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Trying to convince your girlfriend that you watch wrestling for the in-ring action when there’s someone like Stacy Keibler parading around is like trying to convince your significant other you read Playboy for the articles--pointless. Since debuting alongside Shane McMahon during 2001’s WCW Invasion angle, Stacy Keibler has quickly become World Wrestling Entertainment’s poster girl. The 5’11’’ blonde-haired beauty was recently honored with the prestigious title of 2005 Babe of the Year, beating out reigning champion Trish Stratus and WWE Diva Search Playboy cover girl Christy Hemme for the honor. And while her Babe of the Year photos are everywhere on wwe.com, trying to find Stacy Keibler on TV lately hasn’t been so easy. In late August, Keibler was traded from “RAW” to “SmackDown!” weeks after the month-long WWE draft, something that caught even Keibler by surprise. “When I found out the draft was happening I asked if I was being traded and was told no,” Keibler says. “Then two weeks ago I get a call saying that after ‘SummerSlam’ I would be going to ‘SmackDown!’ I was shocked. But I’m happy with the change now.” Despite being a part of the WWE for four years, Keibler says that her biggest adjustment with being on the “SmackDown!” roster is getting to know everyone backstage. Although one would think that she has the advantage of knowing some of the “SmackDown!” Superstars from before the brand split, Keibler says that with all the new talent on the roster, she feels like she doesn’t know anyone. “With ‘RAW’ I was there for so long that it was just the same old familiar faces,” she explains. “Now it’s like meeting everyone for the first time. Randy [Orton, Keibler’s former onscreen boyfriend], Dave [Batistia], Christy and I are just like this pack backstage because we don’t know anyone.” Keibler has had even more adjustments to make with “SmackDown!’s” recent move to Friday nights. Although the show will still be pre-taped on Tuesdays, the WWE Diva now faces the uncertainty of appearing on a primetime show during the weekend. Traditionally, being scheduled on a Friday night usually equals the ratings’ kiss of death. Add to that the fact that “SmackDown!” spoilers circulate the Internet just hours following its Tuesday night tapings and things aren’t looking too good for wrestling’s living Barbie doll. But despite everything “Friday Night SmackDown!” has going against it, the WWE Diva isn’t too worried. “The spoilers were circulating the Internet when the show aired on Thursdays and it was still the highest rated program on UPN, so that tells me one of two things: either there’s a significant percentage of people who don’t read the spoilers or people read them and still want to see what’s going on for themselves,” Keibler states. “Plus, with TiVo now people can still go out and just watch us when they get back. We’ll see how it goes. Maybe the move will be a good thing. Hopefully we’ll attract the younger fans who no longer have to get up early the next day for school.” The former WCW Nitro Girl is looking to increase the series’ ratings by spicing things up on “Friday Night SmackDown!,” and is hoping for a heel turn in the near future. Keibler says there’s talk of various storylines being passed around involving her character in a more prominent role, which should make her fans happy. After all, during her final weeks on “RAW” Keibler was receiving less and less screen time as Super Stacy, almost taking a backseat to the 2005 Raw Diva Search contestants. “This is definitely a fresh start for me,” she states. “I would love to do a lot more acting on ‘SmackDown!’ It would be a challenge, but I want to be a major character. I would love to be a part of something with a lot of drama. Something soap opera-like--like me being caught between two guys or something.” Unlike former Babe of the Year Trish Stratus, Keibler’s in-ring skills aren’t exactly Women’s Championship material. Keibler’s finishing move, the roundhouse kick, is mainly reserved for bra and panties matches or highly competitive bikini contests. Still, despite the name of the company being World Wrestling Entertainment, Keibler’s in-ring skills are almost equal to that of the WWE’s newest Divas, leaving women wrestlers like Stratus with little to no competition. In recent months several of the WWE’s most promising women wrestlers--including former WWE Women’s Champion Molly Holly, Gail Kim and former “Tough Enough” winner Jackie Gayda--either left the company or were let go while DIVA Search contestants like Candice Michelle and Maria received WWE contracts. Despite these recent events, Keibler says the future of women’s wrestling in the WWE isn’t as bleak as it seems. “I think there will always be different roles for women in the WWE--some focusing more on personality than actual wrestling skills,” she explains. “But Ashley (Massaro, 2005 RAW Diva Search winner) and Christy both want to wrestle and get involved physically. I would like to think there will always be a spot for that in the WWE because women’s wrestling has come so far. But I always think there will be a handful of hot girls around, too.” Although Keibler may be the WWE’s most popular pinup, unlike Christy and Ashley, Keibler didn’t become wrestling’s “It” girl simply off her good looks. When Keibler won the WCW Nitro Girl Search in 1999, it was her dancing ability that helped her take home the $10,000 paycheck and WCW contract. Keibler says that was the main difference between the Nitro Girl Search and the current WWE Diva Search--well, that and the size of the paycheck. “The competitions were very different because for the Nitro Girl Search you not only had to be in shape and look good, you also had to be able to dance. Maybe the competitions would have been similar if the Divas actually had to wrestle each other--there was some sort of athleticism involved and it wasn't just based on looks.” Regardless of how Keibler became a part of sports entertainment, the 25-year-old’s natural beauty eventually overshadowed her dancing talent, and paired with her baby face character, helped the former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader win the title of 2005 WWE Babe of the Year. It’s an honor Keibler holds dear to her heart since it’s “voted on by the fans.” Since becoming 2005’s Babe of the Year, Keibler has graced the cover of Stuff Magazine, but loyal fans have been anxiously awaiting that Playboy cover so many WWE Divas have appeared on. With rumors circulating of a surprise Diva being signed to an upcoming issue, Keibler puts to rest any speculation that the Diva is her. “It’s not me. I’ve been asked three times and I’ve said no,” she states. “It’s just not something I want to do at this point in my career.” While shedding the little clothes Keibler does wear ringside isn’t something she’s prepared to do just yet, Keibler did have the confidence to punk one of wrestling’s biggest names before being traded to “SmackDown!,” former WWE Heavyweight Champion (and Stephanie McMahon’s husband) Triple H. Keibler helped arrange the practical joke that aired during the season finale of Ashton Kutcher’s hit series “Punk’d,” and it’s a decision she’s very proud of. “Triple H is such a practical joker backstage that I knew if I was able to pull it off it would be one for the team,” she says. “I had some friends involved with the show and they asked if there was anyone I wanted to punk. I said yeah, and eventually Triple H’s name was mentioned. I knew in order to pull it off, though, I’d have to get Steph involved, and luckily she agreed so we tried to figure out what to do to get him. We weren’t sure how to pull it off since he’s so quick. I thought for sure he would be able to figure it out. I was so excited, though, that we got him. It was like everyone got him back. It was so good it made the season finale, so if someone didn’t catch it the first time MTV will be airing it all the time.” Between TV guest appearances, her hectic WWE travel schedule and all the magazine photo shoots, one has to wonder if Stacy Keibler has any time left for a personal life. With her relationship to former WWE Superstar Test already in the history books, is there another man in Miss Keibler’s life? “Nope, I’m single,” Keibler replies. “I’m single, not married and not in Playboy.” Well, guys, two out of three ain’t bad. source:Heather Turk,SoCal.com Movie/TV Editor |