10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE In 2009

9. WWE Release Candice Michelle Because Of 'Weight Issue'

It's not news to anyone reading that WWE places a lot of importance on the way their performers look. To be a WWE superstar, you have to have a certain physical appearance. The company prioritises the physically fit and athletic looking wrestlers because they look 'better' on TV. If you're a male WWE superstar then Vince and co. want you to be as ripped or jacked as you can be. If you're a WWE diva, you better count your calories and make sure you stay as thin as you can be. If you don't, it could have major consequences, as Candice Michelle found out in 2009. Michelle was, at one point, one of Vince and the creative team's favourite divas but by June 2009 she had outstayed her welcome and was released. The reason? Despite being injury-prone and not all that great in the ring, what did her in was that she apparently gained some weight during a period of recovery. The consensus backstage was that Michelle was not somebody who had a naturally thing body and had to work very hard to attain the 'WWE diva look'. Several photos surfaced online showing a heavier Candice and so the company decided to cut her, thinking that the 30-year-old was fighting a losing battle against her genetics. Manu (of Legacy 'fame') was also released due to weight issues in 2009.