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Professional wrestling career
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2005)
Christy Hemme during her time with WWE
In the summer of 2004, Hemme participated in the Diva Search, a competition held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in order to recruit new Divas.[10] In the course of the competition, Hemme and the five other finalists faced seven existing Divas in a game of dodgeball at SummerSlam on August 15, eliminating all eight Divas with the loss of just one finalist, Joy Giovanni. Hemme was announced as the winner of the competition on September 20, with a prize of a one year contract with WWE with remuneration of $250,000.[3][8][10] Hemme began her WWE career as a member of the Raw roster. She quickly began a feud with Carmella DeCesare, the runner-up of the Diva Search. The feud culminated in a "lingerie pillow fight" at Taboo Tuesday on October 19, with Hemme defeating her opponent by pinfall.
Following her feud with DeCesare, Hemme began a rivalry with WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus, with Stratus ostensibly scornful of Hemme's appearance in the April 2005 issue of Playboy. Hemme eventually challenged Stratus to a match at WrestleMania 21,[2][4][5] with Stratus's nemesis Lita training her in the weeks preceding the event.[9] At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, Stratus defeated Hemme to retain her title. In the months after WrestleMania, Hemme began another feud with Victoria, who claimed to be jealous of the opportunities afforded to Hemme. The feud culminated in a bout at Vengeance on June 26, which Victoria won after countering Hemme's sunset flip move by using the ropes to pin Hemme.[11] With her feud with Victoria over, Hemme briefly aligned herself with Eugene before she and Stacy Keibler were traded to SmackDown! in exchange for Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson on August 25. Hemme then feuded with Melina, the valet of MNM, in the process joining forces with the Legion of Doom. At No Mercy on October 9, Hemme and the Legion of Doom defeated MNM in a six-person intergender tag team match. Her feud with Melina continued into November, with Melina defeating Hemme in two televised singles bouts.
On November 30, Hemme debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory, aligning herself with Matt Cappotelli in opposition to Aaron Stevens, Beth Phoenix, and Shelly Martinez. On December 5, 2005 she was released from her WWE contract.[4] The release happened shortly after WWE asked her to relocate to Louisville, Kentucky to train at OVW.[12] The company cited budget cuts and the creative team having nothing for her as the reason for her dismissal.[12]
Years later in November 2008 in her column for TNAwrestling.com Hemme stated her departure from WWE was on her own terms because: "I stuck to my guns on my morals and values as a human being. I knew in my gut that it would be the end, but I also knew that carrying guilt for knowingly doing something against what I believed wasn't worth getting ahead. Leaving broke my heart... but doing the right thing is something I will always be proud of."[13]
[edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2006–present)
Hemme signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in April 2006,[4] and she debuted on April 23 at Lockdown. In addition to her hosting role on Impact!, she was also the co-host of the Internet show TNA Global Impact! with Jeremy Borash. At Hardcore War, Hemme refereed a match between Traci and Gail Kim. In July 2006, she was featured on the Women of Action special. She also began traveling to Windsor, Ontario to train under TNA agent Scott D'Amore in between TNA TV tapings. She was also Knockout of the Year for 2006.
Christy Hemme at an Impact taping in Orlando, Florida
On January 14, 2007 at Final Resolution, Christy came out and interrupted the Voodoo Kin Mafia (VKM) and cut a promo about the involvement of women in wrestling. She said that she wanted to wrestle too—and the mostly male crowd in the TNA arena jeered her. Kip James called her a slut, which garnered him a slap from Hemme, while B.G. James attempted to play peacemaker. In the following weeks, Kip and Hemme got into a few arguments over his lack of respect for her and women as a whole. Hemme made her TNA in-ring debut at Against All Odds where she wrestled and defeated "The Big Fat Oily Guy" in a Tuxedo match, but after his match Kip James stripped her. On the March 8 version of Impact, Hemme asked Jim Cornette for a match pitting VKM against her new, previously undisclosed, team, at Destination X. Cornette consented and booked the match. On the pay-per-view, Hemme introduced The Heartbreakers. Despite Hemme's attempts to give Kip a low blow, VKM defeated her team, who she later browbeat at ringside. Hemme later announced that she had found another team to face the VKM. At Lockdown, the mystery team was revealed to be Serotonin, but VKM defeated them as well. She then brought in Basham and Damaja as her new permanent tag team in her battle with VKM. They beat Kip in a handicap match at Sacrifice as B.G. had been attacked by them earlier in the night. At Slammiversary, VKM beat Basham and Damaja, but VKM's associate Lance Hoyt turned on them and kissed Hemme.
