View source for The Kat

{{Short description|American female professional wrestler}}
{{Other uses|Kat (disambiguation)}}
{{About|former professional wrestler|other uses|Miss Kitty (disambiguation){{!}}Miss Kitty}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = The Kat
| image       = Stacy Carter.jpg
| alyt        =
| caption     = Carter in 2010
| birth_name  = Stacy Lee Carter
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1970|09|29|mf=y}}<ref name="Law264"/><ref name="Good"/>
| birth_place = [[West Memphis, Arkansas]], U.S.<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| names       = The Kat<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br/>Lovely Stacy<br/>Miss Kitty<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br/>Stacy<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br/>Stacy Carter<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| height      = 5 ft 3 in<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| weight      = 106 lb<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| billed      =
| trainer     = [[Al Snow]]<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><ref name="Stacy Cater Interview">{{cite web|title=The Ross Report #141 Bill Goldberg & The Kat |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JyYix05_K0&t=3201s |website=YouTube |publisher=Grilling JR |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref><br/>[[Ivory (wrestler)|Ivory]]<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><ref name="Stacy Cater Interview"/><br/>[[Triple H]]<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><ref name="Stacy Cater Interview"/><br/>Terry Golden<ref name="Stacy Cater Interview"/>
| debut       = 1998<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| retired     = 2011<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
| spouse      = {{plainlist|
* {{Marriage|[[Jerry Lawler]]|2000|2003|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Sinn Bodhi]]|2010|2013|end=div}}
}}
| family      = [[Brian Lawler]] (ex-stepson)
}}
'''Stacy Lee Carter''' (born September 29, 1970) is an American retired [[professional wrestling]] [[Manager (professional wrestling)|valet]] and [[professional wrestler]]. She is best known for her tenure in the [[World Wrestling Federation]] from August 1999 to February 2001 under the [[ring name]]s '''Miss Kitty''' and '''The Kat''', where she held the [[WWF Women's Championship]] once.
== Professional wrestling career ==
=== Early career (1998–1999) ===
Carter was introduced to professional wrestling by her then-partner, [[Jerry Lawler]]. She made her wrestling debut on April 18, 1998 in [[Jonesboro, Arkansas]] for [[Power Pro Wrestling]].<ref name="KreikenbohmMatches"/>
=== World Wrestling Federation (1999–2001) ===
==== Alliance with Chyna; Women's Champion (1999–2000) ====
Carter first appeared on World Wrestling Federation (WWF)'s flagship program, ''[[WWE Raw|Raw is War]]'', on August 23, 1999. She debuted as Miss Kitty, an assistant to [[Debra Marshall|Debra]], appointed to her by [[Jeff Jarrett]], whom Debra managed.<ref name=jl337>Jerry Lawler, ''It's Good to Be the King ... Sometimes'', p. 337.</ref> The partnership ended when Jarrett left the company after losing the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] to [[Chyna]] at [[No Mercy (1999)|No Mercy]].<ref name=jl337/><ref name=mercy>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct18_nomercy.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714030011/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct18_nomercy.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=Tag match highlights No Mercy|author=John Powell|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=July 13, 2008|date=October 18, 1999}}</ref> Because Jarrett was departing the company after the match, Miss Kitty began managing Chyna,<ref name=mercy/> and then started dressing in 'Chyna-like' clothing and wearing a black wig.<ref name=jl337/>
At [[Armageddon (1999)|Armageddon]] in December 1999, Miss Kitty won her only [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Four Corners]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Bra and Panties match|Evening Gown]] Pool match by defeating then-champion [[Ivory (wrestler)|Ivory]], [[Jacqueline Moore|Jacqueline]], and Barbara "BB" Bush by stripping them of their gowns.<ref name=reign/> The [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referees]] were [[The Fabulous Moolah]] and [[Mae Young]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec13_armageddon.html|title=Steph betrays Vince at Armageddon|author=John Powell|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=July 13, 2008|date=December 13, 1999|archive-date=June 30, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630014803/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/dec13_armageddon.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> After the match, Miss Kitty stripped out of her dress in celebration and quickly [[Exhibitionism|flashed]] the crowd her breasts.