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Beth Phoenix (real name - Elizabeth Kocanski, married name Elizabeth Carolan) began wrestling on the Elmira, New York Notre Dame High School scholastic wrestling team. She was the first female varsity wrestler in her high school's history. She became the North-East freestyle women's champion (72 kg weight class) in 1999. She also became the women's champion (72 kg weight class) at the New York State Fair Tournament in 1999 and was named the most outstanding wrestler that same year in the Brockport Freestyle Tournament.
At the time she was also a member of USA Wrestling (a freestyle wrestling club). Her life goal was, according to her, to become a professional wrestler and she believed that having a solid amateur background would help her reach it. After graduating from High School in 1999, she enrolled in both a professional wrestling school and Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Her first choice for wrestling school was Stu Hart's Dungeon, but because of the location she decided on a more local school. At the school, she was trained by the All Knighters--Joey Knight (Joey Carolan, whom she is now married to) and Robin Knightwing, who themselves had trained in the Hart Dungeon.
Beth debuted on Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) Television in July 2004 as the on-screen girlfriend and valet of Chris Masters. The angle was short lived and the following month Beth was repackaged as the manager of Aaron "The Idol" Stevens. The duo was then joined by Shelly Martinez who Beth soon feuded with at in early 2006. Beth then stopped appearing regularly on OVW after debuting on WWE's RAW television show. Beth made her last appearance in OVW at their August 15, 2007 TV Tapings where she lost to Katie Lea in a No.1 Contenders Match and then joined the main WWE roster full-time.
Beth Phoenix debuted on the May 8, 2006 episode of RAW as a face attacking then heel, Mickie James during James' assault on Trish Stratus. After this incident, James berated Phoenix for "ruining everything" and questioned why she even showed up in the first place. A week later, Phoenix was formally introduced by Trish Stratus and then battered a distracted James on Stratus' behalf. When James finally escaped, Phoenix claimed that James had ruined her life and wouldn't let her get away with it, before calling her a psycho.
On the following edition of RAW, Phoenix, now an official RAW diva, again attacked the Women's Champion after her match with Torrie Wilson. Then, on the May 29, 2006 episode of RAW, Beth teamed up with Torrie Wilson (with Stratus in their corner) to take on Candice Michelle and Victoria (with Mickie James in their corner). Phoenix pinned Candice after a Down In Flames.
During the June 5, 2006 episode of RAW, Beth came out to the ring with a new theme song. She suffered a fractured mandible during a match with Victoria, but was victorious despite the injury.
On the July 9, 2007 edition of RAW, Phoenix returned as a heel when Melina claimed she was "injured" and needed a replacement as Jillian Hall's tag team partner. At the SummerSlam pay-per-view, Phoenix won the Interpromotional Diva Battle Royal to become the #1 Contender for Candice Michelle's WWE Women's Championship. Phoenix has since asserted her dominance over the WWE Divas, destroying the likes of Maria, Mickie James, Jillian Hall and Candice Michelle.
At the time she was also a member of USA Wrestling (a freestyle wrestling club). Her life goal was, according to her, to become a professional wrestler and she believed that having a solid amateur background would help her reach it. After graduating from High School in 1999, she enrolled in both a professional wrestling school and Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Her first choice for wrestling school was Stu Hart's Dungeon, but because of the location she decided on a more local school. At the school, she was trained by the All Knighters--Joey Knight (Joey Carolan, whom she is now married to) and Robin Knightwing, who themselves had trained in the Hart Dungeon.
Beth debuted on Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) Television in July 2004 as the on-screen girlfriend and valet of Chris Masters. The angle was short lived and the following month Beth was repackaged as the manager of Aaron "The Idol" Stevens. The duo was then joined by Shelly Martinez who Beth soon feuded with at in early 2006. Beth then stopped appearing regularly on OVW after debuting on WWE's RAW television show. Beth made her last appearance in OVW at their August 15, 2007 TV Tapings where she lost to Katie Lea in a No.1 Contenders Match and then joined the main WWE roster full-time.
Beth Phoenix debuted on the May 8, 2006 episode of RAW as a face attacking then heel, Mickie James during James' assault on Trish Stratus. After this incident, James berated Phoenix for "ruining everything" and questioned why she even showed up in the first place. A week later, Phoenix was formally introduced by Trish Stratus and then battered a distracted James on Stratus' behalf. When James finally escaped, Phoenix claimed that James had ruined her life and wouldn't let her get away with it, before calling her a psycho.
On the following edition of RAW, Phoenix, now an official RAW diva, again attacked the Women's Champion after her match with Torrie Wilson. Then, on the May 29, 2006 episode of RAW, Beth teamed up with Torrie Wilson (with Stratus in their corner) to take on Candice Michelle and Victoria (with Mickie James in their corner). Phoenix pinned Candice after a Down In Flames.
During the June 5, 2006 episode of RAW, Beth came out to the ring with a new theme song. She suffered a fractured mandible during a match with Victoria, but was victorious despite the injury.
On the July 9, 2007 edition of RAW, Phoenix returned as a heel when Melina claimed she was "injured" and needed a replacement as Jillian Hall's tag team partner. At the SummerSlam pay-per-view, Phoenix won the Interpromotional Diva Battle Royal to become the #1 Contender for Candice Michelle's WWE Women's Championship. Phoenix has since asserted her dominance over the WWE Divas, destroying the likes of Maria, Mickie James, Jillian Hall and Candice Michelle.
