Joy Giovanni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joy Giovanni |
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Giovanni in April 2005
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| Born | January 20, 1978 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Giovanni |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Joy Giovanni |
| Billed height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Billed from | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Trained by | Daniel Puder, Fit Finlay, The Undertaker |
| Debut | November 2004 |
| Retired | July 2005 |
Joy Giovanni (born January 20, 1978) is a retired Italian-American actress, model, and professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the Smackdown! brand. She was the first and only winner of WWE's Rookie Diva of the Year award.
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Early Career
Before joining WWE, Joy Giovanni was a successful model. In 2001, she won the L.A. Model Expo. She often appeared as a swimsuit model and was featured on Bench Warmer trading cards. Giovanni also played in the Lingerie Bowl events in 2004 and 2005 for the Los Angeles Temptations team.
In 2005, she served as a judge on the G4 television show, Video Game Vixens. She also appeared in the WWE DVD special Viva Las Divas.
As an actress, Giovanni had small roles in TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Monk, and NCIS. In 2007, she had a larger role in the movie Pretty Cool Too.
Professional Wrestling Career
World Wrestling Entertainment (2004-2005)
Giovanni first appeared in WWE as a contestant in the 2004 WWE Diva Search, where she finished in third place. Even though she didn't win, WWE signed her to a contract.
She officially joined the Smackdown! roster in November 2004. One of her first big moments was hosting a Thanksgiving party with Big Show. The party was interrupted by Luther Reigns, leading to a food fight. This started a storyline where Giovanni became Big Show's valet (a person who accompanies a wrestler to the ring).
Giovanni soon began a rivalry with fellow wrestler Amy Weber. Their feud involved several arguments and fights. In one storyline, Kurt Angle locked Giovanni in the trunk of a limousine to stop her from having a match against Weber. This was all part of a plan by a group of wrestlers called The Cabinet to cause trouble between Angle and Big Show. The rivalry with Weber ended when Weber left WWE in February 2005.
Rookie Diva of the Year
At the No Way Out event in 2005, Giovanni competed in the first-ever WWE Rookie Diva of the Year contest. She competed against Lauren Jones, Michelle McCool, and Rochelle Loewen. The contest had three parts: an evening gown competition, a talent contest, and a swimsuit contest. Giovanni won with 65% of the fan votes.
After her win, Giovanni continued to appear on Smackdown!. She trained to become a better wrestler with Fit Finlay and The Undertaker. She also appeared at WrestleMania 21, helping to escort the 2005 Hall of Fame inductees to the stage. She was a playable character in the video game WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2006.
Giovanni was released from her WWE contract on July 6, 2005, due to company budget cuts.
Later WWE Appearances
Giovanni made a special return to WWE for WrestleMania 25 in 2009. She competed in a 25-Diva battle royal match to crown the first "Miss WrestleMania." She was one of several past stars who returned for the special event.
In 2015, a commercial for a new season of WWE Diva Search featured clips of Giovanni, highlighting her as a successful former contestant. In 2018, she was mentioned during a rap on the Smackdown! 1000 episode, which celebrated the show's most memorable stars.
Life After Wrestling
Giovanni is of Italian heritage. After leaving wrestling, she pursued other interests. In 2010, she studied to become a chiropractor's assistant and also got recertified in massage therapy. She opened her own massage therapy business in San Diego, California, in 2014.
She has two children, a son and a daughter.
As of 2025, Giovanni works as a psychic medium and tarot reader. She is active on social media and hosts a podcast called Spirit Speakeasy. She remains good friends with former wrestlers Amy Weber and René Duprée.
Awards and Accomplishments
- WWE Rookie Diva of the Year Award (2005)
See also
In Spanish: Joy Giovanni para niños
