SAN DIEGO – Before an electrifying capacity crowd at One Night Stand, The Glamazon Beth Phoenix beat Melina, making her utter two of the most demoralizing words a Superstar can say in the squared circle: “I quit.”

It was the first time in WWE history that Divas competed in an “I Quit” Match, a contest that is decided when one of the Superstars makes her opponent say “I quit”. Both Divas knew full well that such a hard fought contest could only be won by the woman who wanted it more.

The decision to have this extreme contest was a question of pride. After losing the Women’s Championship to Mickie James, Phoenix - one of the most dominant Divas WWE has seen in some time - has been more ferocious than even in her quest to get the gold back. Melina, a former ally to The Glamazon, got in the way of that pursuit when she accidentally hit Phoenix with a boot last month, costing her the rematch with the Women’s Champion.

The match itself was extremely brutal, incorporating one vicious hold after another that could have made either of the sultry former Women’s Champions emerge as the winner. However, in the end, fate picked The Glamazon. Melina struggled heroically, only submitting when Phoenix applied a devastating modified choke hold, a dangerous maneuver that is legal in an “I Quit” Match.

Could such an impressive win be enough to earn Phoenix another rematch for the Women’s Title? Or will it make her the most eligible Diva in the upcoming WWE Draft? One thing’s for sure, Beth Phoenix wants the championship back. And if The Glamazon has anything to say about it, Mickie James is destined to feel her wrath.

Paul Heyman has posted a new column on TheSun.co.uk where he talks about wrestlings most under-utilized talents. He talks about Beth as one of them. Below is what he had to say.

By PAUL HEYMAN
Published: Today

YOU see them all the time. Wrestlers that should be much bigger superstars than they are. Held back by politics, stupidity, lack of writers’ understanding and sometimes even their own devices and demons.

They’re called “underutilized talents,” but every now and then the miracle occurs and you see someone bust through the parameters under which he or she works.

I’ve seen it happen, up close and personal. With Steve Austin, the time he was released by WCW and was given the forum to express himself in the original ECW. With Mick Foley, when he agreed to turn heel on the fans and cut some of the most memorable promos of this or any other generation. And even with Brian Pillman, when he stopped settling for upper mid card and wanted to be the talk of the industry.

These are, in my opinion, the Top 5 most underutilized talents in pro wrestling today.

Let the debate begin!

NUMBER 4 - BETH PHOENIX

It doesn’t matter that she’s already been WWE women’s champion, the audience hasn’t even had a taste of what this phenomenal athlete is capable of.

I think Beth’s ring skills are deteriorating because she’s not being allowed to work up to her potential. WWE should bring in opponents for Beth to squash every week.

There are plenty of women wrestlers in the Shimmer group, the West Coast indies, even in Mexico to feed to Beth.

Then, in due time, when someone finally steps up to her, the audience would be craving to pay to see WWE’s heel version of Gina Carano get chopped down to size.

The WWE’s women’s division lacks a long term vision, and Beth has been rushed into programs that just fill the female-segment on Raw, reminding one of the old adage about “leaving a lot of money on the table”.

You can read the full column on The Sun’s website, here.

Mickie: The ultimate Triple Threat
By: Kara A. Medalis
May 18, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. – Mickie James was the ultimate Triple Threat Diva at Judgment Day, when she retained the Women’s Championship against Beth Phoenix and Melina. While James came out on top, Phoenix and Melina – both former Women’s Champions – were skilled, powerful challengers for her.

Melina was still seething over Monday’s Raw, when her former ally, Phoenix, brutally attacked her in the locker room as Jillian looked on. While Melina was out for revenge against The Glamazon, she also had the women’s title set in her eyes. But Phoenix, who was also seeking to regain the Women’s Championship, physically dominated much of the Judgment Day Triple Threat Match.

At one point, The Glamazon dexterously and mightily held both James and Melina above her head for several moments. However, Phoenix’s strength could only carry her so far. After Melina knocked The Glamazon out of the ring, James capitalized on the one-on-one situation she had with Melina. The swift Women’s Champion hit Melina with a thunderous DDT and pinned her for the win.

While a vengeful Melina and a dominant Phoenix were fierce competitors for James, the crafty Women’s Champion’s clever thinking and quick moves were exactly what she needed to retain her gold at Judgment Day.

Glamazon Beth Phoenix offers her fit tips for National Women’s Health Week.

WWE Divas are not only the Sexiest Women on Television, they’re some of the healthiest, too. May 11 through 17 is the 9th annual National Women’s Health Week in the United States. To mark the occasion, five Divas will offer WWE.com readers advice on health and wellness each day this week through Friday.

Wednesday, May 14: Beth Phoenix’s tips for Glama-fans

The Glamazon sets the bar very high for the female body. I do have the most incredible physique of all the Divas, so I’m sure everybody is asking the question, “How can I look like you, Beth Phoenix?” Other than eating a healthy, clean, natural diet, women shouldn’t be intimidated to get into the gym to lift some weights. I know some women are afraid that if they weight train they are going to gain bulk and get really muscular and heavy. But that only happens to Glamazons. As far as weight training, it strengthens your bones, gives you healthy muscles and protects your joints.

I recommend that women eat healthy, weight train, do some cardiovascular training and as far as mental health goes, I think taking a break is important, too. Over-training can be a problem. It can definitely set you back farther than it can set you ahead. So definitely take that time to relax, kick your feet up and bask in the glow of all your hard work.

Read the rest of the article, with tips from other divas here.

[View Slideshow Images]

BETH Phoenix wants her belt back.

