Terri Runnels; The Heart & Soul of Monday Night RAW

Hey guys, in the XV year history of RAW, no other woman has been on RAW longer than this next Diva.

and you can't mention Monday Night RAW or WWE RAW Diva w/o mentioning our next Diva

It's time we take a look @ Terri Runnels

She was the longest running Diva on RAW

Whether it was Monday Night RAW from the New Generation Era as a valet
RAW is WAR from the Attitude Era being a competitor
or better known as simply RAW from the Brand Extension Era doing Backstage Interviews

Terri Runnels has been the Heart & Soul of Monday Night Television

Terri Runnels was born Terri Lynn Boatright on October 5, 1966

She was originally a make-up artist for CNN, and worked in the same studios in which episodes of WCW were taped. When WCW was purchased by Ted Turner in 1988, booker Ole Anderson invited her to become part of the roster.

Terri debuted in 1990 as Miss Alexandra York, (a name Terri created at lunch one day with Tony Schiavone) an accountant who led the WCW faction known as the York Foundation.

By that time, Terri met Dustin Rhodes while they were working in WCW, and soon, the couple got married in 1993 and on Valentine's Day 1994 Terri became a proud mother of a beautiful daughter named Dakota Runnels.

But it was in 1996, Terri came to the WWE and debut @ the Royal Rumble, and soon, a legend was born.

Terri debut as Marlena a woman who would always smoke cigarettes and she became the manager of her 1st Husband Dustin Rhodes who would wrestle as Goldust.

By 1998 during the controversial WWE Attitude Era, she would soon end up teaming w/Jackie Moore and Ryan Shamrock better known as Pretty Mean Sisters.

But soon, they would break-up and in 1999 Terri would end up managing Edge and Christian after winning the Terri Invatational Tournament.

In October of 1999 after her 33rd Birthday, Terri and Dustin divorced after 6 years of marriage, but but maintain an amicable relationship for the sake of Dakota.

By 2000, Terri would end up managing Perry Saturn and would soon join The Radicalz which were 4 guys who left WCW.

The group consisted of the late Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn of WCW's short-lived Revolution and the late Eddie Guerrero.

In 2001, The Radicalz broke-up and soon, Terri would end up being the co-host of WWE's Saturday Night Series Excess on The New TNN w/Jonathan Coachman, she replaced Trish Stratus after Trish won the WWE Women's Championship and decided to become a full-time wrestler after the Invasion Era came to an end.

But during the time after Invasion Era, Terri would soon have a mini-feud w/Trish and she would also appear on NBC's The Weakest Link w/Anne Robinson and by April 1, 2002 The Brand Extension was born and Terri would spend the next 2 years on RAW and during that time, Terri would remarry, this time, to Life Coach David Essel in a beach wedding where WWF legend Big Boss Man gave her away, but soon after, she filed for divorce.

During the 1st episode of The Brand Extension Era, Terri would end up having a feud w/Trish in a Paddle on a Pole Match, which Trish would end up being the winner and Molly Holly would soon turn heel.

But after that, Terri would spend the last 2 years as a Backstage Interviewer.

Terri would also appear on WWE Divas Magazines and DVD's since 2001.

Appearing in Tropical Pleasure in 2002 and during that same year, she appeared in the 1st Lingerie DVD and Magazine called Undressed which also became a special on The New TNN.

and in 2003, Terri would appear on Divas Desert Heat DVD and Magazine.

By the time Kane was unmasked in 2003, WWE wanted Terri to train as a wrestler full-time but she declined to train as a full-time wrestler, preferring to act as a manager if possible.

By 2004, it was Terri's Final Year in the WWE, and by April 3, 2004 Terri was granted a release from her WWE contract and parted on good terms.

afterwards she she would make a number of appearances on the independent circuit.

and she also, she had started a program called "Soccertots", a franchised program that uses fun activities to develop physical and mental skills.

In 2007 after the Chris Benoit Steroid Scandal, Terri Runnels was asked in an interview on FOX News if she felt Vince McMahon was to blame for the steroid problem in wrestling and she replied. "Vince McMahon is not a babysitter who tells men and women when to eat, sleep and take a nap, he does not run a day care!" "Vince McMahon employs adults not children, those adults must be responsible for their own actions!"

When asked about her feelings on the wrestling industry she said. "I have seen some negative things in the wrestling business, but also experienced some wonderful memories...very much like what most individuals experience in their everyday lives. I also have made many friends that I hold near and dear to my heart."

Today @ 41 years of age, Terri is now retired full time from wrestling, but she recently came out of retirement and will continue to appear in the Independent Circuits as a valet and she will also be in the UWF shows coming in May.

It will be her 1st time in 3 years.

She also lives in Gainesville, FL with her Daughter Dakota who recently turned 14 years old and is attending school.

She also remains friends w/many wrestlers including Jeff Jarrett as well as Trish Stratus.

When asked why she left the WWE she said that she miss spending time with her daughter and she also miss seeing her say her prayers before going to bed.

Terri's Daughter Dakota made an appearance on WWE Excess in February of 2002 after Valentine's Day and after she turned 8 years old.

and when asked about doing Playboy she said on WWE Confidential that she would do Playboy if it weren't for having a child, but since she does have a child she turned them down and she did that for the sake of her daughter.

and that's your look @ the longest running diva on RAW and the Heart & Soul of RAW

Terri Lynn Boatright better known to fans as Terri Runnels

For more information on Terri Runnels and if you want to know what is she upto these days checkout her official webpage:

http://www.therealterrirunnels.com/

Membership is free!







credit: owow.com

Dude....


Terri Runnels was not NEAR as big as you remember her.

Well she was the longest running Diva on RAW and she has been loyal to the company!

and she may not be as big, but she has had some GREAT moments!

also, I wasn't much a fan of Terri when she was on the WWE b/c I haven't watched much WWE, that's why I stuck with WCW.

and as for the Brand Extension Era, I liked her as a backstage interviewer.