WWE Diva Search

television program

The WWE Diva Search (also known as the RAW Diva Search) was a competition held by the professional wrestling company World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2003 to 2007 and again in 2013. The goal of the contest was to find a new female wrestler, called Diva by WWE at the time. From the 2004 contest onwards the winner of the contest was offered a WWE Contract which was worth $250,000.[1] The competition took place on WWE's weekly television show Monday Night Raw.

WWE Diva Search
A picture of the 2013 diva search winner Eva Marie.
Also known asWWE Raw Diva Search
Diva Search
Raw Divas Search
Created byVince McMahon
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes7
Production
Camera setupMulticamera setup
Original release
Network
ReleaseJuly 1, 2003 (2003-07-01)
Related

Despite only one winner of the competition each year (except 2003), WWE has signed multiple Diva Search contestants. Some competitors like Candice Michelle, Eve Torres, Maryse, The Bella Twins, Layla, Michelle McCool, and Alexa Bliss went on to win championships in the company.

Contests

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Year Winner Runner Up Notes
2003 Jaime Koeppe Unknown Koeppe did not get a WWE contract like later winners[2]
2004 Christy Hemme Carmella DeCesare [1][3][4][5]
2005 Ashley Massaro Leyla Milani [6][7]
2006 Layla El Jennifer England [8]
2007 Eve Torres Brooke Gilbertsen [9][10]
2013 Eva Marie JoJo Offerman Competition did not air[11]

In 2003 the first Diva Search was held, however, the winner, Jaime Koeppe did not get a contract. She got a photoshoot for an issue of WWE RAW Magazine.[2]

 
Christy Hemme, the 2004 Diva Search winner.

Finalists

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Despite Hemme winning, WWE hired many other Divas also featured in the contest, including Michelle McCool,[15][16] Amy Weber,[13] Candice Michelle,[17] Maria Kanellis,[14][18] and Joy Giovanni.[12] In 2025, McCool became the first Diva Search finalist to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.[19]

 
Ashley Massaro, the 2005 Diva Search winner.

Contestants

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Like the previous year's Diva Search, Ashley Massaro was not the only Diva WWE hired. Others included Kristal Marshall,[22] Trenesha Biggers[23] and Elisabeth Rouffaer.[21][24] Massaro became the first Diva Search winner to pass away, she died in 2019.[25]

Contestants

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Layla El, the 2006 Diva Search winner

Like the past two years this also featured the WWE hiring many losing Divas, this included, Milena Roucka (later known as Rosa Mendes),[34] the Garcia Twins,[35] Rebecca DiPietro,[36] Amy Zidian[32] and Maryse Ouellet.[30] The Garcia Twins would later become famous as the Bella Twins and become the first Diva Search competitors to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

 
Eve Torres, the 2007 Diva Search winner

Contestants

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WWE like in the previous years WWE hired runner-ups, this included, Taryn Terrell,[43] Lena Yada [44] and Angela Fong.[45]

 
Eva Marie, the 2013 Diva search winner

In February 2013, WWE held an unaired diva search in the Los Angeles area. The winner was Eva Marie. Other competitors that were signed included Alexis Kaufman (later known as Alexa Bliss), C.J. Perry (Lana), JoJo Offerman, Brittany Fetkin (Devin Taylor), and Veronica Lane.[11]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Christy Hemme of Los Angeles Crowned the Newest WWE Diva Live on Monday Night RAW; Hemme Wins $250,000 One-Year Contract with WWE". Business Wire. 2004-09-21. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Jaime Koeppe's Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Tim Baines (2005-03-05). "Christy Hemme: A naked conversation". The Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Christy Hemme Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "The Search For A New RAW Diva Has Begun". WWE Corporate. 2005-04-18. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Ashley Massaro of New York Wins WWE RAW Diva Search, Secures $250,000 One-Year Contract with WWE". WWE Corporate. 2009-08-15. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Ashley Massaro Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Layla El's Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  9. EveTorres.com (2007-10-29). "The 2007 Diva Search Winner is Eve Torres". EveTorres.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  10. Martin, Andrew (2007-10-29). "Eve becomes a WWE Diva". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Report: New WWE Diva Search Happening in Los Angeles". DivaDirt.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Joy Giovanni Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  13. 13.0 13.1 "Amy Weber Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  14. 14.0 14.1 "Maria Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  15. 15.0 15.1 "Michelle McCool Online World of Wrestling Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  16. "Michelle McCool's WWE Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  17. "Candice Michelle released". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  18. "Maria's WWE Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  19. "Triple H announces Michelle McCool as the next inductee for the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame". Get Up ESPN. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  20. "Leyla Deal or No Deal Models Profile". NBC. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  21. 21.0 21.1 "Elisabeth Rouffaer Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  22. 22.0 22.1 "Kristal Marshall Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  23. "Rhaka Khan's Online World of Wrestling". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  24. "2005 RAW Diva Search's Elisabeth signs WWE contract". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2005-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  25. Johnson, Mike (May 16, 2019). "Former WWE star Ashley Massaro passes away". PWInsider. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 "WWE 2006 Diva Search Official Site". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  27. Kara A. Medalis (2006-08-14). "Milena says goodbye". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  28. Kara Medalis (2006-08-07). "Erica says goodbye". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  29. Ed Williams III (2006-07-31). "Rebecca says she will be back". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  30. 30.0 30.1 "Maryse Ouellet Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  31. Ed Williams III (2006-07-24). "Maryse goes home". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  32. 32.0 32.1 "Amy Zidian Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  33. Ed Williams III (2006-07-17). "A tearful end for Amy". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  34. "Milena Roucka's Gerweck Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  35. "Bella Twins Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  36. "Rebecca released". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 "Official 2007 Diva Search site". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  38. Andrew Rote (October 16, 2007). "Farewell Taryn". WWE. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  39. Andrew Rote (October 9, 2007). "Farewell Jessica". WWE. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  40. Andrew Rote (October 2, 2007). "Farewell J. Kim". WWE. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  41. Kara A. Medalis (September 25, 2007). "Weekly roundup: Obstacle Course". WWE. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  42. Kara A. Medalis (September 18, 2007). "Weekly roundup: Limbo". WWE. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  43. "Taryn Terrell's Official WWE.com Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  44. "Kenny Dykstra, Elijah Burke and Lena Yada released". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  45. "Angela Fong's Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-16.