Basham and Damaja were then released from the company, and Hoyt formed a partnership with Jimmy Rave, named The Rock 'n Rave Infection, with Hemme as their manager. After joining the team, she made several unsuccessful attempts at gaining the TNA Women's Knockout Championship. In the winter of 2007, Hemme, Rave, and Hoyt entered into a feud with The Latin American Xchange (LAX) faction after being attacked several times by a mysterious assailant. The assailant was revealed to be Shelly Martinez (Salinas) at Final Resolution following LAX's victory over the Infection. Shortly after Final Resolution, The Rock 'n Rave Infection began a new gimmick, acting as though they were a rock band with Hemme portraying the lead singer. On the March 13 episode of Impact, Hemme, Rave and Hoyt won a six-person tag team match against LAX after Hemme hit Salinas with a guitar. At No Surrender, Hemme, Hoyt, and Rave lost in a intergender six person tag team match against Shark Boy, Curry Man, and Super Eric.
Hemme turned into a fan favorite on the October 16, 2008 episode of Impact when she was attacked by The Beautiful People backstage. She feuded with them, which resulted in two consecutive tag team matches with ODB and Sojourner Bolt respectively. After showcasing improved wrestling skills, Hemme was then placed into a more active in-ring role, being pushed to challenge Awesome Kong at Final Resolution after defeating Raisha Saeed on the November 27 edition of TNA Impact!. Hemme then teamed with A.J. Styles in a mixed tag team match against Awesome Kong and Scott Steiner, where Hemme pinned Kong. At Final Resolution, it appeared Hemme was about to win the title, but was attacked by Saeed and Rhaka Khan, thus winning on a disqualification. Hemme was then granted a re-match at Genesis. A week later Hemme teamed with ODB against Rhaka Khan and Raisha Saeed in a winning effort. On the 10th of January TNAWrestling.com reported that Hemme had sustained a neck injury while training in the ring with A.J. Styles for her match and would be unable to compete at Genesis against Awesome Kong. Her injury may require surgery and she will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time.
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2005)
Christy Hemme during her time with WWE
In the summer of 2004, Hemme participated in the Diva Search, a competition held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in order to recruit new Divas.[10] In the course of the competition, Hemme and the five other finalists faced seven existing Divas in a game of dodgeball at SummerSlam on August 15, eliminating all eight Divas with the loss of just one finalist, Joy Giovanni. Hemme was announced as the winner of the competition on September 20, with a prize of a one year contract with WWE with remuneration of $250,000.[3][8][10] Hemme began her WWE career as a member of the Raw roster. She quickly began a feud with Carmella DeCesare, the runner-up of the Diva Search. The feud culminated in a "lingerie pillow fight" at Taboo Tuesday on October 19, with Hemme defeating her opponent by pinfall.
Following her feud with DeCesare, Hemme began a rivalry with WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus, with Stratus ostensibly scornful of Hemme's appearance in the April 2005 issue of Playboy. Hemme eventually challenged Stratus to a match at WrestleMania 21,[2][4][5] with Stratus's nemesis Lita training her in the weeks preceding the event.[9] At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, Stratus defeated Hemme to retain her title. In the months after WrestleMania, Hemme began another feud with Victoria, who claimed to be jealous of the opportunities afforded to Hemme. The feud culminated in a bout at Vengeance on June 26, which Victoria won after countering Hemme's sunset flip move by using the ropes to pin Hemme.[11] With her feud with Victoria over, Hemme briefly aligned herself with Eugene before she and Stacy Keibler were traded to SmackDown! in exchange for Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson on August 25. Hemme then feuded with Melina, the valet of MNM, in the process joining forces with the Legion of Doom. At No Mercy on October 9, Hemme and the Legion of Doom defeated MNM in a six-person intergender tag team match. Her feud with Melina continued into November, with Melina defeating Hemme in two televised singles bouts.
