Stacy Keibler arguably found more success outside of the ring than in it, which led to Mick Foley intervening to prevent her from gaining backstage heat.
Originally known as Miss Hancock, Stacy Kiebler enjoyed a seven-year career in pro wrestling, spanning both WWE and WCW. Typically serving in non-wrestling roles, such as a valet or Vince McMahon’s personal assistant, Keibler was deemed WWE’s Babe of the Year in 2004, two years before she retired.
Owing to her stature and unusually long legs, Stacy Keibler would have thrived in the modern-day WWE but when she was around, women’s wrestling wasn’t best received. Instead of wrestling clinics, she was tasked with participating in all manner of demeaning stipulation matches, including Evening Gown and Mud Wrestling matches.
When she appeared on the second season of Dancing With The Stars in 2006, during which time she decided to leave WWE altogether, it nearly caused backstage heat for the Marylander. As discussed on Foley Is Pod, it was Mick Foley who helped prevent this:
“The only time I’ve ever gotten into an argument with Jonathan Coachman is where he said something dismissive of Stacy Keibler. ‘I guess she thinks she’s too big for WWE.’ This is after she did Dancing With The Stars. And I would sometimes dress with the announcers, and I cut a little bit of a promo, you know. Coach, you get your insurance paid, you get your travel expenses paid, the women are expected to look great at all times.
They’re expected to have far more outfits than the men are. And they’re travelling the world and they’re international superstars making 120 grand a year after taxes. They’re pulling in, like what people are making, not to knock a normal job, but you’re out there and you’re travelling the world and you’re saving maybe 15, 20 grand at the end of the year.”
Stacy Keibler wrestled a total of 74 matches throughout her career, culminating in a loss to Jillian Hall in a match aired 29 October 2005. She is perhaps best remembered for serving as the valet for The Dudley Boyz, Test, Rosey and The Hurricane, and others.
Keibler has made just two WWE appearances since, first guest starring on a 2011 episode of Tough Enough, and then inducting Torrie Wilson into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019.