Diva Dirts 'The Women of the Year 2011' Countdown [# 3, 2, and the WINNER Just Posted]

Last edited by King Silva on Sat 31 Dec 2011, 5:51 pm; edited 12 times in total

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/19/the-women-of-the-year-2011-the-women-of-tough-enough-25/

A la TIME’s Person of the Year list, Diva Dirt has compiled a countdown of the women we feel have best embodied the zeitgeist of the year in women’s wrestling. To compile this list, the Diva Dirt team have tracked the headlines here at Diva Dirt over the past 12 months, followed the lively fan debate on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, considered the impact that the women have made within the industry, and taken into account personal achievements as well. More information on the Women of the Year list here.

# 25: THE WOMEN OF TOUGH ENOUGH
Ariane Andrew, Christina Crawford, Ivelisse Velez, Michelle Deighton and Rima Fakih

Wrestling with Reality
In 2011, Tough Enough returned and another batch of wannabes were taken to task by trainers Bill DeMott, Booker T and Trish Stratus, as well as host Stone Cold Steve Austin.

For 10 weeks, we watched, we laughed at and we empathized with the five contestants — Ariane Andrew, Christina Crawford, Ivelisse Velez, Michelle Deighton and Rima Fakih — as they battled it out to win a WWE contract.

Who can forget the infamous moment when Ariane told Stone Cold that her favorite match was Alicia Fox vs Melina? Who can forget Michelle being dubbed Miss 11 Years? Yes, from the very first episode, Tough Enough had us hooked.

Tough Enough, while not a perfect formula by any means, had the elements of great reality television: there were characters we loved — and characters we loved to hate, there was plenty of drama (remember Christina vs Ivelisse?), and a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

However, beyond all of that, there were still characters to be appreciated. Rima Fakih impressed as she tried to shake off the prissy Miss USA tag, while Ivelisse showed a never-say-die passion for wrestling, struggling through an injury. We even felt empathetic towards Michelle Deighton for being a quitter. (She just wanted to be with her daughter. Aw!)

Though none of the female contestants won the show, three have since signed with WWE which is a pretty good success rate. Whatever the future holds for them — and the series itself (please renew it!) — remains to be seen, but we’ll always have those 10 weeks!

# 24: KANA
International Rockstar

Spoiler:

There’s been plenty of Joshi action in North American women’s wrestling this year. Just earlier this month, all attention turned to CHIKARA as they presented a mammoth three-night event known as JoshiMania. However, prior to that, it was this young lady who had fans getting their streamers ready for her US debut.

The buzzy Kana has been a name we’ve been hearing a lot about in the past year or so, not least of which is due to our friends at Dirty Dirty Sheets, so it seemed inevitable that we’d see her in a US wrestling ring — it was just a matter of when.

The Japanese star packed up her unique ring attire and headed to US shores in October, where she thrilled audiences in not just SHIMMER, but CHIKARA also. Facing off against the likes of Sara Del Rey, Madison Eagles and Cheerleader Melissa, Kana made a strong impact on fans in her debut tour of the US. Combine that with her large (and growing) online following, fans around the world have flocked to the altar of Kana.

Meanwhile, in her native Japan, Kana became the first ever SMASH Divas Champion defeating the US’ Serena earlier this year.

As well as her work in the ring, Kana is as intriguing outside of the ring. Proving that modern day women can do it all, Kana is a savvy business woman who knows how to control her image and promote herself. As well as that, she owns a hair salon, writes for Xbox magazine and she’s a graphics designer for video games. Pretty remarkable, no?

*I will eventually posts the entire countdown in this thread.

Congrats to Kana. She is a really strong competitor and has some of the best kicks I've seen in a long time.

Yeah she is a great wrestler.

I sorta expected her to be higher up but at least she is in the top 25.

Also congrats to the ladies of the revived Tough Enough.

I think the ones signed so far could do well enough in FCW to move up to Raw/SD later on.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/20/the-women-of-the-year-2011-britani-and-saraya-knight-23/

Spoiler:

# 23: BRITANI AND SARAYA KNIGHT
Bigger Than The Beatles

Like The Beatles in music, Britain’s Britani and Saraya Knight caused hysteria amongst SHIMMER fans in the US this past April when they made one of the biggest debuts in company history.

In a company predominantly focused on wrestling rather than characters, the larger than life, villainous antics of Britani and Saraya had the fans eating out of their palms of their hands. The debut of the Knight Dynasty (along with the returning Rebecca Knox) was arguably the highlight of SHIMMER’s April tapings.

Returning to Berwyn in October for their second tour, the mother-and-daughter duo managed to retain their buzzy status by feuding not with other SHIMMER stars, but with each other. The emotional feud culminated in a “Mother vs Daughter Match” which saw Britani pin Saraya.

Despite having a long family history in the wrestling scene in Britain, 2011 was the year the two Knight women broke out to a wider audience around the globe, thanks, in part, to the Internet buzz surrounding Britani signing with WWE, in addition to their SHIMMER debuts.

As well as reaching the big time, the young Knight became the first ever Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion in April, but lost the title a couple of months later to Jenny Sjodin. The title switch was steeped in controversy, however, as the result was leaked online prior to the match taking place, and the Knights withdrew themselves and talent from their WAW gym from EVE competition that same day.

Dynamic, talented — and yes, — controversial, the Knights certainly left a lasting impression in 2011.
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# 22: BROOKE TESSMACHER AND TARA
TNT: A Dynamite Duo

Throw two singles competitors together and put the Knockouts Tag Team Championships on them. That is a formula we regularly see in TNA’s Knockouts division. However, unlike other randomly paired teams who don’t really “go” together, in 2011, Brooke Tessmacher and Tara proved to be an exception to the rule.

With Tara taking more of a backseat from the singles spotlight this year, pairing her with the rising rookie was a breath of fresh air for her character, while Brooke welcomed a partner who has done it all and can guide her to success.

From their first match together, in which they won the Knockouts Tag Team Championships, there was an instant chemistry between Brooke and Tara — perhaps a sign that we were onto something special. As well as their chemistry in the ring, TNT gelled together just as easily, with Tara citing that both have similar goofy personalities. In a Knockouts division full to the brim of serious Knockouts, Brooke and Tara are a much needed injection of fun.

True, the Knockouts tag team division is barely existent, but even with the limitations, Tara and Brooke brought much needed attention to the belts and in our opinion, had the best run as champs in recent memory, with each of their matches together being memorable.

Individually, in an industry obsessed with you, Tara celebrated a milestone birthday — the big 4-0 — and proved that you can still wrestle on TV and look fabulous. Particularly for women in the business, who tend to only last until their mid-30s on wrestling TV shows, Tara has been inspiring, and has further cemented her legendary status. Before joining forces with her current partner in crime, Tara finally ditched her last partner in crime — Madison Rayne — following the culmination of nearly a year-long storyline. Tara won her freedom from Rayne and as the icing on the cake, defeated her in singles action.

Meanwhile for Brooke, 2011 has certainly been her breakthrough year in wrestling, as she’s impressed fans with her growing in-ring repertoire and has had the chance to face off with Mickie James amongst others. This girl can only get better.

