The Phantom

From thesun.co.uk

By SIMON 'LILSBOY' ROTHSTEIN

WHEN the WWE launched their Diva Search last year, they were expecting a winner who would stand around the ring looking pretty and not much else.



What they didn't count on was fiery redhead Christy Hemme, who triumphed in the $250,000 competition, demanding to wrestle.

In an exclusive interview, Christy told us she is bitterly disappointed that the WWE have cut back on their once thriving women's division and wants to be the Diva to help kick start it again.

The gorgeous 5'5 babe revealed: "The WWE didn't expect or want me to wrestle. I'd get in the ring and they'd say, 'you're too little'.

"But I'd shout back, 'no I'm not'.

"I really pushed it for them to let me wrestle and I'm going to continue to push it. Because the women's division is very thin right now and I don't like it.

"I know that the harder I work and the better wrestler I become, the better chance we have of reforming it. I'd love to see people like Molly Holly and Jazz come back too.

"I'm on the road all the time, wrestling Victoria three nights a weeks on our house shows, and will also get in the ring with Arn Anderson, Dean Malenko and Fit Finlay for a couple of hours each day.

"It's good learning to wrestle on the road, as I'll come backstage after a show and have Triple H telling me what I did wrong in the match.

"I'm the only one of the Diva Search girls learning at the moment.

"Some of them went to OVW to train and stuff, but I don't know how much their focus is on wrestling.

"A lot of them are model types and are just concentrating on being the 'hot girl'."

Last year's Diva Search is best remembered for the on-screen animosity between the wannabes - especially the final four of Christy, Carmella, Joy and Amy.

And Christy confirmed that the girls didn't like each other backstage either.

She told us: "I was the only one who was friends with everybody - as they were all bickering and really hated each other.

"A lot of the girls took themselves way too seriously, but I laugh at myself all the time.

"There is nothing that makes me embarrassed and I'm not afraid to look stupid or not be pretty.

"Someone like Carmella was the total opposite to that."

After the Diva Search, the WWE hired many of the girls who lost out to Christy.

Many found the male-dominated world of wrestling tough to adapt to though and both Amy and Rochelle quit, claiming in interviews that former world champion Randy Orton harassed them by playing cruel pranks.

Christy, however, has no time for their allegations.

She told us: "I think Amy and Rochelle were too big for their britches with the company, didn't care about wrestling and didn't care about being part of a group.

"I love Randy and I think he's great, so as far as I am concerned they obviously weren't part of something and were in it for themselves.

"I've never had anything like that happen to me. And if you come in and you're a respectful person then you're not going to get it.

"They obviously entered in the completely wrong way."

Christy added: "It took me a long time to pick up how things work in the wrestling business and I spent a lot of time sitting back and just watching.

"There are lots of rules that us Diva Search girls didn't know about as models and dancers, and coming in I understood that.

"I didn't make friends for a long time, as I wanted to figure things out first.

"I really watched everybody else's mistakes - and they made a lot of them!

"The girls were very forceful and did their own thing, which is not the best way to stay in the company."

Since winning the competition, Christy has had a year most people can only dream about.

She will be accompanying Eugene to the ring for his match with Kurt Angle at SummerSlam, fought Trish Stratus for the women's title at WrestleMania 21 and was even a Playboy cover girl.

"To be part of WrestleMania was a dream come true," Christy told us. "It was so exciting and nerve-wracking that I barely remember it.

"It was a huge honour just to go to WrestleMania, let alone being in a match there. It makes me nervous just thinking about it and it's already happened. I can't watch the tape back.

"It was really cool, but I definitely don't feel like I deserved it. I'm still working my way into the things that I know I'll deserve one day.

"The Playboy shoot was over four 16-hour days and I'd have to hold a position for four hours at a time.

"They are perfections. I'd be sitting there in position and someone would shout, 'wait, there's a hair out of place,' and then come and move my hair. Every single detail you can think of was taken care of.

"When I went into it I was really nervous but by the end of the first day I was walking around naked - because everybody had seen it and nobody really cared!

"It was a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm not a girly girl but they made me feel like a little princess.



"If I had to do a spread with another Diva it would be Candice Michelle, because she's my girl. I love Candice!

"But I don't think I'd do Playboy again, as the sequel is never as good as the first one."

The same thing could be said about this year's Diva Search, which has felt lacklustre and rushed.

Winner Ashley looks good and has a bundle of personality, but the girls were just similar for the competition to really work.

"I think we had more of a dynamic between each other last year and that made it more interesting," Christy admits.

"We kind of lost that in this year's Diva Search, as they all decided to be friends… and that's never fun!

"Also with last year's contest there were stronger and very distinct personalities. Amy Weber is a real character and me, Carmella and Joy were also really different.

"But I think that Ashley is great and will do really well with the company. I would also hire Elizabeth, who is sweet and very athletic, and Kristal.

Christy has just signed a three-year contract with the WWE and says she can't see herself working anywhere else.

The Diva has a 20-strong group of pals on the Raw crew - who all go out eating, drinking and singing together after the shows - and even loves the hectic travel schedule.

Although it does mean she has no time for a boyfriend.

"I don't know where I'd fit a man into my life," Hemme told us. "It would be nice to have a boyfriend, but there's just no room."

"If the right guy came along I would definitely make it work, and see him as much as I could, but for now I'm not looking and am very self-sufficient and independent.

"It's also hard for me to find a guy in Los Angeles, because I like Southern men.

"I go for the simple kind of guy, who is down to earth and likes to ride bikes - and there aren't many of those in LA."

"There are some very hunky wrestlers in the WWE," Christy adds.

"But they're all like brothers to me now."