History YMMV / MichelleMcCool

** Michelle getting accused of being pushed to the top with success as a result of her relationship with The Undertaker becomes harsh when she admitted in interviews that she was dealing with it non-stop that it was one of the reasons she retired, doing it as a way to avoid hating her career and wrestling.

** She and Layla having Kaval as their NXT Rookie became even funnier when former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz tweeted in late 2022 that the latter was pitched in becoming the secret long lost son of ''her husband''.

* LoveToHate: It's widely agreed that Michelle was at her best when she was a heel. The divide only comes in as to whether the fan prefers her serious BloodKnight persona from 2009 or her more comedic [=LayCool=] one from 2010 onwards.

* TheyCopiedItNowItSucks: In 2009 when she began using the Faith Breaker as her finisher, which was more popularly used by AJ Styles in TNA as the Styles Clash, this attracted a lot of criticism. It intensified when she started wearing hooded jackets to the ring for a brief period. That died down when [=LayCool=] formed, as the hoods became more obviously tailored to the gimmick.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Two cases. The first is that she looks pretty good in the ring these days, but would pale in comparison to some of the NXT girls. But Michelle was one of the best wrestlers to come out of the Diva Search and had improved at an alarming rate. Her matches with Melina got great reviews from fans in a time when WWE was actively trying to dumb down the division. So fans used to seeing NXT matches stealing the show might not find Michelle's work that special. Additionally the amount of air time Wrestling/LayCool got was shocking. Even though they got stuck with 2-minute matches and pointless feuds about mocking everyone else's looks - it was a shock that any Divas were given any kind of character at all.

* EvilIsSexy: More so in [=LayCool=], where she received a GirlinessUpgrade, and her ring gear became that bit sexier, and segments outside of the ring would have her in flattering minidresses or extremely short shorts.

* TakeThatScrappy

* TheyCopiedItNowItSucks: In 2009 when she began using the Faith Breaker as her finisher, which was more popularly used by Wrestling/AJStyles in TNA as the Styles Clash, this attracted a lot of criticism. It intensified when she started wearing hooded jackets to the ring for a brief period. That died down when [=LayCool=] formed, as the hoods became more obviously tailored to the gimmick.

* HarsherInHindsight: The {{Take That}}s Natalya delivered towards Michelle's weight during their feud are a little uncomfortable with the knowledge that Michelle's thinness came about because of health problems - and pressure to continue working through them to maintain her spot on television. And of course during the worst parts of this illness, she was body shamed by fans and accused of having an eating disorder by Brian Alvarez.

** Michelle's HumiliationConga at Extreme Rules 2011. First losing her job to the former best friend and partner in crime that she corrupted, treated like a sidekick, then tried to throw aside like trash, then being unable to leave quietly because of the incoming monster known as Kharma putting the fear of God in her, and finally Wrestling{{K|iaStevens}}harma knocking her flat out with an Implant Buster.

** The [=LayCool=] gimmick was polarizing, especially for the "[[MoralEventHorizon Piggy James]]" angle, [=McCool=] got the blunt of the bashing due to her marriage to The Undertaker. Some simply felt that it was a moronically stupid angle, since it still boiled down to basically two girls throwing ugly jokes at other girls. Others were at least a little happy that there was any kind of story at all, considering women's wrestling in WWE frequently has no storyline and is merely Jiggle TV.
** [=McCool=]'s gimmick right before Laycool, namely having little respect for "the so called divas" that came before her, thinking she was the greatest of all time and deliberately trying to injure her opponents, AKA stock sports villain #2. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Bland and uninteresting]], or [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools effective in its simplicity]]? Was Laycool a much needed injection of entertainment, or {{badass decay}}?
* ComedyGhetto: The Wrestling/LayCool gimmick was a well-done aversion, as Michelle played DenserAndWackier than she had in the past. She remained a figurehead of the division and was treated as a serious competitor.
* CreatorsPet: Technically she was this from the start when [[Wrestling/CarleneMoore Jazz]], Nidia and Gail Kim were released in the favor of her, Candice Michelle and Maria Kanellis. They became more so when they outlasted Hemme, but no one singled out [=McCool=] in particular. Then she got complaints as being booked as an invincible super woman around the time it became known she was dating and eventually married the Undertaker. Specific instances include beating Melina and Jillian two on one after Mickie James was brushed aside by them, blocking punches from Beth Phoenix and becoming first divas champion ahead of Natalya. Around the time she was in Wrestling/LayCool, this levelled off. However it made a resurgence when she returned for the 2018 Women's Wrestling/RoyalRumble, where she eliminated ''5'' other women (the most of ''anyone'' in the entire match, even more than eventual winner Asuka and WrestlingMonster Nia Jax) causing people to snark that she was being booked like her husband.

