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The Kat
The Kat
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Stacy Lee Carter (born September 29, 1970) is an American retired 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 names Miss Kitty and The Kat, where she held the WWF Women's Championship once.

Key Information

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1998–1999)

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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.[5]

World Wrestling Federation (1999–2001)

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Alliance with Chyna; Women's Champion (1999–2000)

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Carter first appeared on World Wrestling Federation (WWF)'s flagship program, Raw is War, on August 23, 1999. She debuted as Miss Kitty, an assistant to Debra, appointed to her by Jeff Jarrett, whom Debra managed.[6] The partnership ended when Jarrett left the company after losing the Intercontinental Championship to Chyna at No Mercy.[6][7] Because Jarrett was departing the company after the match, Miss Kitty began managing Chyna,[7] and then started dressing in 'Chyna-like' clothing and wearing a black wig.[6]

At Armageddon in December 1999, Miss Kitty won her only WWF Women's Championship in a Four Corners Evening Gown Pool match by defeating then-champion Ivory, Jacqueline, and Barbara "BB" Bush by stripping them of their gowns.[8] The special guest referees were The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young.[9] After the match, Miss Kitty stripped out of her dress in celebration and quickly flashed the crowd her breasts.[8][10] 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 in the 'Miss Royal Rumble Swimsuit Contest', where she appeared in a bikini made out of bubble wrap.[11] The contest, however, was won by Mae Young.[11] She lost the Championship on the January 31 edition of Raw to Hervina in a 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.[12]

Rivalry with Terri Runnels (2000)

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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 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.[13] Post-match, The Kat attacked Runnels by stripping off her pants to expose her thong.[13] The feud continued, and the duo had an arm wrestling match at Insurrextion.[14] The Kat was victorious, but after the match, Runnels pulled The Kat's top off, exposing her breasts,[14] which The Kat allowed.[14] 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, Jacqueline and Ivory, but was eliminated by her rival Terri. The feud resurfaced in a 'Thong Stink Face' match at SummerSlam, which The Kat won by performing a stinkface on Runnels.[15][16] She would at times team up with Jerry Lawler, Rikishi and Al Snow in mix tag matches against Terri with Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn.

Rivalry with Right to Censor (2001)

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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".[10][17] During this time, The Kat also began competing in WWF's various developmental territories against the likes of Victoria, Molly Holly, Jasmine St. Claire and Cynthia Lynch. At No Way Out, Jerry Lawler, who was representing The Kat, lost a match to Steven Richards, the head of the stable, after The Kat mistakenly hit Lawler with the Women's Championship belt.[17] 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.[18] As a result, her husband Jerry Lawler also quit the company.[17][19] According to Lawler, The Kat was released from the WWF because Vince McMahon decided to end the angle with the Right to Censor.[20] Other insiders cite The Kat's negative backstage attitude as the reason for her dismissal.[21] In 2021, Former head of WWF talent relations, 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”.[22]

Late career (2001, 2010–2011, 2015)

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Carter at an independent event in 2010.

After Carter and Lawler left the World Wrestling Federation, they worked various independent wrestling events.[18] She retired from wrestling in 2001. They also signed with Tri-Star Productions and worked at Memphis Championship Wrestling.[18]

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.[5] 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.[5] Her last match was teaming with Sinn Bodhi defeating Massive Damage and Sexy Samantha at Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) in Las Vegas on April 18, 2011.[5]

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.[23] In the same year, she also appeared in an episode of The WWE List, a digital series that aired on WWE.com.[24]

Personal life

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Carter's family was originally from West Memphis, Arkansas.[3] After her parents divorced, Carter's mother moved to Memphis, Tennessee.[3] Stacy Carter, however, as well as her younger brother and sister, continued to live with their father, who worked as a policeman, in Arkansas.[3] Carter moved to Memphis to live with her mother, Cathy, after graduating from high school.[3]

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.[3][4] She was attending the game with her mother, who was dating one of the players on the team for which Lawler also played.[3] Lawler, however, was married at the time, and he claims that when he initially met Carter, he considered an affair.[3] After Lawler separated from his wife, Carter moved in with him.[3] When Carter first met Lawler, she was working as a bank teller.[3] Lawler later helped her get a job at a photography studio, and she also opened and ran her own hair salon.[3] Carter was less than sixteen months older than Lawler's son Brian.