Who’d have thought that this pairing, who were at two different points in their career, could come together and become one of 2011′s hottest tag teams? However, truth be told, we’ve barely scratched the surface. As Brooke told us in an interview recently, TNT still has a lot of in-ring magic that they haven’t had a chance to show Impact Wrestling viewers, and thus we’re hoping that 2012 will be an even bigger year for TNT, and hopefully lead to a revival of women’s tag team wrestling on TV.

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What do you think of these two new additions to the Diva-Dirt Top 25 Women of 2011?

Britani and Saraya Knight should have been much higher on the list. The reaction they got at their Shimmer debut was beyond words. Saraya is a legend and Britani is a prodigy. They tore down the house. The reaction stayed crazy high every time they appeared throughout the year.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/21/the-women-of-the-year-2011-trish-stratus-21/

# 21: TRISH STRATUS
Comeback Queen

Few can say that they had a successful comeback in WWE after years of retirement at the grandest stage of them all. As for a woman being able to say that? That’s pretty unthinkable given the way WWE tends to treat its Divas. However, through it all, one woman has stood the test of time and managed to command high respect from not only the WWE fans, but WWE itself. In 2011, Trish Stratus proved that despite being retired for five years, she is still the Diva of all Divas.

This year felt like Trish had never left. From star roles in WrestleMania and the revival of Tough Enough, to multiple magazine covers, the seven-time Women’s Champion didn’t skip a beat. Returning to the WWE for her first storyline feud since retiring in 2006, Trish teamed with Jersey Shore star Snooki and John Morrison in a feud with LayCool, Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero in the lead-up to ‘Mania 27. Trish’s return marked a boom period for popular superstars of the past era, putting her in the same company as the likes of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, who also returned for ‘Mania. The mainstream buzz surrounding the match due to Snooki’s involvement surely rubbed off on Trish, while she managed to create her own buzz as Internet wrestling fans chattered about friction between herself and John Morrison in the infamous “cold shoulder”-gate.

As the female trainer on Tough Enough, Trish returned to our screens for a further 10 weeks, guiding the wannabe WWE Superstars through challenges, critiquing them and ultimately, helping crown the show’s champion. It was a new role for Trish, who we were so used to seeing in the ring herself, but a welcome new direction and in some ways, a natural evolution of her semi-retired wrestling career.

Though retired, in 2011, Trish was one of the most relevant WWE Divas of the year, and continues to show her crossover success. Trish’s business savvy is second to none when it comes to females in wrestling. She’s built a brand around her name that in 2011 has spawned off a yoga product line, including a DVD and workout essentials, plus she has bagged several magazine covers including Shape and Revive, adding to her already extensive list of credits.

While other female stars fade away or leave wrestling behind, Trish is the shining beacon for longevity and success in and out of the ring. Not only is she inspiring to female wrestlers coming through the ranks, but an inspiring businesswoman also.

This is how a comeback is done.
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# 20: KAREN JARRETT
The Evil Queen

Like the Evil Queen in Snow White, Karen Jarrett made us love to hate her (or just love to love her here at Diva Dirt) as she ruled the Knockouts division with her iron fist, making for one of the most exciting periods the division has seen in quite some time.

What she lacks in the ring compared to the other Knockouts, Karen Jarrett more than makes up for on the microphone. Karen’s promos in the ring (including that infamous one with Jeff Hardy), as well as her backstage segments, showed a natural charisma that can’t be taught. For a woman with no prior acting experience, Karen transformed in front of the camera and for a time, was Impact Wrestling’s most reviled heel. Arguably, her time as the Knockouts VP produced some of the best segments we’ve seen involving the Knockouts in 2011, and like any good heel, you just couldn’t wait to see her get her comeuppance.

While it feels as though Karen’s story arc ended too soon, she left an indelible mark in Impact Wrestling, particularly the Knockouts division.

Simply put: Karen Jarrett was one of 2011′s most entertaining characters on TV.
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Should these two have been higher on the list, lower on the list or not at all on the list in your opinion?

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/22/the-women-of-the-year-2011-aj-and-rosita-19/

Co # 19: AJ and ROSITA
Small But Mighty

Both WWE and TNA added pint-sized additions to their respective Divas and Knockouts divisions this year, but don’t let their sizes fool you — AJ and Rosita may be small, but more than make up for it with their endearing stories of success, great personalities and of course, their in-ring work.

Both AJ and Rosita have similar stories: One is from New York, one is from New Jersey, both dreamed of being wrestling superstars, both cut their teeth through independent circles — particularly WSU — and both finally managed to achieve success.

While we saw AJ on NXT in 2010, the young Geek Goddess finally made it to the main roster in 2011, joining her BFF Kaitlyn as one half of the Chickbusters on SmackDown. As we know through her run on NXT, AJ has been a lifelong WWE fan, hoping to one day make it into the company. Well, persistence and hard work pay off, and AJ now shares a lockerroom with the likes of Beth Phoenix and Natalya.

As for Rosita, her story has been well documented. Being inspired to wrestle as a young girl by her father, an amateur wrestler himself, Rosita kept her father’s dream alive after his passing in the 9/11 tragedies. In 2011, she marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and her father’s passing by becoming a star in Impact Wrestling, holding the Knockouts Tag Team Championships with her on-screen cousin, the much respected veteran Sarita, and most recently winning Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Inspirational Wrestler of the Year award.

With their dynamic personalities — AJ with her adorkableness and Rosita with her Scrappy Doo-esque earrings-off explosiveness — they’ve won over their brand’s respective fans. AJ, in particular, has quickly become of the most popular Divas in WWE.

They’ve overcome obstacles such as being told “no” or being told they couldn’t make it because of their size, and in 2011, they proved that dreams can come true.

AJ and Rosita represent the potential future of their respective divisions. How will they shine in the year ahead?
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Co # 18: THE BELLA TWINS
Twin Peaks

In 2011, the Bella Twins, Brie and Nikki, finally reached the top of the summit — the coveted Divas Title — and showed off an exciting new side to their characters, realizing their true potential as amazing bitchy heels. (And we mean that in the best way possible.)

Brie and Nikki’s character shift in 2011 was a breath of fresh air after several years as babyfaces. As heels, the twins, Nikki in particularly, showed off their sassy attitudes and given the opportunity, were incredibly entertaining.

When not stuck on backstage duty, which, okay, didn’t feel like a lot of the time, Brie and Nikki certainly had their highest point in WWE thus far when Brie won the Divas Championship from Eve Torres in April. The title win not only put the Divas in the spotlight on Raw, but also in the midst of intense fan debate over Brie’s merits as Divas Champion.

Perhaps the highlight of the year for the Bellas as a tandem was an incredibly strong promo on Kharma during a big segment in which the latter announced her pregnancy live on Raw. That promo showed us what the Bella Twins could be with a little more investment in and screen time for their characters.