<ref name=reign/><ref name=play/> The following evening, she announced before successfully defending her title in a thong in a Chocolate Pudding Match against Tori that she was changing her name to The Kat. The Kat then appeared at the [[Royal Rumble (2000)|Royal Rumble]] in the 'Miss Royal Rumble Swimsuit Contest', where she appeared in a bikini made out of [[bubble wrap]].<ref name=jl350>Lawler, p. 350.</ref> The contest, however, was won by Mae Young.<ref name=jl350/> She lost the Championship on the January 31 edition of ''Raw'' to [[Harvey Wippleman|Hervina]] in a ''[[Lumberjack match#Lumberjack match|Lumberjill]] Snowbunny match'', a match that took place in a snow filled pool surrounded by female wrestlers whose purpose was to keep The Kat and Hervina from leaving the pool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112213 |title=Hervina's Title Reign |publisher=WWE.com |access-date=May 9, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420160630/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112213 |archive-date=April 20, 2009 }}</ref>
==== Rivalry with Terri Runnels (2000) ====
The Kat then began an on-screen rivalry with [[Terri Runnels]], although neither were fully trained wrestlers. At [[WrestleMania 2000]], Runnels (accompanied by The Fabulous Moolah) defeated The Kat (with Mae Young) in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Catfight|catfight]]. [[Val Venis]] was the special guest referee, but he was distracted during the match when Young kissed him, which allowed Moolah to pull The Kat out of the ring. When Venis saw her out of the ring, he declared Runnels the winner.<ref name=wrestlemania2000>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/apr3_wrestlemania.html|title=WrestleMania 2000 a flop Pre-show better than WWF's biggest event|date=April 3, 2000|last=Powell|first=John|access-date=January 27, 2013|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|archive-date=June 30, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630014803/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/apr3_wrestlemania.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Post-match, The Kat attacked Runnels by stripping off her pants to expose her thong.<ref name=wrestlemania2000/> The feud continued, and the duo had an [[Professional wrestling match types#Arm Wrestling match|arm wrestling match]] at [[WWE Insurrextion#2000|Insurrextion]].<ref name=jl339>Lawler, p. 339.</ref> The Kat was victorious, but after the match, Runnels pulled The Kat's top off, exposing her breasts,<ref name=jl339/> which The Kat allowed.<ref name=jl339/> The two women continued to feud throughout the summer, often in mixed tag matches. In June 2000, The Kat attempted to regain the Women's Championship by entering in the first-ever women's battle royal to become the #1 contender, which also featured the likes of [[Lita (wrestler)|Lita]], [[Jacqueline Moore|Jacqueline]] and [[Ivory (wrestler)|Ivory]], but was eliminated by her rival Terri. The feud resurfaced in a 'Thong Stink Face' match at [[SummerSlam (2000)|SummerSlam]], which The Kat won by performing a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Stink Face|stinkface]] on Runnels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2000/results|title=SummerSlam 2000 results|publisher=WWE|access-date=January 27, 2013|archive-date=December 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201201705/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2000/results|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=stink>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/aug28_summerslam.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715121001/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/aug28_summerslam.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=Stunts highlight SummerSlam|author=John Powell|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=July 13, 2008|date=August 28, 2000}}</ref> She would at times team up with [[Jerry Lawler]], [[Rikishi (wrestler)|Rikishi]] and [[Al Snow]] in mix tag matches against Terri with [[Dean Malenko]] and [[Perry Saturn]].
==== Rivalry with Right to Censor (2001) ====
{{see also|Right to Censor}}
In early 2001, The Kat began a new storyline with a stable called "[[Right to Censor]]", a group of wrestlers purportedly wanting to rein in the vulgarity of the "Attitude Era," during which she demanded equal time for the "right for nudity".<ref name=play>{{cite web|url=http://www.playboy.com/sex/d12/jerrylawler/index.html|title=The Dirty Dozen: Jerry Lawler|publisher=Playboy.com|access-date=March 19, 2008|author=Antonia Simigis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219003320/http://playboy.com/sex/d12/jerrylawler/index.html|archive-date=February 19, 2009}}</ref><ref name=release/> During this time, The Kat also began competing in WWF's various developmental territories against the likes of [[Lisa Marie Varon|Victoria]], [[Molly Holly]], [[Jasmine St. Claire]] and [[Cynthia Lynch]]. At [[No Way Out (2001)|No Way Out]], [[Jerry Lawler]], who was representing The Kat, lost a match to [[Stevie Richards|Steven Richards]], the head of the stable, after The Kat mistakenly hit Lawler with the Women's Championship belt.<ref name=release/> As a result of Lawler losing the match, she was forced to join the stable.
