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Ashley Massaro

Ashley Marie Massaro (May 26, 1979 – May 16, 2019) was an American professional wrestler, model, and reality television personality best known for her participation in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). She gained prominence after winning the 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search competition, which awarded her a one-year contract valued at $250,000. Massaro debuted on WWE programming in late 2005, initially aligning with babyface storylines before transitioning to roles as a valet and occasional competitor on brands including SmackDown and ECW until her release in 2008. Prior to WWE, Massaro had modeled extensively, securing titles such as Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA in 2002 and Miss Hawaiian Tropic in 2004, and later appeared as the April 2007 cover girl. Her entertainment career extended beyond wrestling to include a stint on the reality show Survivor: China in 2007 and guest appearances on series like . Massaro's WWE tenure featured limited in-ring success without championship victories but highlighted her as part of the divas division during a period emphasizing athletic and managerial roles for women. Massaro died at age 39 from an apparent in her home, as confirmed by authorities following her discovery unresponsive. Her death drew attention to prior claims in a 2017 detailing alleged physical injuries, from her wrestling career, and an unreported during a 2006 WWE tour in involving U.S. military personnel, which she stated WWE leadership discouraged her from publicizing to preserve promotional ties. These disclosures, emerging posthumously, underscored potential long-term impacts of industry pressures and trauma on performers, with her brain later considered for research amid broader wrestler health concerns.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Ashley Marie Massaro was born on May 26, 1979, as the daughter of Ronald J. Massaro and Barbara Massaro in a working-class family. She had one sibling, a younger brother named Ronald "Ronnie" Massaro. Massaro was raised in Babylon, New York, a suburb on , where her family emphasized athletic pursuits, particularly . Her father, brother, and uncle all competed in the sport, fostering an environment immersed in wrestling culture from her early years. This familial background likely influenced Massaro's later interest in physical activities, though specific details on her childhood experiences beyond the household's wrestling involvement remain limited in public records.

Gymnastics and pre-fame pursuits

Massaro participated in during her formative years, developing athletic skills that later informed her physical performance in . She attended John Glenn High School in Elwood, , graduating in 1997, before enrolling at the at , where she earned a degree in communications with a minor in business. Prior to her entry into professional wrestling, Massaro pursued modeling opportunities and competed in beauty pageants affiliated with the Hawaiian Tropic brand, securing the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA in 2002 and Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada in August 2004. These endeavors positioned her as an aspiring fitness model, with appearances in publications such as Stuff magazine, and led to her discovery by a WWE talent scout at a pageant event.

Professional wrestling career

WWE Diva Search victory and entry (2005)

The 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search was an open casting call and televised competition designed to identify new female performers for WWE's Raw brand, featuring fan voting and on-screen challenges among contestants. Ashley Massaro, a 26-year-old from New York with a background in fitness competitions, advanced to the finals alongside seven other women, including Kristal Marshall and Leyla Milani. On the August 15, 2005, episode of , broadcast from , , Massaro was declared the winner after defeating the remaining finalists through a combination of public votes and WWE evaluation. The granted her $250,000 in prize money and a one-year contract with , positioning her as the brand's newest addition without prior developmental training. Massaro's entry into WWE programming began immediately on Raw, where she made non-wrestling appearances post-victory, integrating her into the roster as a fresh face amid ongoing storylines. Her in-ring debut occurred on the August 29, 2005, episode of , facing in a singles match that she lost, marking her transition from contestant to active performer. This rapid incorporation reflected 's strategy of leveraging Diva Search winners for immediate visibility, though Massaro later expressed interest in wrestling training despite initial emphasis on her non-competitive role.

On-screen storylines and matches (2005–2008)

