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
- 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02
- 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
- 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
- 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
- 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
- 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
- Yasu Fuji Apr 27th Today!
- Siva Afi Apr 28th
- Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
- Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
- Sunshine Apr 29th
- Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
- Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
- Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
- Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
- Prince Maivia May 1st
- Barrett Brown May 2nd
- Americos May 2nd
- Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
- Big Bossman May 2nd
- Kari Wright May 2nd
- Don Fields May 2nd
- Lester Welch May 3rd
- Lily McKenzie May 3rd
- Johnny Humble May 3rd
- Malik Mayfield May 4th
- El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
- Dory Funk May 4th
- Jay Hazzard May 4th
- Bull Schmitt May 4th
- Olivier Vegos May 5th
- Bill Watts May 5th
- Zane Morris May 5th
- El Gallardo May 5th
- Princess Victoria May 5th
- El Matador Dos May 5th
- Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
- Maria Brigitte May 5th
- Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
- Claire Watson May 6th
- Hercules May 7th
- Richie Adams May 8th
- Jake Danielsson May 9th
- Tito Santana May 10th
- Billy Brown May 10th
- Sunny War Cloud May 10th
- Rook Tyler May 10th
- Jerry Brown May 10th
Oklafan Quiz
Missy Hyatt was married to Eddie Gilbert at the time of his death.
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