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Sable (wrestler)

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Rena Mero
Born (1967-08-08) August 8, 1967 (age 57)
Jacksonville, Florida[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Sable
Billed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2]
Billed weight118[2] - 127 lb[3]
Billed fromJacksonville, Florida
Debut1996
Retired2004

Rena Mero Lesnar (born Rena Greek August 8 1967) is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment as the buxom Sable character.

Before gaining popularity in the world of sports entertainment, Mero worked as a model for L'Oréal, Pepsi, and Guess?. Along with her second husband Marc Mero, she began working for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1996. As Sable, she was one of the first WWE Divas, she gained considerable popularity, surpassing that of her husband.[4] After feuding with Sunny, Luna Vachon, and Jacqueline Moore, Sable became the second WWF Women's Champion after the title was reinstated into the company. After becoming a heel and leaving the company, Mero filed a $110 million lawsuit against the company, citing allegations of sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions.[5][6][7]

In 2003, she returned to the newly renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where she was put into a storyline feud with Torrie Wilson, and another storyline as Vince McMahon's mistress. In 2004, she left the company to spend more time with her family.[8] After leaving WWE, Mero married Brock Lesnar.

Outside of wrestling, Mero has been featured on the cover of Playboy three times.[4] The April 1999 issue of the magazine with her on the cover was one of the highest selling issues in Playboy history.[1] She has also guest starred on several television series, including Pacific Blue.[9] She also appeared in the film Corky Romano.[10]

Early life

Rena Greek was born in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] She was active in her youth and was interested in activities such as gymnastics, horseback riding, and softball. After winning her first beauty pageant at twelve years of age, she eventually became a model in 1990, working with companies such as L'Oréal, Pepsi, and Guess?.[1][10]

Greek married Wayne Richardson in 1986. The couple had a daughter named Mariah in 1988.[3][1] The two remained married until Richardson died in a drunk-driving accident in 1991.[3] She met her second husband, professional wrestler and former boxer Marc Mero, who had been performing in World Championship Wrestling as "Johnny B. Badd", in 1993.[1] Mero also had breast augmentation surgery in 1993 to increase her self-esteem.[3][1] After marrying Marc Mero in the following year,[1] she broke into the wrestling business through the World Wrestling Federation.

World Wrestling Federation

1996–1998

Rena Mero made her World Wrestling Federation debut as Sable at WrestleMania XII in March 1996, escorting Hunter Hearst Helmsley to the ring as he took on the returning The Ultimate Warrior.[4][5] Rena's first major angle as Sable involved her then real-life husband, who debuted at WrestleMania XII as "Wildman" Marc Mero. After witnessing Sable being kayfabe mistreated by Helmsley backstage, the "Wildman" attacked Helmsley and took Sable as his manager.[4] She remained Mero's manager until his injury in 1997. Between 1997 and the time he returned from his injury in 1998, Sable became popular on her own.[4] In her next storyline, a returning Marc Mero (now known as "Marvelous" Marc Mero) became jealous, refused to let Sable get any of the spotlight, and mistreated her. The duo entered into a feud with Luna Vachon and The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust, which climaxed in a match at WrestleMania XIV. Sable delivered a superkick to Goldust and executed a "Sable Bomb", a version of the powerbomb, on Luna. She also delivered a TKO and pinned Luna to finish the match, with the crowd chanting Sable's name in the background.[11] At the following pay-per-view event, Unforgiven, Sable lost to Luna in an Evening Gown match after being distracted by Marc Mero.[12]

After Marc's interference at Unforgiven, Sable came to the ring and challenged Marc to a match. Sable then kicked him in the groin and delivered a Sable Bomb to get revenge.[4] Sable eventually broke away from "Marvelous" Marc Mero, who debuted Jacqueline as his new manager, resulting in a storyline feud between the two women.[4] The two met in a bikini contest in July at Fully Loaded. Sable, only wearing impressions of hands painted on her exposed breasts, won the contest.[13] The next night on RAW however, Vince McMahon disqualified Sable from the previous night's contest since she did not actually wear a bikini, and the match was then awarded to Jacqueline. In response, Sable gave McMahon the double finger.[14] At SummerSlam, Sable and her mystery partner, federation newcomer Edge, defeated Marc Mero and Jacqueline in a mixed tag team match.[11]

Sable and Jacqueline faced off for the newly reinstated WWF Women's Title on the September 21 1998 edition of RAW. Jacqueline claimed the title after Marc Mero interfered.[15] On November 15 1998 at Survivor Series, she dropped the title to Sable, who won after powerbombing both Marc and Jacqueline during the match.[4][11] During this time, Rena had a guest appearance on an episode of the USA Network show Pacific Blue.[9] Sable then briefly entered a storyline where she was forced to play a subservient role to Vince and Shane McMahon, but the storyline was cut short.

