Who will be the next WWE Diva?

Earlier this summer when the 2006 $250,000 Diva Search contest began, eight beautiful, talented women had high hopes of becoming one of the sexiest women on television. Now, with the live Diva Search Finals at New York City’s Hard Rock Cafe just one day away, only three women remain in the competition: Layla El, Jen England and J.T. Tinney. The finalists will compete in a bikini arm wrestling contest and a live lingerie competition during the show Wednesday night at 10/9 CT on USA.

Last year’s Diva Search winner and current SmackDown Diva Ashley, will host Wednesday’s finale with Todd Grisham.

“Winning the Diva Search absolutely changed my life.” Ashley told the Diva Search hopefuls earlier in the competition. “You guys are being given a golden opportunity right now. You really need to run with it.”

Let’s take a look back at the highlights of WWE’s 2006 $250,000 Diva Search.

For their first challenge, the eight Diva Search contestants participated in Sgt. Slaughter’s Boot Camp on SmackDown. Layla was the quickest to pass through a series of obstacles and was declared the winner. The next Monday on RAW, Amy Zidian was told by host Mike “The Miz” Mizanin that she received the lowest number of votes and was the first one eliminated.

“I didn’t want to be the first to go. I wanted this really bad. To say the least, I’m not happy,” a tearful Amy told WWE.com after her elimination.

Later that week on SmackDown, the final seven competed in a Diva Search Dance-Off. Each woman performed her sexiest moves for the WWE fans, and Milena Roucka won. On the next RAW, Maryse Ouellet was the next to go.

“I feel really, really sad,” Maryse said. “It was my dream. I had an amazing, amazing time. I thought this would be great for me. I expected [I would do better in the voting].”

For their next challenge, the remaining six hopefuls faced Diva Search Musical Chairs on SmackDown. J.T. won Musical Chairs, but Rebecca DiPietro fought hard (and shoved J.T.) and ended up with second place. It wasn’t enough to secure her spot in the competition, and on the next RAW, Rebecca was given the bad news that she was the next out.

“I’m surprised that I was voted off,” Rebecca told WWE.com. “I didn’t see it coming.”

When it came down to five, the competition got a little bit sweeter on SmackDown. As each finalist told WWE fans why she should stay in the competition, she got pied in the face with whipped cream, giving viewers a revealing look at how each reacts to a surprise. On RAW, Erica Chevillar was the next to say goodbye.

“It was a great experience. It was all new to me. I look at it as a learning experience. I was so happy to be a part of this,” Erica said. “I hope this is a stepping stone to me one day being part of the sexiest women on television. After experiencing it, I want to be part of it.”

After Erica’s departure, the final four played Diss the Diva, telling the WWE fans who should be the next Diva Search hopeful to go. Then on SmackDown, the finalists strutted their stuff during the Diva Search Talent Show, hosted by actor Luke Perry. Layla won over the Nashville, Tenn., crowd with her sexy dance, and Perry declared her the winner of the Diva Search Talent Show. The WWE fans voted for their favorite Diva hopeful, and Milena was eliminated on this week’s RAW, but she promised this isn’t the last WWE fans will see of her.

“I want to wrestle. I want to learn. I will work my ass off,” Milena said Monday night.

And then there were three: Layla, Jen and J.T. They competed in the Diva Beat the Heat Water Fight against Candice Michelle, Victoria and Torrie Wilson in front of the Charlottesville, Va., crowd. The veteran RAW Divas won the wet and wild competition, and The Miz ended up just as soaked as the sexy ladies in the ring.

Who will WWE fans vote to win the 2006 $250,000 Diva Search and the chance to become a WWE Diva? There’s still time to vote for your favorite online or via text messaging. Layla, Jen and J.T. will compete in a bikini arm wrestling contest and a live lingerie competition during the finale, live from the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City, Wednesday night at 10/9 CT on USA.

KAREN ANGLE

Gillian Anderson- Remember Her?

What Gillian doing in Maxim? Some new project we don't know about? Or is she just trying to regain some of that old X-files fame? Well, we'll have to wait and see whats next for this actress...

