In an attempt to hire more female wrestlers in the mid-2000s, WWE ran the Diva Search contest. Whittling down thousands of entries to around ten competitors was no easy task, but the company managed to find some talent amongst the masses.

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Unlike Tough Enough, where contestants were eliminated based on their ability in the ring, the Diva Search competitors would participate in other games like dance contests and seducing a male superstar. The Divas not only had to survive in front of the camera but also behind the scenes where they navigated an obstacle course of politics and testosterone to make it as a WWE superstar.

10 Amy Weber Bullying Claims

Amy Weber finished in fourth place of the second Diva Search contest but still secured a contract with WWE and was recruited as a member of JBL's cabinet. Earlier this year, Weber released a YouTube video discussing the reason she left the company and in the process called out Randy Orton and Edge.

Weber was injured during a tour in Japan and was told by a WWE trainer to get some medicine from the men's locker room. On the flight back, Orton slammed her seat and abused her, and later in the journey, Edge would pour a drink on her. When the plane landed, Weber told Shane McMahon that she was done, and she resigned from the company.

9 Christy Hemme And Triple H Rumors

The winner of the 2004 Diva Search, Christy Hemme, got straight into the ring and started making an impact by feuding with the likes of Victoria, Gail Kim, and Trish Stratus. But in 2005, she was suddenly released from her contract.

Initially, Hemme advised that the reason for her release was due to budget cuts, but as the years went on, the story started to change, and she would imply that she left on her own accord. One rumor that came out was that Hemme acted inappropriately around Triple H and Batista, which upset Stephanie McMahon. When Hemme got excited about traveling with the two, her contract was suddenly terminated.

8 Michelle McCool And Chris Benoit Relationship

While Michelle McCool didn't finish high in the Diva Search competition, she was signed by WWE and went on to have a legendary career. But before she became Mrs. Undertaker, there was a rumor backstage that McCool was in a relationship with Chris Benoit.

It's never been confirmed, and McCool has never discussed the relationship in public. However, many believe that the affair is linked to the murders that Benoit committed. It's unlikely this story will ever be confirmed, but it's never going to go away either.

7 Maria Kanellis, The Bella Twins, And Dolph Ziggler

Maria Kanellis WWE wrestler

Maria Kanellis is perhaps one of the most successful women to come out of the Divas Search contest as she has appeared in multiple promotions for over sixteen years. While Kannellis recently returned to WWE with her husband Mike, she was supposed to make an appearance at WrestleMania in 2013. However, Kannelis claims the return was kyboshed because of The Bella Twins.

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Kanellis claims the reason for the heat with the ladies goes back to when Nikki and Dolph Ziggler were dating. Ziggler and Kannelis were close friends and dancing at the party before Nikki arrived. When she saw the two, Nikki confronted her aggressively, and the rest is history.

6 Mr. And Mrs. Undertaker

Michelle McCool in WWE

Over her seven-year career with WWE, Michelle McCool became the first-ever Divas Champion and was a two-time Women's Champion. She also met her husband, The Undertaker, during her stint there.

According to both Taker and McCool, once backstage personnel discovered that the two had started seeing each other, they treated her differently. Some thought McCool was using Taker to progress her career, and others began acting nicer to her to avoid any trouble from the Dead Man. McCool became frustrated with the politics and ended up retiring from the ring in 2011.

5 Carmella DeCesare Vs. The Divas

Many WWE fans may not remember the name Carmella DeCesare unless you watched the Diva Search competition. DeCesare was perhaps the most-hated woman on the show, with all of the other contestants disliking her as they didn't believe she was on the show for the right reasons.

DeCesare would finish in second place, losing to Christy Hemme, and upon her departure, was given a middle-finger salute by Maria Kanellis. She would participate in one lingerie pillow fight on Taboo Tuesday before leaving the company and pursuing a modeling career.

4 Tiffany Vs. Drew McIntyre

Tiffany

Tiffany, better known as Taryn Terrell, competed in the 2007 Diva Search contest but was eliminated halfway through the competition. She managed to secure a development contract and would go on to appear on ECW and SmackDown in non-wrestling roles. Eventually, she got in the ring and competed with some of the top talents in the women's division.

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In 2010, police and security had to be contacted due to a domestic disturbance between Tiffany and her husband, Drew McIntyre. Tiffany would be arrested, released on bail, and later released by WWE due to the incident.

3 The Miz And Maryse

The Miz and Maryse

Maryse didn't last long in the Divas Search contest, but she would be signed by WWE and eventually go on to win a championship. Maryse has spoken openly about her time in the competition and, in particular, how she was treated by the host, The Miz.

Maryse has discussed how Miz would make fun of her, particularly her ability to speak English. He would also regularly question her commitment to the wrestling industry. Maryse would go on to learn that Miz was the grade schoolboy who was mean to the girl he liked.

2 The Antics Of Amy Zidian

Amy was the first person to be eliminated in the 2006 Divas Search competition, but the company still saw something in her and decided to give her a go. But WWE soon realized that it was a big mistake. Amy made waves backstage, beginning with insulting Vicki Guerrero by asking how she became a Diva when everyone else was in shape.

She also upset Layla, who won the competition, by bragging about how she was appearing SmackDown while the winner collected dust in developmental. But the final straw was when Stephanie McMahon gave her some suggestions about how to act in a segment, and Zidian responded by asking, "Who are you to give me advice?"

1 Eve Torres And Donald Trump

Eve Torres won the final televised Diva Search contest and went on to have a successful career with WWE that included three championship reigns. Torres not only fought inside the ring but also worked as an ambassador outside of the squared circle.

Earlier this year, she described an awkward encounter involving President Trump, in which she alleged that she was groped inappropriately. While she didn't suggest that she was grabbed in an area where the President has previously bragged about groping, Torres did say this image still makes her cringe to this day.

NEXT: 10 Diva Search Contestants Who Found Success Outside Of The Ring