There are few Divas who caught as much heat for their eventual success as Michelle McCool did. It did not matter how good she eventually became or how much fans could see her improve week after week on SmackDown. Critics and keyboard warriors sitting at home did not care about the fact that her partnership with Layla, dubbed LayCool, had developed into one of the most over heels acts in the entire business. All that mattered was whom McCool shared her bed with at night and what political power he had. Her relationship with The Undertaker took center stage and everything she accomplished during her in-ring career suddenly became attributed to the strings that simply MUST have been pulled for her. Those fans proved their ignorance, refusing to see the rapid development and consistently solid ring work turned in by the leggy Floridian during her time as one of the top female talents on the roster. McCool, a Diva Search 2004 competitor, managed to shake off the preconceived notions of those women by using her previously-documented athleticism to develop into a fairly strong worker. As a babyface, WWE Creative tried to push her as the next top star of the Divas division. Unbeknownst to them at the time, she was a much more natural heel and really delved into that side of her character in late 2008 and early '09, when she turned on Maria Kanellis and became the top baddie on the women's side of the SmackDown roster. Soon after, she partnered up with Layla and formed LayCool, a team of Mean Girl-esque characters who made it their life's mission to not only physically punish their opponents but also mentally, humiliating them whenever the opportunity arose. Mickie James, dubbed "Piggy" by the duo, is all too familiar. Over the course of four years, she captured two Women's Championships, two Divas Championships and was the 2010 Diva of the Year Slammy award winner.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
