Maria's full real full name is Maria Kanellis but WWE fans simply know her as Maria. Maria was a contestant on Outback Jack in 2004 and that same year entered the WWE diva contest after seeing an advertisement after watching Raw. Though Maria finished in fifth place in that diva search the WWE still decided to hire her.She was trained at OVW under Paul Heyman and landed a spot on the Raw roster after her great work at OVW as she even contributed in bookings.
Maria then started to work on Raw as a backstage interviewer. She was seen as a sort of dingy girl who would ask all the wrong questions at the wrong time. On January 5, 2005 Maria was involved in her first in the ring match against Christy Hemme in a pillow match. Many matches against the WWE's top divas followed after that as she has battled Melina, Jillian Hall and Victoria to name a few. In 2007 she began an on screen relationship with Santino Marella. After former Playboy cover-girl Ashley Massaro's return in early 2008, Kanellis engaged in backstage segments where Ashley suggested Maria should be on the cover of Playboy, including at the Royal Rumble, to the disdain of Marella. As a part of the Playboy storyline, Maria defeated Beth Phoenix on February 18, ending her undefeated streak, to "earn the right" to be on the cover of the magazine.
During her Playboy cover unveiling, Maria's cover was plastered over with images of Marella. After Marella offered an ultimatum of posing for the magazine or staying with him as a couple, she stated, "No man and no one is going to make this decision for me" and broke up with her on-screen boyfriend. In her match at Wrestlemania, Maria, along with Ashley, was defeated by Phoenix and Melina at Wrestlemania XXIV in a Playboy Bunny Mania Lumberjack match. After the match, Maria kissed the Master of Ceremonies, Snoop Dogg.
As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Maria was drafted to the SmackDown brand. Maria made her debut on the August 1, 2008 edition of Smackdown by defeating Victoria. Maria then formed an alliance with the other Smackdown faces Michelle McCool and Brie Bella. Maria began feuding with Maryse, Victoria and Natalya.
On the October 17, 2008 edition of Smackdown Maria competed in a Diva poll match. The winner of the match would become the number one contender for Michelle McCool's Divas Championship. Maria battled against Victoria, Natalya, Brie Bella and Maryse. Maria ended up winning the match and soon will fight her friend Michelle McCool for the WWE Divas Championship. On the November 14th edition of SmackDown she failed to win the championship from McCool. Both Maria and Michelle McCool were part of the Smackdown Divas team as they battled the Raw Divas team at Survivor Series on November 23, 2008. During the match Mickie James and Maria had a spirited face off, but a distraction by Maria allowed Mickie to DDT Michelle and pin her. The Raw Divas ended up winning the match.
On the December 22, 2008 edition of Smackdown Maria was a special guest referee for the Divas Championship match between McCool and Maryse, in which Maryse won the title. After the match, McCool attacked Maria for supposedly letting Maryse win.
On the February 13, 2009 edition of Smackdown, Maria won her return match against Michelle McCool after help from Eve Torres.
Maria will compete in the Divas Battle Royal on April 5th, 2009 at Wrestlemania 25!
Maria Facts:
Birth Name: Maria Kanellis
Birth Date: February 25, 1982
Height: 5 ft 7 in
Weight: 120 lbs
Maria refused to pose in Playboy a few times because her little sister was still in high school and she did not want to embarass her. She eventually posed in April of 2008.
