Lauren Williams (Angelina Love)

Lauren Williams[5] (born September 13, 1981)[4] is a Canadian professional wrestler, who is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Angelina Love. She is a record-setting five-time TNA Women's Knockout Champion and a former a one-time TNA Knockout Tag Team Champion with Winter. She works outside of TNA under the ring name Angel Williams.

Williams debuted in wrestling in 2000, working independent promotions around Canada. Her all-time favorite wrestler Shawn Michaels was her inspiration to get into wrestling. She was first a valet for various wrestlers such as Chris Sabin and Eric Young and then began to train under Rob Fuego to become a wrestler, as well.[4] Williams briefly worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2004, mainly wrestling on TNA Xplosion against Trinity.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2007)
She was working for promotions around America when World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) spotted her, and invited her to a tryout in June 2004.[6] In November she trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling, and WWE signed her to a developmental contract in late 2004.[2] [6] She was assigned to wrestle and train in Deep South Wrestling (DSW), one of WWE's developmental territories. Williams began managing Johnny Parisi in the summer of 2005.[2] On September 8, 2005, Williams won her first match in Deep South by defeating Michelle McCool.[2] On September 22, Williams was scheduled to wrestle against McCool, but Michelle never showed up.[2] Instead Daisy Mae came out and challenged Williams.[2] Williams was injured at the February 9, 2006 DSW TV Tapings, but she still managed to participate in the first ever Bikini Contest in DSW. She did not reveal her bikini because Palmer Cannon interrupted, which led to a match that featured him and Tommy Dreamer. During the match she could not physically get involved, so she walked backstage.[2] On February 28, 2006, she underwent knee surgery in Birmingham, Alabama to repair her torn ACL.[7] After almost seven months of rehab, she stepped back into the ring at a DSW TV taping.[2] At the beginning of November 2006, Williams started managing The Gymini, but The Gymini were released from their contracts in January 2007.[2] Williams then got in a feud with General Manager of DSW, Krissy Vaine, after she made Williams lose her matches due to distractions by other Deep South Divas.[2] At one point Williams had enough and even attacked Vaine in her office. At the March 15, 2007 Deep South TV Tapings Williams aligned herself again with Vaine and was promoted the Co-GM of Deep South Wrestling.

When Deep South Wrestling shut down in April, Williams was moved to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Williams made her Ohio Valley Wrestling debut in a dark match at the May 16, 2007 television taping in Louisville, Kentucky, defeating Serena.[8] She was released from her developmental contract one day later.

Independent circuit (2007)
After being let go from her WWE developmental contract in May 2007, Williams resurfaced in Mexico's Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion under the name Canadian Angel on June 10, 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[9] She also appeared for independent promotions such as NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling and Full Throttle Wrestling.

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (2007, 2011)
In June 2007 Williams made several appearances for Mexican promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) as a member of La Legión Extranjera (Foreign Legion) under the ring name Canadian Angel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-11">[2] She returned to the promotion on June 18, 2011, at TripleManía XIX, where she teamed with Mickie James, Sexy Star and Velvet Sky to defeat Cynthia Moreno, Faby Apache, Mari Apache and Lolita in an eight woman tag team match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9">[10]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007–2009)
Main article: The Beautiful PeopleIn September 2007, she was contacted again by TNA to appear at their annual pay-per-view Bound for Glory, which was confirmed on the October 9 edition of TNA Today where she was interviewed by Jeremy Borash. At Bound For Glory, Williams participated in a 10 Knockout Gauntlet to crown the first TNA Women's Champion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BFG07_10-0">[11] During the match, she was eliminated by Gail Kim and O.D.B., and the match was won in the end by Kim.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-BFG07_10-1">[11] At Genesis, Williams competed in a four-way match for the championship with Gail Kim retaining her title.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">

Williams soon began competing under the ring name "Angelina Love" and formed a partnership with Velvet Sky, calling themselves "Velvet-Love Entertainment", later changed to "The Beautiful People". The duo defeated ODB and Roxxi Laveaux at Turning Point in a Knockouts Tag Team match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12">[13] Love and Sky became villains on the March 13 edition of Impact by attacking Laveaux. Love also participated at Lockdown in the first ever "Queen of the Cage" match but was pinned by Laveaux.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13">

