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| Article: |
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| Hell Hath No Fury |
Matt Barnes |
The story of Christy Hemme is and has become the story of how women in wrestling strive against the inherent chauvinism and misogyny that prevails in the business, particularly in companies like WWE, in an effort to prove themselves worthy of a role amounting to more than just (ironically) T&A.
While all-girl groups like Shimmer, ChickFight and Queens Of Chaos battle for female acceptance on a much smaller stage, earlier this year it truly seemed that Christy was on the verge of cracking that nut on the global wrestling platform. However, though the story didn’t pan out as we would have liked, Hemme has proved that, no matter what odds are stacked up against her, she’ll never stop fighting for what she rightly deserves.
BIKER CHIC
Devoted biker chick Christy Hemme was seemingly tailor made to be the poster girl of modern-day WWE, but it was going to take much more than merely winning the 2004 Diva Search to earn the respect of her peers. Born in October 1980, Hemme grew up harbouring dreams of becoming a performer and thus majored in dance at Mount San Jacinto College, before heading out to LA to chase the dream.
After a few minor jobs, Hemme forced her way into a Burlesque dance group, The Purrfect Angelz, and wound up with the perfect mix of showbiz glamour and getting down and dirty with the biker boys, as the group toured motorcycle conventions across the US. Magazine spreads in the likes of Maxim followed, before the much-maligned WWE Diva Search came calling in 2004. Whether you loved or hated the concept, this would be the moment that Christy Hemme really made her mark.
When she entered the Diva Search, Hemme had her eyes firmly fixed on stardom and, like the other 8,000 or so entrants, she was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it. In addition to the advertised prize of $250,000 would also come an on-screen role for the winner and Hemme fought her heart out. The backdrop of bitching and backstabbing made for somewhat entertaining viewing at home, but in reality only furthered the antagonism backstage between the workers and the ‘talent show’ entrants, who were seen as taking up valuable TV time that could have been better spent on more established wrestlers.
Still, having won the competition by beating the likes of Michelle McCool, Maria Kanellis and Candice Michelle (all of whom subsequently received WWE contracts despite “losing”), the real work had only just begun for Hemme. Having not “paid her dues” in the business, earning respect from the wrestling fraternity presented an uphill struggle.
Saddled with offensive entrance music (The Hives’ Walk, Idiot, Walk) that was clearly chosen to demean her and give the boys a cheap laugh, Hemme just smiled and got down to work. She immediately entered into a forgettable feud with Diva Search runner-up Carmella DeCesare, which came to a head at Taboo Tuesday the same year in a dire Lingerie Pillow Fight. As a footnote, Hemme holds the inauspicious honour of being undefeated in the Lingerie Pillow Fight throughout her WWE tenure…
Despite the rampant politicking against her and a clear lack of support, Hemme fought through the bullshit like a trooper and went out of her way to make it work in front of the cameras. She soon garnered a healthy fanbase, with her likeability and gritty nature shining through. Much like Lita in the years before her, Hemme touched a nerve with those fans that like “real women” and was something of a tonic to the airbrushed, done-up divas that normally frequent our screens.
To begin with, however, the whole Christy Hemme package came under fire from every angle, with many feeling that her delivery in interviews was stale and her ring work was abysmal. The detractors very much had a point, but in this business a good work ethic is often half the battle won – and, as ever, Hemme revelled in the adversity.
A PERFECT PLAYMATE
With all the furore surrounding her Diva Search win, Hemme was naturally the obvious choice for WWE’s next Playboy photoshoot. However, despite being a showgirl of sorts with her background in Burlesque, Hemme was never too keen on the idea of posing nude. Indeed, when she first broke into modelling, her father made her promise that it was something she’d never do. But when WWE asked her to play the game, the ever-dependable Hemme approached her father for his approval and, once she had his blessing, went ahead with what turned out to be a wonderfully tasteful pictorial that set the standard for future WWE Playboy outings.
The shoot also ignited a feud with WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus, who was scripted to be jealous of Hemme stealing the Playboy limelight (though, in real life, nothing could have been further from the truth). The storyline culminated with Hemme, who had spent the weeks preceding the match training with Stratus’ longtime rival, the injured Lita, facing the envious Canadian at WrestleMania 21 for the Women’s Title. It goes without saying that Christy lost the match to the far more experienced Trish.
Following her rivalry with Stratus, Hemme briefly went to war with WWE mainstay Victoria and was later assigned as Eugene’s manager, before being sent to SmackDown in August 2005 along with Stacy Keibler. On the blue brand, Hemme feuded with Melina (aligning herself briefly with the God-awful Heidenreich/Animal incarnation of The Legion Of Doom) before being dispatched to OVW in November. Having been asked to relocate to Ohio so that she could train in the feeder group and refine her skills, Hemme made the move and was then unceremoniously dumped by the company.
Despite her best efforts, the WWE dream had turned into a nightmare. “I was completely dedicated to the company and believed in everything I was doing,” Hemme said on her website. “I was willing to put my personal life aside to give everything I had to what I was doin’ and become a better wrestler/performer. I was told that I was a budget cut and creatively they didn't have anything for me. I am very disappointed in WWE, where I learned a very important lesson." Indeed, this is a lesson so many have learned in the past: tow the company line, do whatever it asks and then, when the going is good, pack your bags and say your goodbyes. Despite never being the perfect performer, Christy Hemme had given a lot to the role and was now being left out in the cold.
KNOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
Following a brief spell on the sidelines, Hemme resurrected her wrestling career at TNA’s Lockdown 2006 as a bit player in the feud between Larry Zbyszko and Raven. Delivering a note from TNA management to the warring pair, she looked great and was one of a number of ex-WWE talents debuting for the brand during that period. From there she became a hosting mainstay for the show, taking responsibility for various minor links and segments and generally becoming part of the furniture.
Although not filling one of the most crucial roles on the show, as a TNA Knockout Hemme has added a degree of glamour to the product. And, as co-host of Global Impact! alongside Jeremy Borash, she has refined her presenting skills no end. In truth, even today Christy is still far from being the finished product, but there is simply no comparison between the confident TNA Hemme of today and the naďve girl who won the WWE Diva Search in 2004. She even recently landed her first acting gig, debuting in the film Fallen Angels, written and directed by Jeff Thomas, along with a role in the upcoming horror short Bubba’s Chili Parlor.
Add all that to the title of ‘TNA Knockout Of 2006’, along with the fact that she has been dutifully training under Scott D’Amore between shows and tapings, and it’s easy to see why Hemme has so many reasons to keep smiling. D’Amore’s impact on her in-ring development has been noticeable, too, leading to her wrestling on the Queens Of Chaos shows in Paris last year, where she lost to April Hunter. (Hemme later beat British battler Minx to win the referee spot in the championship match, which Hunter ultimately won.) But her greatest career opportunity yet in the wrestling business was about to present itself.
For the rest of this feature, check out issue 13 of FIGHTING SPIRIT – available at WH Smith and all good retailers. (For US readers we are now carried at Borders, so check for local availability or click here to subscribe.)
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