Btw. she kinda looks sexy in the tight black mini dress...

Women Wrestlers

Candice Michelle is Back on WWE Raw

WWE yield at last night’s RAW brand home display in Anchorage, Alaska. After interruption, Candice came away to a pretty large pop. She said it was her best day backwards. She shot some t-shirts into the crew, and got a pop for mentioning Fairbanks. Alex Marvez has a consultation upward with Candice Michelle in his syndicated wrestling editorial where Candice notes she will likely be returning to the gang in later February. For now, she’ll just be appearing on the events but not in a wrestling character.

Hot Looking Kelly Kelly

WWE Diva Mickey James

Having fun with balls!

Victoria and Natalya, BBF 4-Ever

Two of SmackDown’s most devious Divas seem to be joined at the hip lately. Whether it’s in the ring, in the Divas’ locker room or out on the town, Victoria and Natalya are inseparable. They’ve even been spotted sporting custom-made, matching “Best Friends” T-shirts and necklaces. Diva Dish recently sat down for a chat (or should we say ego-fest?) with the BFFs.

“I went shopping today. I got us matching necklaces. We had special custom T-shirts made that say ‘Best Friends’ and they’re a split heart, just like the necklace,” Victoria told Diva Dish.

“You went all out and it was such a surprise because May 27 was my birthday,” Natalya chimed in. “I came into the building and this little one over here had a package waiting for me. She went out and got the shirts, and had them custom made for me. I thought I was going to cry, but you know, being third-generation, we don’t cry.”

“We don’t cry! There’s no crying in wrestling!” Victoria replied.

“You can give me a high-five on that one, girlfriend!” Natalya said, as the duo erupted in laughter.

Victoria said she’s grown so close to Natalya since she became a Diva, they act like sisters. And the Divas aren’t joking when they say they finish each other’s sentences.

“One thing I have to say, and I believe this in my heart of hearts, is that what you have that I was most attracted to, is that you’re violent and original,” Natalya said to Victoria. “And for me it’s like, there is not another woman who I can find who can get on my level to be violent and original. She brings it. Every single night there’s just this energy and I feed off it.”

“We’re very lucky because I feed off her, because she’s very talented. You’re very original, too. I’ve learned wrestling skills from you. Your confidence level is amazing out there,” Victoria told her best bud.

“You are amazing,” Natalya said.

“You are amazing,” Victoria responded.

“We are — ” Natalya started.

“Amazing!” Victoria finished.

When Diva Dish informed the pals they were two of the most downloaded Divas on WWE.com in recent weeks, Victoria admitted she was a little bit surprised.

“I’m so used to people downloading those little skinny girls, like Kelly Kelly and Michelle – the cookie-cutter blonds. Now it shows we’re being appreciated as athletes with wrestling abilities – that we can back up what we do,” Victoria said.

But Natalya wasn’t shocked she and her best friend are making waves online.

“Naturally, being the first third-generation Diva in WWE, it just felt right when I heard I was one of the most downloaded Divas,” Natalya said.

“People want to know what I’m up to, what I’m wearing, what I’m talking about, what we’re doing, what we’ve been doing – they just want to see Natalya and Victoria. She doesn’t give herself enough credit, but this woman is amazing. I know it’s not Valentine’s Day, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without you,” Natalya said, looking at her friend.

“Awwww. You give me a hug. Come here, BFF!” Victoria said, embracing her friend and then continuing: “We have good chemistry in the ring and outside the ring. I think it shows in our performance. We put our hearts and souls into every single match. We try to be the best, because you know what?”

“When you mess with the best, you go down with the rest. Yeah, baby!” the two said in unison.

TNA Knockouts Tag Team Match at Slammiversary

TNA Knockouts Tag Team Match at Slammiversary

Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Moose(Mickie Knuckles) wrestled Gail Kim, ODB and Roxxi at TNA Slammiversary.
Gail Kim, ODB and Roxxi came out on top, with ODB providing the win with a running powerslam.

Also, Awesome Kong had her challenge match against two " civilians" who were really Serena Deeb( OVW) and Josie Robinson (WLW).