On November 30, Hemme debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory, aligning herself with Matt Cappotelli in opposition to Aaron Stevens, Beth Phoenix, and Shelly Martinez. On December 5, 2005 she was released from her WWE contract.[4] The release happened shortly after WWE asked her to relocate to Louisville, Kentucky to train at OVW.[12] The company cited budget cuts and the creative team having nothing for her as the reason for her dismissal.[12]
Years later in November 2008 in her column for TNAwrestling.com Hemme stated her departure from WWE was on her own terms because: "I stuck to my guns on my morals and values as a human being. I knew in my gut that it would be the end, but I also knew that carrying guilt for knowingly doing something against what I believed wasn't worth getting ahead. Leaving broke my heart... but doing the right thing is something I will always be proud of."[13]
[edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2006–present)
Hemme signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in April 2006,[4] and she debuted on April 23 at Lockdown. In addition to her hosting role on Impact!, she was also the co-host of the Internet show TNA Global Impact! with Jeremy Borash. At Hardcore War, Hemme refereed a match between Traci and Gail Kim. In July 2006, she was featured on the Women of Action special. She also began traveling to Windsor, Ontario to train under TNA agent Scott D'Amore in between TNA TV tapings. She was also Knockout of the Year for 2006.
Christy Hemme at an Impact taping in Orlando, Florida
On January 14, 2007 at Final Resolution, Christy came out and interrupted the Voodoo Kin Mafia (VKM) and cut a promo about the involvement of women in wrestling. She said that she wanted to wrestle too—and the mostly male crowd in the TNA arena jeered her. Kip James called her a slut, which garnered him a slap from Hemme, while B.G. James attempted to play peacemaker. In the following weeks, Kip and Hemme got into a few arguments over his lack of respect for her and women as a whole. Hemme made her TNA in-ring debut at Against All Odds where she wrestled and defeated "The Big Fat Oily Guy" in a Tuxedo match, but after his match Kip James stripped her. On the March 8 version of Impact, Hemme asked Jim Cornette for a match pitting VKM against her new, previously undisclosed, team, at Destination X. Cornette consented and booked the match. On the pay-per-view, Hemme introduced The Heartbreakers. Despite Hemme's attempts to give Kip a low blow, VKM defeated her team, who she later browbeat at ringside. Hemme later announced that she had found another team to face the VKM. At Lockdown, the mystery team was revealed to be Serotonin, but VKM defeated them as well. She then brought in Basham and Damaja as her new permanent tag team in her battle with VKM. They beat Kip in a handicap match at Sacrifice as B.G. had been attacked by them earlier in the night. At Slammiversary, VKM beat Basham and Damaja, but VKM's associate Lance Hoyt turned on them and kissed Hemme.
Basham and Damaja were then released from the company, and Hoyt formed a partnership with Jimmy Rave, named The Rock 'n Rave Infection, with Hemme as their manager. After joining the team, she made several unsuccessful attempts at gaining the TNA Women's Knockout Championship. In the winter of 2007, Hemme, Rave, and Hoyt entered into a feud with The Latin American Xchange (LAX) faction after being attacked several times by a mysterious assailant. The assailant was revealed to be Shelly Martinez (Salinas) at Final Resolution following LAX's victory over the Infection. Shortly after Final Resolution, The Rock 'n Rave Infection began a new gimmick, acting as though they were a rock band with Hemme portraying the lead singer. On the March 13 episode of Impact, Hemme, Rave and Hoyt won a six-person tag team match against LAX after Hemme hit Salinas with a guitar. At No Surrender, Hemme, Hoyt, and Rave lost in a intergender six person tag team match against Shark Boy, Curry Man, and Super Eric.
Hemme turned into a fan favorite on the October 16, 2008 episode of Impact when she was attacked by The Beautiful People backstage. She feuded with them, which resulted in two consecutive tag team matches with ODB and Sojourner Bolt respectively. After showcasing improved wrestling skills, Hemme was then placed into a more active in-ring role, being pushed to challenge Awesome Kong at Final Resolution after defeating Raisha Saeed on the November 27 edition of TNA Impact!. Hemme then teamed with A.J. Styles in a mixed tag team match against Awesome Kong and Scott Steiner, where Hemme pinned Kong. At Final Resolution, it appeared Hemme was about to win the title, but was attacked by Saeed and Rhaka Khan, thus winning on a disqualification. Hemme was then granted a re-match at Genesis. A week later Hemme teamed with ODB against Rhaka Khan and Raisha Saeed in a winning effort. On the 10th of January TNAWrestling.com reported that Hemme had sustained a neck injury while training in the ring with A.J. Styles for her match and would be unable to compete at Genesis against Awesome Kong. Her injury may require surgery and she will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time.
