Celeste Beryl Bonin (born October 7, 1986) is an American body builder, model, and professional wrestler. She works for WWE under the ring name Kaitlyn where she is the reigning WWE Divas Champion.
Bonin started her career as a body fitness model. In 2007,
she won the National Physique Committee (NPC) John Sherman Classic Bodybuilding
Figure and Fitness Championship, came in fifth at the Arnold Classic in the NPC
Figure Class D competition, and also was in the top five at Muscle mania Super
body, in the Figure Universe - Tall category. She was named Miss November in
2008, placed 16th at the NPC Junior Nationals that year in the NPC Figure
category, and was part of the Hardfitnes Calendar. Bonin also made an
appearance in Flex Magazine in 2009.
In July 2010, Bonin signed a developmental contract with
World Wrestling Entertainment, and was assigned to Florida Championship
Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental territory. In September 2010, she competed
in the all-female third season of NXT where she became the only female in
history to win NXT. Prior to her debut to the main roster in December 2010, she
formed a tag team with AJ known as The Chick busters in May 2011. After the
split of the team in May 2012, she returned to singles competition which
includes winning the WWE Divas Championship on the 20th anniversary episode of
Raw in January 2013.
Early life and career
Bonin made her body fitness debut in 2006, at the age of 19.
In 2007, Bonin won the National Physique Committee (NPC) John Sherman Classic
Bodybuilding Figure and Fitness Championship, and came fifth at the Arnold
Classic in the NPC Figure Class D competition. She also was in the top five at Muscle
mania Super body in 2007, in the Figure Universe – Tall category. In 2008, she
was named Miss November at the Hard fitness Calendar, and placed 16th at the
NPC Junior Nationals that same year in the NPC Figure category. In 2008 she was
part of the Hard fitness Calendar and in 2009, Bonin appeared in Flex Magazine.
Florida Championship Wrestling (2010–2012)
In July 2010, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) signed
Bonin to a developmental contract, and she reported to Florida Championship
Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory. She debuted under the ring name
Celeste, competing in a bikini contest. Her name was soon changed to Ricki
Vaughn, and quickly changed again to Kaitlyn, her name on NXT. On the August 22
episode of FCW television, she would make her FCW TV debut as a lumber Jill at
ringside for a match between AJ Lee and Naomi Knight. On the July 3 episode of
FCW television, Kaitlyn competed in singles competition against then FCW Divas
Champion and Queen of FCW Aksana in a losing effort. Kaitlyn competed in her
first FCW Divas Championship title match on the August 7 episode of FCW
television against Aksana, but was unsuccessful in winning the title.
On the December 25 episode of FCW television, Kaitlyn teamed
with Cameron Lynn being defeated by Caylee Turner and Sofia Cortez. After no
longer being on the FCW roster, she continued to make wrestling appearances
feuding against the Anti-Diva Army (Sofia Cortez, Raquel Diaz, and Paige) along
with Audrey Marie and Caylee Turner in various tag team matches.
NXT (2010)
Kaitlyn, NXT Season 3 Winner
On
September 7, it was announced that Bonin would join season 3 of NXT, under the
name Kaitlyn, with Vickie Guerrero as her storyline pro. She was the
replacement for Guerrero's original rookie, Aloisia, whom Guerrero fired in
storyline. That week, she unsuccessfully competed in both a "Dance
Competition" (where she performed moves like the robot and running man),
and a "Capture the Flag" contest. The following week on the September
14 episode of NXT, Kaitlyn made her in-ring debut, when she teamed up with Guerrero's
on-screen boyfriend Dolph Ziggler to defeat AJ and Primo in a mixed tag team
match, and also won the "Obstacle Course" challenge. Kaitlyn made her
first pay-per-view appearance at Night of Champions accompanying Dolph Ziggler
with Vickie Guerrero for Ziggler's WWE Intercontinental Championship match,
until Guerrero ordered her to leave ringside. On the September 21 episode of
NXT, Kaitlyn and LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool) lost to Kelly Kelly,
Naomi, and Jamie in a six-diva tag team match after Naomi pinned Kaitlyn, and
ended the show after LayCool attacked her while Guerrero berated her. That
same week on the September 24 episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn and Vickie
Guerrero accompanied Dolph Ziggler to the ring for his match until Guerrero
again ordered Kaitlyn to leave ringside, leading to Kaitlyn pushing her over
before leaving. On the September 28 episode of NXT, Kaitlyn won a wheelbarrow
race and lost a "Diss the Diva" challenge, which lead to Vickie
Guerrero entering the ring and insulting her until Kaitlyn challenges Guerrero
to a match and ending the show with the two brawling.
The Chickbusters (2010–2012)
On the December 3 episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn appeared in
a backstage segment with Guerrero and Ziggler, announcing that SmackDown
General Manager Theodore Long had signed her to the brand following her victory
on NXT. She had her first match on SmackDown on the January 28, 2011, episode,
when she and Kelly Kelly were defeated by LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool).Kaitlyn
later lost in singles competition against Layla on the March 11 episode of
SmackDown.
