Beth Phoenix to retire in October

[Steveweiser]

WWE Diva Elizabeth Carolan, a.k.a Beth Phoenix, is reportedly finishing up with the company shortly. According to a source, Phoenix will be retiring in October.

Phoenix made her WWE debut in 2006 as an ally to Trish Stratus during her feud with Mickie James. She would go on to hold the WWE Women's Championship three times, as well as the WWE Diva's Championship.

Phoenix was en route to displacing Maryse Ouellet as the longest reigning WWE Divas Champion in history earlier this year, however lost the belt a week before she could break the record to Nikki Bella on the April 23rd episode of Raw.

www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2012/0920/556466/beth-phoenix/

Have not found a more legit source for this as of yet.

EDIT: Dave Meltzer had it confirmed by WWE sources today (Friday 21st September).

[norsisclouds]

I speculated about this before in a Beth Phoenix thread...if it's true, there are many legitimate reasons why she'd want to move on with her life.

[Deleted]

Makes absolutely perfect sense. Her character has gone as far as it can go, and has been stale for a while now. She's rarely on TV, and its not like she can start competing with the men like Chyna did.

I've also noticed that she's been using twitter sparingly for the past 2-3 months which is strange considering how Natalya is seemingly on her account ALL the time.

[salsashark]

I really, really dug Beth Phoenix up until maybe a year ago, but she has done nothing of note in ages. She needs some kind of refreshed gimmick to revitalize her, but I doubt she or WWE would want to do anything with that. I won't be bummed out if she retires.

[Krimzon]

So she was a week away from the record, but lost the title to a Bella Twin that was on her way out of the company, just for her to get fed to Layla? Wouldn't it have been a better move to let Beth break the record and then start the program with Layla, who would've ended the longest reign in the history of the belt?

[Steveweiser]

Sept 20, 2012 16:48:32 GMT -5 @burngun said:

Makes absolutely perfect sense. Her character has gone as far as it can go, and has been stale for a while now. She's rarely on TV, and its not like she can start competing with the men like Chyna did.

I've also noticed that she's been using twitter sparingly for the past 2-3 months which is strange considering how Natalya is seemingly on her account ALL the time.

Back in the day, Beth replied to me a lot. I got her to admit that she missed GlamSlamming Mickie.

[stealthamo]

Sept 20, 2012 16:50:28 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

So she was a week away from the record, but lost the title to a Bella Twin that was on her way out of the company, just for her to get fed to Layla? Wouldn't it have been a better move to let Beth break the record and then start the program with Layla, who would've ended the longest reign in the history of the belt?

My guess was that there was some sort of clause in the Bellas' contract that each of them get a title reign, and their contract was nearly up, so they quickly gave Nikki her title reign because they knew Layla was coming back at the next PPV, so they could just give the title to her.

[Dat Dude]

If true, I'm hoping this is like Victoria's retirement: where she just takes a break, recharges, and wrestles for a different promotion. Her ending her career without her facing Kong, Sara, or Nattie would just be a massive disappointment.

[Widow's Peak]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was true. I've always been a fan of her and thought she deserved better, but her character has probably gone as far as it can go.

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

In before "no Passion"

[norsisclouds]

Sept 20, 2012 16:50:28 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

So she was a week away from the record, but lost the title to a Bella Twin that was on her way out of the company, just for her to get fed to Layla? Wouldn't it have been a better move to let Beth break the record and then start the program with Layla, who would've ended the longest reign in the history of the belt?

Ironically, all the company was thinking about was:

OMG WE HAVE TO KEEP THE BELLAS GIVE ONE THE TITLE SO THEY STAY WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM.

Then the Bellas didn't re-sign, and they basically sacrificed Beth Phoenix's legitimacy (which they'd already been doing with the terrible booking of the Kelly Kelly feud) to prop two divas that left 3 days later, and Beth got tossed to the side after trying to build Layla.

Then someone in her family passed away and she took extended leave.

If they weren't so eager to keep the Bellas on at the expense of Beth, maybe she'd feel otherwise about her contract now...who knows? She's been with WWE for 6 years now, wrestling for much longer, and it may just be time for her to move on and start a family or a new phase in her career.

[Todd Pettengill]

Just in time to make the WWE '13 Divas Roster completely obsolete!

[PKO]

This wouldn't be a surprise, but it would be a shame as a fan. Beth is very good in the ring and I still want Beth/Natalya, now that Beth/Kharma isn't gonna happen. I would be happy enough if they gave them ten minutes on Superstars. With all the promising talent on the way it'd be a shame if she did leave now.

She's had a solid career though. Some bumps along the way (moreso in the past year) but if she's saved her money well enough she should have made a small fortune. All those PPV cheques and royalties from video games/action figures; she will have made the most money for a woman since Trish/Lita. Going out with your health is never a bad thing.

[Bo Rida]

I hope she has some interaction with Santino before she leaves, that's definitely when I enjoyed her work the most.

Maybe even get her involved in his current storyline so it's Santino and Beth vs Antonio Cesaro and Aksana, maybe have Beth put her career on the line to help Santino get a title shot but end up with her losing via cheating.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

For the record, assuming this is true(and it is reasonably plausible), how out of date does this make the most recent/upcoming video game roster?

[YeahYeahYeahYeahYeah]

If she does, I'll miss her a lot. She's one of my favourites.

[dlg3000]

I just heard about it on twitter. If she does retire, then I wish her all the best. She was a good hand in the ring.

[Deleted]

Sept 20, 2012 17:10:25 GMT -5 Spankymac is sick of the swiss said:

For the record, assuming this is true(and it is reasonably plausible), how out of date does this make the most recent/upcoming video game roster?

It's not too bad on the male side, but the divas are dropping like flies.

[vanboxmeer]

Kill the division, and make the belt into a cake for Ryback to eat.

[Cronant]

So.......who gets to retire her?

I mean, like kick out of the Glam Slam and make her tap out.