In early 21st Century, actresses in Hollywood realized the dynamics of the game had changed. The 'supermodel' era was at an end and now actresses were not only making huge amounts of money for their acting talent, they were also in demand as 'spokesmodels' and for print advertising campaigns. Being the 'cut-throat' business it was, this new reality meant that an actress who tried to 'go it alone' could be in for a difficult time. Friendships (or at least alliances born of common interests) soon led to the formation of teams or pairs of competitors who would work together toward a common goal - domination of the workplace.
It was only a matter of time before these teams started to settle rivalries, differences of opinion or simply jealousies, with their hands and/or their (bare or high heeled) feet in restaurants, nightclubs and - in two or three cases - on the street! Hollywood powers quickly realized the fights were generating a lot of fodder for the tabloids (who were getting rich off it!) while creating bad publicity for the women and those who hire and pay them. Something had to be done!
In a brilliant fit of publicity-savvy marketing, the major studios and a few independent film companies banded together to form "Hollywood Celebrity Wrestling, Inc." By taking control of the situation, the big-wigs defused a potentially explosive public relations nightmare while increasing the marketability of their leading ladies...and everyone concerned lined his/her own pocket! Once they began PPV telecasts with some of the top names in Hollywood (and other actresses with world-wide reputations) the brilliance of the idea was so obvious that even top-earning stars like Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Charlize Theron, plus International celebrities, clamored to get in on the action. It quickly became a problem to keep the number of tag teams to a managable number - a crisis averted by the formation of 'feeder' leagues in different countries and 'developmental' leagues where young starlets could work on fleshing out their screen and ring personnas as they honed their ring skills while they awaited their 'big break'
This league gave added incentive to big name celebrities to particpate, but having majority financial control in their hands meant the women - not the promoters - could control and shape their 'in-ring personna'. While each and every female celebrity is in reality sweet, good-natured and kind, many LOVED to play 'bad girls' and they took to the ring with relish, eager to show they could 'play bad' with all the talent they'd brought to their on-screen roles.
While some disgruntled opponents of the 'bad girls' claimed they were merely 'playing to type', most celebrities retained the illusion (at least) that the 'good girls' were really good and the 'bad girls' were truly evil and wicked. As the matches grew in popularity, some teams membership shifted - adding or subtracting one (or in a few cases BOTH) members in an effort to gain maximum 'market penetration' for the sale of 'action figures', because of 'personality conflicts' or in come cases simply because the original pair hadn't been as successful as expected!
A few 'characters' got themselves spun off into comic book or 'illustrated novellas' and one team has already signed for a major motion picture 'in character'!! When the sale of action figures, T-shirts and video games proved very lucrative, the telecasts of weekly shows turned into marketing opportunities rather than real 'athletic contests' so it fell to PPV TV 'specials' - the four times a year spectaculars scheduled during ratings 'sweeps' periods - to provide the top quality 'wrestling' entertainment hard-core fans and 'rasslin' junkies demanded. The weekly shows continued to be used to promote character development, carry on-going plots and to built 'heat and hype' for upcoming specials - as well as to advertise the new film releases of the participants.
Below are the current tag teams participating in the "All The Marbles" Celebrity Wrestling League. Roster changes and information updates, plus new signings and releases are posted as they are received from League HQ!
Note: Some teams have managers who can get involved when needed. A few teams DON'T have a manager - either because they don't want or need one, or they haven't yet found the right woman. Some teams have as their manager a contemporary of the wrestlers - a close friend or relative - others have chosen a "wise old veteran who brings years of experience to the team." A few teams are experimenting with the "trio"; three more or less equal wrestlers who rotate, one managing while the two best suited are matched to their opponent for that match! It's an interesting concept, one that favors 'matchups' at the expense of 'teamwork.' We'll keep an eye on how it works out!!
Explanation (notes): Some teams are always 'faces' or 'heels' - but in certain parts of the world 'faces' become 'heels' - and vice versa! Obvious ones are noted below, but ALL TEAMS adjust to circumstances AND/OR their opponents!
