Hemme at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan, October 17, 2009
Ring name(s) Christy Hemme
Christy
Kristy Hemme
Billed height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Billed weight 116 lb (53 kg)
Born October 28, 1980 (age 31)
Poway, California
Resides Los Angeles, California
Billed from Los Angeles, California
Trained by Dave Finlay
Dean Malenko
Ricky Steamboat
Scott D'Amore
A.J. Styles
Lita
Debut 2005
Christina Lee "Christy" Hemme (born October 28, 1980) is an American professional wrestling valet, retired professional wrestler, and former model and singer currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling performing as ring announcer and interviewer.
Early life
Hemme was born in Poway, California, but she grew up in Temecula, California. She enjoyed racing street bikes and dirt bikes. She was a "self-described" tomboy. She grew up watching wrestling and favored The Undertaker.
She was a cheerleader for two years at Temecula Valley High. She graduated in 1998 at age seventeen. Hemme attended Mt. San Jacinto College, where she majored in dance.
Modeling career
After graduating, she relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in modeling. Hemme initially joined a burlesque dance team known as "The Purrfect Angelz". She performed at Easyrider tours and Harley motorcycle rallies. She went on to appear in magazines such as Maxim, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and Stuff. In addition, she appeared in the music video of the Trace Adkins songs "Chrome", and "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" and in videos for bands Blink-182 and Sonic. She also had parts in commercials for AT&T and TrimSpa, and she was a spokesmodel for Hawaiian Tropic. Other early jobs included a waitressing job at Hooters.
In past years, her image has also been found on Bench Warmer trading cards as Christy "Sunni" Hemme. As Sunni, she was Bullz-eye.com's featured model in September 2002. Her modeling career led to her joining the cast of Comedy Central's The Man Show as a member of the "Juggy Dance Squad" in 2003. Hemme remained with the series for a year, during which she appeared on The Commies, a Comedy Central produced award show, on December 7, 2003.
Hemme took part in the 2004 Lingerie Bowl. She appeared on the cover of the April 2005 issue of Playboy magazine. Before appearing nude in the magazine, Hemme got the permission of her father, who had previously requested that she never pose nude. She also competed as a quarterback for the Chicago Bliss Lingerie Football League team in the 2006 Lingerie Bowl.
Professional wrestling career
Christy Hemme during her time with WWE
In the mid-2004, Hemme participated in the Diva Search, a competition held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in order to recruit new Divas. In the course of the competition, Hemme and the five other finalists faced seven existing Divas in a game of dodgeball at SummerSlam on August 15, eliminating all eight Divas with the loss of just one finalist, Joy Giovanni. Hemme was announced as the winner of the competition on September 20, with a prize of a one year contract with WWE with remuneration of $250,000. Hemme began her WWE career as a member of the Raw roster. She quickly began a feud with Carmella DeCesare, the runner-up of the Diva Search. The feud culminated in a "lingerie pillow fight" at Taboo Tuesday on October 19, with Hemme defeating her opponent by pinfall.
Following her feud with DeCesare, Hemme began a rivalry with WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus. Stratus along with Molly Holly and Gail Kim threw Hemme an initiation party but, it soon turned into a 3-on-1 Bra and Panties Handicap match, Hemme was easily beaten. Stratus was ostensibly scornful of Hemme's appearance in the April 2005 issue of Playboy. Stratus interrupted Hemme's Playboy unveiling and spray painted all over the cover, Hemme responded by slapping her, this resulted in Stratus delivering a Chick Kick to her and spraying the word Slut on her back. Hemme eventually challenged Stratus to a match at WrestleMania 21, with Stratus's nemesis Lita training her in the weeks preceding the event. At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, Stratus defeated Hemme to retain her title. In the months after WrestleMania, Hemme began another feud with Victoria, who claimed to be jealous of the opportunities afforded to Hemme. The feud culminated in a bout at Vengeance on June 26, which Victoria won after countering Hemme's sunset flip move by using the ropes to pin Hemme. With her feud with Victoria over, Hemme briefly aligned herself with Eugene before she and Stacy Keibler were traded to SmackDown! in exchange for Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson on August 25. Hemme then feuded with Melina, the valet of MNM, in the process joining forces with the Legion of Doom. At No Mercy on October 9, Hemme and the Legion of Doom defeated MNM in a six-person intergender tag team match. Her feud with Melina continued into November, with Melina defeating Hemme in two televised singles bouts.
