Notre Dame High School Graduate Back In Wrestling Spotlight
Posted: Jul 31st 2007 By: CMBurnham
Notre Dame High School graduate Beth Carolan, who performs under the name Beth Phoenix, worked long, hard years to achieve her goal of making it to the big time in professional wrestling. But just a few weeks after joining the cast last year of World Wrestling Entertainment's primetime show, she broke her jaw in a match. The injury ended her run on the show.
It was, she said, one of the most heartbreaking things ever to happen to her.
But the mythical phoenix is best known for rising from the ashes, and that's just what Beth has done. Some 13 months after her injury, Beth, who was known as Beth Kocianski growing up in Elmira, is back in the spotlight on WWE's Monday night show "Raw." She returned to the program July 9 and is again a regular.
Beth responded to questions in an e-mail interview while traveling for WWE. She wrote that the support of her friends and family kept her from losing heart while recovering.
"I'm very lucky that I have a great support group back home that really did their best to keep my spirits up," she wrote. "As hard as it was to be away, I never thought about giving it up. The feeling of being back in front of the crowd was enough to keep me going."
She said her story line on the wrestling show involves supporting former champion Melina in her struggles with the current champ, Candice Michelle, but she has her eyes on the title belt herself.
"I'm looking for nothing less than to dominate the women's division and bring the WWE women's championship home with me one day to Elmira," she wrote.
Beth was the first girl to join Notre Dame's wrestling squad. She graduated in 1998 and, based in Buffalo, wrestled for several years on the independent scene while she studied at Canisius College.
She signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2005, and wrestled for many years with the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion, where she was women's champion twice.
Her first call up to WWE happened last year.
She's married to independent wrestler Joey Carolan, who wrestles as Joey Knight.
She wrote that standing in the ring before throngs of fans again is just as great as she remembers.
"It's an indescribable feeling to be back," she wrote. "The travel and schedules are very hectic, but it's worth it once you are in front of thousands of screaming WWE fans. It was definitely worth the wait."
"Raw" airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on USA.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
- 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
- 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
- 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
- 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
- 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
Week of Sun 06-07 to Sat: 06-13
- 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Billie the Kiid became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
- 06-08 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-08 2024 Eddie LeVaughn def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Michael Duplanti became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 06-08 2024 Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Manico) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
- 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
- 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
- 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- Magnum T. A. Jun 11th Today!
- J. D. Richards Jun 11th Today!
- Mathmagician Jun 11th Today!
- King Parsons Jun 11th Today!
- Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
- Baby Blimp Jun 12th
- Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
- Zac Royal Jun 12th
- Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
- Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
- D'Licious Jun 12th
- Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
- Bill Ash Jun 13th
- Mikey D Jun 13th
- Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
- Alex Shepard Jun 13th
- John Pfanz Jun 13th
- Geronimo Jun 13th
- Neo Genesis Jun 13th
- Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
- Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
- Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
- Sean Ryan Jun 15th
- Trey the Bae Jun 15th
- Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
- Paul Linam Jun 15th
- Leslie Lorenzo Jun 16th
- Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
- Paul Jones Jun 16th
- Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
- Jef Tiger Jun 16th
- Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
- Brock Landers Jun 16th
- Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
- Mario Galento Jun 17th
- Ray Martinez Jun 17th
- Talos Jun 17th
- Rob Justice Jun 17th
- Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
- Cam the CODA Jun 18th
- Johnny Angel Jun 18th
- Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
- Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
- Bad Boy Jun 18th
- Andy Dalton Jun 18th
- Billy the Kid Jun 19th
- Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
- Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
- Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
- Mike Two Jun 19th
- Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
- Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
- David Kyzer Jun 20th
- Jon Cross Jun 20th
- Professor Ito Jun 20th
- Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
- Rick Russo Jun 21st
- Super Star Jun 21st
- Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
- Phantom Star Jun 21st
- Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
- Athena Jun 23rd
- Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
- Don Kent Jun 24th
- Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
Current Champions
Wrestle Against Hunger
Tag Team Champions
Hellbangers
- Heavyweight Champion: Will Chambers
- Living Hope Champion: Giganto
- Spotlight Champion: Travis Harkrider
- Hunger Dojo Champion: Max Leon
- Womens Champion: Kyra
Top Viewed Bios
