Elizabeth Carolan née Elizabeth Kocanski (born on November 24, 1980 in Elmira, New York) is a professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment under a developmental contract. After getting invited to a WWE tryout in May 2004, she began working full time at their developmental area Ohio Valley Wrestling, where she worked as a wrestler as well as a valet for Aaron Stevens along with Shelly Martinez. In October 2005, after working a SHIMMER event she was signed to a developmental contract with WWE.
| Beth Phoenix | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 24, 1980 Elmira, New York |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Beth Phoenix Phoenix Firebird Fabulous Firebird |
| Billed height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Billed weight | 156 lb (71 kg) |
| Billed from | Buffalo, New York, Elmira, New York (in OVW) |
| Trained by | The All Knighters (Joey Knight and Robin Knightwing) OVW |
| Debut | 2000 |
Career
Amateur Wrestling & Turning Pro
Beth began wrestling on the Elmira, New York Notre Dame High School amateur 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 Harts Dungeon, but because of the location she decided on a more local school. At the school she ended up at she was trained by the All Knighters—Joey Knight and Robin Knightwing, who themselves were trained in the Hart Dungeon. She made the rounds competing with various independent companies including a match for the now defunct MadMar Entertainment in which her back was cut open due to a steel chair accidentily cutting her.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Beth Phoenix debuted on the May 8, 2006 episode of RAW attacking Mickie James during her assault on Trish Stratus. After this incident James began berating her for "ruining everything" and questioning why she even showed up in the first place.
A week later, Beth was formally introduced by Trish Stratus and then battered a distracted Mickie on Trish's behalf. When Mickie finally escaped Beth claimed that Mickie had ruined her life and she wouldn't let her get away with it before calling her a psycho. In the following edition of RAW Beth, now an official RAW diva, again attacked the Women's Champion at that time after her match with Torrie Wilson.
On the May 29, 2006 episode of RAW, Beth teamed up with WWE Diva Torrie Wilson to take on Candice Michelle and Victoria. Also, Trish Stratus was in Beth and Torrie's corner and Mickie James was in Candice and Victoria's corner. Beth pinned Candice after a Down In Flames.
The following week, on the June 5, 2006 episode of RAW (in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Beth came out to the ring with a new theme. She suffered a fractured mandible during a match with Victoria (she was victorious despite the injury). The injury required surgery to place a titanium plate into her jaw, which was a success yet still forced her out of action for an estimated two months. On the June 12, 2006 episode of RAW Mickie was interviewed by Todd Grisham and revealed that she and Beth were grade school friends before but Beth started to "become mean". Since then, Beth has not appeared on any RAW shows and her profile has recently been removed from the WWE website.
Return to OVW
On August 16, 2006, Beth returned to action in OVW as the surprise opponent for Serena in a number one contenders match - she was hand picked by OVW women's champion ODB herself to be the opponent. After a distraction from Charles Evans, Phoenix picked up the win hitting Serena with her Down in Flames finisher.
The following week, both Serena & Phoenix wanted a title shot, so ODB said if they can beat her in a tag match, the pinfall winner will receive a shot. Serena won the match for her and Beth's team by pinning newcomer Katie Lea (but only after Beth hit the Down in Flames on Lea and was forced to leave the ring as she wasn't the legal woman in the match). So, in the interest of fairness, the following week, it was announced that there would be a women's battle royal with the title on the line - Beth, Serena, Katie Lea & ODB were the final four women in the ring, with ODB eventually coming out on top.
The following week ODB put her women's title on the line in a four-way that also featured Beth, Serena & Katie Lea. Serena won the match following a spear on ODB, but after the match Phoenix laid out Serena with her newly won belt. At the October 4, 2006 OVW TV Tapings, Beth defeated Serena to capture the OVW Women's Championship. On the November 4 show, Beth lost the OVW women's title to Katie Lea in a gauntlet match - defeating the likes of Roni Jonah, Meloday, Ariel and Jenny Mae first. Lea, Serena, ODB & Beth were the final four in the match with Lea coming out on top.
Phoenix & Lea entered into a feud with each other, with Beth claiming that Lea never defeated her for her title so she was still the champion, Beth even came out with her own version of the OVW women's championship. This brought out Danny Basham (OVW's TroubleShooter), who told Beth her title wasn't real, and that after doing some digging Lea's title wasn't real either, he set a ladder match up where the winner would become the undisputed OVW women's champion, Lea came out ontop in the match, and on the first show of 2007 was presented with the new belt, Phoenix, took the belt from Basham, and after taking a look for herself, handed the Belt to Lea and shook her hand.
Trivia
- She is married to Joey Knight, noted by herself in an interview in November 2005.
- Beth has worked as a heel for most of her career and prefers to work as one.
- Despite popular internet belief, Phoenix has never dated Chris Masters, they worked together in OVW as (kayfabe) boyfriend and girlfriend.
- Phoenix defeated 14 men to become the first and only Female Battle Royal winner in Ontario, Canada.
- Phoenix was Far North Wrestling's First Female Wrestler.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Down In Flames / Sit-Down Slam (Michinoku driver II into pin)
- Beth Valley Driver (Second rope sitout Death Valley driver) - in OVW
- Gorilla press slam
- Texas cloverleaf - in OVW
- Sidewalk slam
- Spear
- Dropkick
- Gutwrench suplex
Championships and accomplishments
- 1-time OVW Women's Champion
- Far North Wrestling
- 1-time FNW cruiserweight champion
- G.L.O.R.Y.
- 1-time G.L.O.R.Y. champion
- Wrestlers managed by Beth Phoenix
- Managers