WWE Stars in Playboy

Candice Michelle, known for her time in WWE, started her journey by auditioning for the Raw Diva Search in 2004. Although not selected for the final ten, she was hired as a makeup artist and participated in various Diva contests on Raw. She later moved to SmackDown! and got involved in storylines with Torrie Wilson and Melina. Candice eventually returned to Raw and formed an alliance called Ladies in Pink (later Vince's Devils) with Torrie and Victoria, feuding with Ashley Massaro and Trish Stratus. She posed for Playboy and had high-profile matches, including a WWE Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 22. Candice left WWE in 2008 and made sporadic appearances afterward.

She returned in 2009 but was released from her contract. Candice had her retirement match in 2017 and made a brief comeback in 2019 during the Raw Reunion episode, becoming the 24/7 Champion. She later lost the title to Alundra Blayze via submission.

In the middle of 2004, Hemme took part in the Diva Search, a competition organized by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to discover new WWE Divas. As part of the competition, Hemme and the other five finalists faced seven existing Divas in a game of dodgeball at SummerSlam on August 15. Remarkably, they eliminated all eight Divas, with only one finalist, Joy Giovanni, losing. Hemme was declared the winner of the competition on September 20, earning a one-year contract with WWE and a compensation of $250,000.

Initially joining the Raw roster, Hemme swiftly engaged in a feud with Carmella DeCesare, the Diva Search runner-up. Their rivalry reached its peak during a "lingerie pillow fight" at Taboo Tuesday on October 19, which Hemme emerged victorious from.

On November 30, 2005, Hemme made her debut in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory. She aligned herself with Matt Cappotelli against Aaron Stevens, Beth Phoenix, and Shelly Martinez. However, on December 5, Hemme was released from her WWE contract. This occurred shortly after WWE requested her to relocate to Louisville, Kentucky, for training at OVW. The company cited budget cuts and the lack of creative plans as reasons for her dismissal.

In a surprising turn of events, Hemme made an appearance at the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony to support Beth Phoenix. This marked her first return to WWE since 2005.

Chyna rose to prominence in the wrestling world during her tenure in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) starting in 1997. She gained fame as "The Ninth Wonder of the World" and became a pivotal member of the D-Generation X stable, serving as the first female enforcer in the promotion's history. Her accomplishments include winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice and the WWF Women's Championship once.

Chyna shattered barriers by being the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble match and the King of the Ring tournament. She even earned the status of number one contender for the prestigious WWF Championship. Chyna is widely recognized as one of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era. Her impressive record includes defeating notable male wrestlers such as Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and Jeff Jarrett, leaving an indelible mark as the most dominant female competitor in WWE history.

After her departure from WWF in 2001, Chyna sporadically participated in wrestling events. She had a stint with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 2002 and later appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2011, marking her final appearance in the ring.

Outside of wrestling, Chyna made appearances in Playboy magazine twice and had numerous television and film roles. She was widely regarded as a sex symbol. In 2005, she became a cast member on VH1's The Surreal Life, which led to her involvement in other celebrity reality shows on the network, including The Surreal Life: Fame Games in 2007 and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008. Chyna was also known for her tumultuous relationship with fellow wrestler Sean Waltman. The couple released a commercially distributed sex tape in 2004 titled "1 Night in China," which received the 2006 AVN Award for Best-Selling Title. Chyna appeared in five additional adult films, including the 2012 AVN's Best Celebrity Sex Tape, "Backdoor to Chyna".

In 2019, Chyna was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of D-Generation X, becoming the first woman to be honored as part of a group or team.

Ashley Massaro gained significant recognition through her involvement with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and her memorable participation in Survivor: China.

Her journey in WWE began after triumphing in the WWE Diva Search in 2005. Initially assigned to the Raw brand, Massaro embarked on her wrestling career by engaging in a feud with Vince's Devils, a nefarious female stable. She aligned herself with Trish Stratus, and together they overcame their adversaries. Another notable rivalry emerged when the talented newcomer Mickie James debuted, displaying an unhealthy obsession with Stratus and harboring jealousy towards Massaro.

James targeted Massaro, causing her to suffer defeats in various matches. Eventually, Massaro was drafted to the SmackDown brand, assuming the role of valet for WWE Tag Team Champions, Paul London and Brian Kendrick. Among her notable matches were a clash for the WWE Women's Championship against Melina at WrestleMania 23 and a Playboy Bunnymania Lumberjill match at WrestleMania XXIV.

In July 2008, Massaro bid farewell to WWE. Throughout her tenure in the company, she graced the covers of numerous magazines, including the April 2007 issue of Playboy. Her charisma extended beyond the wrestling world, leading to appearances on television shows and music videos. Additionally, she spent the final two years of her life as a radio DJ for 94.3 The Shark, showcasing her versatility and talent beyond the wrestling ring.

Maria Kanellis gained recognition primarily through her tenure in Impact Wrestling, where she was a member of Honor No More. Additionally, she made notable appearances in Ring of Honor (ROH) and WWE. Kanellis is renowned for her Playboy magazine pictorial in 2008 and her participation in the Celebrity Apprentice TV series in 2010. Presently, she serves as the co-owner and founder of Women's Wrestling Army (WWA).