Outside of the ring, the twins were part of a huge stir earlier in the year following the publication of an article about the Divas division on WWE.com. For a period, the Bellas — and their family members — had fans abuzz. Additionally, they were incredibly lucrative to the WWE machine this year, a factor which is strongly considered in the Women of the Year selection process. Brie and Nikki have been a constant presence representing the WWE and the Divas division in media interviews, at events and more. Even when not performing in front of the crowds at tapings and live events, the Bellas were still very much on the job throughout the year representing the company.

Love them or hate them — and the Bellas certainly divide opinion — Brie and Nikki showed staying power in 2011. With Divas such as Melina and Michelle McCool departing, while others such as Layla going out with injuries, the Bellas have lasted longer than some fans feel they should have. Brie’s Divas Title win was the icing on the cake.

That asian bitch needs to get rid of that cameltoe.

Last edited by King Silva on Fri 30 Dec 2011, 12:34 am; edited 1 time in total

Rated X Aussie wrote:: That asian bitch needs to get rid of that cameltoe.

LMAO are you talking about Kana?

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/23/the-women-of-the-year-2011-jenny-sjodin-17/

# 17: JENNY SJODIN
The Pure Athlete

She may not be the most well known woman in wrestling, or the most charismatic character in wrestling, but in terms of the sport of wrestling, Jenny Sjödin may just be one of the most impressive females in the world.

Jenny Sjödin is an incredibly talented, dedicated and disciplined athlete who has risen through the ranks of Europe’s Pro-Wrestling: EVE promotion, from opening the show to becoming the main event.

Jenny is perhaps the purest athlete in popular women’s wrestling today. She takes the craft incredibly serious, and also trains in MMA, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In the wrestling ring, her technicality shines as she utilizes a complicated arsenal of maneuvers including submission holds and grappling techniques.

Earlier this year, she became the Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion by defeating Britani Knight and is now the face of the company. In October, Jenny had not one, but two stellar matches during the EVE vs Ice Ribbon events in England, facing veteran Japanese star Emi Sakura, and also successfully defending her title against April Davids.

Not only does she take part in professional wrestling, but the Swedish star won earned medals in MMA competitions and wrestled around Europe, earning acclaim.

Jenny Sjödin is truly a positive example for the sport of female wrestling, and in some ways, doesn’t get the credit she deserves. Hopefully 2012 will see Jenny Sjodin’s name that much more prominent around the world.
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# 16: KHARMA
Lightning in a Bottle

In 2011, one woman captured the imaginations of fans, wrestlers and critics everywhere — her name was Kharma.

Though she was only in the company for five weeks before shockingly announcing her pregnancy live on Raw, for those five weeks, the entire wrestling world was abuzz about the former Awesome Kong and her arrival in WWE. Kharma broke the stereotypical image of what it meant to be a “Diva”, and for a period, ignited interest from all fans, including ones who usually didn’t watch the Divas segments, as they sat on the edge of their seats to see what destruction Kharma would bring that week.

She was unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the Divas division and during her short time in the WWE, quickly grew a cult-like following. In fact, WWE’s treatment of Kharma was unlike anything we’ve seen in the last several years. For the first time perhaps since Trish Stratus’ retirement, WWE invested in a female character so fully, promoting her debut for several weeks with intriguing vignettes and promoting Kharma’s big announcement in her final appearance several times during the Raw broadcast.

The euphoria surrounding Kharma for those five weeks proved what a one-of-a-kind performer she is. Her short time in WWE was like catching lightning in a bottle. It remains to be seen, however, if she’ll return to the WWE post-pregnancy. As they say, lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice, but for our sake, let’s hope that this time it does.

Adorkableness!

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/24/the-women-of-the-year-2011-madison-eagles-15/

# 15: MADISON EAGLES
Hotter Than Hugh Jackman

There are many amazing Australian imports in American entertainment — Hugh Jackman being one of them — but in 2011, that list of success stories crossed over to the world of women’s wrestling where Madison Eagles won industry-wide acclaim and broke down barriers.

Eagles’ reign as SHIMMER Champion crossed the one year mark in April as she wowed crowds in Berwyn, IL. with hard fought title defenses against the likes of Ayako Hamada and Mercedes Martinez. In a further title defense between tapings, Eagles returned home to Australia where she was part of the first ever SHIMMER Championship match outside of the US for her own promotion, PWWA. Eagles defeated her protege Jessie McKay as well as Canadian Ninja Nicole Matthews in her homecoming.

Though victorious in her homeland, Eagles would lose the title just a month later back in Berwyn against Cheerleader Melissa, however, before losing the title, Eagles once again put on champion-worthy performances against the likes of Serena.

Madison’s success in the US reached beyond SHIMMER in 2011; she became a regular in one of North America’s top independent promotions, CHIKARA, and scored victories over the likes of Sara Del Rey, as well as facing respected Joshi talent such as Toshie Uematsu.

The icing on the cake, however, was being crowned #1 on the PWI Female 50 in September. Eagles became the first ever independent wrestler to top the list, a victory not just for herself, but for independent wrestling.

While Eagles managed to establish herself as one of the top tier performers in women’s wrestling this year, putting her in the same conversation as the Del Reys, Hazes and Martinezs, we didn’t see as much of Madison as we would have liked to — perhaps due to a nagging shoulder injury.

Hopefully fully healed in 2012, Madison Eagles can continue to soar and achieve even more success.
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# 14: MAXINE
Show Stealer

As her entrance song goes, “If you want it, come and get it”, and come and get it she did. In 2011, Maxine stole the show away from the Divas of Raw and SmackDown, and was arguably the only Diva in the entire company to be able to fully show the extent of her talent.

Returning to NXT this year after placing fifth on the all-Divas version last year, Maxine quickly found herself in the mix of things, aligning herself with Derrick Bateman as a devilish power couple. It wouldn’t be smooth sailing, however, as soon Johnny Curtis would insert himself between the pair, leading to a complicate love triangle that saw backstage segments, in-ring promos and more in a storyline that has spanned several months. It’s rare to see a Diva so in the forefront as Maxine has been on NXT, but she has certainly made the most of her opportunity.

Maxine has shown a vast improvement in the ring, debuting a devastating new finishing move, and putting on good matches against the likes of AJ, Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox. Meanwhile, proving to be the modern-day triple threat in the Divas division, Maxine’s promos are second to none. So comfortable on the microphone, Maxine is perhaps the WWE’s best kept secret. Then there’s her exotic looks which she shows off in rather risque ring attire.

Perhaps Maxine’s success is due to the fact that there is so little meddling on NXT compared to Raw and SmackDown by WWE higher ups such as Vince, allowing the writers to actually put an emphasis on a female character, and not just book them as an afterthought.

Maxine has been a shining light for the Divas division in 2011 — despite not actually being in it.

Though she didn’t win NXT Season 3, which sought to find the WWE’s “next breakout Diva”, in hindsight, Maxine is perhaps the real winner.
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Scott you can vent now.. :p

Idk why Madison is so low..

# 13: MICHELLE McCOOL
Going Out on Top

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/26/the-women-of-the-year-2011-michelle-mccool-13/

It’s so rare in the wrestling industry, particularly WWE, to see females going out on their own terms and leaving at the top of their game, but in 2011, that is exactly what Michelle McCool did.