Jell-O Wrestling Food Fight Fun

Spring is on its way and the weather is starting to warm up. Many people turn to cold treats -- think Jell-O -- to beat the heat. But while most people eat their Jell-O, others like to wrestle in it. If you find yourself in New York City this weekend, consider taking part in a round of Amateur Female Jell-O Wrestling. One Sunday a month, women from all walks of life don costumes and wrestling personas and take each other down in slippery goo. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch is a regular in the ring, and she shows us the ropes:

Gatlin Guns gets ready (explicit language)

(chillmerna)

I'm a Jell-O wrestler and proud of it. I know what you're thinking, but this is no Ft. Lauderdale "Girls Gone Wild" -- this is a place to dress up in costume and be a superhero. And the Jell-O? Well, that's to make sure we don't take ourselves too seriously. Amateur Female Jell-O Wrestling is my refuge from the real world. I'm a recent college graduate, and I constantly struggle to get ahead. But once a month, when I come to wrestle, I can let go of the daily grind and act like a kid again.

The event takes place at Arlene's Grocery, a funky bar in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It looks like any other venue, except for the wrestling ring. It's a large plastic kiddie pool on top of old mattresses. Inside, an inch of bright Jell-O awaits the smack-down.

We learn stunts and safety techniques before the match. This event is as much performance as it is fighting. In the ring we show off fake moves in between real ones. Like when I yell, "Clothesline!" and hold my arm out, the other girl runs into it and knocks herself over. We'd let guys wrestle too, but they just don't get it. The one or two times Jell-O wrestling founder and referee Dana Sterling let guys wrestle, it got serious way too quickly. "When one guy pushes another, the other pushes back harder," she says.

But we girls take care of each other. There's an unspoken code of conduct: Be safe, be silly and cooperate -- or get out of the ring. Wrestlers come to compete for a few different reasons. Like two-time champion Melissa Melly, aka Strawberry Shortcake. "There, I can be myself, I can let loose and I can just be trampy and nobody cares."

She says she also wrestles to set a good example for all of the other BBWs (Big Beautiful Women) in the world. Other wrestlers, like Nina Jafferji (wrestling pseudonym: Fire Angel), wrestle to get out aggression. Tonight, Alisa Taylor wrestled for the first time as Frida Tortilla -- so she can die a happy woman.

But me? I wrestle because I want to win. Tonight I'm Gal Friday, a disgruntled office assistant in business casual. I wear a blue collared shirt and tan skirt. Perfect attire for filing, or flipping. In real life, I'm also the office grunt -- always the worker bee, never the queen. But not today. Today I'm the one giving orders. When I stand tall in that inflatable pool, ankle-deep in warm Jell-O, I am the alpha female.

In the first part of the tournament I blow past contestants Frida Tortilla and Dana Sterling. It's tough, but I'm clawing my way to the top. Next, I face Data Crunch, a first-timer visiting from Los Angeles. Data Crunch throws off her floppy disks and rolls up her purple sleeves. An expert at running cables, she nails me good with a clothesline to the chest. I stagger to my feet, and swing her around the ring by her long dark braids. She puts up a fight, but I'm a skilled office assistant and well-versed in crunching data. I take Data Crunch down.

I'm starting to feel a little sick. I'm sure I've had more than my suggested serving of Jell-O. But we've come to the last match of the night -- finally, I fight Top Shelf. She is a lush with a thing for fishnets and gold lame. The tattoo on her arm reads "fierce." She gnashes her teeth and flexes her muscles. But she can't scare me. I'm ready to go.

I knock over Top Shelf, but she drags me down with her. Body slam! It hurts, but I lunge back. We lock arms in a huddle. We both gasp for breath. And then she asks, "Do you mind if I win?" Do I mind? And give up when I am so close to the top? But there's a desperate glimmer in her eye. She's asking me -- asking me -- to win. And she's so polite! We do some more flips before I give in to the soft Jell-O beneath me...

I wanted to win so badly, but this event is about community. It's about taking care of your sister. It's not easy for me to accept defeat, but here at Amateur Female Jell-O Wrestling, it's cool to be a loser.