Ashley Marie Massaro (born May 26, 1979) is an American model and professional wrestler, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its SmackDown! brand. She was the winner of the RAW Diva Search 2005 and was on the cover of the April 2007 issue of Playboy Magazine.
Ashley Massaro, came to WWE in June 2005 as a contestant in the 2005 RAW Diva Search. After beating the seven other chosen finalists. Massaro was declared the winner on the August 15, 2005 edition of RAW. She won the $250,000 Diva Search contest which included the $250,000 and a one year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Ashley made her first WWE appearance as an official WWE Diva on the August 21, 2005 pre-SummerSlam edition of HEAT where she conducted interviews with the fans, The Fabulous Moolah, and Mae Young. Later that night, Massaro made her first appearance at a pay-per-view event when she joined the other bikini-clad divas in washing Mr.McMahon's presidential limo backstage.
The following night on RAW, WWE Divas Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson called out Massaro, claiming they wanted to welcome her to RAW. After Ashley came out, Candice and Wilson turned heel and started beating down Ashley. Ashley continued to feud with the two divas who were soon joined by Victoria. Victoria would later defeat Ashley in her in-ring debut match.
Ashley was later joined by the returning Trish Stratus, who helped Ashley fend off attacks from the three divas. The pair would defeat the three divas who became known as the Ladies in Pink (and later Vince's Devils) on several occasions including WWE's Unforgiven 2005 pay-per-view, and at the WWE Homecoming in a 3-on-2 Bra and Panties match. Ashley would continue to wrestle matches through the rest of 2005 and was involved in the annual Fulfill Your Fantasy Diva Battle Royal at Taboo Tuesday for her first shot at the WWE Women's Championship. Ashley was able to eliminate Candice Michelle before being eliminated by Victoria.
One of Ashley's biggest wins to date came at New Year's Revolution 2006 when Ashley was able to win the first ever Bra and Panties Gauntlet match by being the final Diva left still wearing her clothes. Following WWE tradition, to please the fans, she removed them herself before making her exit.
Through the early part of 2006, Ashley became the victim of a series of vicious attacks from a jealous Mickie James. At the 2006 Royal Rumble, Mickie defeated Ashley with then Women's Champion, Trish Stratus, as the special guest referee. However, Ashley would get her revenge one week later by pinning James in the rematch on RAW.
During the February 20, 2006 edition of RAW Ashley would suffer a fractured left fibula while being eliminated from the Women's Battle Royal. Upon further medical consultation, it was announced on WWE.com that because of the spiral crack in her left fibula, Ashley would need surgery. She underwent the procedure to have a plate positioned in her leg in March 2006. During her recovery Ashley would still occasionally appear on RAW as part of the Stratus/James feud, albeit in a non-active role.
On March 22, 2006, Ashley announced that she had signed a three year contract extension with WWE.
WWE's website announced on June 1, 2006 that Ashley would be the newest SmackDown! diva. She made her debut on the June 2, 2006 edition of SmackDown! as a special guest commentator during the Kristal Marshall vs. Jillian Hall match. Upon debuting on SmackDown!, Ashley aligned herself with Jillian Hall as they feuded with Michelle McCool and Kristal Marshall. She won her debut match on the July 21 edition of SmackDown!, where she teamed up with Hall and defeated McCool and Marshall. At The Great American Bash 2006, Massaro won the Fatal Four Way Bra and Panties Match. On the August 4 edition of SmackDown!, Ashley broke her knuckle in a match against Kristal Marshall, in which Marshall cheated to win.
Ashley returned to the ring on the September 8, 2006 edition of SmackDown! where she, Paul London, and Brian Kendrick defeated Idol Stevens, K.C. James and Michelle McCool in a Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match. Following the victory, Ashley became the manager for London and Kendrick, accompanying them to the ring for their matches on SmackDown! and PPVs. Ashley competed in the first ever Extreme Strip Poker segment on ECW on October 10, 2006 representing SmackDown!.
During the February 16, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, Ashley unveiled her Playboy cover. Surrounding the release of the magazine, Ashley engaged in a feud with Jillian Hall over who was the most talented Diva on SmackDown! and Halls' jealousy over Ashley's Playboy cover. At No Way Out 2007, Ashley won the first ever Diva Invitational by removing her top to reveal her breasts which were covered with Playboy bunny pasties.
Surrounding the release of the cover, Ashley continued to feud with Jillian, but also began a feud with then WWE Women's Champion, RAW's Melina. Melina was angry over the publicity Ashley had been receiving because of the cover and believed that she deserved more publicity than Ashley for being the Women's Champion. On an episode of SmackDown!, the rivalry was taken to the next level when a catfight broke out between the Divas on the inaugural edition of Miz TV. At WrestleMania 23, Melina defeated Ashley in a LumberJill Match to retain her title.
After WrestleMania, Ashley continued as a valet for WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick. However, on the April 13, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, Ashley was (kayfabe) attacked by Jillian Hall. Ashley loosened a screw in her ankle that would need to be surgically repaired, and the screw will be reinserted into a plate in her ankle that was inserted last year after Ashley legitimately fractured her tibia and fibula while in a battle royal. Ashley returned a couple weeks later seeking revenge on Jillian for injuring her. However, her return was short lived when on the June 8 edition of SmackDown!, Ashley was (kayfabe) suspended indefinitely after accidentally spilling Mr. McMahon's coffee on him.