Perhaps the only other example of a Diva going out on top is Trish Stratus, who in 2006, retired atop the women’s division. Fast forward five years and it was Michelle McCool who decided to hang up her boots and left with one last hurrah where so many go out in a whimper.

In many ways, Michelle McCool has helped define the current era of Divas, rising from Diva Search contestant to respected in-ring athlete. Over the years, we’ve seen her growth in the ring to the point where Michelle has been relied upon to have great matches with almost everyone she stepped into the ring with. She’s also become one of the most accomplished Divas in history by becoming the first ever Divas Champion, the first woman to hold both the Divas and Women’s Championships, and the woman to unify the two belts.

In 2011, right up until her retirement match at the end of April, Michelle continued to stay in the forefront, appearing at all four pay per views in the first part of the year, and main eventing SmackDown along with Layla, Kelly Kelly, Dolph Ziggler and Edge.

Following a buzzy WrestleMania match that featured reality television star, Snooki, the moment we’d all been waiting for finally happened: LayCool broke up. In an emotionally charged “Loser Leaves WWE” match, Michelle and Layla left it all on the mat, and ultimately, Michelle left the WWE and gave her BFF a big rub on the way out.

Michelle knew when to say “stop”, and she is one of the few women in history who can truly say she left at the top of her game. For that, she has our utmost respect, and we feel she deserves the acknowledgement of placing highly in our Women of the Year list.

Controversial to her last moment, fans have hotly debated Michelle’s merits and will no doubt continue to, even in retirement.

Although she may no longer be on our screens, Michelle McCool will remain forever flawless.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/27/the-women-of-the-year-2011-winter-12/

# 12: WINTER
The Late Bloomer

The former Katie Lea finally blossomed into the star we always knew she could be this year as Winter in Impact Wrestling, and it’s about time too!

Following her WWE release in April 2010, in all honesty, most fans felt sorry for the former Diva. Like others, she never realized her true potential in the company and wasn’t given as many opportunities to break out as the likes of Mickie James or Beth Phoenix. Fast forward to later that year when she emerged in Impact Wrestling with a whole new gimmick which seemed to be a much better fit.

After an adjustment period, Winter definitely came into her own in 2011, becoming accustomed to her new skin, as it were, as she perfected all the little nuances for her mysterious, and slightly creepy, new character. Winter, the slowly talking, blood-lusting, Angelina Love-drugging Knockout, added a new dimension to the Knockouts division.

This year, we saw Winter complete her mission of turning Angelina Love into her personal play thing, and feuding with Love’s former tag team partner, Velvet Sky. The pair eventually turned their attention to then Knockouts Champion Mickie James, and Winter would finally win the Knockouts Title. For many fans, this was vindication for not holding WWE’s Women’s Championship.

Though fans celebrated Winter’s title win, she would lose it just two weeks later — and then regain it a further two weeks after that. Winter’s second run as champion, though a little longer, didn’t amount to much as she dropped the belt to Velvet Sky in October and has been seldom seen since.

While her Knockouts Title reigns left a lot to be desired, seeing Winter finally reach champion status, and so comfortable in her character, was a welcome relief for those who had been waiting for this Kat to finally land on her feet.

Though not necessarily her year alone, Winter was one of several Knockouts who made an impression in the division, and we hope to see her make another one in 2012.
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http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/27/the-women-of-the-year-2011-beth-phoenix-11/

# 11: BETH PHOENIX
Pin-Up Prowess

In 2011, Beth Phoenix helped define the WWE Divas division and started a new phrase, “pin-up strong”… oh, and did we mention that she became the Divas Champion too?

After bouncing around in the background for the first half of the year, Beth finally came to the forefront in August when she turned heel and began a months-long feud with Kelly Kelly. Beth implemented the “pin-up strong movement” in WWE and for the first time, the company acknowledged the constant fan debate about former models wrestling in WWE, incorporating it into the storyline between Beth and Kelly. Beth also aligned herself with Natalya, becoming the new power tandem in the Divas division like LayCool before them.

Since August, Beth has appeared in every pay per view match, facing off against Kelly Kelly in three matches in a row, including one in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, where she received a huge reaction. That match at Night of Champions perhaps had the most fan participation of any match all year. Beth would also face off against Eve Torres on pay per view in a highly praised match at Vengeance, and then deliver an “OMG” moment at November’s Survivor Series in November when she hit a top rope Glam Slam on Eve.

Though great to see Beth atop the division and as champion, perhaps the biggest detractor for placing Beth higher on our Women of the Year list is the fact that Beth and Natalya almost have one hand tied behind their backs. While the “pin-up strong” sentiment behind these characters is admirable, and the war against the models could make for a very gripping storyline, in execution, WWE’s handling of Beth and the rest of the Divas has left a lot to be desired. Instead of being the ruthless predators they could be, Beth and Natalya have been booked in roles similar to LayCool by mocking their opponents in a juvenile manner, when we feel they should be more serious characters. Meanwhile, the “models vs wrestlers” storyline hasn’t had enough week-to-week progression and for many viewers, has lost a lot of its initial sizzle.

However, Beth has certainly delivered in the ring in her pay per view matches against the likes of Eve and Kelly, while her character change-up this year from “Glamazon” to “pin-up strong” has been interesting and gotten fans talking.

One can only hope that WWE will provide Beth Phoenix (and Natalya) meatier characters in 2012, as well as storylines of more substance.

Michelle taking the #13 spot is cool. It is nice to see Brooke make the list.

I also liked McCool being fairly high.

I do have to say that Beth is too low imo..

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# 10: CHEERLEADER MELISSA
The Independent A-Lister

Two titles changed hands on October 2nd, 2011. In WWE, Beth Phoenix became the Divas Champion, while on the independent scene, Cheerleader Melissa became the SHIMMER Champion. In some ways, Melissa’s long-awaited victory was that much more special considering the long, emotional journey that she and the fans took to get to this point.

One of the most valued female wrestlers in North America, Cheerleader Melissa is always relied on to have great matches and wherever she goes — be it SHIMMER, NCW Femmes Fatales or RCW in Texas — is billed as one of the top attractions on the card. 2011 was no different and was perhaps her best year yet.

Melissa kicked off 2011 with a high profile victory over Taylor Wilde in the former Knockouts Champion’s retirement match in February. She also returned to Femmes Fatales in Montreal, scoring victories over the March, June and October tapings, as well as winning the Amazones & Titans tournament in August with Jay Phenomenon.

However, Melissa’s crowning achievement took place in SHIMMER. Returning for the March and October tapings, Melissa began working her way back up the ladder to earn another shot at champion Madison Eagles after losing in their last encounter. Melissa’s victories over the likes of Athena, Christina Von Eerie and Kana put her in line to face Eagles in the main event of SHIMMER 44, and finally, her journey to the SHIMMER Championship paid off. After appearing on all 44 volumes of the DVD series, Melissa was crowned the new champion — and the crowd in the Berwyn Eagles Club celebrated accordingly, almost tearing the roof of the building in a moment of euphoria.

