Ashley Massaro

At 39 years old, Ashley Massaro has this physical status:

Ashley Marie Massaro (May 26, 1979 – May 16, 2019) was an American professional wrestler, reality television contestant, television host, model, and radio personality.

She was best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and for her appearance on Survivor: China. Massaro made her debut in WWE after winning the WWE Diva Search in 2005.

She was firstly incorporated into the Raw brand where she had her first wrestling feud against Vince's Devils (a villainous female stable) while she also aligned herself with Trish Stratus in the process to defeat the team.

With Stratus, she was involved in another feud with the then debuting Mickie James who was obsessed with Stratus and was jealous of Ashley's friendship with her, attacking and causing her to lose matches.

She was later drafted to SmackDown! and became the valet for the WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick.

Her most high-profile matches were a WWE Women's Championship match against Melina at WrestleMania 23 and a Playboy Bunnymania Lumberjill match at WrestleMania XXIV.

She left WWE in mid-2008.

During her tenure in the company, she had appeared on the covers of several magazines, including the April 2007 issue of Playboy, and has also made an appearance on television and in music videos.

In addition, Massaro spent the last two years of her life working as a radio DJ for 94.3 The Shark.

Early life

Ashley M. Massaro was born in New York City on May 26, 1979. She was raised in Babylon, New York, where her brother, father, and uncle competed in amateur wrestling. She graduated in 1997 from John Glenn High School in Elwood, New York, and received a BSc in communication with a minor in business from the State University of New York at Albany.

Personal life

Massaro had one child, a daughter. When her daughter became sick in mid-2008, Massaro asked for early release from WWE to care for her. On May 22, 2019, after Massaro's death, several former WWE female wrestlers who were Massaro's coworkers, grouped as "The Squared Circle Sisters", opened a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe in order to create a college fund for her daughter, setting a goal of $100,000.

On November 21, 2020, Massaro's younger brother, Ronnie Massaro, was murdered after being stabbed in New York City at the age of 39. He was buried in the same cemetery as her, the St. James Episcopal.

Massaro had several tattoos, including a black and pink nautical star on the back of both of her elbows, a pink and red dragon surrounding kanji lettering that translates to "Trust No One" going down the right side of her torso, symbols on the small of her lower back, and a butterfly on her right hip. She also had several piercings, including a Monroe and snakebites.

In November 2016, Massaro joined a class action lawsuit against WWE, litigated by Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against them, alleging that the company concealed risks of injury that caused them neurological damage. Massaro also alleged that she was sexually assaulted at a US military base during a WWE tour of Kuwait, and that WWE apologized but persuaded her to not report it to the appropriate authorities. The lawsuit was dismissed in late 2018. After her death, WWE said they had received an email from Massaro in October 2018 in which she expressed regret for having taken part in the lawsuit. An affidavit by Massaro describing the sexual abuse allegations in detail was released by the law firm that represented her after her death. WWE later said executives there were not informed of the allegations described in the affidavit.

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Professional wrestling career

Massaro first learned about the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) 2005 Raw Diva Search when she first encountered a WWE casting director during a swimsuit pageant. Massaro was crowned the winner on the episode of Raw, which aired on Monday, August 15, 2005, after beating the seven other finalists. Her winnings included $250,000 and a one-year deal with WWE.

Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson attacked Massaro in a week later on the show's August 22, 2005, after pretending to welcome her to the brand. Massaro's storyline entangled Wilson and Michelle over the next two weeks as the pair, as well as their enforcer Victoria (dubbed as the "Skankateers") made it difficult for the pair, making Massaro's lifeline difficult. Massaro made her in-ring debut on the August 29 episode of Raw, a losing bid to Victoria. Wilson was defeated by Wilson on the 9th episode of Raw, due to interference from Victoria and Candice. Massaro even managed to determine the scores on the September 12 episode of Raw when she brought out the returning Trish Stratus (who then turned away from the scene) and the pair proceeded to murder them. On the episode of Raw on September 18, the two defeated the trio, who became known as the Ladies in Pink (and later Vince's Devils). At Unforgiven, the team of Stratus and Massaro defeated Wilson and Victoria, resulting in a tag team match. Massaro accompanied Trish the night after Wilson defeated Wilson on Raw. The Vince Devils charged the pair after the match. The feud continued in WWE Homecoming, where Stratus and Massaro defeated Wilson, Candice, and Victoria in the first ever three on a two Brave and Panties match by stripping all three of their opponents. Massaro continued to wrestle matches into the rest of 2005 and was active in the annual Fulfill Your Fantasy Diva Battle Royal at Taboo on Tuesday for her first shot at the WWE Women's Championship. Candice Michelle was fired before being eliminated by Victoria before being ruled out by Victoria.

Massaro won the first Bra and Panties Gauntlet match on January 8, 2006, when she was still wearing her clothes. She took them herself before leaving the country to please the fans, as per WWE tradition. Massaro became the victim of a string of Mickie James attacks early this year. On January 29, James defeated Massaro with Trish Stratus, the special guest referee, and then Women's Champion, James Stratus. Massaro retaliated by pinning James in a rematch on Raw one week later. Massaro suffered a fractured left fibula while being kicked out of the Women's Battle Royal on February 20th, but her feud with James was cut short. She underwent surgery to insert a five-inch metal plate and eight screws into her leg. Massaro appeared on Raw occasionally as part of the Stratus/James feud, although in a non-active capacity. Massaro was back on the show on March 20 after being kidnapped by James to convince Stratus in to saving her, but James was a hit on Stratus.

