Tragic rise and fall of WWE legend Sunny who spiralled down from 'wrestling's first ever diva' to porn, drugs and prison | The Sun

TAMMY Sytch is facing up to 25 years in prison following her involvement in a deadly car crash, but a ludicrous career once saw her as one of the most idolised women within WWE.

Sunny, as she was commonly known, gained mainstream fame after bursting onto the wrestling scene in the late 1990s.

A change of career to the porn industry then grew her popularity even further, as WWE fans and the majority of men swooned over her looks and glamour.

Sytch has previously claimed that in 1997, Playboy had approached her and offered a staggering six-figure sum to pose nude for the adult magazine.

The claims were later disputed by Rena Mero, another former pro-WWE wrestler.

From 2001 to 2003, Sytch regularly posed nude for Missy Hyatt's website Wrestling Vixxxens as she dabbled in the world of adult entertainment.

Read more in WWE

RON OF A KIND

Ronaldo lined up for WWE debut as bosses target Man Utd icon for Crown Jewel

WWE ICON

Inside WWE legend Goldberg's body transformation from NFL star to wrestling

She took a lengthy break from the world of nude modelling but returned back onto the scene in 2016 when she appeared in a pornographic film.

She signed a deal to star in the adult film for Vivid Entertainment, although it caused plenty of controversy with WWE as she wore her Hall of Fame ring during the movie.

But years of trouble and crime would follow and now the once-loved diva is facing a 25-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to killing a pensioner in a car smash in Florida last year.

Sytch crashed into the back of Julian Lasseter's car, killing the 75-year-old male driver.

Most read in Sport

MONEY MAN UTD

Man Utd takeover update as billionaire new investor buys one million shares

FAMILY’S AGONY

Adam Johnson’s family speak out as man arrested over ‘manslaughter’ of star

AJ’S PAY DAY

Joshua steps in for Fury with huge fight in Saudi Arabia and opponent is named

HOCKEY HORROR

Man arrested over ‘manslaughter’ of ice hockey star Adam Johnson

The 50-year-old had a blood alcohol content of .280, which is three-and-a-half times the legal limit of .08 set by Florida law.

She had also been driving without a valid license.

The WWE star initially denied any fault and pleaded no contest to her charges.

These charges include DUI Manslaughter, causing death while operating a vehicle with a revoked license, four counts of DUI causing injury, and three counts of DUI causing property damage.

DUI Manslaughter is a third-degree felony, which carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years in Florida, and has four years minimum jail time attached.

And it is a scenario that nobody, not even herself, thought she'd ever be in after breaking into the WWE scene in late 1994.

Sytch originally started out as a commentator for "Live Event News" segments during syndicated WWF (later WWE) television shows, under the name Tamara Murphy.

However, she soon became better known as Sunny, in which she hosted her own show and took on the role of ring announcer.

But it is her time as a professional wrestling manager and valet alongside her long-term boyfriend and former pro wrestler, Chris Candido, that she is most notable for.

Sytch turned into one of the most popular figures in WWE and is officially considered the company's first Diva.

And in 2011, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Despite Chris's death in 2005, as a result of pneumonia brought on by surgery on his leg, Sytch remained active until 2018.

In October of that year, she claimed that she would be retiring to a private life.

That would lead Sytch to pick up from where she left off in the adult entertainment scene.

She found a new way to make money through the adult website Only Fans and offers webcam sessions on Skype, although her recent scandals and impending sentence have ultimately put this on hold.

Her spate of criminal charges began in 2012 when she was still very much part of the wrestling scene.

That included five arrests within a crazy four-week period that year, where she was handcuffed for disorderly conduct, third-degree burglary, and three counts of violating a protective order.

Over the past 11 years, Sytch has had numerous arrests and incarcerations for driving under the influence.

But there have also been spells of imprisonment for a number of other crimes.

In more recent times, Sytch was arrested for threatening to kill her partner with a pair of scissors.

Then there was the time she was accused of making "terror threats" in January 2022.

Before that, she was charged with eluding a police officer, two counts of contempt or violating a domestic violence restraining order, and “operating motor vehicle during second license suspension."

The list goes on.

However, it was the fatal car crash in Florida last year that looks to be the final nail in the coffin for the former professional wrestler.

After a blood test was taken to determine her alcohol levels, THC was also detected, indicating she had been using marijuana sometime before the crash.

But Sytch was initially released from prison in May 2022 after posting a £183,878 bond.

However, a judge then deemed her to be a danger to the community and revoked her bond six days later.

She was then held without bond on pre-trial detention at the Volusia County Branch Jail.

At court in August, Sytch was asked a number of routine questions as part of the plea hearing by the judge.

In response to one of them, Sytch said she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder.

She claimed she was taking Prozac, an antidepressant, as part of her medication.

Along with DUI causing death, Sytch was charged with one count of driving with a suspended revoked license causing death/serious injury.

There were also four counts of DUI with "damage to person," and two counts of DUI with damage to property.

Read More on The Sun

GRAN LOVE

I’m one of the UK’s youngest grans and now I’ve finally found love at 34

Bag A Bargain

The new discount store you won't have heard of – even Mrs Hinch mind is blown

According to sentencing guidelines, the lowest prison sentence for Sytch will be ten-and-a-half years.

And with that, it is likely to spell the end of any revival there could have been for Sytch and her career.

Source: Read Full Article