Massaro debuted on the August 29, 2005, episode of Raw, losing to Victoria in a 30-second squash match. This appearance initiated a feud with Victoria as part of the Vince's Devils stable, which included Victoria, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson. Massaro aligned with Trish Stratus, competing in multiple tag team matches against the group throughout September 2005, securing victories at house shows. On October 3, 2005, she defeated Candice Michelle, Torrie Wilson, and Victoria in a handicap bra and panties match on Raw. At Unforgiven on September 18, 2005, Massaro pinned Torrie Wilson and Victoria in a tag team bout alongside Stratus. In early 2006, Massaro participated in the New Year's Revolution on January 8, winning a bra and panties gauntlet match by last eliminating , also defeating , , and in the process. She scored a singles victory over on the February 6 episode of . Following a brief stint involving appearances on SmackDown, Massaro won a fatal four-way bra and panties match against , , and at on July 23, 2006. Massaro's profile rose after posing for in March 2007, sparking a with WWE Women's Champion Melina, who resented the attention. This rivalry culminated at on April 1, 2007, where Melina retained the title against Massaro in a lumberjill match. Earlier, on February 18, 2007, at No Way Out, Massaro won a talent contest. By 2008, Massaro featured in lighter segments, winning a lingerie pillow fight against , , Melina, and on the January 7 episode of . At on March 30, 2008, she teamed with in the Playboy BunnyMania lumberjill match, losing to and Melina. Her final WWE match occurred on April 27, 2008, at Backlash, where her team lost a 12-person tag match including opponents , , Layla, Melina, Natalya, and Victoria.

Departure from WWE and limited independent work

Massaro requested her release from on July 2, 2008, citing burnout from the demanding travel schedule and the need to care for her seven-year-old daughter, , who had been diagnosed with a staph requiring ongoing attention. granted the release effective July 9, 2008, issuing a standard statement wishing her well in future endeavors without specifying further details. During her three-year tenure, Massaro had competed primarily on the brand after being drafted there in 2006, but persistent injuries, including cervical issues from a 2007 ring mishap, had sidelined her from in-ring activity since late 2007, limiting her role to sporadic non-wrestling segments. Post-WWE, Massaro's involvement in remained minimal, with no sustained appearances or contracts reported until a one-off managerial role in September 2017 for Zero1 Professional Wrestling USA, where she teamed with former WWE performer for promotional events. She participated in occasional autograph signings and fan conventions but avoided regular matches, citing family priorities and disinterest in resuming full-time amid her pivot to and wellness pursuits. This sparse activity contrasted with peers who transitioned to promotions like or , reflecting Massaro's deliberate shift away from the physical and logistical rigors of the industry.

Media and entertainment ventures

Reality television participation

Massaro competed as a contestant on Survivor: China, the fifteenth season of the competition series Survivor, which premiered on September 20, 2007, and concluded on December 16, 2007. Assigned to the Zhan Hu tribe, she experienced physical illness shortly after arriving at camp, limiting her ability to assist with shelter construction and other tasks. Her condition persisted through the early days, contributing to tensions within the group. Massaro clashed with fellow tribemate Cruser, whose confrontational style exacerbated interpersonal conflicts and led her tribe to view both as disruptive influences. Despite participating in the first immunity challenge, where Zhan Hu lost, she received votes at the subsequent but survived the initial elimination. In the second episode, aired September 26, , her tribe lost again, and Massaro was unanimously voted out on Day 6, becoming the second contestant eliminated from the season. In a post-elimination , she attributed her exit to the tribe's dynamics and her health issues, expressing no regrets about the experience.

Modeling, acting, and other appearances

Massaro competed in prior to her wrestling , winning the Miss USA title in 2002 and Miss Canada in August 2004. After joining , she modeled for men's magazines including , , and . She also featured as the cover girl for Playboy's April 2007 issue, which included a nude pictorial. In acting, Massaro made a guest appearance on the television series , portraying the character in the season 6 episode "," which originally aired on February 22, 2007. She appeared in the 2007 music video for Timbaland's "" featuring , performing in a staged wrestling segment alongside other performers against opponents including and Brooke Adams.

Video games and radio hosting

Massaro was featured as a playable character in the video games WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, released across multiple platforms including , , , , , and on November 9, 2007, marking her in-game debut. She returned in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, released on November 6, 2008, for platforms including , , , , , and , assigned to the Raw brand roster. On June 30, 2018, Massaro began working as a and host for the rock station WWSK-FM (94.3 The Shark), initially handling the Saturday midday slot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. She hosted a weekly program there until her in May 2019, focusing on music and entertainment content aligned with the station's format.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Massaro was never married. She had one child, a daughter named born in 2001. The identity of Alexa's father was not publicly disclosed by Massaro. During her time with , Massaro was reportedly in relationships with wrestlers from 2005 to 2006 and from 2006 to 2007, the latter of which contributed to tensions between Hardy and London. In 2018, she dated musician Max Iantorno, a guitarist for the band Rising Young Sons. Massaro grew up in a family with a background in ; her father Ronald J. Massaro (1948–2023), brother Ronnie Massaro (who was fatally stabbed in on November 21, 2020), and uncle all competed in the sport. In mid-2008, when fell ill, Massaro requested an early release from her contract on July 9 to care for her, which the company granted.