On June 2, she returned to television, this time on SmackDown!, as a special guest commentator during a match between Kristal Marshall and Jillian Hall three months after being inactive once more. Massaro defeated Marshall, Hall, and Michelle McCool in a bikini competition on the edition of SmackDown! She won her debut match with the company on July 21 in which she team up with Jillian Hall to beat McCool and Marshall. Massaro defeated Hall, McCool, and Marshall two days later at The Great American Bash tournament, defeating Hall, McCool, and Marshall. Massaro broke a knuckle on her right hand in a match against Marshall on August 4th, putting her out of action for four weeks.

She returned to action on September 8, alongside Paul London and Brian Kendrick, to defeat Idol Stevens, KC James, and Michelle McCool in a Six-Person Mixed Tag Team match. Massaro was the valet for London and Kendrick after winning, leading them to the ring for their matches on SmackDown! Pay-per-views and pay-per-views. Massaro took part in a "Trick or Treat Battle Royal" on October 27 on SmackDown! Kristal won the game. Massaro team up with Layla in a thrilling fight over Jillian Hall and Kristal in a tag-team match on December 22. Massaro defeated Hall in a thrilling contest on January 5 of SmackDown! Massaro teamed up with London and Kendrick in a losing effort to the MNM (Mercury & Melina) in a six-person mixed-tag tournament on January 26 in a losing effort to the MNM (Mercury & Nutri & Melina). Massaro unveiled her Playboy costume during SmackDown!'s February 16, 2007 episode. Massaro and Jillian Hall, who was jealous of the magazine's coverage, became involved in a feud surrounding the publication's unveiling. Massaro won the first ever Diva Invitational by removing her top to reveal her breasts, which had been adorned with Playboy bunny pasties.

Massaro's feud with Melina, the current WWE Women's Champion, who was furious because of the reports, became a feud. On the first edition of SmackDown!, the rivalry was brought to a new level when a catfight broke out. Ashley teamed up with London and Kendrick in a losing bid to MNM in a six-person mixed-tag match on March 16 episode of SmackDown! Massaro will face Melina in a match with MNM on March 23, and they will clash with Melina after Melina tries to interfere during Kendrick and Paul's match with MNM. Massaro appeared on Raw's episode on March 26, teaming up with Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle in a spirited battle over Melina, Hall, and Victoria. Massaro unsuccessfully challenged Melina for the WWE Women's Championship in a LumberJill match to keep her title.

Massaro continued as a valet for WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick after WrestleMania. Massaro was stabbed by Jillian Hall in a storyline on the SmackDown! episode on April 13. Massaro had loosened a screw in her ankle, which had been inserted the previous year after she brutefully fractured her tibia and fibula while in a royal contest. Massaro appeared on SmackDown! on June 1, 2007, assisting McCool in defeating Hall after she distracted her. Massaro was banned indefinitely after mistakenly spilling Vince McMahon's coffee on the day. Massaro was on time off to be a part of Survivor, in truth.

Massaro returned to the Raw brand on January 7, 2008, beating Maria, Jillian Hall, Melina, and Mickie James in a Lingerie Pillow Fight. Massaro teamed up with Mickie James and Maria in a losing effort to Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, and Melina in a 6 person tag-team match on January 14 of Raw. On the January 21, 2008 episode of Raw, Massaro began a storyline with Maria and Santino Marella, trying to convince Maria to try Playboy but was interrupted by Marella. Massaro tried to convince Maria that Hugh Hefner wanted her to pose for Playboy before Maria interrupted and objected to the offer. When he attempted to do a striptease, Massaro would shock Marella's surprise Big Dick Johnson. Massaro will appear with Maria in a segment at the Playboy Mansion at No Way Out pay-per-view. Massaro interfered in the match between Maria and Melina on the 24th episode of Raw on March 24, 2008. Santino Marella came down to the ring, but Jerry "The King" Lawler (who had been sick of Marella's behavior during recent weeks) knocked Santino out of the tournament. Which prompted the six-person mixed-tag match, in which they lost to Marella, Melina, and Phoenix. Massaro suspended Candice Michelle, who had been out with an injury, in the Playboy Bunnymania Lumberjack match against Maria, losing to Beth Phoenix and Melina due to Marella's interference.

Massaro teamed up with Maria on a losing effort to Melina and Hall in a tag-team match on April 14 of Raw. Massaro also competed in a 12 wrestler Tag Team match at Backlash, where Phoenix pinned her to victory for her team. Massaro competed in her last match on April 28 on Raw's episode by teaming up with Michelle McCool, Cherry, Kelly Kelly, Maria and James in a thrilling effort over Layla, Melina, Natalya, Hall and Victoria. Massaro was fired from her WWE gig on July 9, 2008. She revealed that she had to be drafted out of her employment due to her daughter's illness a week before her release.

Massaro made a brief return to professional wrestling in September 2017 by assisting in Zero1 Professional Wrestling USA with former WWE Diva Jillian Hall.

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