In the modern era of wrestling where everything is so instant, it’s rare to see such a slow burn, but Melissa’s almost agonizing 44-DVD journey to winning the SHIMMER Championship was one of the women’s wrestling highlights of the year.

Melissa made history in the latter part of the year by taking part in what was said to be the first professional female wrestling match in Taiwan when she faced Makoto during the All Japan Pro Wrestling “Pro Wrestling Love in Taiwan” tour. Melissa’s involvement on the tour is all the more spectacular given that AJPW rarely features women’s matches, and hardly ever brings in “gaijin” (foreign) female talent.

Continuing her globe-trotting, Melissa flew to India to be part of TNA and Endemol’s new wrestling television show for the Colors network. Competing as Raisha Saeed, Melissa was one of only two female cast members, the other being Impact Wrestling star, Mickie James.

Outside of the ring, Melissa was part of a mini “rock n’ wrestling” resurrection as she starred in the Smashing Pumpkins’ music video for “Owata” along with Shelly Martinez, giving her yet another distinctive credit.

In 2011, Cheerleader Melissa proved that you don’t need to be a WWE Diva or TNA Knockout to have a busy or high profile wrestling career. In fact, since leaving TNA last year, Melissa seems to have gotten even busier. Picking just the right projects (many of which have buzz surrounding them), rather than wrestling for a different promotion every weekend, Melissa has managed to establish her name value, and this shrewd business acumen has certainly paid off given her varied accomplishments this year, including the SHIMMER Championship, starring in a music video, and traveling around the world.

In many ways, Cheerleader Melissa is female wrestling’s “independent A-lister”.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/28/the-women-of-the-year-2011-velvet-sky-9/

# 9: VELVET SKY
A True Underdog Story

Everyone loves an underdog and for the past four years, Velvet Sky has been TNA’s underdog Knockout, a consistent force in the division while others were let go, quit or were injured, yet she’s watched on the sidelines as others have won the Knockouts Championship before her. This year, it was finally her turn and though the moment was fleeting, Velvet’s journey to the Knockouts Championship was perhaps female wrestling’s best underdog story this year.

Since the beginning of 2011, Velvet has been as regular a fixture as a Knockout can be on Impact Wrestling, featured in several storylines, each with a similar theme: Velvet was the poor underdog pitted against meaner, tougher Knockouts. In the early part of the year, Velvet feuded with Sarita, losing a strap match before putting her career on the line against Sarita on Impact. Velvet would win, finally defeating Sarita, however, would then have to turn her attention to the growing relationship between Angelina Love and Winter. The mysterious Knockout finally broke apart the Beautiful People, controlling Love in a trance-like state. As the feud continued, Velvet would be forced to face Winter and Angelina in a two-on-one match, further cementing her as a valiant underdog as she scored the victory.

In the summer, ODB and Jackie would return to TNA, attacking Velvet and deeming her the reason that they previously lost their jobs with the company. The feud would continue over the course of the next couple of months as Velvet defeated ODB and Jackie in a two-on-one match that would kick them out of the company. The pair didn’t hold true to their promise, however, and soon returned to attack Velvet again. Velvet snapped, and in a turning point in her TNA career, acknowledged her underdog status in a gutsy promo, and from that point, became a much more determined competitor, setting her sights on the Knockouts Championship.

After much anticipation and a rivalry with Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett, who vowed that Velvet would never win the Knockouts Title, Velvet finally reached the top of the summit, winning the Knockouts Championship at TNA’s biggest pay per view of the year in October.

However, Velvet’s reign would be short lived, as she lost the title just a month later to Gail Kim and has seemingly dropped off the radar despite being so consistently used over the course of the year.

If Velvet’s story arc this year were a movie, it couldn’t have been better written. Velvet’s months long journey to the championship, overcoming obstacles in the form of bigger, stronger, badder foes to get to her goal is one that we can all relate to. Though not the best wrestler in the division, Velvet has always been one of the most popular and is one of the most talented on the microphone. This year, Velvet was thrown a lot of storylines and more than rose to the challenge. It’s disappointing, however, that after a year long build to her winning the Knockouts Title, Velvet lost the belt so quickly and almost vanished into thin air. 2011 could have been Velvet’s year, but ultimately, she (through no fault of her own) fell short at the last hurdle.

It’s easy to underestimate what Velvet brings to the table in TNA amongst the likes of Madison Rayne, Mickie James and Gail Kim, but Velvet continues to be the inspiring, valiant runt of the litter that fans root for, and has earned a place in the fans’ hearts this year.

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http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/29/the-women-of-the-year-2011-madison-rayne-8/

# 8: MADISON RAYNE
The Killer Reign

After an incredibly impressive 2010 in which Madison Rayne reigned supreme over the Knockouts division, things barely slowed down for the Killer Queen in 2011. In an era of Knockouts where former champions are seemingly cast aside after losing the belt, Madison Rayne continued to her hot streak, staying in the forefront for much of the year and made history by having the single longest Knockouts Championship reign in history.

Continuing her “Rayne of terror” from 2010, Madison continued to hold the Knockouts Title through April though many expected her to lose against Mickie James at January’s Genesis pay per view. Rayne would pick up consecutive victories over the iconic James before finally dropping the belt at LockDown. Despite losing the title, Rayne could take solace in the fact that she surpassed Awesome Kong‘s 178 day reign by 10 days to mark the longest Knockouts Title reign in history at 188 days.

After losing the belt, the nine-month long partnership between Madison Rayne and Tara would finally implode in a moment that fans had been waiting for. Tara won her freedom from Rayne (she was previously indebted to Madison) after James again defeated her at May’s Sacrifice pay per view. Madison then turned her attention to Tara as the two finally faced off in a grudge match which was to be won by the veteran Tara.

After a short absence from the screen, Madison quickly re-emerged and found herself once again in a position of notability, seen schmoozing with then Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett on a regular basis. Aligning herself with the VP would have its benefits as she and the returning Gail Kim would successfully challenge for the Knockouts Tag Team Championships, ending Rayne’s year exactly the way it started — with gold around her waist.

In the latter part of the year, Madison announced that she had been crowned the new Knockouts VP, taking on a new hat and a new role of prominence on Impact Wrestling. Just like she ruled the Knockouts division with her 188 day title reign, it looks as though Madison will be as iron-fisted in her new position of power.

While TNA has brought in big names like Mickie James and Gail Kim in the past couple of years, Madison Rayne continues to be one of TNA’s most successful homegrown Knockouts, and no matter the direction of the division, she always seems to find a place. It’s not hard to see why, either, as Rayne knows her character inside-out and has all of the nuances down pat — including the patented shrieking — as well as delivering strong, often amusing, promos on the microphone and in backstage segments. Though not exactly on par with her stellar 2010, 2011 was almost as consistent for Rayne. TNA’s vote of confidence in Rayne to take on the new role of VP, which requires more personality and less wrestling ability, is another testament to her versatility as a performer.

