How did the WWE’s unique use of the confessional form retire Lita?

Hello Reader! Below you will find Part 2 of my video essay examining WWE’s 2005 Love Triangle storyline between Lita, Matt Hardy and Edge. In this part, I examine Lita and Edge’s first promo on Raw after she turned heel on Kane, and sided with Edge. In particular, I identify how the WWE plays with fans’ inside knowledge of Amy Dumas’ real-life affair with Edge (Adam Copeland). Then I go onto to examine the Byte This! confrontation between Lita and Hardy, once Hardy has been re-employed by the company. Finally, I look at the circumstances around Lita’s retirement, including the infamous ‘live sex celebration’ segment in January 2006.

For those that haven’t had chance to check out Part 1, you can find it on my YouTube channel. That part examines the cultural landscape for female celebrities in the early 2000s and how the WWE crafted the parasocial relationship between Lita/Hardy and the fans.

Thank you for watching! I believe this part in a little more smooth in terms of my delivery and production, but any constructive feedback is appreciated.