The most dominant athlete to grace the WWE women’s division since Chyna, The Glamazon lost her championship in a shock upset to Mickie James two weeks ago over here in England.

But as the WWE’s website states: “The loss of the women’s title has seemed not only to reignite her fire but also to prove that Phoenix is capable of rising from the ashes of adversity again and again.”

And if you’re a fan waiting for the Diva to regain what’s rightfully hers then you’ll love clicking through the sexy slideshow below.

By the time you’re finished we wouldn’t bet against Phoenix having the gold back around her waist.

BALTIMORE – The Glamazon has proven that she’s not one to be forgotten, as the former Women’s Champion and her five-Diva crew came out on top at Backlash in the first-ever 12-Diva Tag Team Match.

With the help of Natalya, Jillian, Melina, Victoria and Layla, Beth Phoenix dominated the thrilling tag match and picked up the pinfall over Ashley. But Phoenix and friends’ victory was far from easy. During the sexiest match at Backlash, the Divas’ battle turned into absolute pandemonium as the 12-woman fight raged on outside of the ring.

In Mickie James’ corner, Michelle McCool’s rivalry with Phoenix escalated early, as the All-American Girl – who was Yahoo!’s No. 1 search on Saturday – looked to once again prove James deserved to win the Women’s Championship, just less than two weeks ago at Raw. Meanwhile, on Phoenix’s side, WWE’s newest Diva, Natalya, made her pay-per-view debut at the 1st Mariner Arena and showed plenty of power alongside her SmackDown cohort, Victoria.

Throughout the 12-Diva Tag Team Match, McCool, Maria, Cherry, Kelly Kelly, Ashley and Women’s Champ James demonstrated that they are forces to be reckoned with in the Divas’ roster. Ashley looked like she’d never back down or give up against The Glamazon. But Phoenix showed that while she might not hold Women’s gold, she’s still a dominant Diva as she forcefully drove her team to victory at Backlash.

“Age of Orton” secure against fatal four?
WWE Champion Randy Orton will put the gold on the line at Backlash in a Fatal Four Way Match against challengers who have all held the title before - Triple H, JBL and John Cena. The match is unique in that Orton does not have to be pinned to lose his title, giving him just a 1-in-4 chance of walking out of Backlash still champion.

Orton’s fellow Superstars, and former opponents alike, all agree that the Fatal Four Way would normally favor the challengers, but as WWE.com found out, Orton’s strategy in the ring may give him the edge.

Beth Phoenix
“Well I would have to say that Randy Orton has three hungry lions on his tail. I’d definitely say he’s at a disadvantage, seeing how he doesn’t have to get pinned to lose his championship. However, he hasn’t been champion all this time for nothing. I think Orton is smart, and I think he’s going to come prepared. My prediction is that Randy Orton is going to retain the WWE Championship.”

Paws-tively preposterous or purr-fect? Divas weigh-in on pet shoes
By: Kara A. Medalis
Written: April 16, 2008

It’s no secret many of the Divas are fond of man’s best friend. Maria totes around her Chihuahua, Gemini, in his own special bag; Lena Yada is in love with her rescue mutts, Kiba and Kiara; and Torrie Wilson’s Maltese, Chloe, has even seen WWE ring time.

In Germany, police dogs now wear booties while on duty, protecting the public. The Divas will go to any length to love and protect their pooches (and in some cases, kitties), but would they outfit their four-legged friends in shoes?

Beth Phoenix, whose pets include Sonya the German Shepard and “Glamadog” Hope, a Yorkshire Terrier, believes that every precaution should be taken when it comes to protecting working dogs.

“You know, it may look a little bit silly, but if it avoids an injury to the dog, I support it. But the big question is, are the shoes cute? Do they have diamonds on them? Is there something sparkly?” she laughed.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Such a conflict was destined to happen. Ashley braves Survivor: China. Maria dumps Santino Marella in order to prove her independence. WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix makes bold statements to WWE.com that she would “raise the bar on all standards for women,” with former Women’s Champion Melina by her side. Tonight, supervised by the Master of Ceremonies, Snoop Dogg himself, the rivalry between these four Divas exploded in the stunning BunnyMania Lumberjack Match.

The Glamazon has been virtually unstoppable since capturing the Women’s Championship at last year’s No Mercy. Both she and Melina harbored a great deal of resentment over the recent attention Maria has been receiving as the newest Playboy cover girl. Then, when another former Women’s Champion and fellow Playboy cover girl, Candice Michelle, was forced to withdraw from the match due to injury, Ashley stepped in to fill her BunnyMania shoes.

Even though on paper the odds were seemingly stacked against the Playboy-duo, Ashley and Maria were not about to lie down, not on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Trading blows with The Glamazon, and using acrobatic maneuvers to stifle Melina, were enough to keep the beautiful tag team in the match — with a little help and distraction from Jerry “The King” Lawler who punched Santino Marella at ringside.

If the action inside the ring wasn’t enough, the battle only intensified outside of it, where the rest of the Divas stood ready. In the midst of it all, it was hard for the combatants, let alone the capacity crowd of the Citrus Bowl, to maintain focus as the dazzling collaboration of Raw, SmackDown and ECW Divas worked their way into the Lumberjack Match.

In the end, Maria and Ashley looked as if they would be able to beat the odds. While Ashley propelled herself into Melina outside the ring, Maria had the champion pinned. However, it was not to be. Thanks to Santino’s interference and a fisherman’s suplex, The Glamazon was able to sneak out the win.

But the real show came after the bell. After Snoop Dogg delivered a much-deserved shot to Santino, Maria returned the favor by giving him a passionate, much-deserved kiss. Will the WWE Diva ever be the same again?