Love was the runner-up in the Make Over battle royal-ladder match at Sacrifice.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"> Love then cost Gail Kim a match against Awesome Kong, costing her the chance of winning the Knockout Title. The Beautiful People hired Moose to join their team to face off with the team of Laveaux, ODB and Kim at Slammiversary, but lost.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16] Love then lost to Gail Kim at Victory Road in a singles match. At Hard Justice she teamed with Velvet Sky and Awesome Kong in a losing effort against Gail Kim, ODB and Taylor Wilde then unsuccessfully challenged Wilde at No Surrender for the Women's Knockout Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] In August 2008 and February 2009 Cute Kip and Madison Rayne joined Love and Sky as members of the Beautiful People.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20]

Love earned another shot at the Women's Knockout Championship at Lockdown, in a 3-Way Dance with Awesome Kong and Wilde. She won the match and the title after pinning Wilde. During the match she suffered a concussion while receiving a crossbody from Wilde.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"> The following week, Awesome Kong interrupted her title celebration.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-12"> In the following weeks, Kong destroyed Madison Rayne, Velvet Sky, and Cute Kip in Stretcher matches.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-13">[2] At Sacrifice, Love retained her championship against Kong, and on the May 28 edition of Impact! she successfully defended her title against Sojournor Bolt.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-14">[2] After the match she officially kicked Kip from the Beautiful People and was then assaulted by the debuting Tara.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-15">[2] At Slammiversary Love successfully defended her title against Tara, before losing the title to her on the July 9, 2009 edition of Impact!.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-16">[2] At Victory Road, however, Love controversially defeated Tara to win back the title, when Tara's foot was on the bottom rope, which was unnoticed by ref Slick Johnson.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-17">[2] At Hard Justice Love lost the Knockout title to ODB after Cody Deaner pinned Velvet Sky in a tag team match between the four.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-18">[2] After the match, Love left the ring without Sky or Rayne, however in the following weeks, her relationship with Sky remained intact, with the duo cutting Rayne loose.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-19">[2] On September 3, 2009, Williams was released from TNA due to visa issues, while still a top draw in the women's division.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22] However on September 7, 2009, Williams posted a blog entry on her MySpace account stating that she would return to TNA Wrestling once the issues with her visa were sorted out.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23] She continued appearing on Impact! for two more weeks due to the tapings being held before her release. In the episodes she and Velvet Sky advanced to the finals of the tournament for the TNA Knockout Tag Team Championship with help from Madison Rayne, whom they afterwards welcomed to return to the Beautiful People.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24] Rayne would go on to replace Love in the finals for the Knockout Tag Team Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[25]

Women Superstars Uncensored (2009–2010)
After her release from TNA, Williams began working for Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), where she performed under her TNA ring name of Angelina Love. On November 14, 2009, she unsuccessfully challenged Mercedes Martinez for the WSU Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[26] On December 12 she teamed with Jennifer Cruz to defeat Jana and Rick Cataldo in a tag team match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[27] After returning to TNA, Williams made one more appearance for WSU, defeating Sassy Stephie at the 3rd Anniversary Show on March 6, 2010.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-20">[2]

Feud with The Beautiful People (2010)
Love upon her return to TNA, wearing an anti-Beautiful People t-shirt.On January 2, 2010, it was reported that Williams had re-signed with TNA.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[28] Williams, as Angelina Love, made her return on the January 14 edition of Impact!, appearing in the crowd and hugging Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne prior to their match with Awesome Kong and Hamada. However, after the match, Love turned face by attacking her former partners and Lacey Von Erich, her replacement in the group, seemingly angry about being replaced.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jan14_28-0">[29] She made her in-ring return the following week by defeating Rayne, however after the match she was triple teamed by the Beautiful People.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29">[30] On the February 4 edition of Impact! she was unsuccessful in her attempt to regain the Knockout Championship from Tara.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[31] On the March 8 edition of Impact! Love and Tara teamed up to challenge for the vacant Knockout Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by Rayne and Sky, after interference from Daffney, with whom Tara was involved in a feud.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31">[32] On the April 5 edition of Impact!, Love teamed with Tara, ODB, and Hamada to face the Beautiful People and Daffney in the first ever Lockbox elimination match, contested for four keys to four boxes containing prizes. Love won a key by eliminating Lacey Von Erich, and it was later revealed that her key opened the box, which contained the Knockout Championship, making her a three-time champion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32">[33] At Lockdown Love lost the Knockout Championship to Madison Rayne, after she pinned Tara in a tag team steel cage match, where Love and Tara faced Rayne and Velvet Sky for both the Women's Knockout Championship and the Knockout Tag Team Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lockdown2010_33-0">[34] After the match, Tara turned heel by attacking Love.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lockdown2010_33-1">[34] At the April 20 tapings of Impact!, Williams partially tore her biceps and suffered ligament damage in her arm and was expected to be out of action until May.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34">[35] On May 26 it was announced that Williams had been cleared to return to wrestling.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35">[36] When Love returned from her injury on the June 17 edition of Impact!, she vowed to reclaim the Knockouts title and stated that she would go through each member of the Beautiful People to do it. That night she faced Von Erich and got disqualified after dropping her with a DDT on a steel chair.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36">[37] The following week her match with Velvet Sky ended in similar fashion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37">[38] On July 11 at Victory Road, Love defeated Rayne via disqualification in a Title vs. Career match to win the Women's Knockout Championship for the fourth time. Prior to the match it was announced that the title would change hands via disqualification, if either Velvet Sky or Lacey Von Erich interfered in the match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-VictoryRoad2010_38-0">[39] However, the title was returned to Rayne on the July 22 edition of Impact!, when it was declared that there was no proof that the person who had interfered in the match was either Sky or Von Erich.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39">[40] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40">[41] The following week Love defeated Sarita to once again become the number one contender to Rayne's title.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41">[42] Two weeks later Love defeated Rayne, after a distraction from Velvet Sky, to win the Women's Knockout Championship for the fifth time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42">