Lawler and Carter married in September 2000.[25] While they were together, former professional wrestler Missy Hyatt offered Carter $10,000 to pose nude on her website, but Carter refused the offer.[26] Carter decided to leave Lawler in July 2001, and they separated not long after.[27] 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.[28]

Carter and professional wrestler Nick Cvjetkovich announced their engagement on June 12, 2010.[29] 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 both stood as best men. Jimmy Hart gave Carter away in the ceremony.[30] They divorced in 2013.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Man on the Moon Lawler's Girlfriend Uncredited

Video games

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2000 WWF No Mercy Video game debut [31]
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role [32]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Kat is the ring name of Stacy Lee Carter, an American retired professional wrestler and best known for her appearances in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now ) during the late 1990s and early 2000s . Born on September 29, 1970, in , Carter debuted in WWF in 1999 initially as Miss Kitty before adopting the persona of The Kat, characterized by provocative outfits and on-screen antics that aligned with the era's edgy programming. She achieved her most notable success by winning the WWF Women's Championship on December 12, 1999, defeating in an match at by stripping her opponent of her attire, marking an unconventional title change. Carter's WWF tenure, spanning from 1999 to 2001, featured several high-profile matches and storylines, including a loss to in a at and a victory over the same opponent in a similar at 2000. Her championship reign lasted 50 days until she dropped the title to on January 31, 2000, amid defenses that highlighted the chaotic and entertainment-focused nature of women's divisions at the time. Married to veteran wrestler from September 2000 to their 2003 divorce—a union that began in 1989 and significantly facilitated her entry into WWF—Carter's career was intertwined with Lawler's, culminating in his temporary departure from the company in 2001 to protest her release. She was let go from WWF that year due to reported conflicts with creative staff over her push and on-screen role, after which she largely stepped away from professional wrestling.

Early life

Childhood and family

Stacy Carter was born on September 29, 1970, in , USA. Her family was originally from . After her parents divorced, Carter's mother moved to . Carter grew up in Memphis during the and 1980s.

Introduction to wrestling

Stacy Carter's path into was profoundly shaped by her encounter with on July 23, 1989, at a charity softball game held at Treadwell High School in , just two months before her nineteenth birthday. This meeting not only initiated a personal relationship but also ignited her curiosity about the industry, drawing her into the orbit of Lawler's career as a prominent figure in the local scene. The Memphis wrestling territory during the late 1980s and early 1990s exerted a significant influence on Carter's growing fascination, characterized by the (USWA)'s high-energy events at the , where Lawler reigned as the dominant champion amid rivalries with stars like and . Known for its rowdy crowds and innovative storytelling that blurred lines between scripted drama and real emotion, the scene fostered a gritty, community-driven atmosphere that captivated locals like Carter, who observed events from the sidelines as a fan rooted in her Memphis upbringing. By the mid-1990s, despite her initial aversion to the business—"I never wanted anything to do with wrestling," she later recalled—Carter made the decision to engage more directly, prompted by Lawler's persistent encouragement to join him at events. She began taking on non-competitive roles, such as serving as a and conducting ringside interviews for USWA shows in Memphis, which allowed her to immerse herself in the production and atmosphere without immediate in-ring pressure. These experiences gradually shifted her perspective, leading her to manage Lawler in storylines and observe the inner workings of promotions up close. Carter's formal entry as a participant commenced with basic training in 1997–1998, primarily under Lawler's tutelage in Memphis, marking her evolution from spectator to aspiring performer while she honed fundamentals like movement and character work ahead of any competitive outings. This preparatory phase emphasized her adaptation to the physical and performative demands of the ring, building on her prior observational roles without rushing into matches.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (1998–1999)

Stacy Carter made her professional wrestling debut on April 18, 1998, at a event held in , where she initially appeared in promotional segments rather than in-ring competition. , a Memphis-based promotion that operated from 1998 to 2001, served as her primary platform during this period, with events drawing crowds in the through live television broadcasts on local stations. In her early appearances, Carter contributed to the show's atmosphere by participating in celebratory segments, such as delivering a cake for the promotion's inaugural broadcast, which marked the revival of Memphis-style wrestling on Saturday mornings. As her role expanded, Carter transitioned into on-screen positions including commentary and ring announcing for events, while also serving as a for established performer . This work involved accompanying Lawler to the ring and interfering in matches to advance storylines, helping her gain familiarity with the regional audience in and surrounding areas. By late 1998, she began incorporating in-ring elements, often in jobber roles during showcase bouts against local female competitors, where she emphasized quick agility and crowd interaction over complex maneuvers. In 1999, Carter adopted the "Lovely Stacy" persona, a character designed to highlight her and flirtatious appeal, which became a staple in and similar independent promotions like NWA affiliates in the region. This persona facilitated her involvement in mixed matches and minor feuds, such as supporting Lawler against teams featuring wrestlers like , building her reputation through entertaining, character-focused encounters that drew local attention. These experiences honed her basic wrestling style, focusing on agility-based spots and antics, while establishing her as a recognizable figure in the Southern independent scene prior to broader opportunities.

