The WWE brand of professional wrestling is no stranger to creating controversy in order to get buzz and publicity running rampant for its product. Over the years, WWE has done everything from faking Chairman Vince McMahon’s death in an exploding limo to having wrestlers electrocuted in the arena or run over by cars. Former superstar, Stone Cold Steve Austin has been involved in numerous controversial events including hosing down Mr. McMahon, The Rock and other WWE staff in the ring with a hose from a beer truck. And while you may think that its lovely WWF and WWE Divas are mainly talented eye candy in the ring, they too have had their share of controversial storylines and plots. Some of the divas involved in these plots include Lita, Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie and Trish Stratus.
In 2001, WWE Diva Trish Stratus found herself amidst a power trip involving boss Vince McMahon. In her storyline, Trish played the role of Vince McMahon’s mistress in an extra-marital affair. The boss carried out this affair while it was believed his wife Linda was institutionalized and confined to a wheelchair during a divorce. During this story, Mr. McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie, began showing her dislike for Stratus, leading to an in-ring feud. At the No Way Out Pay-Per-View, Stephanie was able to defeat Trish in a match thanks to assistance from William Regal. The next night Vince McMahon partnered with Trish Stratus in a tag match against Stephanie and Regal. However, the match was a setup, and ended with Regal performing his finisher on Stratus, followed by Stephanie dumping a buck of sewage on her. The humiliation of Trish Stratus continued on the following week’s episode of Raw, with Mr. McMahon ordering Stratus to strip down to lingerie and bark in the ring like a dog. The controversial storyline was said to have drawn much criticism from fans and women’s rights groups.
The WWE experimented with a lesbian storyline back in 2003, involving two sexy WWE divas, Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie. At the time, Dawn Marie was planning to marry Torrie Wilson’s real life father, Al. Dawn began to confess feelings for Torrie as well, and blackmailed her into doing what she wanted. Dawn promised if Torrie met her in a hotel and did as she asked, then Dawn would call off her wedding to Al. Dawn manipulated Torrie and the two shared an on-screen kiss, as well as an off-screen hotel encounter. Dawn still married Al, going back on her promise. The story also involved Al dying of a heart attack due to rigorous love-making with Dawn. Eventually, Torrie ended this feud by defeating Dawn at the Royal Rumble.
One last former diva who was involved in controversies was Amy Dumas, who was better known as “Lita”. Lita is the former girlfriend of superstars such as Edge, Matt Hardy and Kane. Lita was involved in several attempted weddings, as well as a miscarriage plot involving Kane’s baby. But one of Lita’s incidents in particular earned the Monday Night Raw program in 2006 one of its highest ratings. The episode occurred following the January 8, 2006 New Year’s Revolution Pay-Per-View, where Edge had defeated John Cena to win the WWE title. Edge promised to have an in-ring celebration involving a love-making session with Lita. On the following Raw, the two stripped down and got into a bed set up in the ring. WWE Superstar Ric Flair came down to the ring to interrupt the proceedings, causing Edge to leave to fight him. John Cena came to the ring and attacked Lita, giving her an FU. During the attack there was a wardrobe mishap and Lita exposed part of her chest. The event known as the “Live Sex Celebration” earned Raw one of its highest ratings in some time.
All in all, the lovely WWE divas enjoy their fair share of controversy. Lita, Trish Stratus and Torrie Wilson definitely proved this as they’ve paved the way for the WWE to continue trying to push the limits. Only time will tell how far the WWE attempts to go with its various storylines involving these talented female wrestlers.