Health and wellness activities

Massaro pursued and as personal wellness practices after leaving , announcing these changes in an effort to improve her life amid health challenges from her wrestling career. These activities aligned with broader attempts to manage physical injuries and issues, though she continued to face ongoing difficulties including concussions and substance dependency attributed to in-ring trauma. No formal programs or public endorsements of these practices were documented, and they did not form a central part of her post-WWE endeavors.

Sexual assault allegations

Alleged 2006 incident in

In 2006, during a World Wrestling Entertainment () tour to entertain U.S. troops across , , and , Ashley Massaro alleged she was at in . According to Massaro's sworn , she fell ill amid the tour's demanding schedule and sought treatment at a base clinic, where a man identifying himself as a U.S. examined her. She claimed the individual injected her with a paralyzing substance under the guise of , leaving her conscious but physically incapacitated and unable to speak or resist, before raping her; a dressed in fatigues reportedly guarded the door during the assault. Massaro stated in her that the perpetrator assured her the injection was routine for her symptoms, but it rendered her immobile for the duration of the attack, after which she was returned to her hotel without immediate medical follow-up or reporting to base authorities. Other accounts, including NCIS investigative records obtained via Act requests, place the alleged incident at a Naval Clinic on Camp Life Support Area (LSA) and corroborate elements of an inappropriate medical examination involving U.S. military personnel, though the suspect's identity remains redacted and no charges resulted. The (NCIS) opened a probe into potential violations of Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice () but classified the case as closed in 2020, citing insufficient evidence for prosecution despite partial validation of procedural irregularities in the examination. Massaro's allegations, detailed in legal filings from her participation in a 2016 concussion-related lawsuit against , emphasized the assault's traumatic impact, including prolonged emotional distress, but lacked independent corroboration from witnesses at the time.

Disclosure process and corroborating accounts

Massaro first confided details of the alleged 2006 assault to her best friend, Cara Pipia, immediately upon returning from the WWE tour in , describing being lured to a medical tent, injected with a paralyzing substance, and waking to find herself sexually violated while unable to move or speak. Pipia later publicly corroborated this account in a February 2024 interview, stating Massaro exhibited severe trauma consistent with the described events, including emotional distress and physical symptoms like urinary tract issues, and affirmed that Massaro never wavered in her recounting over the years. The allegation entered legal proceedings through an affidavit Massaro prepared for a 2016 class-action concussion lawsuit against WWE, in which she detailed the Kuwait incident and claimed WWE executives, including Vince McMahon, advised her to remain silent to avoid jeopardizing her career. This affidavit was not publicly released until May 2019, shortly after Massaro's death on May 16, 2019, when her attorney, Konstantine Kyros, disclosed it amid renewed scrutiny of WWE's handling of performer welfare. Corroboration from official investigations includes a 2006 (NCIS) probe initiated after Massaro reported the incident to military authorities at , ; the report, declassified and detailed publicly in March 2024, documents her account of an unauthorized medical exam involving an injection, loss of consciousness, and subsequent assault by an individual posing as a U.S. , though no suspect was identified or charged due to insufficient evidence for prosecution. Further supporting claims emerged in February 2024 when a lawyer for former executive stated that upper management, including Laurinaitis and McMahon, had been informed of the allegation contemporaneously in 2006, contradicting WWE's May 2019 assertion that it learned of the rape claim only via the posthumous ; Laurinaitis' representative emphasized that the company prioritized Massaro's nondisclosure to shield her from scrutiny.