World Wrestling Federation (1999–2001)

Stacy Carter debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on the August 23, 1999, episode of Monday Night Raw as Miss Kitty, where she was introduced as an assistant to , presented as a gift by following his loss of the to . In this role, Miss Kitty primarily served as a and occasional participant in storylines involving the women's division, gaining exposure through her association with established figures like . In late 1999, Miss Kitty aligned with Chyna, acting as her personal assistant and providing support during matches, which positioned her for greater involvement in championship contention. This alliance culminated on December 12, 1999, at , where Miss Kitty won the WWF Women's in a Four Corners Evening Gown Pool Match against champion , Jacqueline, and B.B. by stripping Ivory of her gown, leading to a controversial celebration where she briefly exposed her breasts. Her reign lasted 50 days, ending on the January 31, 2000, episode of Raw when she lost the title to Hervina (portrayed by ) in a Lumberjill Snow Bunny match. Following her title loss, Carter transitioned to the ring name The Kat, emphasizing a more provocative persona that aligned with the Attitude Era's emphasis on entertainment. In April 2000, this character was highlighted during a segment on Raw where tricked The Kat into a , amplifying her on-screen image as a confident, flirtatious figure. A notable moment came later in 2000 during a "Kat-itude Adjustment" on an episode of SmackDown, intended to showcase her boldness but interrupted by the Right to Censor stable, foreshadowing future conflicts. The Kat's most prominent feud during this period was with Terri Runnels, beginning with a "Catfight" match at WrestleMania 2000 on April 2, where Terri defeated her. The rivalry escalated through gimmick matches, including an arm wrestling contest at Insurrextion and a Thong Stinkface Match at SummerSlam 2000, which The Kat won by executing a stinkface on Runnels, capitalizing on the feud's humorous and risqué elements to boost her visibility. Entering 2001, The Kat became a target of the Right to Censor faction, a group parodying media censorship by opposing the WWF's explicit content; they feuded with her over her provocative segments, culminating in a storyline where defeated her in a match to force her recruitment into the group. However, on February 27, 2001, The Kat was abruptly released by the WWF amid shifting creative directions and internal decisions, halting and marking the end of her full-time tenure with the promotion.

Independent circuit returns (2010–2011)

Following her release from the World Wrestling Federation in 2001, Stacy Carter entered a nearly decade-long hiatus from professional wrestling, effectively retiring from in-ring activities. Carter made a sporadic return to the independent circuit in 2010, beginning with appearances in smaller promotions that capitalized on her fame from the WWF's Attitude Era. On April 9, 2010, at a Combat Championship Wrestling event, she teamed with Colt Cabana to defeat Shawn Spears and Shooterella in a mixed tag team match, marking her first documented in-ring bout in nine years. Later that month, on April 18 and April 23, she competed in singles matches against Shooter Storm (also known as Shooterella) for American Combat Wrestling and Florida Underground Wrestling, securing victories in both exhibition-style contests held in Florida venues. These bouts, often featuring novelty elements like arm-wrestling challenges against the same opponent, served primarily as fan-service nods rather than part of any competitive storyline. Her activity continued intermittently through 2010 with a tag team appearance on June 5 for Tri-State Wrestling Alliance, where she joined Demolition (Ax and Smash) in a win over Sheeta and The Nigerian Nightmares at the TWA Homecoming event in Pennsylvania. By 2011, Carter's final notable in-ring work occurred on April 18 at the Future Stars of Wrestling Charity Show in Las Vegas, teaming with her then-husband Sinn Bodhi to defeat Massive Damage and Sexy Samantha in another mixed tag format. These limited engagements across promotions like CCW and FSW reflected a lack of sustained booking or push, instead emphasizing nostalgic appeal to audiences familiar with her WWF tenure as The Kat, after which she ceased regular wrestling performances.