On February 27, 2001, The Kat was abruptly released from the WWF in the middle of the Right to Censor storyline.<ref name=feet>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_3/ai_81826835 |title=Landing on her feet |author=Tim Towe |publisher=Wrestling Digest |access-date=October 8, 2007 |date=February 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015054527/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_3/ai_81826835 |archive-date=October 15, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result, her husband Jerry Lawler also quit the company.<ref name=release>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosL/lawler_01feb28-can.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718085327/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosL/lawler_01feb28-can.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 18, 2012|title=WWF releases The Kat, loses Lawler|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=October 9, 2007|date=February 28, 2001}}</ref><ref>Lawler, p. 403.</ref> According to Lawler, The Kat was released from the WWF because [[Vince McMahon]] decided to end the angle with the Right to Censor.<ref>Lawler, p. 405.</ref> Other insiders cite The Kat's negative backstage attitude as the reason for her dismissal.<ref name=list>R. D. Reynolds and Blade Braxton. ''The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!'' (140)</ref> In 2021, Professional wrestling commentator and WWE Hall of Famer [[Jim Ross]] stated that the reason for The Kat's departure from the WWF was "based on what the writers said, she was too hard to work with. So, they caught Vince on a day when he was not in a really great mood, apparently. I got called in Vince‘s office, 'I want her gone.' 'What?' 'I want her gone today.'" So, you know, that’s where your job becomes very challenging and Vince McMahon’s word was final”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/wwe-news-jim-ross-recalls-vince-mcmahon-firing-a-former-wwe-womens-champion-in-a-bizarre-fashion/|title=Jim Ross Recalls Vince McMahon Firing a Former WWE Women's Champion in a Bizarre Fashion|date=February 25, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225200220/https://www.essentiallysports.com/wwe-news-jim-ross-recalls-vince-mcmahon-firing-a-former-wwe-womens-champion-in-a-bizarre-fashion/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Late career (2001, 2010-2011, 2015) ===
[[File:Brady hicks, matt riviera, and stacy carter.jpg|thumb|Carter at an independent event in 2010.]]
After Carter and Lawler left the World Wrestling Federation, they worked various independent wrestling events.<ref name=feet/> She retired from wrestling in 2001. They also signed with Tri-Star Productions and worked at [[Memphis Championship Wrestling]].<ref name=feet/> Carter made her debut for Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA) on June 5, 2010 at the ''TWA Homecoming'' event in [[Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania]], where she teamed up with Demolition (Ax and Smash) in a winning effort defeating Sheeta and The Nigerian Nightmares (Maifu and Saifu) in a 6-person mixed-tag team match.<ref name=KreikenbohmMatches/> Carter made her debut for Stranglehold Wrestling (SHW) on August 26, 2010 at the ''Stranglehold Devils Playground Tour'' in [[Oshawa, Ontario]], Canada, where she competed in an Arm-Wrestling match against Pissed off Pete in a no-contest. Later that event, Carter accompied Sinn Bohdi to the ring where he competed against George Terzis.<ref name=KreikenbohmMatches/> Her last match was teaming with Sinn Bohdi defeating Massive Damage and Sexy Samantha at Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) in Las, Vegas on April 18, 2011.<ref name=KreikenbohmMatches/>
In 2015, Carter was featured as a guest in WWE's documentary titled ''Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story'', which featured her ex-husband [[Jerry Lawler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://watch.wwe.com/program/Good-to-Be-the-King-the-Jerry-Lawler-Story-12310?startPoint=2632.167|title=Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler story |publisher=WWE.com |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref> In the same year, she also appeared in an episode of ''The WWE List'', a digital series that aired on WWE.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://watch.wwe.com/episode/Foxiest-Features-11191|title=Foxiest Features|publisher=WWE.com |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Carter's family was originally from [[West Memphis, Arkansas]].<ref name="Law264">Lawler, p. 264.</ref> After her parents divorced, Carter's mother moved to [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name="Law264"/> Stacy Carter, however, as well as her younger brother and sister, continued to live with their father, who worked as a policeman, in Arkansas.<ref name="Law264"/> Carter moved to Memphis to live with her mother, Cathy, after graduating from high school.<ref name="Law264"/>
Carter met Jerry Lawler, her future husband, at a charity softball game at Treadwell High School in Memphis on July 23, 1989, two months before her nineteenth birthday.<ref name="Law264"/><ref name="Good">Lawler, p. 333.</ref> She was attending the game with her mother, who was dating one of the players on the team for which Lawler also played.<ref name="Law264"/> Lawler, however, was married at the time, and he claims that when he initially met Carter, he considered an affair.<ref name="Law264"/> After Lawler separated from his wife, Carter moved in with him.<ref name="Law264"/> When Carter first met Lawler, she was working as a bank teller.<ref name="Law264"/> Lawler later helped her get a job at a photography studio, and she also opened and ran her own hair salon.<ref name="Law264"/> Carter was less than sixteen months older than Lawler's son [[Brian Christopher|Brian]].