Ohio Valley Wrestling and departure (2005)
On November 30, Hemme debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory, aligning herself with Matt Cappotelli in opposition to Aaron Stevens, Beth Phoenix, and Shelly Martinez. On December 5, 2005 she was released from her WWE contract. The release happened shortly after WWE asked her to relocate to Louisville, Kentucky to train at OVW. The company cited budget cuts and the creative team having nothing for her as the reason for her dismissal.
Years later in November 2008 in her column for TNAwrestling.com Hemme stated her departure from WWE was on her own terms because: "I stuck to my guns on my morals and values as a human being. I knew in my gut that it would be the end, but I also knew that carrying guilt for knowingly doing something against what I believed wasn't worth getting ahead. Leaving broke my heart... but doing the right thing is something I will always be proud of."
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2006 - present)
Managing (2006–2008)
Main article: The Rock 'n Rave Infection
Hemme signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in April 2006, and she debuted on April 23 at Lockdown. In addition to her hosting role on Impact!, she was also the co-host of the Internet show TNA Global Impact! with Jeremy Borash. At Hardcore War, Hemme refereed a match between Traci and Gail Kim. In July 2006, she was featured on the Women of Action special. She also began traveling to Windsor, Ontario to train under TNA agent Scott D'Amore in between TNA TV tapings. She was also Knockout of the Year for 2006.
Christy Hemme at an impact! taping in Orlando, Florida
On January 14, 2007 at Final Resolution, Christy came out and interrupted the Voodoo Kin Mafia (VKM) and cut a promo about the involvement of women in wrestling. She said that she wanted to wrestle too—and the mostly male crowd in the TNA arena jeered her. Kip James called her a slut, which garnered him a slap from Hemme, while B.G. James attempted to play peacemaker. In the following weeks, Kip and Hemme got into a few arguments over his lack of respect for her and women as a whole. Hemme made her TNA in-ring debut at Against All Odds where she wrestled and defeated "The Big Fat Oily Guy" in a Tuxedo match, but after his match Kip James stripped her. On the March 8 version of Impact, Hemme asked Jim Cornette for a match pitting VKM against her new, previously undisclosed, team, at Destination X. Cornette consented and booked the match. On the pay-per-view, Hemme introduced The Heartbreakers. Despite Hemme's attempts to give Kip a low blow, VKM defeated her team, who she later browbeat at ringside. Hemme later announced that she had found another team to face the VKM. At the preshow prior to the Lockdown pay-per-view, the mystery team was revealed to be Serotonin (Havok and Kaz), but VKM defeated them as well. She then brought in Basham and Damaja as her new permanent tag team in her battle with VKM. They beat Kip in a handicap match at Sacrifice as B.G. had been attacked by them earlier in the night. At Slammiversary, VKM beat Basham and Damaja, but VKM's associate Lance Hoyt turned on them and kissed Hemme.
Basham and Damaja were then released from the company, and Hoyt formed a partnership with Jimmy Rave, named The Rock 'n Rave Infection, with Hemme as their manager. In the winter of 2007, Hemme, Rave, and Hoyt entered into a feud with The Latin American Xchange (LAX) faction after being attacked several times by a mysterious assailant. The assailant was revealed to be Salinas (Shelly Martinez) at Final Resolution following LAX's victory over the Infection. Shortly after Final Resolution, The Rock 'n Rave Infection began a new gimmick, acting as though they were a rock band with Hemme portraying the lead singer. On the March 13 episode of Impact, Hemme, Rave and Hoyt won a six-person tag team match against LAX after Hemme hit Salinas with a guitar. At No Surrender, Hemme, Hoyt, and Rave lost in an intergender six person tag team match against the Prince Justice Brotherhood (Shark Boy, Curry Man, and Super Eric).
Singles competition (2008–2009)
Hemme being headbutted by Hamada, shortly before her retirement.
Hemme turned into a fan favorite on the October 16, 2008 episode of Impact when she was attacked by The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) backstage. She feuded with them, which resulted in two consecutive tag team matches with ODB and Sojourner Bolt respectively. After showcasing improved wrestling skills, Hemme was then placed into a more active in-ring role, being pushed to challenge Awesome Kong at Final Resolution after defeating Raisha Saeed on the November 27 edition of TNA Impact!. Hemme then teamed with A.J. Styles in a mixed tag team match against Awesome Kong and Scott Steiner, where Hemme pinned Kong. At Final Resolution, it appeared Hemme was about to win the title, but was attacked by Saeed and Rhaka Khan, thus winning on a disqualification. Hemme was then granted a re-match at Genesis. A week later Hemme teamed with ODB against Khan and Saeed in a winning effort. On January 2009, Hemme sustained a neck injury while training in the ring with Styles for her match and would be unable to compete at Genesis against Awesome Kong. Her injury required surgery and she was out of action for about seven months.
