Former WWE star Ashley Massaro dead at 39

Ashley Massaro, the winner of the 2005 WWE Diva Search, has died at just 39 years old. Her death is under investigation, though described as non-criminal.

Former WWE superstar Ashley Massaro, who won the 2005 WWE Diva Search, passed away on the morning of May 16. She was 39.

Officials told TMZ that Massaro was transported to a hospital near her home in Suffolk County, NY. There is no word on the official cause of her death; it is currently under investigation, though officials say it is a non-criminal matter.

Massaro had just tweeted to her fans the day before the death.

https://twitter.com/ashleymassaro11/status/1128795589678895104

“We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro,” WWE said in a statement released on its website. “She performed in WWE from 2005-2008 and was beloved by her fellow Superstars and fans around the world. WWE offers its condolences to Ashley’s family and friends.”

Massaro joined the WWE by winning the Diva Search competition. Her first feud saw her ally with WWE Hall of Fame women’s champion Trish Stratus and was involved with her in a feud with Mickie James before suffering an injury.

She then moved to the SmackDown brand, where she became the valet for Paul London and Brian Kendrick during their legendary WWE tag team championship reign between 2006 and 2007.

Her biggest matches included a women’s championship “Lumberjill match” at WrestleMania 23 in 2007, and a “Playboy BunnyMania LumberJill match” at the following year’s event.

Massaro also appeared as a contestant on Survivor: China and appeared on the front cover of the April 2007 edition of Playboy.

Massaro left the WWE in 2008 but had teased a return to wrestling; in fact, she had been involved with a small wrestling promotion in 2017.