Outside of TNA, Rayne also returned to SHIMMER as Ashley Lane at the October tapings, feuding with her former tag team partner Nevaeh. Madison’s return was a welcome surprise and shows that despite hitting the big time, she still remembers her roots.

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Do you think these two women should be higher or lower than what Diva-Dirt gave them?

seems gail is gonna be pretty high

so it does seem, not that i think she really deserves it since she has only spent 2 months out of the year burying everyone

Just so people know Diva-Dirt explained that their criteria for who is high and who is low is a little different than straight wins/losses etc.

Here is the more detailed version:

A la TIME’s Person of the Year list, Diva Dirt has compiled a countdown of the women we feel have best embodied the zeitgeist of the year in women’s wrestling. To compile this list, the Diva Dirt team have tracked the headlines here at Diva Dirt over the past 12 months, followed the lively fan debate on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, considered the impact that the women have made within the industry, and taken into account personal achievements as well.

The Women of the Year have defined the spirit of 2011 for Diva Dirt and its readers. They’ve been memorable, entertaining, shocking, the center of controversy and debate, as well as had a place in fans’ hearts.

No doubt you’ll be seeing a lot of “Best of” lists in the coming weeks, but Diva Dirt’s Women of the Year list utilizes our own unique perspective on the year, considering the news agenda in 2011, as well as the bigger picture such as the impact each woman has had in the industry.

Now onto another two women of the year according to Diva-Dirt.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/29/the-women-of-the-year-2011-mercedes-martinez-7/

# 7: MERCEDES MARTINEZ
Heart of a Champion

The word “champion” says it all really.

Not only is she physically the WSU World Champion, but Mercedes Martinez exudes what it means to be a champion — and it’s more than just holding a belt. In many ways, Martinez is to thank for successfully bringing WSU into the Internet pay per view era this year by headling every iPPV event and making sure fans got their money’s worth. Being in the main event is surely an honor for any performer, but making sure fans go away with a good last impression so they’ll want to come back for more is a pretty daunting task. This is where Martinez has truly delivered by putting on hard-fought, gutsy main event matches in which she left it all on the mat. Without her, it could be questioned whether WSU’s venture into iPPVs would have paid off.

Kicking off 2011 with a brutal ladder match against Angel Orsini in January (a personal highlight for this writer), Mercedes and Orsini put their bodies on the line and certainly proved that women too can have amazing ladder matches, complete with heart-stopping moments such as a mid-air spear. Continuing into March, Martinez put her title on the line against a woman who perhaps matches her in pedigree, Serena. After a back-and-forth contest, Martinez held onto her belt as her reign surpassed the two year mark. In June, Mercedes brought Brittney Savage, a young diamond in the rough, to her best match yet. And of course, in November, Martinez went to war and wouldn’t quit until she had to be stretchered out of the arena and taken to hospital in the brutal steel cage War Games match.

Outside of the Internet pay per views, Martinez’s 73 minute match with Lexxus in August, which is dubbed the longest women’s match in history, is another testament to just what this woman can do. Throw anything at her and she’s ready for the challenge.

Nearly reaching an unprecedented three-year mark as WSU World Champion in March, Mercedes Martinez has been instrumental to the success of WSU over the years, and 2011 was perhaps the biggest year yet for the company and for Mercedes.

Outside of WSU, Mercedes, one of the SHIMMER originals, turned heel, refreshing her character in that promotion and providing a nice juxtaposition to her work elsewhere.

Martinez also made her debut in Japan after 11 years in pro wrestling, facing Nanae Takahashi for the STARDOM promotion.

From a business aspect, Mercedes has certainly helped define WSU in 2011 along with rising stars such as Jessicka Havok, as well as leading the charge into the iPPV era. And in the ring, Martinez is a valiant and prideful warrior who even when pushed to her limits, leaves it all on the mat. Perhaps intensity inside the ring for the fans’ enjoyment has been to her own detriment, ending the year with a severe concussion suffered during WSU’s November Internet pay per view. This only shows further what a champion she is.

Mercedes Martinez was a shining beacon for female wrestling in 2011.

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http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/30/the-women-of-the-year-2011-mickie-james-6/

# 6: MICKIE JAMES
The Centerpiece

Seasons may change. Titles may switch. Some will come and some will go. Ultimately, one thing tends to stay the same, and that is that, no matter what, or where she goes, Mickie James is always the centerpiece.

In her first full year in TNA after joining the company in 2010, Mickie James quickly got into the thick of things and has stayed consistently in the spotlight for the past 12 months. Competing on nine out of 12 pay per views, James has in many ways been the glue that has held the Knockouts division together in 2011.

As the centerpiece of the Knockouts roster, Mickie has been in several Knockouts Championship storylines. Beginning the year in a months-long feud with Madison Rayne, many expected the former six-time WWE champion to quickly take the gold in the pair’s first encounter at January’s Genesis pay per view, however, Mickie wouldn’t hold the belt until April, giving chase to Rayne over three pay per view matches. Finally winning the title inside a steel cage while also putting her hair on the line, Mickie became the first woman in history to hold the WWE Women’s Championship, WWE Divas Championship and the Knockouts Championship.

After successfully defeating Rayne in a rematch in May, James then feuded with Angelina Love and Winter, dropping the title to Winter in August only to win it two weeks later, and then lose it a further two weeks after that. Though the quick title changes certainly didn’t help the credibility of the belt, when all is said and done, in the history books, James will go down as an eight-time women’s champion.

Despite losing the belt a second time, James managed to stay in contention, competing in a four-way match at October’s Bound for Glory before pinning six other women in a gauntlet match to earn another shot at the Knockouts Championship. This time, she’d face the new champion and fellow former WWE Diva, Gail Kim at December’s Final Resolution. The feud continues as of this writing.

Though Mickie had a fairly tumultuous 2010 due to her WWE release (she herself has admitted she saw herself finishing her career there), the Hardcore Country Knockout has rebounded better than even she could have hoped for as the centerpiece of the Knockouts division, a position that will likely be hers as long as she wants it.

Mickie has proven that there is life after WWE by making history in mainstream female wrestling and continuing to be as popular as ever. It’s a big undertaking to be the face of a division and be relied upon to keep it going for the entire year, but for James, this role seems to be ‘old hat, new surroundings’. TNA obviously sees Mickie as its Knockouts breadwinner hence her continued success and their willingness to rely so much on her. Additionally, Mickie was selected as the only currently contracted female to appear on TNA’s new television project in India, another vote of confidence. James has acclimatized well and has quickly been thrown into everything from being on TV nearly every week and, very importantly, being a big part of the company’s marketing with numerous media interviews, appearances etc.

Mickie James was the MVP of the Knockouts division in 2011.

eeee I am a bit worried Layla won't make it on the list.

I am guessing she should do, but I didn't expect her to be so high....top 10 for sure, but top 5?

Looking back over the year with everyone I suppose Layla has had a good year, even if it was only 4month long, but in those 4 months she was pretty prominent

Yeah I don't know if she will make it.

If she does I will be surprised.

People not on the list yet [and some won't even make it] include:

Layla, Alicia Fox, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, Natalya, Gail Kim, Angelina Love, Hamada, Serena Deeb, Jessicka Havok, and many more.