Concussion lawsuit involvement (2016)

In November 2016, Ashley Massaro joined a class-action lawsuit against , filed by attorney Konstantine Kyros on behalf of approximately 60 former wrestlers, alleging the company negligently concealed the long-term risks of and traumatic brain injuries sustained during matches. Massaro specifically claimed she endured multiple between 2005 and 2008 while performing as a WWE , including one incident that left her unconscious for five minutes without adequate medical intervention from the promotion. In a 2017 affidavit submitted as part of the suit, Massaro detailed receiving insufficient ring training and post-injury care from , which she argued exacerbated her neurological damage and contributed to chronic conditions such as , linking these to repeated head trauma akin to (). The plaintiffs, including Massaro, sought compensatory and for alleged failures in safety protocols, asserting prioritized entertainment over wrestler health by not disclosing cumulative brain injury risks. contested the claims, arguing performers assumed inherent risks of the profession and that the company provided necessary medical support. The lawsuit was dismissed in September 2018 by a federal judge, who ruled that the doctrine of voluntary barred the claims, though plaintiffs including Massaro's estate pursued an that remained pending at the time of her death in . Massaro's participation underscored her belief in a causal connection between WWE-induced head injuries and her health decline, as evidenced by her expressed intent to donate her brain for research to further validate such links.

Posthumous family lawsuit (2019 onward)

Following Massaro's death on May 16, 2019, her attorney Konstantine Kyros, who represented her in the prior concussion-related against , publicly released excerpts from her 2017 detailing the alleged 2006 in and claims of a subsequent by executives. Kyros stated that Massaro had instructed him prior to her death to donate her brain for () research at University's CTE Center, and he coordinated with her family toward that end, though the donation did not ultimately occur. This disclosure renewed attention to Massaro's pending claims in the consolidated Haynes et al. v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. litigation, where she was named as a alleging brain injuries, failure to warn of risks, and related harms from her tenure. WWE issued a statement on May 22, 2019, expressing condolences to Massaro's family while disputing the allegations, asserting that the company had no prior knowledge of the incident, that Massaro never reported it internally, and criticizing Kyros for leveraging her death to advance unsubstantiated claims amid ongoing litigation. The company maintained that all wrestler contracts included warnings of inherent risks, and it had provided programs during and after Massaro's employment. Massaro's claims proceeded posthumously through her estate in the federal litigation, which encompassed allegations for living plaintiffs like her alongside wrongful death claims from other decedents' estates. In September 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the consolidated suits, ruling Massaro's claims time-barred under Connecticut's three-year , as she had not wrestled for within that period before filing and no equitable tolling applied. Further appeals by Kyros Law, including a 2021 petition for to the U.S. , were denied, concluding the substantive claims. In August 2023, the Second Circuit upheld sanctions against Kyros totaling $312,143.55 for frivolous filings and discovery abuses in the cases, including those involving Massaro. No independent wrongful death action was initiated by Massaro's or separate from the pre-existing Kyros litigation. In 2024, her daughter publicly affirmed the authenticity of her mother's recounted experiences with , including the assault and its aftermath, countering suggestions of fabrication amid renewed scrutiny from other lawsuits.

WWE responses and evidentiary disputes

WWE issued a statement on May 23, 2019, following the release of Massaro's after her death, denying any knowledge of the alleged 2006 in or any meeting with her regarding the claims. The company asserted that "at no time was or the management of ever informed by Ashley Massaro or anybody else that she had been sexually assaulted," and characterized the allegations as "categorically denied" and malicious. This response directly contradicted Massaro's , which claimed that upon returning from on July 28, 2006, she informed executives including , who advised her to remain silent to avoid jeopardizing troop morale and 's military contracts. In the context of the 2016 class-action lawsuit filed by former wrestler Ryan Corey Haynes, Massaro joined as a on November 12, 2016, alleging repeated concussions from 's high-risk maneuvers caused , alongside claims of during her tenure. moved to dismiss the suit, arguing lack of evidence linking wrestling activities to long-term neurological damage, but the case was appealed to the Second of Appeals, which in upheld dismissal on grounds that wrestlers assumed inherent risks. Massaro's family pursued a separate wrongful death posthumously starting in , incorporating her allegations and seeking damages for in her care and failure to address reported traumas. Evidentiary disputes intensified in February 2024 when John Laurinaitis's attorney, in response to federal sex-trafficking probes, stated that was aware of Massaro's rape allegation despite prior denials from McMahon and Laurinaitis, citing internal knowledge predating her public disclosures. This contradicted WWE's 2019 position and Massaro's timeline, while a declassified investigative report from the Kuwait incident—obtained via Act requests—detailed her July 2006 complaint to military authorities but lacked corroboration of 's involvement or , focusing instead on U.S. Army contractor lapses. Further contention arose in August 2025 when Vince McMahon's representatives issued a strong denial against revived claims of his direct with Massaro, labeling them "completely false" amid allegations from former writer Dan St. Germain. Reports of Massaro apologizing to WWE in 2018 for participating in the concussion suit emerged posthumously, potentially indicating reconciliation or retraction, though her attorney Konstantine Kyros stated unawareness of any such apology, preserving the claims' evidentiary weight in ongoing disputes. These conflicts highlight inconsistencies in institutional knowledge and witness accounts, with maintaining no liability or prior awareness, while plaintiffs' filings and third-party statements suggest suppressed reporting to protect corporate interests.

