Just a week after posting on her MySpace that she would be leaving WWE, Ashley Massaro's departure from the Fed was confirmed today in a statement on wwe.com.

As reported in SLAM!'s News and Rumours section on July 2, Massaro asked for her release so she could care for her daughter.

"At this point when she is sick and needs me home I have 2 make the decision 2 bow out of wwe for a while and take care of my daughter," Massaro said in a posting on her MySpace blog.

Today, WWE confirmed that they had granted Ashley's request. "World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Ashley Massaro as of July 09, 2008. WWE wishes Ashley the best in all future endeavors," the company stated through its website.

Massaro's WWE career began in the second Raw Diva Search competition, which took place in 2005, when she defeated future female competitors including Kristal Marshall. Massaro, already familiar to fans from stints hosting E!'s Wild On television show, defeated Leyla Milani to attain the coveted WWE contract.

Throughout her WWE career, Massaro remained popular with fans and found herself in the midst of feuds with several of the Fed's top women. Likely her most famous rivalry was with Mickie James in 2006, during the current WWE Women's Champion's infatuation with Trish Stratus. Massaro, then an ally of Stratus, was a target of several James attacks. The feud, however, was stopped short due to Massaro incurring a fibula injury in February. Massaro would occasionally appear on WWE TV during her recovery, though.

Ashley returned to WWE in June 2006. Now appearing with the Smackdown brand, Massaro entered into a feud with Marshall, only to sustain another injury - this time a broken knuckle. One month later, she came back as the valet for Paul London and Brian Kendrick, a role she would hold for several months.

In 2007, Massaro was announced as the newest Diva to pose for Playboy. As a result of this, Massaro began feuding with the then-Women's Champion, Melina. Their rivalry culminated at WrestleMania 23, a match which Massaro lost. Following the feud, Massaro continued to second Kendrick and London before being put on the injured list again, this time to due a screw needing to be re-placed in a plate on her ankle. She would briefly return to WWE before taking a hiatus to appear on the CBS reality series, Survivor.

Massaro returned to WWE in January 2008 and eventually made her second WrestleMania appearance, tagging with fellow Playboy covergirl Maria against Melina and Beth Phoenix in a tag team Lumberjack match. Massaro would again come out on the losing end.

Massaro's last major WWE appearance was at Backlash 2008, teaming with her fellow Raw Divas in a losing effort to Smackdown's women contingent.

Source:

SLAM!Sports

by:Jon Waldman