SUMMARY
- Dawn Marie has been a former WWE star.
- However, she parted ways with WWE on bad terms.
Dawn Marie is no new name for professional wrestling fans. Although retired now, Dawn has earned much fame for herself in ECW as well as WWE. However, ever since her exit from WWE in 2005, there has been little to no information about her whereabouts.
Dawn Marie Psaltis was born on November 3, 1970, in New Jersey. The daughter of a zoologist, she spent her childhood exploring various things alongside her father. Marie made her professional wrestling debut in 1995 and began her journey to become one of the biggest names in the industry.
For the next 15 years, Dawn appeared in various promotions, managing her career as well as her family. Gradually, she started stepping away from the limelight. Multiple reports suggest that Marie is now serving as a nurse. However, there is no concrete information as to where the former WWE star is.
Dawn Marie and her professional wrestling career
Dawn Marie has had an inclination towards WWE ever since she was a kid. However, she never thought of it as a profession. Marie had aspired to become a model and actress. However, life had different plans for her. Her first professional wrestling opportunity came via her modelling run.
During one of her signing events, she came across Jonathan Gold, a talent agent and professional wrestling promoter. Dawn expressed her inclination for the industry to him, and he granted her wish. He gave her the opportunity to manage Tony Atlas for a wrestling show in New Jersey.
Her first appearance kicked off her professional wrestling journey. In 1998, she made her debut at ECW, where she worked for almost three years. In 2002, she made her WWE debut, making herself known to the world. However, in 2005, her contract with the promotion came to an end, after which her in-ring appearances were sporadic.
Why was Dawn Marie released from WWE?
Dawn Marie’s WWE run was going at a great pace. However, in 2005, she became pregnant with her first child. The 53-year-old spoke to René Duprée on the ‘Café De René’ podcast, where she shed light on her WWE release. She revealed that her pregnancy was the sole reason for the company terminating her contract.
Dawn found herself in a confused state while planning for a kid with her fiancé, Matthew DaMatta. “It was like, either I got pregnant or I was never gonna have kids,” she said. Eventually, after much thought, she gave in. She then informed the authorities of her pregnancy, and the company took no time to release her.
Gradually, they put Dawn Marie off the show, one week at a time. However, when she started missing out on major events, she spoke up. “I’m sorry, we’re gonna have to let you go because creative just don’t have anything right now,” Johnny Ace told her. Desperate for her career, Dawn claimed to have pitched multiple storylines, but in vain.
“You could have sent me home, have my baby and then come back,” she told René Duprée during the podcast. Unsatisfied with WWE’s move, she resorted to legal action. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission eventually compelled Vince McMahon to pay Dawn Marie a hefty sum.