Death

Discovery and immediate circumstances

On May 16, 2019, Suffolk County police responded to a 911 call at Ashley Massaro's residence in Smithtown, New York, early Thursday morning around 5:30 a.m. Officers and paramedics found the 39-year-old Massaro unresponsive inside the home. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Initial police assessment classified the incident as non-criminal.

Official cause determination and autopsy findings

The Suffolk County medical examiner's office performed an autopsy on Massaro following her death on May 16, 2019, but declined to publicly release the official cause or manner of death, invoking a New York state privacy law that permits withholding such details to protect decedent privacy. The investigation by Suffolk County police classified the death as non-criminal, with no evidence of foul play. Reports from sources familiar with the case indicated that Massaro was found unconscious with a ligature around her neck in her Smithtown, New York, residence, consistent with hanging, and was pronounced dead at a local hospital after resuscitation efforts failed. These accounts described the incident as an apparent suicide, though detailed autopsy results, including toxicology screens for substances or underlying medical conditions, were not disclosed publicly. No official confirmation of contributing factors such as prior injuries or medications emerged from the medical examiner's findings.

Potential contributing factors and brain study proposals

Massaro's attorney, Kyros, stated that she attributed her long-term to repeated head trauma and other injuries sustained during her career, including inadequate training and medical care that exacerbated physical and decline. In a 2017 filed in a class-action lawsuit against , Massaro described suffering from , sleep disturbances, and emotional instability stemming from wrestling-related concussions and impacts, which she linked causally to her deteriorating mental state without proper intervention. These self-reported experiences align with broader patterns observed in contact sports, where cumulative subconcussive blows can contribute to mood disorders, though no definitive causal link was established in her case prior to death. Prior to her death on May 16, 2019, Massaro expressed a desire to donate her brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition associated with repetitive head injuries, believing her wrestling experiences had induced neurological damage manifesting as depression. Kyros indicated that this donation would proceed if approved by her family, aiming to provide insights into CTE prevalence among professional wrestlers, a group with limited but emerging data on brain pathology from high-impact routines. As of the latest available reports, no public confirmation of the donation or resulting study findings has been disclosed, leaving the proposal unrealized in documented outcomes. Such examinations, when performed, typically involve postmortem analysis for tau protein accumulation, a hallmark of CTE, but require family consent and institutional processing, which were pending in Massaro's instance.

Championships and accomplishments

Beauty pageant titles

Massaro competed in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic bikini pageants, earning the title of Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA in 2002. She subsequently won Miss Hawaiian Tropic Canada in August 2004. These victories highlighted her modeling background and preceded her entry into professional wrestling.

Wrestling achievements and recognitions

Massaro's entry into was marked by her victory in the 2005 competition, which provided her with a developmental contract and facilitated her main roster debut on the brand in November of that year. This contest win represented her sole formal recognition as a newcomer, emphasizing and over prior in-ring experience. During her WWE tenure from 2005 to 2008, Massaro competed in 52 televised matches, compiling a record of 28 wins and 24 losses, with no draws or disqualifications altering the outcome tallies. Her victories included a tag team win alongside over and at on September 11, 2005, and a singles victory against in a match officiated by special guest referee on the February 6, 2006, episode of . Massaro featured in nine pay-per-view events, securing four victories against five defeats, highlighted by her challenge for the against Melina in a Lumberjill match at on April 1, 2007, where she was defeated by pinfall. She also participated as a Lumberjill in the Playboy Bunnymania match at on March 30, 2008. Additional contributions included managerial roles, such as supporting the of on SmackDown in 2006. Massaro did not capture any championships during her career.

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