On the August 19 episode of Impact!, Love reunited with Velvet Sky, who accompanied her to the ring, when she successfully defended her Women's Knockout Championship in a rematch against Rayne, who was with the mysterious biker woman. After the match Love and Sky were attacked by Rayne and the biker.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43">[44] Rayne's mysterious ally was finally unmasked as Tara on the September 2 edition of Impact!, when the two of them defeated Love and Sky in their first match together in a year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44">[45] Lacey Von Erich would join Love and Sky in the Beautiful People, after being saved by them from Rayne and Tara on the September 16 edition of Impact!.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45">[46] She, however, would leave the promotion two months later on November 11.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46">[47] On October 10 at Bound for Glory Love lost the Women's Knockout Championship to Tara in a Four Corners match, which also included Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne and was refereed by Mickie James.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47">[48]

Storyline with Winter (2010–present)
On the October 21 episode of Impact! Love entered a storyline where a woman named Winter started appearing in mirrors, claiming to be her fan, though only Love was able to see her.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48">[49] After weeks of appearing only in front of Love, Winter was for the first time seen by the other people on the November 25 episode of Impact!, when she saved Love during a large backstage brawl.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49">[50] On the December 9 episode of Impact! Love and Sky entered a four–team tournament for the vacated Knockout Tag Team Championship, defeating Sarita and Daffney in their first round match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50">[51] On the December 23 edition of Impact!, Winter replaced an injured Velvet Sky, who had been attacked by Sarita, in the tournament final and teamed with Love to defeat Madison Rayne and Tara for the TNA Knockout Tag Team Championship.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact122310Tapings_51-0">[52] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact122310_52-0">[53] On March 13, 2011, at Victory Road, Love and Winter lost the Knockout Tag Team Championship to Sarita and Rosita, after an interference by Velvet Sky backfired.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53">[54] On the March 24 edition of Impact!, Winter, seemingly having control over Love's actions, prevented her from saving Sky from a beatdown at the hands of Sarita and Rosita.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54">[55] Love was kept under Winter's spell with drinks of what she described as her medicine.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact040711_55-0">[56] On the April 7 edition of Impact!, Love turned on Sky during a Knockout Tag Team Championship match against Sarita and Rosita and left her to be pinned by the champions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact040711_55-1">[56] On the April 28 edition of Impact!, Love defeated Sky via submission in a singles match, no-selling all of her opponent's offense during the match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56">[57] On the May 5 edition of Impact!, Sky gained a measure of revenge on her former partner, when she teamed with Kurt Angle in a handicap mixed tag team match, where they defeated Love, Winter and Jeff Jarrett.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57">[58] The feud between the former Beautiful People partners seemingly ended on the May 19 edition of Impact Wrestling, with Sky defeating Love and Winter in a handicap match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58">[59] The following week Love attacked Mickie James, after she had defeated Winter in a singles match, setting up a match between the two for the TNA Women's Knockout Championship at Slammiversary IX.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59">[60] Prior to the match at the pay-per-view, Love declined to take her medicine, saying that she no longer needed it as she now understood Winter. After failing in her attempt to win the title, both Love and Winter attacked James.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60">[61] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61">[62] On the June 23 edition of Impact Wrestling, Love helped Winter defeat James in a non-title Street Fight.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact062311_62-0">[63]

