Joy Giovanni

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2005)

Giovanni first appeared for the WWE participating in the WWE 2004 Diva Search, where she ultimately placed third. Despite being eliminated, WWE would sign her to an official contract just a few days after her elimination,^[11][12] which aired live on the September 13 episode of RAW.^[13] During the WWE Diva Search, she participated in the WWE Diva Dodgeball game at the WWE 2004 SummerSlam event a part of the winning team, Team Diva Search.^[14][15] She also participated in the controversial, infamous Diss The Diva challenge hosted by Stacy Keibler,^[16][17][18] during an episode of RAW Giovanni alongside remaining diva search contestants; Amy Weber, Carmella DeCesare and Christy Hemme competed in a live shoot promo challenge, the segment has gained notoriety for being one of WWE's most explicit segments in history.^[19][20][21] Giovanni called out contestant Carmella DeCesare stating; "Carmella, you talk a lot of shit, but look at you, you've got a gap so wide you could drive a truck right through there baby!". DeCesare responded by outing Giovanni as a mother, something she had not told WWE higher-ups, as during this time there was a stigma against women having children in the industry. In a 2023 interview Giovanni revealed that she was confronted by Stephanie McMahon backstage about having a child.^[22][23]

Despite being eliminated from The Diva Search, WWE hired Giovanni and she officially debuted on the Smackdown! brand in November 2004 as a massage therapist and also acted as a special guest timekeeper.^[3] On the November 25 episode of Smackdown!, Giovanni and Big Show hosted a Thanksgiving party, only to be confronted by Luther Reigns, who would hit Giovanni in the face with a pie, prompting a food fight in the ring. The following week on Smackdown! she was confronted by Luther Reigns again, who tried to force Giovanni to go on a date with him, causing Big Show to save Giovanni, this prompted Giovanni to become Big Show's valet and on-screen girlfriend accompanying him to the ring, cementing her in the main storyline of Smackdown!. Giovanni began feuding with Amy Weber, they would get in to a catfight on the December 16 episode of Smackdown! after Giovanni gave John "Bradshaw" Layfield a candy cane at ringside.^[13] At Armageddon, Giovanni kissed Big Show wishing him good luck before his handicap match against Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak, which Show won.^[24] On the January 6 episode of Smackdown! Giovanni refused to sign Carlito's petition, resulting in him spitting an apple in her face. On the same episode of Smackdown! Kurt Angle was tricked in to walking in to Giovanni's locker room by Amy Weber, to scare her while she showered which caused Giovanni to run backstage in a towel, in to Big Show's arms. This resulted in Show chasing Angle to the ring in defense of Giovanni and attack him. It was then revealed as a trick by The Cabinet to get Show and Angle angry with each other.^[25] At the Royal Rumble, she was shown arriving to the arena with the Big Show.^[26] On the January 13 episode of Smackdown! Giovanni and Weber would get in to another catfight, Smackdown! general manager Theodore Long would schedule a singles match between Giovanni and Weber, banning Big Show and John "Bradshaw" Layfield from ringside, Giovanni did not show up to the ring for her match therefore losing by forfeit to Weber.^[27] It was then revealed Giovanni was kidnapped by Kurt Angle, after she was discovered bound and gagged in John "Bradshaw" Layfield's limousine trunk to prevent the match from happening.^[28] On the January 20 episode of Smackdown! Angle was forced to issue an open apology to Giovanni, but when Big Show came down to the ring, Angle tried to leave the arena only to be ushered back by The Cabinet, this turned out to be another ploy as Angle and The Cabinet all attacked Big Show. On the January 27 episode of Smackdown! Giovanni threw a strawberry yoghurt in Weber's face after overhearing her badmouthing Giovanni to the other Smackdown! divas. The following week Giovanni hit Weber over the head with a fish bowl and attacked her, resulting in her being removed from the Smackdown! arena.^[29] After Weber's abrupt departure from WWE in February 2005 due to an alleged harassment incident during an overseas tour involving WWE superstars Edge and Randy Orton, their feud was suddenly dropped.^[30][31] Giovanni stated in a 2023 interview with Ring The Belle, that she and Weber were working towards a singles match at the 2005 No Way Out pay-per-view.^[32]

Giovanni went on to win the first and only WWE Rookie Diva of the Year contest, hosted by Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson, at No Way Out, defeating rookie divas; Lauren Jones, Michelle McCool and Rochelle Loewen. The contest included; an evening gown contest, a talent contest, in which she massaged host Torrie Wilson, and a swimsuit contest. Giovanni won with 65% of the votes.^[2] After winning the contest Giovanni and the fellow Smackdown! divas became involved in brief feuds with the villainous Smackdown! divas; Dawn Marie and Melina. At WrestleMania 21 Giovanni appeared in multiple promo videos; including a Taxi Driver parody,^[33] she also accompanied the WWE 2005 Hall of Fame inductees to the WrestleMania stage.

She continued appearing on Smackdown! in backstage segments, bikini contests and lingerie contests, including one on the April 7 episode of Smackdown! where she was the runner-up in the Viva Las Vegas Divas bikini contest to Torrie Wilson. She also began training to wrestle with Fit Finlay and The Undertaker.^[34][35] In May 2005, she featured in a number of backstage segments as the friend of Sharmell comforting her during her feud with Kurt Angle.^[36] Giovanni then became a ring girl, featuring in weekly segments that involved coming out to greet the Smackdown! fans, shooting t-shirts to fans in the audience or venturing in to the crowd to meet fans alongside Torrie Wilson.^[37][38] She then began sporadically appearing at Smackdown! house shows in bikini contests.^[39] She was featured in the direct to DVD WWE Viva Las Divas special and was featured in the WWE 2005 SummerSlam Diva promotional car wash photoshoot.^[6][7] She made her video game debut as a playable wrestler in WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2006.^[40]

Giovanni was released from her contract due to budget cuts on July 6, 2005, despite just signing a 3 year contract with the company.^[41][42][43]

After her WWE stint Giovanni made multiple appearances at wrestling conventions, in 2009, she had a couple appearances at independent wrestling events.^[44] Giovanni and Weber released a DVD with Big Vision Entertainment in 2009 labelled Amy vs. Joy. The DVD focused on their WWE feud and featured bonus interviews and clips, including clips of Giovanni training for an in-ring debut with former WWE superstar and MMA fighter; Daniel Puder.^[45][46]

Sporadic WWE appearances (2009, 2015, 2018)

Giovanni returned at WWE's WrestleMania 25 event, making her official in-ring debut in a 25 Diva battle royal, to determine the first WWE Miss WrestleMania and to celebrate 25 years of women at WrestleMania.^[47] Giovanni was one of the six legend divas to return for one night only alongside; Miss Jackie, Molly Holly, Sunny, Torrie Wilson and Victoria.^[48] Giovanni was eliminated second by The Bella Twins.^[49] She was also in attendance at the WWE 2009 Hall of Fame ceremony.

In 2015, during WrestleMania 31, WWE announced multiple new reality shows set to air on the WWE Network, including a returning Diva Search. The official advertisement video package for the returning Diva Search featured clips of the most successful former Diva Search contestants, including Giovanni. The show was ultimately canceled in late 2015 due to WWE phasing out the term "Diva" that same year.^[50]

In 2018, Giovanni was referenced on the Smackdown! 1000 episode special in a rap celebrating 80 of the most memorable Smackdown! stars by American rapper, Bodie.^[51][52]