Heel turn (1999)

In 1999, as part of a new storyline, Sable was attacked by a masked woman named Spider Lady, who turned out to be Luna. Sable defeated Luna in a Strap match at the Royal Rumble after an assist from a planted female Sable fan, WWF newcomer Tori.[11] Tori's debut signified a change in Sable's persona. After the Rumble, Rena (under her Sable ring name) was featured as the cover girl for the April 1999 issue of Playboy.[4][9] The issue was one of the highest selling issues of Playboy ever.[1] Surrounding the release of the issue, the Sable character turned heel by "going Hollywood" and having an inflated ego.[1] Rarely defending her title, Sable continually berated her fan Tori, and she feuded with both Tori and Luna Vachon (who had turned face). She debuted a new catch phrase: "This is for all the women who want to be me and all the men who come to see me" and a dance move called "the grind."[2][4] The feud with Tori led to a match at WrestleMania XV.[1] During the contest, Nicole Bass debuted as Sable's bodyguard and helped Sable win the match.[16]

Sable went on with Nicole Bass making Bass do all of her dirty work. Sable continued to hold the championship for almost 6 months, but on May 10 1999, Debra "won" the Women's Championship from Sable in an Evening Gown match. Normally in an Evening Gown match, the winner is the woman who forcibly removes her opponent's dress, which Sable did. As part of the storyline, WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels, however, ruled that the woman who had lost her dress was the winner, making Debra the new Women's Champion. Off-screen, Sable was in a dispute with the WWF, which is why she was stripped of the title on-screen.[3]

Post-WWF career (1999–2001)

In June 1999, Rena Mero quit the WWF and filed a $110 million lawsuit against the company, citing allegations of sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions.[5][6][7] She claims to have filed the lawsuit after refusing to go topless.[3] During the course of the lawsuit, Vince McMahon counter-sued Rena over control of the stagename "Sable".[16] Mero reduced the amount she was seeking in damages, and they eventually settled out of court in August 1999.[5] Rena Mero used her real name for her appearance in the September 1999 issue of Playboy.[3] She was the first woman in history to be given two Playboy covers in the same year.[2][3] After her WWF exit, she made an on-camera appearance as an audience member on World Championship Wrestling's Nitro.[17][18]

During this time, Rena made appearances on The Howard Stern Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She also made appearances on television shows such as Relic Hunter and First Wave and in the films Corky Romano as a female bouncer and Ariana's Quest.[10] She released her autobiography, entitled Undefeated in August 2000. She also released a comic book entitled The 10th Muse starring herself as a superhero.[10][19] In May 2001, Mero was given an advice column on CompuServe.[10] On November 13 and November 14 2001, she appeared as the on-camera "CEO" of the newly formed X Wrestling Federation (XWF), but these were her only appearances with the company.[11]

Return to WWE (2003–2004)

Sable in 2003

Rena returned to the World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) on the April 3 2003 episode of SmackDown!, reprising her role as Sable. Sable continued as a heel and spent several months in a storyline with new Playboy covergirl Torrie Wilson. Sable followed Torrie down to her matches, talked with her backstage, and on one occasion, she left Torrie in a tag match alone to fend for herself. Sable eventually challenged Wilson to a showdown bikini contest at Judgment Day. After Sable got the bigger applause, Torrie removed another layer of clothing, and Special Guest Referee Tazz declared Torrie the winner. After the match, Torrie went up to Sable and kissed her before exiting the ring. Sable then had an altercation with the guest judge Tazz, dumping water on him on the following edition of SmackDown!, as a means of gaining revenge for declaring Wilson the winner.[20]

Sable then feuded with Stephanie McMahon in a storyline where she was Vince McMahon's mistress.[5] Vince appointed Sable as Stephanie McMahon's personal assistant against Stephanie's will, sparking the feud between the duo. During the feud, they competed in several catfights, a food fight, a parking lot brawl, and a match where Sable bashed a clipboard over Stephanie's head. At Vengeance, Sable defeated Stephanie after interference by her new ally, A-Train. At SummerSlam, Sable accompanied A-Train in his match against The Undertaker, which he lost. After the match, The Undertaker held Sable so that Stephanie could use a Spear attack on her. After SummerSlam, Mr. McMahon and Sable focused on getting rid of Stephanie for good, so Vince made an "I Quit" match at No Mercy. In the match, Sable slapped Stephanie and was attacked by Linda McMahon. She also handed Vince the lead pipe that he used to choke Stephanie out for the win.[11]