Hemme returned to TNA programming on the August 13, 2009 episode of Impact! defeating Sojournor Bolt via pinfall. The next week on Impact she formed an alliance with Tara, when they helped save Madison Rayne from the Beautiful People. Later that night Hemme competed in a four-way match against Sarita, Awesome Kong and Traci Brooks. Brooks won the match after she pinned Hemme. On the September 3 edition of Impact, Hemme competed in the first round of the tournament for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship alongside her tag partner Tara against Sojourner Bolt and Hamada, which Hemme and Tara won. On September 17 they however lost in the semi finals to the Beautiful People due to interference from Madison Rayne. On October 1 on Impact! she faced Traci Brooks in a battle of the playboy playmates which she won, but was attacked by Traci after the match. On the October 29 edition of Impact!, Hemme teamed with Hamada and ODB in a six knockout tag team match, where they were defeated by Madison Rayne, Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich, after Von Erich pinned Hemme. This would turn out to be her final TNA match.
Backstage interviewer and ring announcer (2009–present)
Hemme as ring announcer at Slammiversary IX
On the December 10 edition of Impact! Hemme debuted in her new role as a backstage interviewer. On December 16, 2009, Hemme announced her retirement from in-ring competition after her last match in a gauntlet. On April 7, 2010, Dixie Carter announced on her Twitter account that Hemme had signed a new multi-year deal with the company. On the December 2 edition on Impact! Hemme was involved in a small backstage catfight with Cookie during a brawl with Cookie's cohort X Division Champion Robbie E and Jay Lethal. On the December 16 edition of Impact! Hemme came out during an X Division Championship match between Robbie E and Lethal and handcuffed herself to Cookie, thus preventing her from interfering in the match and subsequently costing Robbie the X Division Championship. After the match Hemme and Lethal celebrated, which led to a kiss between the two. Since the April 28 edition of Impact!, Hemme served in her new role as a ring announcer.
Independent circuit (2006-2007)
In November 2006, Hemme participated in the Queens of Chaos shows in Paris, France. She wrestled two matches with April Hunter; Hemme won the first match, but lost the second. She then defeated British wrestler Minx to earn the right to referee the championship match, which was eventually won by Hunter. On July 21, 2007, Hemme defeated Ann Brookstone at a Heavy on Wrestling event in Superior, Wisconsin with Nora Greenwald acting as Special Guest Referee. She has also competed in Women Superstars Uncensored under the ring name Kristy Hemme.
Music and acting
In September 2006, Hemme recorded a song entitled "Society Box", which was featured on TNA's November 21, 2006 music release, 3rd Degree Burns. Hemme is also the founder and lead singer in HEMME. The band released five songs on their MySpace: "In This Moment", "Visit Me Mom", "Shine", "Dear You", and "Dirty"; the songs have since been removed following the departure of original members Randy "Slick" Ramirez, Steve "Slide" Goodwin, Roland "Rollin" Maniago, and Rocky "Rock" Ramirez, all from the band POLARIS. Christy has now released another song, Don't Give Up on her official Myspace , and a HEMME EP Named "Where are You" which is available on iTunes also featuring Randy "Slick" Ramirez on 3 songs and co-written by. Hemme is Christy Hemme on vocals, Eric "Erock" Friedman on guitar, Tim Miller on bass, and Garrett Whitlock on drums.
In December 2006, Hemme recorded a scene for Bloodstained Memoirs, a wrestling documentary. Her scene can be seen in the special extras of the DVD. Hemme made her acting debut in the film Fallen Angels, portraying the deadly sin "Lust". She also filmed a role in another horror film tentatively titled Bubba's Chili Parlor, playing a zombie.
In November 2010 she was a contestant on an all TNA week of Family Feud, teaming with Angelina Love, Lacey Von Erich, Tara and Velvet Sky against Jay Lethal, Matt Morgan, Mick Foley, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam.
Hemme has a brother, David, and a sister, Deena Hemme, who is also a model. Her father, Robert, owns an insurance agency in her hometown of Temecula. Her mother Susan died in 2002. Christy stated in the DVD Viva Las Divas that the week she won the WWE Raw Diva Search was on the anniversary of her mom's death.
Hemme is an avid motorcyclist. She owns a Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider.
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