Lawler and Carter married in September 2000.<ref name=slambio>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lawler.html|title=SLAM Bio: Jerry Lawler|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=October 8, 2007|date=February 5, 2005|archive-date=July 14, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714192415/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lawler.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> While they were together, former professional wrestler [[Missy Hyatt]] offered Carter $10,000 to pose nude on her website, but Carter refused the offer.<ref>Lawler, p. 305.</ref> Carter decided to leave Lawler in July 2001, and they separated not long after.<ref>Lawler, p. 415.</ref> She left professional wrestling upon separating from Jerry Lawler. She worked in the field of real estate in [[Lee County, Florida]] for [[Century 21 Real Estate]] for some time after the divorce.<ref>Lawler, p. 448.</ref>
Carter and professional wrestler [[Sinn Bodhi|Nick Cvjetkovich]] announced their engagement on June 12, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1276403505|title=Two former WWE personalities announce their engagement|date=June 13, 2010|last=Gerweck|first=Steve|access-date=June 13, 2010|publisher=WrestleView|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616141438/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1276403505|archive-date=June 16, 2010}}</ref> Cvjetkovich and Carter were married in St. Petersburg Florida July 29, 2010 on the beach in front of many family and friends. Stevan Cvjetkovich (Nicholas' younger brother) and [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] both stood as best men. [[Jimmy Hart]] gave Carter away in the ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1276403505|title=Two former WWE personalities announce their engagement|date=June 13, 2010|last=Gerweck|first=Steve|access-date=June 13, 2010|publisher=WrestleView|archive-date=June 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616141438/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1276403505|url-status=live}}</ref> They divorced in 2013.
== Filmography ==
=== Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Man on the Moon (film)|Man on the Moon]]''
| Lawler's Girlfriend
| Uncredited
|}
=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Notes !! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2000 || ''[[WWF No Mercy (video game)|WWF No Mercy]]'' || Video game debut || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/no-mercy-video-game-forgotten-characters/|title=10 Playable Characters You Totally Forgot Were In WWE No Mercy|last=DJELJOSEVIC|first=Danny|date=September 18, 2020|work=The Sportster}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role]]'' || {{N/A}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/14/wwf-smackdown-2-know-your-role-2|title=WWF Smackdown 2!: Know Your Role|work=[[IGN]]|date=November 14, 2000 |access-date=May 20, 2012}}</ref>
|}
== Championships and accomplishments ==
* '''[[World Wrestling Federation]]'''
** [[WWF Women's Championship]] ([[List of WWE Women's Champions (1956–2010)|1 time]])<ref name=reign/>
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Kreikenbohm">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=702|title=Kat|access-date=November 23, 2021|website=Cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>
<ref name="KreikenbohmMatches">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=702&page=4|title=Kat - matches|access-date=November 23, 2021|website=Cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>
<ref name=reign>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111233 |title=The Kat's title reign |publisher=[[WWE]] |work=[[WWE]].com |access-date=May 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507154001/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111233 |archive-date=May 7, 2007 }}</ref>
}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Stacy Carter}}
* {{twitter|stacycarterkat|Stacy Carter}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0141943|name=Stacy Carter}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=702|wrestlingdata=649|iwd=stacy-carter-300}}
{{WWE Women's Championship}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kat, The}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:American female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Female professional wrestling announcers]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets]]
[[Category:WWF/WWE Women's Champions]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:20th-century female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century female professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers]]