Sable briefly became a face again when she appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine for the third time in her career. On the cover, she appeared with fellow diva Torrie Wilson, making them the first WWE Divas to pose in Playboy together. Surrounding the release of the cover, the duo feuded with RAW divas Stacy Keibler and Miss Jackie, even though all four women were faces at the time. The two teams squared off at WrestleMania XX in an Interpromotional Tag Team Evening Gown match, but the divas started the match in their underwear, making it more of a lingerie match.[11] Sable and Wilson were victorious.[5] The change was rumored to have occurred because Sable had suffered damage to her breast.[21]

Following WrestleMania XX, Sable quickly turned heel again and engaged in another short feud with Torrie Wilson. The feud culminated in a match at The Great American Bash, which Sable won. Sable's final appearance in WWE was on SmackDown! when she, Dawn Marie, and Torrie Wilson accompanied Eddie Guerrero to the ring in his lowrider. On August 10 2004, WWE's official website announced that Rena Mero and WWE had parted ways.[21] Mero claimed that she left the company to spend more time with her family.[8]

After wrestling

Mero, along with Brock Lesnar, appeared at several New Japan Pro Wrestling shows after her WWE release. After Rena and Marc Mero became officially divorced in 2004, she began dating Lesnar, whom she became engaged to later that year. The engagement was called off in early 2005, but they were engaged again in January 2006. They eventually married.[8] It was reported by Yahoo! Sports that they were no longer married;[22] however, this was proven to be false in a recent interview with Sable in which she confirmed they are still married.[8]

In wrestling

  • Entrance theme
    • Mero used various versions of the theme "Wildcat" throughout her entire WWF career. The theme, known for the growling and roar of a "wildcat" and the sound of a whip cracking, is available on several WWF/WWE theme music albums: WWE Anthology, WWF The Music: Volume 2, and WWF The Music: Volume 3.

Championships and accomplishments

  • Cover Girl (3 times)[4]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Tim Baines (March 21, 1999). "Sable-mania: Wrestling's sexiest star talks about her life inside the ring and out". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  2. ^ a b c d Bill Reed (June 14, 2003). "Wrestling diva Sable's adoring fans turn out to meet their minx". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Marlene Habib (August 11, 1999). "Mero gets physical". Canadian Press. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Sable's Alumni Profile". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Jason Clevett (August 11, 2004). "WWE, Sable part ways". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  6. ^ a b TJ Madigan (August 14, 2004). "Sable released by WWE". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  7. ^ a b "Sable Blows Her Top". People. February 23, 1999. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  8. ^ a b c d Scott Fishman (October 20, 2007). "Rena enjoys home life". Miami Herald. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  9. ^ a b c Greg Oliver (January 11, 1999). "Sable looks beyond wrestling". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  10. ^ a b c d e Business Wire (May 16, 2001). "'Top Net Knockout' Rena Mero Launches Exclusive Advice Column On CompuServe". Retrieved 2008-01-21. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Online World of Wrestling: Sable's profile". Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  12. ^ John Powell (April 27, 1998). "McMahon, the real star of Unforgiven". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  13. ^ John Powell (July 27, 1998). "Austin and Taker win tag team gold". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  14. ^ "CRZ.net: RAW 27 July 1998". {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "CRZ.net: RAW 21 September 1998". Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  16. ^ a b "Official Women of Wrestling: Sable 1999 Updates". Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  17. ^ Steve Anderson (August 2000). "Wrestling's Biggest Scandals". Wrestling Digest. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  18. ^ "Rena Mero chat". SLAM! Wrestling. May 11, 2000. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  19. ^ "WOLFMAN TAG TEAMS WITH RENA MERO ON '10TH MUSE'". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2006-07-11.
  20. ^ "SmackDown! Results: May 22, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  21. ^ a b ""Official Women of Wrestling: Sable, 2004 Updates"". Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  22. ^ Kevin Iole (May 14, 2007). "The Big Debut". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2007-05-14. Lesnar, who was married briefly to Rena Mero...

References

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