with Bill Demott, ruined her career.
WWE had a lot of history with Superstars who were released and re-signed after some scandal. Sable is one of the most notable women who is involved in that kind of relationships with WWE's management. There are legends about Brock Lesnar's wife attitude. Actually, Sable left (then)WWF in 1999 and filled a 110 million dollar lawsuit against the company, revealing that she was sexually harassed and had been forced to work in an unsafe environment. Actually, if you look back on WWF in 1999 you will find hard to not believe that. All women back there was sexually exploited. Body paintings, tiny attires, a lot of flesh. Dark times for WWE and women's wrestling scene at all. Ivelisse didn't fill a million dollar lawsuit. She just reported abuse and bad treatment. She and several other of her fellow male wrestlers were quietly released.
Sable returned in WWE in 2003. Ivelisse is in standby mode. WWE has changed a lot since 2012. NXT is a very perspective brand. There are so many legendary indie and TNA workers in it, so many young talents. 2016 looks like the year of progress for WWE, the year when they turned back and remember some of their great names. Maybe it's time to correct some of their mistakes and omissions in the name of WWE Universe, their wrestlers, their high-quality product! Ivelisse proved herself, without a need of that, now she needs to get back what she deserved - her spot on the biggest stage of them all and her title reigns in NXT and WWE!
GAIL KIM
"I WILL NEVER RETURN TO WWE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET WOMEN'S WRESTLING SERIOUS..."
Maybe this is the way, that Gail Kim answers the question: "Will you return to WWE?", back in 2011. While her former fellow Knockout Awesome Kong is ready for a second run, if WWE reconsiders their mind about her, Kim is the one who doesn't want to do anything with the #1 Promotion in the USA and not only.
WWE Women's Champion in her debut match.
Notable rivalries with the best of then-roster Divas like Trish Stratus, Lita, Molly Holly, Victoria, Stacy Keibler, Nidia and etc...
One of the greatest!
You might think that she is ungrateful!?! Not exactly!
Oh, that was her first run with WWE (2000-2004). Then she was released as many others due to cut-costing. (?!?) Whaaat???
Everything went wrong with her second run. 2008-2011. Gail must be honest that there was a great moment like her attack on Maryse and Michelle McCool, which was roof-blowing return-moment. Her matches with Melina. Her #1 Contender's match with Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox. Her rivalry with Maryse and the final of the Divas Title tournament.
It was not that bad!
WWE even paid her a sort of honor by including her in SmackDown vs. RAW series, in 2010 and 2011's editions.
You might think that she is ungrateful !?! Not exactly!
She never is awarded with the WWE Divas Championship as it was obvious that she was one of the top challengers and suitable title holders of the time. The rumors say that WWE punished her because of her TNA's run and the legacy she did in there. Because she was allowed to do it, da!!!
It's 2016! Dear Gail, me especially, as part of AWOW, admire your work and with all of my respect, I will tell you: we have a different WWE now. Women's are not that pushed in the background, part of the inventory or tools, used for calendars, full with their pictures on swimwear. When you look at Becky Lynch, Natalya, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Paige, the Girls of NXT, you can't say that they are pushed back and WWE didn't get them seriously. Even Alicia Fox, The Bella Twins, and Tamina evolved and became more competitive wrestlers than they were back in those years when you had your second run. Vows like yours are not serious, these days, they lose their weight, when the premise for it, doesn't exist anymore!
WWE may be the #1, but sometimes it didn't allow its talents to breath, to grow, to evolve. I am sure that many of the current Superstars have a lot of intentions to learn new moves, to be booked in more matches, but they are pulled back. Many titled and proven talents are threatened like rookies, only because they were famous somewhere else. That's not serious. They must live with that and to be proud that they can afford these names, to have them, not to erase their past and cast them as clumsy dancers or exotic-mystical female-warriors. Embrace their past because it's glorious and that is no harm to WWE's greatness.
TAYA VALKYRIE
The AAA and Lucha Underground star Taya Valkyrie signed to WWE. She had a developmental deal, but the company failed to find a role for her (nothing new).
The talented Canadian and Lance Storm's wrestling academy Alumna (like Emma-WWE/Tenille Dashwood) didn't appear in any show, for an unknown reason and return to her independent career.
She takes over AAA in Mexico, won several other main titles worldwide and today is working for The Temple of Lucha Underground where she has the opportunity to fight against several of the toughest women-wrestlers like Ivelisse and Mariposa (Cheerleader Melissa).
Angela Fong has been known in WWE's development territories and ECW, as Miss Angela and Savannah.
She had a sort of good career in FCW, where she defeated the likes of Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes and retained her Queen of FCW for seven months, before losing it to Mia Machini (Serena Deeb).
Later she was used mostly as a ring announcer and for other broadcast activities in ECW, later in NXT. It's not clear if WWE didn't allow her to wrestle or she was not prepared or enthusiastic about the idea, to step in the ring as a full-time competitor.
Now Angela is famous as Lucha Underground's character Black Lotus. Her intergender match was even broadcasted on TV and she was impressive in it!
SHELLY MARTINEZ
Shelly, maybe, was fired because she refuses to "live-out" her ECW vampire gimmick, in real life. She may be, just refused to drink that much of blood, instead of wrestling her fellow then-Divas.
Just kidding.
The rumors say that she had a confrontation with Dave Batista. That was the reason, according to her.
Shelly spend a lot of time preparing for her WWE debut in OVW. It was known that she is a close friend of Melina, Mickie James, Jillian and Melissa Coates, back in the old OVW days.
Actually, her seductive-vampire gimmick was great. She brings some dark-exotic(and erotic) to then-WWE/ECW Divas division. She had worked with some of the biggest names in ECW. Her real potential was not revealed. She worked for TNA as Salinas for a while, traveled to Mexico and these days divide her attention between her acting career and the pro-wrestling.
JILLIAN HALL
Seriously? Jillian Hall?
Yes, seriously!
Miss Jillian Hall.
You may respond: "WWE used her well as singing-joke and sometimes as a wrestler!".
Jillian Hall is one of the most underestimated talents in WWE.
For five years of dedication to WWE, she received one title reign for ten minutes! In the end, they even didn't renew her contract.
Her gimmick was half of the problem. They hardly pushed that poor singing talent of her in front and bring her real wrestling skills to a low level. Jillian was a competitor who was not afraid to execute a 450 splash on Mickie James in OVW. Priceless moments. She has over 11 championships from different promotions, including her WWE's 1-reign as Divas Champion.
Jillian Hall was capable of more. She was dedicated to that company and deserved to be one of their veterans next to Natalya, Tamina and Rosa Mendes, with Melina, Mickie, and Victoria. They just didn't allow her to show what she really can do, except making fans laughing!