Personal life
In late 2007, she began dating Jared Weeks, the lead singer of the band Saving Abel,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63">[64] but as of August 2008, the couple decided to split.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64">[65] Williams has also dated fellow wrestlers Eric Young and Paul London.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-21">[2]

Other media
Williams appeared on an episode of The Jenny Jones Show about former geeks turned into physical competitors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAMBio_6-1">[7] She also made an appearance on Kenny vs Spenny in the "Who is the Strongest" episode (alongside fellow TNA Knockout Traci Brooks).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAMBio_6-2">[7] Williams had a role in the indie film entitled Good Intentions starring country music star LeAnn Rimes and Luke Perry.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65">[66] She was also featured on MTV's Made alongside A.J. Styles, Taylor Wilde, and Velvet Sky.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66">[67] On January 24, 2009, she appeared as a soccerette on British television program Soccer AM, wearing a Leeds United replica shirt, along with Velvet Sky.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67">[68] In November 2010 she was a contestant on an all TNA week of Family Feud, teaming with Christy Hemme, Lacey Von Erich, Tara and Velvet Sky against Jay Lethal, Matt Morgan, Mick Foley, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68">[69]

In wrestling

 * Finishing moves
 * Botox Injection (Bicycle kick)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69">[70]
 * Break a Bitch (Inverted facelock transitioned into a double knee backbreaker)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact062311_62-1">[63] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70">[71] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71">[72] – 2011–present
 * Cramp<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-22">[2] (Modified camel clutch) – 2006, 2011
 * Lights Out<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-23">[2] (Lifting reverse STO)
 * Signature moves
 * Diving crossbody<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-24">[2]
 * Hurricanrana, sometimes to an oncoming opponent<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-25">[2]
 * Running springboard arm drag<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-26">[2]
 * Shoulder jawbreaker<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72">[73]
 * Snapmare followed by a running low-angle front dropkick to the opponent's face or back<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-27">[2]
 * Spear<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jan14_28-1">[29]
 * Tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-28">[2]
 * With Velvet Sky
 * Finishing moves
 * Makeover<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TNA_0-1">[1] (Russian legsweep (Sky) / Running bicycle kick (Love) combination)
 * Simultaneous roundhouse kicks to the abdomen (Sky) and the back of the leg (Love)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73">[74]
 * Signature moves
 * Hollering Elbow (Double elbow drop, with theatrics)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74">[75]
 * Wrestlers managed<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-6">[4]
 * Texas Hell-Razors<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-7">[4]
 * Derek Wylde<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-8">[4]
 * The Gymini<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-29">[2]
 * Prince Nana
 * Johnny Parisi<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-9">[4]
 * Jimmy Rave<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-30">[2]
 * Palmer Canon<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-31">[2]
 * Chris Sabin<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-10">[4]
 * Simon Diamond<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-11">[4]
 * Krissy Vaine<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-32">[2]
 * Eric Young<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLAM_3-12">[4]
 * Velvet Sky<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-33">[2]
 * Becky Bayless<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-34">[2]
 * Cute Kip<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-35">[2]
 * Madison Rayne<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-36">[2]
 * Winter<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-37">[2]
 * Nicknames
 * "The Queen Diva" (DSW)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75">[76]
 * Entrance themes
 * "Papercut" by Linkin Park (Independent circuit)
 * "Girlfriend" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
 * "Angel on My Shoulder" by Dale Oliver (TNA)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76">[77] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77">[78]
 * "Hands of Wicked" by Goldy Locks (TNA)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78">[79]

Championships and accomplishments

 * Impact Wrestling Federation
 * Manager of the Year (2000)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-38">[2]
 * Old School Pro Wrestling
 * OSPW Women's Championship (1 time)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-39">[2]
 * Pro Wrestling Illustrated
 * PWI ranked her #2 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female Top 50 in 2009<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pwi09_79-0">[80] and in 2010<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pwi10_80-0">[81]
 * Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
 * TNA Women's Knockout Championship (5 times)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OWOW_1-40">[2]
 * TNA Knockout Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Winter<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact122310Tapings_51-1">[52] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Impact122310_52-1">[53]

Luchas de Apuestas
See also: Luchas de Apuestas.