I expect Gail, Kelly, and Eve to make it but the others Idk..

I expect all those as well as Layla....I just can't seem to think who the other person is :/ Angelina?

I left her out of my list of people still left [my bad!] so here is # 5:

# 5: SARA DEL REY
Royally Respected
http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/30/the-women-of-the-year-2011-sara-del-rey-5/

Spoiler:

In the promotional material for her latest album “4″ earlier this year, Grammy-winning star Beyoncé began referring to herself as “King B”, a bold statement suggesting that she had transcended her own gender and was not just one of the biggest female artists in the world, but one of the biggest artists in the world, period. In many ways, Sara Del Rey is wrestling’s “King B”.

In 2011, Sara Del Rey played an important role for the future of independent wrestling, leading the charge for female wrestlers who are challenging — and often breaking — the gender barrier, helping revolutionize the roles of women on wrestling cards.

While it’s true to say that Del Rey isn’t the only woman leading the charge, she’s perhaps the most prominent example due to her work in CHIKARA, one of the leading and higher scale independent promotions in North America. Del Rey has greatly benefited from CHIKARA’s inclusiveness of its female wrestlers, making them an important part of the product, and no woman has played a more important part in CHIKARA than Del Rey. In 2011, Del Rey has not only wrestled fellow females, but has competed against several respected male wrestlers in highly competitive matches. Perhaps the best example is Del Rey’s main event match earlier this year when she faced, and was victorious over, her former ally Claudio Castagnoli. This was a victory for not only herself, but for female wrestling in general.

In the ring, as has been well documented, Del Rey had one of her greatest years yet including the aforementioned match with Castagnoli, as well as two highly praised matches with Joshi star Kana in SHIMMER and CHIKARA. Del Rey further went on to headline CHIKARA’s JoshiMania events with the likes of Aja Kong and Ayako Hamada, victorious on all three nights of competition.

Sara Del Rey has always been an exemplary female talent, but as she has shown in 2011, she is not just a great female, but an incredible wrestler regardless of her gender. Del Rey has earned her right to be ranked up there, or even above, some of her male counterparts.

The positive impact that she and CHIKARA have made this year for females in wrestling will hopefully set an example for other independent promotions to follow.

Sara Del Rey isn’t just the Queen of Wrestling, but she’s probably fit to be King too.

Congrats to Sara. She should be top 5 for sure, if not top 3.

Unfortunately, I fully expect Kelly Kelly and Eve to have to of the remaining 4 spots. Jessicka Havok, in my option, better be number one given all of the people that have already been ranked. Maybe Natalya would get the other spot?

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/31/the-women-of-the-year-2011-hailey-hatred-4/

# 4: HAILEY HATRED
The Golden Globetrotter

It’s pretty daunting to pack up your entire life and move half way across the world, but when the rewards include becoming the first foreigner to hold one of the most prestigious belts in wrestling, one can safely say that Hailey Hatred made the right decision.

Hailey Hatred has been in the wrestling business for nearly a decade, initially making her name in the early days of ChickFight as well as competing for promotions such as Absolute Intense Wrestling, however, unlike most, Hatred never had aspirations to one day join WWE or TNA, instead she dreamed of wrestling in Japan and Mexico, and becoming a world-traveled superstar. After living in Mexico and various tours of Japan, Hatred finally packed her bags and moved to Tokyo in 2010.

This year, Hatred put herself on the map by becoming the first American female in quite some time to truly say she has cracked the renowned world of Joshi Puroresu, perhaps the most respected form of women’s wrestling today. Making history as the first “gaijin” (foreigner) to win the JWP Openweight Championship, the oldest and most coveted championship in Japanese women’s wrestling, Hatred has cemented herself in the history books. Hatred would also be the first woman to take the title outside of Japan, defending against Cherry Bomb at AIW.

Being accepted into the Joshi world is no easy feat, but Hatred has more than made her mark and her success in Japan has arguably made her an even bigger star in her native America, where she received much fanfare in her homecoming as she debuted for SHIMMER and returned to AIW.

Holding an inimitable six championships at one point in 2011, Hailey Hatred is arguably 2011′s biggest success story. She has shown that you don’t need to vie for a WWE contract to be successful. In fact, Hatred’s rise to stardom in Joshi Puroresu seems to be ushering in a new wave of American imports looking to live and make a name for themselves in Japan.

Though she just recently lost the JWP championship to Tsubasa Kuragaki, Hatred can hold her head high for her incredible year. We hope that more fans will discover and follow Hatred, a shining representative for North American female wrestling, in 2012, also.

In a history-making year, Hailey Hatred has become one of the most important women in wrestling.

Hailey Hatred is an incredible wrestler. If you aren't familiar with her work in Japan, look her up.

http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/31/the-women-of-the-year-2011-jessicka-havok-3/

# 3: JESSICKA HAVOK
The Serial Thriller

Cast your minds back to a year ago. Jessicka Havok was barely known and (in the nicest way possible) frankly, a blip on the women’s wrestling radar. In the past 12 months, she has become the most terrifyingly brilliant female prospect on the independent scene.

Jessicka Havok is a different type of beast and unlike anything we’ve really seen in women’s wrestling before. Quickly rising through the ranks of WSU this year, Jessicka has turned heads, and rightfully so. Capturing the imaginations of fans with her incredibly believable portrayal as a psychotic heel, Jessicka has delivered some of the strongest promos of the year and matched her aggressive temperament with just as brutal matches.

From her early bout with Nikki Roxx in January at WSU’s Final Chapter Internet pay per view, it was clear that J-Hav was a future main eventer. Cementing this status, Havok went on to have a stellar months-long feud with WSU icon, Alicia, that saw the pair compete in two hard fought bouts at June’s Uncensored Rumble, in which Havok wore her opponent down to the point of Alicia’s mom having to throw in the towel on her behalf, and a further “Last Woman Standing” match during the August 6th tapings which headlined the show. In November, Havok was one of six women to step inside the steel cage for WSU’s first War Games match in a bout that felt real, brutal and bloody.

Setting her sights on Mercedes Martinez‘s WSU World Championship, Havok is on the cusp of becoming one of the biggest stars in independent female wrestling. The hype around Havok, as well as her own promos and matches, have made her the closest bet to be the one to finally defeat Martinez and end her near three year reign as champion.

Havok has a rare quality that adds a new dimension to women’s wrestling. While some may see the WWE Divas and think that women’s wrestling has to be “girly” and “playful”, Havok is showing that women can be intense, physical, violent and positively exciting at the same time.

Jessicka Havok has been the highlight of the independent scene for Diva Dirt this year and the scary thing is that in this case, the best truly is yet to come.

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http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/31/the-women-of-the-year-2011-gail-kim-2/

# 2: GAIL KIM
The Headline Grabber

No woman has defined the news agenda for women’s wrestling in 2011 more than Gail Kim.

As a news outlet, no story was bigger, juicier or grabbed more attention amongst the readers of Diva Dirt than Gail Kim quitting WWE and later re-joining TNA, now Impact Wrestling. In fact, coverage of Gail’s first interview during a live Internet pay per view broke traffic records for our website.