Media career

Film roles

Stacy Carter, professionally known as The Kat, ventured into acting with minor roles that capitalized on her wrestling background and marriage to , though her film output was sparse and largely confined to wrestling-related contexts. Carter's initial foray into film occurred during her World Wrestling Federation tenure, with an uncredited appearance as Lawler's girlfriend in the 1999 biographical drama Man on the Moon. Directed by and starring as comedian , the film depicted Kaufman's real-life wrestling angles with Lawler, allowing Carter to portray a version of her real-life role alongside her husband. This cameo leveraged her WWF exposure for authenticity in the production's wrestling segments. In 2000, Carter appeared in the video Divas: Postcard from the as Miss Kitty/The Kat, alongside other WWF women wrestlers in a promotional shoot. After departing the WWF in early 2001 amid personal and professional challenges, Carter's acting pursuits were limited. She reemerged on screen in 2017 for the documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond – Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of , appearing as herself to discuss the Man on the Moon shoot and her involvement with Lawler during filming. No further film roles have been noted as of 2025.

Video game appearances

Stacy Carter, performing under her ring name The Kat, debuted as a playable character in the WWF SmackDown! video game series with WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role, released in November 2000 for the PlayStation console. In this title, she was modeled after her WWF persona, complete with entrance animations and a limited moveset emphasizing quick strikes and grapples suitable for a valet-turned-wrestler archetype. Her in-game attributes included selectable attires inspired by her on-screen outfits from her Kat persona, allowing players to customize her appearance in matches and story modes. The Kat also appeared as a playable character in WWF No Mercy, released in October 2000 for the , marking an earlier digital representation tied to her active WWF tenure. This game featured her with a more developed moveset, incorporating moves like the Super Knee Strike and Stalling , alongside taunts that replicated her real-life entrance for added character authenticity. Multiple attire options were available, reflecting variations from her Miss Kitty and The Kat gimmicks, and she could be used in singles, , or scenarios within the game's extensive mode structures. Her inclusion extended to credits for likeness and elements to enhance the diva division's representation. These appearances aligned with The Kat's peak popularity during the Attitude Era, where her WWF Women's Championship win influenced story mode narratives, enabling players to simulate defenses against rivals like Terri Runnels or Ivory. Following her departure from WWF in early 2001, The Kat did not feature in subsequent titles such as WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It (2001) or later WWE games, limiting her digital legacy to the 2000 releases.

Personal life

Marriage to Jerry Lawler

Stacy Carter and Jerry Lawler began their courtship in the summer of 1989, when Carter was an 18-year-old bank teller and Lawler was a prominent wrestler in his late 30s. Their relationship developed over the next decade, with reports indicating it started while Lawler was still in his second marriage, leading to his divorce from Paula Lawler in 1991. After dating for 11 years, they married in September 2000. During Carter's tenure in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1999 to 2001, their marriage intersected with her professional role as "The Kat," though it was not explicitly acknowledged on television. Lawler, serving as a , provided off-screen support for Carter's storylines, including her involvement in angles like the controversial segment with the and her feud with the Right to Censor stable, where his commentary aligned with defending her character. Their real-life relationship influenced her booking to some extent, as Lawler's position within the company contributed to joint promotional appearances and her elevated status, such as winning the WWF Women's Championship in 2000. The marriage faced increasing strain amid professional challenges, particularly following Carter's abrupt release from the WWF on February 27, 2001, which prompted Lawler to quit the company in protest before . Carter filed for divorce in mid-2001, citing irreconcilable differences exacerbated by personal conflicts and the fallout from her WWF departure, including rumors of infidelity on her part. The couple separated later that year and finalized their divorce in 2003.

Life after wrestling

After retiring from professional wrestling in 2011, Stacy Carter relocated to , Texas, embracing a low-profile lifestyle that emphasized privacy following her prominent role in the WWE's . Carter transitioned into a career in , obtaining her license after her wrestling days and working as a realtor in the area. In addition to her professional pursuits, she has engaged in charitable efforts focused on dog rescue, assisting with adoptions and sharing related updates to promote . She remarried wrestler Nicholas Cvjetkovich in July 2010, but the couple divorced in March 2013. As of 2025, Carter remains fully retired from the entertainment industry, maintaining a private existence while occasionally connecting with fans through online channels about her post-wrestling endeavors.

Championships and accomplishments

'''World Wrestling Federation (WWF)'''
  • WWF Women's Championship (1 time) – won on December 12, 1999, at , held for 49 days

References

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