On the May 27 episode of SmackDown Kaitlyn formed a tag team
known as The Chickbusters with AJ, which led to their first match as a team
being accompanied by their mentor Natalya against the team of Alicia Fox and
Tamina in a losing effort. AJ and Kaitlyn lost a rematch to Fox and Tamina the
following week. Her first victory came on the June 10 episode of SmackDown,
when she pinned Tamina in a singles match, a feat she repeated on the July 8
episode. AJ, Kaitlyn, and Natalya continued to feud with Fox and Tamina, who
were soon joined by Rosa Mendes. Kaitlyn had her first #1 contender's match for
the WWE Divas Championship on the August 1 episode of Raw, which was ultimately
won by Beth Phoenix.
On the August 5 episode of SmackDown AJ lost a singles match
to Natalya, who then turned on her protégé, attacking her and declaring war on
the "perky little princesses" that comprised the rest of the Divas
division. The following week, Kaitlyn and AJ lost to The Divas of Doom (Beth
Phoenix and Natalya) in a tag team match. Throughout the next few months, The
Chickbusters continued to feud with the Divas of Doom, losing both singles and
tag team matches to them. Kaitlyn then made her return to NXT on the October 19
episode of NXT Redemption being accompanied by fellow Chickbuster AJ in singles
competition against Maxine in a winning effort via submission. Kaitlyn then had
a short feud with Tamina after defeating her two weeks in a row on the October
26 and November 2 episodes of NXT Redemption. Also in November, tension began
to be teased between The Chickbusters, with Kaitlyn upset at their repeated
losses to The Divas of Doom.
When Kaityn made her return to SmackDown on the April 27
episode, she was backstage comforting fellow Chickbuster AJ, who slapped
Kaitlyn after being told the Daniel Bryan was no good for her. On the May 4
episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn again attempted to comfort AJ, but was again
assaulted by AJ. On the May 11 episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn was defeated by AJ
in singles competition, and was afterwards visited by Daniel Bryan, who stated
he is moving on from AJ and going after Kaitlyn. Two days later on Twitter,
Kaitlyn announced she was officially breaking up The Chickbusters.
Kaitlyn then reentered into a feud with Maxine on the May 16
episode of NXT Redemption after she was victorious in singles competition
against Maxine via submission. Two weeks later on the May 30 episode of NXT
Redemption, Kaitlyn successfully defeated Tamina Snuka in a singles match while
Maxine observed on commentary, thus ending the feud. On the June 13 season
finale episode of NXT Redemption, Kaitlyn's winning streak continued as she
defeated her former mentor Natalya for the first time in singles competition.
Feud with Eve Torres and Divas Champion (2012–present)
On the August 10 episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn asked and was given a job from SmackDown General Manager Booker T as his assistant, but was afterwards put in a match against Eve with the winner awarded the job. On the August 17 episode of SmackDown, Kaitlyn lost to Eve, who became SmackDown Assistant General Manager to Booker T. Three days later on Raw, Kaitlyn won a Divas battle royal to become number one contender to the Divas Championship. On the September 10 episode of Raw, Kaitlyn teamed with Layla and Eve in a six diva tag team match where they defeated Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Alicia Fox, and afterwards Eve would hug both Layla and Kaitlyn and raise their arms in victory. At the Night of Champions pay-per-view, Kaitlyn was attacked by a masked figure injuring Kaitlyn's ankle, therefore being forced to forfeit her title shot with Layla to Eve. On September 17, it was announced that Kaitlyn has a torn tendon, and will be out of in-ring action for several weeks.
She returned on the September 24 episode of Raw stating that the diva that attacked her at the Night of Champions pay-per-view was blonde, leading to Beth Phoenix becoming the suspected attacker.
On December 16 at the Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view, Kaitlyn competed in a #1 contender "Santa's Little Helpers" diva battle royal to face Eve for the championship, but was unsuccessful in winning the match due to Eve interfering. The following night on the December 17 episode of the Raw Slammy Awards, Kaitlyn would defeat Eve in a non-title match.The next night on the December 18 live episode of Super SmackDown, Kaitlyn brawled backstage with old Chickbuster partner AJ, and went on to compete in singles competition for the Divas championship against Eve Torres in a winning effort via disqualification after Eve tripped the referee to keep the title.
On the January 7 episode of Raw, Kaitlyn would receive another title match against Eve Torres, winning the match via countout after Eve fled the arena.
On the January 14 episode of Raw 20th Anniversary, Kaitlyn defeated Eve in her home town of Houston, Texas to win the WWE Divas Championship with the stipulation, if that Eve got disqualified or counted-out Kaitlyn would become the Divas Champion.
On the February 22 episode of Smackdown, Kaitlyn teamed up with Layla in a winning effort againist Snuka and Aksana. After the match, Layla showed jealousy towards Kaitlyn. On the March 8 episode of Smackdown, she was defeated by Tamina Snuka after Layla unintentionally distracted her.
Personal life
Bonin is best friends with fellow professional wrestler April Mendez. In early May, Bonin was asked a series of questions by the webmaster of her official fansite; she stated that she loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers, her favorite movie is American Psycho, she hates the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, and her favorite place to visit is Austin, Texas, which she described as "the coolest city ever to exist". In November 2012, Bonin was arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan for an unpaid speeding ticket, and was released after paying a $315 bond.
