WWE Diva Search


WWE Diva Search was a talent competition held by WWE. The first winner was Jaime Koeppe, but she did not receive a contract like subsequent winners of the contest. Other winners included Christy Hemme, Ashley Massaro, Layla El, and Eve Torres. In addition to the winners of the yearly contest, WWE has hired several contestants as Divas, the name that WWE gave at the time to the female performers. As of 2019, Maryse Ouellet and Maria Kanellis are the last remaining female talents to come from the contest, with the two acting largely as valets for their respective husbands. There were many failed attempts at bringing back the competition over the years following the cancellation of the 2008 season, and was at one point going to return in 2019 under the new name Superstar Search. But those plans were scrapped.

2003

The first WWE Diva Search took place in between July 1 and August 24, 2003. However, unlike the later Diva Searches, the first Diva Search winner did not receive a contract. She received a photoshoot for an issue of WWE Magazine. Jaime Koeppe was named the first WWE Diva Search winner. The four that competed that year in the 1st WWE Diva search were Jamie Koeppe, Terri Mitchell, Paige and Marsha. Fans voted online and WWE made the final decision. The competition was held the night before Summerslam at Jillian's in Phoenix, Arizona.

2004

Official themes

The 2004 WWE Raw $250,000 Diva Search featured four official theme songs.
Open casting calls were held in Los Angeles, NYC, and Chicago in June and July to narrow the field down from thousands to 28 women. The following the 28 finalists where chosen from each of the locations:
NameAgeHometownSelected/Not selected
Amy Weber34 Mapleton, IllinoisSelected
Alison Weder23 Minooka, IllinoisNot selected
Bobbi Sue Luther25 Silver Spring, MarylandNot selected
Camille Anderson26 Dallas, TexasSelected
Candice Michelle25 Milwaukee, WisconsinNot selected
Carmella DeCesare23 Avon Lake, OhioSelected
CeCe Wagner22 Chicago, IllinoisNot selected
Chandra Costello28 Liberty, KentuckySelected
Christina Hernandez24 Odessa, TexasNot selected
Christy Hemme23 Poway, CaliforniaSelected
Erin "Kelly" Britz25 Kansas City, KansasNot selected
Gabrielle Tuite26 Brooklyn, New YorkNot selected
Jaynie Mae Baker23 New York, New YorkNot selected
Jennifer R. Lopez26 Lodi, New JerseyNot selected

NameAgeHometownSelected/Not selected
Joy Giovanni26 Boston, MassachusettsSelected
Julia Costello28 Liberty, KentuckySelected
Karen McDougal33 Merrillville, IndianaNot selected
Kimberly Cozzens21 San Jose, CaliforniaNot selected
Kimmy Brown24 Seattle, WashingtonNot selected
Maria Kanellis22 Ottawa, IllinoisSelected
Mary Castro25 LaVerne, ConnecticutNot selected
Michelle McCool24 Palatka, FloridaSelected
Nicole Bradhurst24 Kansas City, MissouriNot selected
Nina Hardin22 Carson, CaliforniaNot selected
Tammy Vallejos24 Albuquerque, New MexicoNot selected
Taryn J. Reed25 Charlotte, North CarolinaNot selected
Tracie Wright24 Atlanta, GeorgiaSelected
Yesenia Camacho30 Austin, TexasNot selected

Finalists

2005

Official theme

The 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search featured one official theme song.

2006

Official themes

The 2006 WWE Raw Diva Search featured three official theme songs.

2007

Official theme song

The official theme song for the 2007 WWE Diva Search was "Let it Roll" by Velvet Revolver from the band's second studio album, Libertad, which was released on July 3, 2007. At the time of release, Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup that featured vocalist Scott Weiland, guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. "Let it Roll" was only used as the official theme song for the competition and was not used as the official entrance theme song for the winner of the competition.

Contestants

2013 and hiatus

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported in February 2013 that WWE held an un-aired diva search in the Los Angeles area. Among the prospects that participated were future WWE performers Eva Marie, Alexa Bliss, Lana, JoJo, Devin Taylor, and Veronica Lane, with the former winning the contest.
During WrestleMania 31, WWE announced that new shows will air on the WWE Network, including a returning WWE Diva Search, which was expected to premiere in the fall of 2015. There was no additional information given until July 2016, when WWE surveyed fans about potential new WWE Network shows, including a new season of Diva Search under a new name due to the fact that the term "Diva" was ultimately phased out that year. In addition, the show would've been hosted by Lita and Trish Stratus.

2019

WWE originally announced on January 25, 2019 that the competition would return as a reality show re-entitled, WWE Superstar Search in association with Bunim-Murray Productions including casting. But on September 29 that year, Squared Circle Sirens reporter Casey Michael confirmed it was cancelled once again.