In the unyielding corporate world of WWE, it’s hard to think of the last time that an employee so successfully challenged the status quo, “sticking it to the man”, as it were, and spoke out in the way that Kim did when she quit WWE this past August. Of course, we all have our own opinions on how wise or professional it was of her to speak out, but one cannot deny the impact that Gail Kim made this year.

Kim’s revelations in interviews with Diva Dirt, The Sun and others had women’s wrestling enthusiasts, and the wrestling world in general, abuzz.

It was a pretty gutsy move on Gail’s part to quit WWE, a job that most in the wrestling industry strive for, leaving behind a big salary and television exposure around the world, but Kim’s principles must be admired. Since her departure, the first ever Knockouts Champion returned to Impact Wrestling and in hindsight, it certainly looks as though her gamble paid off, as she sits atop the Knockouts division once more with not one, but two championships.

Whatever you may think of her actions this year, Gail Kim went from being in the background to being one of the most talked about people in wrestling this year.

Gail Kim has indeed been the headline grabber.

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http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/12/31/the-woman-of-the-year-2011-kelly-kelly/

# 1: KELLY KELLY
Woman of the Year

Some consider her a “Diva”, some consider her a “model”, but Kelly Kelly now has a new tag — the Woman of the Year.

When the Diva Dirt writers sat down to discuss who would be our Woman of the Year, we considered many things: Who made the biggest impact in 2011? Who made the headlines? Who was hotly talked about and fiercely debated amongst fans? Who was good for business? And ultimately, who defined the year in women’s wrestling? The woman that ticked all of those boxes was the young WWE Diva from Jacksonville, Florida.

Watching Kelly Kelly in 2011 has been like watching a coming of age story; we’ve seen her grow from a young, naive girl to becoming a young woman and an important part of the WWE both inside and outside of the ring.

Inside the ring, Kelly has blossomed, and as such, this year marked her biggest year in WWE to date, becoming the top Diva in the company and winning her first Divas Championship. Though it’s true to say that the Divas division on the whole has seen a further decline this year due to lack of investment on WWE’s part as well as other factors, Kelly has been a constant presence. In a rocky year of change that has seen big names depart the company, get injured or in one case, become pregnant, Kelly has been the rock that has kept the Divas division together. From the early part of the year right through to the end of the year, Kelly has managed to stay healthy & ready to go in the ring, been seen regularly on TV, and has remained as popular as ever.

In early 2011, Kelly headlined an episode of SmackDown, successfully defending the World Heavyweight Championship as she teamed with Edge against LayCool and Dolph Ziggler, in what the Diva Dirt team considered to be a turning point in her career. Moving to Raw in April, Kelly continued her hot streak, becoming a fixture in the Divas division, and has consistently been seen on television over the past eight months. While she’s not the best wrestler in the world, Kelly has shown growth as a performer, despite what her naysayers may think. In her series of three consecutive pay per view matches with Beth Phoenix from August to October, Kelly held her own and impressed in some of the better Divas matches of the year. While it could certainly be argued that Kelly’s success on WWE TV this year is because of what’s been scripted for her by the writers, one must factor in that WWE considers itself a television show and pushes its most photogenic stars. It’s up to those stars, then, to take the ball and run with it — something that Kelly Kelly has done this year.

Kelly has solidified her place as the face of the WWE Divas division, and given WWE’s global reach, she is also effectively the face of women’s wrestling to the mass majority around the world. And while some will no doubt argue that the spot was “handed” to her, the fact is that professional wrestling/sports entertainment is a business — something hardcore fans tend to forget — and how hard you work outside of the ring is just as, if not more, important as what you do inside of the ring. Kelly Kelly has perhaps one of the biggest workloads on the roster, logging in more promotional hours representing the company than any other Diva in interviews, live appearances, autograph sessions etc. One could argue that she ranks up there with the likes of John Cena and The Miz in the amount of promotional work she does. Given how demanding the job of a WWE Superstar or Diva is without all of that promotional work, Kelly ought to be commended for her work ethic. In fact, Kelly has even brought in publicity to the company by appearing on the cover of Maxim magazine and ranking on their annual Hot 100 list. Considering the fact that the WWE Divas are geared to young male viewers as “eye candy”, Kelly being offered the cover of a magazine that is targeted to a similar audience is lucrative to WWE. Simply put, Kelly Kelly has been an important cog to the WWE machine in 2011.

Of course, it cannot go without mention that Kelly Kelly is certainly a figure that divides fans. She has been the Internet’s most hotly-debated woman in wrestling this year on social networking sites such as Twitter (where she’s trended worldwide several times this year, perhaps more than any other female wrestler), as well as in comments sections of websites such as Diva Dirt. Though some of the criticism lobbied at Kelly, such as the way she runs the ropes, has merit, Kelly has not only be criticized, but she’s been discussed, debated, analyzed, scrutinized and nitpicked. In a similar way to John Cena (albeit on a much smaller scale), Kelly has increasingly become a polarizing figure. While adorned by the majority of WWE viewers, she’s rejected by the hardcore fans who tend to unfairly lambast her as all that is wrong with the Divas division, and categorize her as a “model who can’t wrestle”. Though her looks are one of her greatest assets to the larger demographic, they are seen as a deterrent to the smaller, yet more vocal, demographic. In the end, however, she’s had people talking.

No doubt Diva Dirt’s decision to name Kelly Kelly our Woman of the Year will lead to more controversial debate regarding the Diva, but that would be apropos given the year she has had. Would it have been a safer choice to select an independent wrestler or a name such as Beth Phoenix or Mickie James to alleviate any potential backlash? Perhaps. However, we’re not ones to conform to opinion and play it safe. Kelly was and is our only rightful choice.

Ultimately, when we look back on 2011, it will be seen as the year of Kelly Kelly.

Main eventer. Divas Champion. Maxim covergirl. Woman of the Year.

Congratulations, Kelly Kelly!
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So there you have it Havok takes third, Gail gets the runner up, and predictably Kelly Kelly wins..

What do you think of the rankings?

Wooooooo go kelly kelly I knew she can do it I'm proud of her!!!!!!

not to sound like a layla lover or anything, but she belonged on this list somewhere especially over girls like aj and rosita

I am torn with my thoughts on this list. I knew going into it, that it would be very heavy on WWE and TNA women although there are more indy women that really deserve it.

So, putting that aside, I still think Diva Dirt messed it up. Gail Kim doesn't deserve to be #2. Put her in the 10-20 group, but she doesn't really deserve Top 5. I think there are plenty of other women that would have been a good pick for #1. I do need to give kudo's to DD for including Hailey Sara Del Rey, Hailey Hatred, and Jessicka Havok in the top 5.

kelly should have been lower imo, brie shoulda been on the list she had a title reign as well. being on magazines dont mean shit, lots of divas have before. smh

Where in the world is Vickie? omg...

Yeah they left some good women off of the list.

But oh well it was something nice to see updated even if some of the placements [omissions] made me scratch my head..

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