Kanellis' career took off when she appeared as a contestant on the reality show Outback Jack in 2004. Later that year, she placed fifth in the Diva Search competition, which led to her being hired by WWE as a backstage interviewer. In 2005, she transitioned to becoming a professional wrestler herself and received the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year in 2009. Kanellis also released her debut album, Sevin Sins, in 2010, before parting ways with WWE that same year.

Following her departure from WWE, she ventured into Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), often appearing alongside her husband, Mike Bennett. In TNA, she achieved the status of a former TNA Knockouts Champion. Kanellis, along with Bennett, made a return to WWE from 2017 to 2020 and even held the WWE 24/7 Championship once. Notably, she became the first-ever pregnant champion in WWE history.

Maryse Mizanin is a multi-talented Canadian professional wrestler, actress, and glamour model. Currently associated with WWE on the Raw brand alongside her husband The Miz, she performs under the ring name Maryse. Prior to her wrestling career, Maryse excelled in modeling and even won the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada in 2003. Her journey with WWE began in 2006 when she participated in the WWE Diva Search competition and was subsequently signed by the company.

After honing her skills in developmental territories like Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, Maryse made her mark on the main roster when she was assigned to the SmackDown brand in 2008. That year, she captured her first WWE Divas Championship, showcasing her prowess in the ring. The following year, Maryse was drafted to the WWE Raw brand, where she achieved an impressive feat by winning the Divas Championship for the second time in 2010, becoming the first woman to hold the title on multiple occasions.

Throughout her career, Maryse took on various roles within WWE, including co-hosting NXT and serving as the manager for Ted DiBiase. Although she was released from the company in 2011, she made a triumphant return in 2016, taking on the role of manager for her husband, The Miz. That same year, she joined the cast of the reality show Total Divas, giving fans an inside look at the lives of WWE's female superstars. Recognizing her star power, WWE announced a spin-off show titled Miz & Mrs. in 2018, which features Maryse and The Miz as both stars and executive producers.

Rena Marlette Lesnar, formerly known as Sable, is an American former model, actress, and retired professional wrestler. She gained prominence during her time in the WWF (now WWE). Joining the company in 1996, Sable quickly rose to fame during the Attitude Era. Notable feuds with Luna Vachon and Jacqueline led to her becoming the second WWF Women's Champion after the title was reintroduced.

In 1999, Sable departed from the company and filed a $110 million lawsuit against the WWF, citing allegations of sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions. Following a hiatus, she made her return to WWE in 2003. During this time, she was involved in storylines, including a feud with Torrie Wilson and a role as Vince McMahon's mistress. In 2004, she once again left the company to prioritize spending time with her family.

Beyond her wrestling career, Sable is recognized as a sex symbol and has graced the cover of Playboy magazine on three occasions. The April 1999 issue featuring Sable became one of the highest-selling issues in Playboy history. She has also made guest appearances on television shows such as Pacific Blue and had a role in the film Corky Romano. Sable's impact extends beyond wrestling, as her charisma and appearances have made her a notable figure in pop culture.

Taryn Terrell, an American multi-talented individual, has made a mark in various fields such as modeling, acting, stunt work, ring announcing, and professional wrestling. She gained recognition through her stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under her real name, and in WWE, where she performed as Tiffany.

In TNA, Dryden achieved notable success as she held the TNA Knockouts Championship, boasting a remarkable reign of 279 days. Her reign remained the longest in the title's history until 2019. During her time in WWE, she underwent training in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which served as WWE's developmental territory at the time. Additionally, Dryden held a significant role as the final general manager of the now-defunct ECW brand.

Following her time in WWE, Dryden continued her wrestling journey in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from 2021 until her retirement on November 10, 2022. Throughout her career, she demonstrated versatility and talent in various aspects of the wrestling industry.

Taryn Nicole Dryden's contributions to professional wrestling, coupled with her ventures in other fields, have solidified her status as a multifaceted talent within the industry. Her achievements and impactful presence have left a lasting impression on fans and fellow wrestling enthusiasts.

Torrie Wilson, an American former professional wrestler and model, made her mark primarily in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

Starting her career as a fitness competitor, Wilson achieved notable success by winning the Miss Galaxy competition in 1999. Shortly after, she was signed by World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where she remained from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, Wilson transitioned to the WWF, appearing on their television as part of The Invasion storyline.

Throughout her time in WWE, Wilson was involved in captivating storylines that propelled her into the spotlight. Notably, she feuded with Dawn Marie in 2002 and engaged in a memorable rivalry with Sable in 2003. Wilson was also a member of the all-female stable known as Vince's Devils, which concluded in 2006.

Beyond her wrestling career, Wilson graced the covers of various magazines, including FHM and Playboy. She posed for Playboy twice, once in a joint photoshoot with Sable.

In recognition of her contributions, Torrie Wilson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019, solidifying her legacy in the wrestling industry. Her combination of athleticism, beauty, and captivating performances made her a beloved figure among fans worldwide.