Guide Note

The term "WWE Divas" refers to the female talent in World Wrestling Entertainment, which include wrestlers, valets, interviewers and ring announcers.

Fast Facts

1. First popular WWE Diva: Sunny
2. Divas have posed in Playboy Magazine since 1999
3. First Diva to pose for Playboy: Sable
4. WWE holds a "Diva Search" every summer
5. Divas have annual photo shoots for WWE Magazine

Though women have been a part of the WWE for decades (usually as valets), Tammy "Sunny" Sytch's arrival in 1995 marked the start of the WWE's focus on their sexuality. Sytch would become one of the most downloaded people on the Internet in the mid-1990s, and that success would continue with future WWE female personalities.

When the WWE gained more popularity in the late '90s, they hired more women--now called "divas"--like Lita, Stacy Keibler and Trish Stratus, who is considered by many fans to be one of the best female wrestlers of her time.

In 1999, Rena "Sable" Mero posed for Playboy Magazine, and a WWE Diva has posed for the magazine almost annually ever since.

Joanie "Chyna" Laurer followed Mero in 2000, as did Torrie Wilson, Christy Hemme, Candice Michelle, Ashley Massaro and Maria Kanellis in subsequent years. Of those, only Mero, Laurer and Michelle have won the WWE Women's Championship.