FACE TEAMS:
1. The California Dolls (Michelle Williams/Kristin Kreuk w/Teri Hatcher, mgr)
2. The Canadian Knockouts (Vicky Pratt/Trish Stratus w/Pam Anderson, mgr)
3. The Cheerleaders (Kirsten Dunst/Eliza Dushku w/Paula Abdul, mgr)
4. The Crooners (Avril Lavigne/Amy Lee w/Shania Twain, mgr)
5. Hollywood High Class! (Charlize Theron/Kristanna Loken w/Sharon Stone, mgr)
6. The Honolulu Hurricanes (Kelly Hu/Tia Carrere w/Kiana Tom, mgr)
7. The Schoolgirls (Alicia Silverstone/Liv Tyler w/Jamie Lee Curtis, mgr)
8. The Simpson Sisters (Jessica Simpson/Ashlee Simpson w/Suzi Simpson, mgr)
9. The Star Dolls (Natalie Portman/Keira Knightley w/Kathleen Turner, mgr)
10. The South American Scissor Queens (Patricia Velazquez/Maria Checa/Giselle Bundchen)
11. The Vegas Connection (Nikki Cox/Molly Sims/Vanessa Marcil) (heels-Bible belt)
12. The Wisconsin Spellcasters (Jessica Biel/Erica Leerhsen w/Shannon Whirry, mgr)
13. The Hollywood Angels (Cameron Diaz/Drew Barrymore w/Cheryl Ladd, mgr)
14. The Duff Sisters Hillary Duff/Haley Duff w/Linda Evans, mgr)
15. The Olson Sisters Mary Kate Olson/Ashley Olson w/Lori Laughlin, mgr)
16. The Surfer Girls Brittany Daniel/Jolene Blalock w/Suzanne Somers, mgr)
NEUTRAL TEAMS:
1. The Bollywood Bombers (Padma Lakshmi/Aishwarya Rai w/Madhuri Dixit, mgr)
2. The British Bombshells (Kate Winslet/ Rachel Weisz w/Charlotte Church, mgr)
3. The Dark Huntresses (Jessica Alba/Ashley Scott w/Demi Moore, mgr)
4. The Fighting Irish (Karen McDougal/Divini Rae w/Renee O'Connor, mgr) (note: heels in England)
5. Houston's Finest (Beyonce Knowles/Solange Knowles w/ Kelly Rowland, mgr)
6. The Italian Goddesses (Manuela Arcuri/Maria Grazia Cucinotta/Monica Bellucci)
7. The Wonders of Oz (Nicole Kidman/Naomi Watts w/Cate Blanchett, mgr) (note: heels-Asia; faces-Oz)
8. The Model-Actresses (Molly Sims/Milla Jovovich w/Cindy Crawford, mgr)
9. The New York Brawlers (Lil Kim/Jada Pinkett-Smith w/Ellen Barkin, mgr)
10. Queens of the Ring (Lucy Liu/Dina Meyer w/Farrah Fawcett, mgr)
11. The Sorority Girls (Reese Witherspoon/Brittany Murphy w/Renee Zellweger, mgr)
12. The Texas Tornadoes (Melissa Joan Hart/Danielle Fishel w/Sandra Bullock, mgr)
13. The Toledo Tigers (Vivica A. Fox/Halle Berry w/Vanessa Williams, mgr)
14. The "D Girls" (Katherine Heigl/Lindsay Lohan w/Mimi Rogers, mgr) (note: heels v 'less well-endowed')
15. The French Connection (Laetitia Casta/Ludivine Sagnier/Sophie Marceau)
16. The Spice Girls (Victoria Beckham/Mel Brown/Geri Halliwell/Emma Bunton/Melanie Chisholm)
17. The Girls Next Door (Katie Holmes/Kelly Ripa w/Kathie Lee Gifford, mgr)
18. The Bombshell Blondes (Scarlett Johansson/Hayden Panettiere w/Kim Basinger, mgr)
HEEL TEAMS:
1. The Ancient Dojo (Sung Hi Lee/Zhang Ziyi w/Bai Ling, mgr) (note faces in Asia)
2. The Coroners (Tamara Tunie/Khandi Alexander w/Pam Grier, mgr)
3. The Dominion Dominatrixes (Catherine Zeta Jones/Liz Hurley/Kelly Brook)
4. The Duchesses of Darkness (Rose McGowan/Kim Director w/Alyssa Milano, mgr)
5. The Great White North (Natasha Henstridge/Elisha Cuthbert w/Carrie Ann Moss, mgr)
6. Heavy Metal Hellions(Juliya Chernetsky/Cristina Scabbia w/Courtney Love, mgr)
7. The Hollywood Horrors (Sarah Michelle Gellar/Neve Campbell w/Amy Acker, mgr)
8. La Banditas! (Salma Hayek/Penelope Cruz w/Daisy Fuentes, mgr)
9. The Persian Princesses (Catherine Bell/Shannon Elizabeth/Nadia Bjorlin, mgr)
10. Penthouse Pussycats (Aria Giovanni/Sunny Leone w/Samantha Phillips, mgr)
11. The Reform School Girls (Pink/Gwen Stefani w/Tara Reid, mgr)
12. The Russian Fire Goddesses (Alyson Hannigan/Laura Prepon w/Angie Everhart, mgr)
13. The South Central Street Sweepers (Queen Latifah/Lauryn Hill)
14. The Vampire Women (N'Bushe Wright/Kate Beckinsale w/Sonia Braga, mgr)
15. The Ice Queens (Britney Spears/Madonna/Paris Hilton)
16. Latina Heat (Michelle Rodriguez/Eva Mendes w/Eva Longoria, mgr)
17. The Brooklyn Bad Girls (Jennifer (J-Lo) Lopez/Talisa (T-So) Soto, w/Rosie (Ro-Ro) Perez, mgr)
18. The Detroit Connection (Elizabeth Berkeley/Kristin Bell/Selma Blair w/Sherilyn Fenn, mgr)
19. The Texas Cowgirls (Jennifer Garner/Joan Severance w/Jaclyn Smith, mgr)
20. The Jackson Sisters (Janet Jackson/LaToya Jackson w/Kate Jackson, mgr)