** When she and Layla were managed by Wrestling/VickieGuerrero, fans took to calling the stable 'Simply Flawless'.

** Her heel turn in 2009 was also a sign that Michelle was becoming a force to be reckoned with in the division. Michelle herself says that Arn Anderson didn't think she could play a heel, but he changed his mind immediately after seeing her NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Maria. Her feud with Melina produced a string of critically acclaimed matches with her and Gail Kim.

** During the 'Rookie Diva of the Year' contest at the 2005 No Way Out event, Michelle demonstrated her talent - giving Dawn Marie a body slam. She was the only contestant to do something wrestling-related, and the only contestant to still be with the company when the year was over.

** Her final match with {{Wrestling/Layla}} which, despite only getting five minutes, was hard-fought and closed the door on her career on a high note.

** Wrestling/MickieJames and the other face divas smashing cake all over [=LayCool=] at the ''Wrestling/RoyalRumble'', Wrestling/MaeYoung beating them up, {{Wrestling/Natalya|Neidhart}} putting them both through a table, the list goes on.

** Michelle's HumiliationConga at Extreme Rules 2011. First losing her job to the former best friend and partner in crime that she corrupted, treated like a sidekick, then tried to throw aside like trash, then being unable to leave quietly because of the incoming monster known as Kharma putting the fear of God in her, and finally Kharma knocking her flat out with an Implant Buster.
** The special design of the table during their table match against Natalya and Wrestling/BethPhoenix. It had a image of the duo as anorexic witches.
* TheyCopiedItNowItSucks: In 2009 when she began using the Faith Breaker as her finisher, which was more popularly used by AJ Styles in TNA as the Styles Clash, this attracted a lot of criticism. It intensified when she started wearing hooded jackets to the ring for a brief period. That died down when Wrestling/LayCool formed, as the hoods became more obviously tailored to the gimmick.

* TheWoobie: Once she revealed in a podcast with Lilian Garcia part of the reason she retired. She was repeatedly accused backstage of her relationship and marriage to The Undertaker as the reason behind her being pushed as the top female star of [=SmackDown=], with one of the writers going as far as to suggest renaming the brand "The Michelle [=McCool=] and Undertaker Show". She decided to retire to avoid hating the business she grew up loving, stating she would've had a sour taste in her mouth had she stayed.

* TheWoobie: Once she revealed in a podcast with Lilian Garcia part of the reason she retired. She was repeatedly accused of her relationship and marriage to The Undertaker as the reason behind her being pushed as the top female star of [=SmackDown=], with one of the writers going as far as to suggest renaming the brand "The Michelle [=McCool=] and Undertaker Show". She decided to retire to avoid hating the business she grew up loving, stating she would've had a sour taste in her mouth had she stayed.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Full force:

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments:
** In a Memorial Day battle royal in swimsuits, Michelle debuts her Wings of Love finisher, thoroughly shocking people that expected her to remain a MsFanservice.
** Winning the first Divas' Championship match, by reversing Natalya's Sharpshooter and making her tap out to the MAD-T. Kudos to her for also taking some impressive bumps earlier.
** And her NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Maria to signify her FaceHeelTurn. Michelle recalls that being the moment Arn Anderson told her she could play an effective heel.
** Her matches with Melina at ''The Bash'' and ''Night of Champions'' 2009 - the former where she became the first woman to hold the Women's and Divas' titles in a hard fought bought, the latter with several high intensity spots (attacking Melina while she was doing the splits, the DDT on the security wall) which earned her a reprimand for being too good.
** Her final match with {{Wrestling/Layla}} which, despite only getting five minutes, was hard-fought and closed the door on her career on a high note.
** Returning at the first ever women's Royal Rumble, and eliminating five people!
* BaseBreakingCharacter
** Full force. There was ''some'' enthusiasm before second Divas Search ''started'' that she had the most potential to be a wrestler (due to gymnastic and kickboxing backgrounds, [[PrejudicedForPecs as well as height]]). Then the second diva search turned out to be a PlotTumor [=McCool=] was seen as a symptom of. Worse, she was blown away in fan voting by eventual winner Wrestling/ChristyHemme, who was then let go while [=McCool=] (along with Wrestling/MariaKanellis and Wrestling/CandiceMichelle) enjoyed longer employment.

** Her matches against Melina at The Bash and Night of Champions 2009. Specifically the part where she dropkicked Melina while she was performing the splits. And that's to say nothing of the infamous DDT on the security wall. They were actually yelled at for [[{{Chickification}} the spot being too good]].[[note]]Fortunately Wrestling/ChrisJericho was on hand to back them up.[[/note]]

** And her final match. While not a Five Star match, it was one of the more intense Diva bouts WWE had allowed in ages.

* OlderThanTheyThink: The Laycool gimmick is suspiciously similar to Wrestling/TheBeautifulPeople in TNA, though that was also based off the likes of ''Film/MeanGirls''. Which itself was based off what was, to paraphrase the ''Mean Girls'' page, [[TruthInTelevision probably the experiences of everyone who attended high school]]. Before either, there was also Wrestling/{{Vince|McMahon}}'s [[Wrestling/CandiceMichelle De]][[Wrestling/TorrieWilson vi]][[Wrestling/LisaMarieVaron ls]], dedicated to tormenting 3rd Diva Search winner Wrestling/AshleyMassaro. Before that, Team Blondage came together to capitalize on the ''Mean Girls'' film and before said film there was the Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew.

** Even with the ''Wrestle Mania'' match, a lot of fans would have preferred a singles between Michelle and Trish Stratus. They reportedly had more spots planned, but were told their time had been cut as soon as they got to the ring, and had to rush straight to the finish.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: By the year 2009, she had been thought of as a CreatorsPet, given that she was pushed to the top of two separate divisions - and married to Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Then she was pinned by Wrestling/{{Melina}} at Survivor Series, defeated for the Women's Championship in five seconds by Wrestling/MickieJames and put over Wrestling/BethPhoenix and Wrestling/KellyKelly frequently. Also as part of the Wrestling/LayCool gimmick, she was prone to getting slapstick comeuppances a lot more than she had in the past.

* [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously Took the Bad Feud Seriously]]: The "Smelly Kelly" feud really was an awful idea but the girls really took it and made the most out of it.

** The [=LayCool=] gimmick was polarizing, especially for the "[[MoralEventHorizon Piggy James]]" angle, [=McCool=] got the blunt of the bashing due to her marriage to Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Some simply felt that it was a moronically stupid angle, since it still boiled down to basically two girls throwing ugly jokes at other girls. Others were at least a little happy that there was any kind of story at all, considering women's wrestling in WWE frequently has no storyline and is merely Jiggle TV.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: By the year 2009, she had been thought of as a CreatorsPet given that she was pushed to the top of two separate divisions - and married to the Undertaker. Then she was pinned by Melina at Survivor Series, defeated for the Women's Championship in five seconds by Mickie James and put over Wrestling/BethPhoenix and Wrestling/KellyKelly frequently. Also as part of the Wrestling/LayCool gimmick, she was prone to getting slapsticky comeuppances a lot more than she had in the past.

** Her matches against Melina at The Bash and Night of Champions 2009. Specifically the part where she dropkicked Melina while she was performing the splits. And that's to say nothing of the infamous DDT on the security wall. They were actually yelled at for the spot being too good.