Before she became a well-known face to WWE fans during the “Diva” era, Kristal Marshall had a unique career path that included stints on two of the most popular television game shows of the time. Speaking on “The Velvet Ropes with SoCal Val,” an exclusive to WrestlingNews.co on YouTube, Marshall detailed her journey, which included getting fired from one job for being “too short” and a brief crossover with a future member of the royal family.
Marshall explained that her start in entertainment came as a model on the classic game show “The Price Is Right,” an opportunity she pursued as a 20-year-old “risk taker.” However, her time on the iconic show was surprisingly short-lived, and the reason for her departure was something entirely out of her control. “Once upon a time, many years ago, I think I was about 20 years old, I was very much a risk taker, and so I was on a show called The Price Is Right,” she said. “And after that wrapped up, I actually got fired from that show because I was too short, believe it or not.”
The seemingly bizarre reason was a practical one for the production of the show. “Yeah, oh my gosh, too small for the set,” she elaborated. “So see, they canned me.” This unexpected setback, however, quickly led to another high-profile opportunity on a different hit game show.
“I ended up getting picked up on Deal or No Deal,” Marshall revealed. Her time on this show, where models would hold briefcases containing various amounts of money, led to her crossing paths with another future celebrity. “I worked with Meghan Markle,” Marshall confirmed.
When asked by host SoCal Val for more details about her interaction with the future Duchess of Sussex, Marshall clarified that their time together was brief. “You know, I did. I met her once, but I wouldn’t say I worked alongside her, because it was still, everybody kind of did their own thing,” she explained.
Her tenure on “Deal or No Deal” was limited to the pilot episode, as her career was about to take another major turn. “And then, honestly, I was around for the pilot, and right after the pilot, then I transitioned into WWE, so it was like ships in the night kind of situation,” she said.
She then joked about the path not taken. “I think back about this, you know, with you living in England now, like, what if I would have played my cards a little differently?” she mused. “Do you think that maybe it would have been me and Harry? You know, you never know.”
Following her time on the game show circuit, Marshall entered the 2005 WWE Diva Search competition. While she did not win the contest, her performance was strong enough to earn her a developmental contract with the company.
She would go on to become a prominent figure on the SmackDown brand, involved in major storylines with talent such as JBL, Teddy Long, and her real-life partner at the time, Bobby Lashley. Her on-screen career was a perfect fit for the “Diva” era, a time she looks back on fondly.
“I feel like the Divas and the knockouts and the women of wrestling, we were of that era,” she said of the “full glam, the pageantry, all of that.” From being fired for her height to standing tall in a WWE ring, Kristal Marshall’s unique journey is a testament to the unpredictable nature of a career in the entertainment industry. Marshall also revealed that she’s returning to pro wrestling. Check out the full interview below.
This interview is exclusive to WrestlingNews.co. If you use these quotes, please include a link back to this page.
