WWE: Former WWE woman's star Ashley Massaro passes away... -- (edited)
Posted by
Remlik (aka Remlik)
May 16 '19, 17:17
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TMZ.com reported this evening that former WWE star Ashley Massaro, who won the second edition of WWE's Diva Search, passed away early this morning in Long Island, New York after being transported from her home to a hospital. Massaro was only 39 years old.
Massaro, a native of Long Island, NY was recruited by a casting director into the second-ever WWE Diva Search contest while competing in a swimsuit competition. With background in modeling and pageants, plus her tomboy rocker look, Massaro stood out and was declared the winner, earning a one-year deal with WWE as well as a $250,000 prize.
Massaro was brought to the Raw roster as a babyface, where she was immediately put into a feud with Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle. Trish Stratus aligned with Massaro to even the score, feuding over several PPVs in bra and pantie matches and other similar stipulations that were the norm for the Divas division at the time.
Massaro then moved onto a feud with Mickie James, but that story was cut short when Massaro suffered a fractured left fibula in her leg while being eliminated from a battle royal on Raw. Massaro underwent surgery and continued to make non-physical appearances on Raw.
Massaro was moved to the Smackdown brand, feuding with Michelle McCool and Kristal Marshall before segueing into a valet role for Brian Kendrick and Paul London. The trio began feuding with MNM, which led to Massaro challenging then-WWE Women’s Champion Melina at Wrestlemania 23 in Detroit.
After taking time off to repair a screw in her leg (from the surgery to repair her broken tibia) that had loosened, Massaro took part in a storyline to promote Maria Kanellis as the next Diva to pose for Playboy. She remained with the company until 2008, when she was released from her contract a week after she requested an exit in order to take care of her sick daughter.
Massaro’s biggest accomplishments for the company were outside of the ring as a representative for WWE, however. She was WWE’s then-annual Playboy cover model in 2007. She then represented the company on CBS’ reality series Survivor, being eliminated in the second episode of the 2007 season. She also guest-starred on Superman origin series Smallville as a villain alongside Kane.
In the years since her WWE departure, Massaro rarely wrestled but was a consistent personality at pop culture and pro wrestling conventions.
In 2016, Massaro joined the concussion-related lawsuit against WWE, alleging that she was sexually assaulted while touring for WWE on a military base in Kuwait, claiming the company apologized but persuaded her not to report it the attack. The lawsuit was later dismissed with Massaro's claims being tossed out of the case for not being relevant to the core crux of the case, which were allegations that the company did not properly educate talents on the dangers of neurological damage from performing as professional wrestlers.
TMZ is citing that Massaro's death today is, according to local authorities, "Non-criminal."
Obviously, we send our deepest condolences to Massaro's family, friends and fans at this time, especially her daughter.
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