Phoenix is rising

The last two episodes of RAW featured run ins by a new buxom blonde. This woman has been added to the seemingly endess Mickie James / Trish Stratus saga to add to it a little life. This newcomer has literally burst upon the scene, and many insiders are already predicting that she will be the next diva catapulted to superstardom with Stratus's current contract expires in August.

Beth Phoenix has arrived.

I first saw Beth in person about five years ago at the Canadian National Exhibition - a major carnival / fair that has been running in Toronto for the last hundred years. The now defunct AWF was running three shows a day, every day for three weeks at the fair. It was a gruelling schedule for many of the workers, but certainly baptism by fire for those who were a little green and just breaking in.

Beth was there as part of the feud between indie stars Robin Knightwing, also known as "The Sexy Monkey" and his brother Joey Knight. They wrestled together for years as the "All Knighters", but eventually went their seperate ways and had a long feud that featured a ton of great matches. I remember asking then AWF booker Rod Boudreau about Beth and he simply said "She's going to be good".

A month or so later, Dan-e-o and I attended an AWF show in the west end of Toronto. I don't remember the program or the backstory, but Beth was at ringside and blew me away with a series of top rope 'ranas and other high spots. Beth generated multiple "O's" that night.

In those days she was simply known as Phoenix. Years later I was reading stories online about female wrestlers making an impact on the indie scene, and this name kept popping up: Beth Phoenix. I immediately figured, it must have been the same girl I had seen work in Toronto. When I looked up pictures of her, I thought, "Is that her? It can't be!"

The girl I had seen way back then, looked like your typical college cutie. She has apparently worked her ass off to totally transform herself into this explosive little package of muscle. Impressive! Now Beth had the ability to pop a crowd in the ring, and get herself noticed with a very polished, pro look.

Then the WWE came calling.

Beth debuted with the WWE's lead developmental territory, OVW in July of 2005 as the valet of Chris Masters. Shortly thereafter, she began a feud with Alexis Laree (now known as Mickie James) and obviously impressed many people in the process.

Once Beth landed on RAW, I contacted Knightwing, the guy who introduced me to Beth many years ago for his comments on her debut.

"It always gives you a swell of pride to see one of your students succeed, to know you had a small part in their success. Of course, with Beth, it is an extra special sence of victory. I've seen and been through good and bad, and travelled the road with her. She's so determined, and I know she will be a major force in women's wrestling for a long time to come".

Not since the months leading up to Chyna leaving the company has the WWE so frantically been looking for a woman to take the proverbial ball and run with it. With Trish getting married later this year, and likely wanting to start her own family - Beth may very well become the brightest star in the Diva's locker room.

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