Candice Michelle Says She Was ‘Too Hot’ For SmackDown After Controversial Commercial

Candice Michelle has revealed a surprising reason behind one of the more unusual moments in her WWE career — being removed from SmackDown because her character image didn’t fit the brand’s direction.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet about her career and outside projects, Candice reflected on how her involvement in GoDaddy Super Bowl commercials impacted her standing within WWE. At the time, the commercials generated major attention and controversy, which created an unexpected situation for her wrestling character. She explained that WWE’s brand positioning played a major role in what happened next.

“Yes, that is true… SmackDown was rated PG and my character was not really very PG.”

Candice described how the reaction to the commercials forced WWE to reconsider where she fit within their programming lineup. Because SmackDown had transitioned into a more family-friendly presentation, her persona became difficult to align with the show’s direction. That disconnect ultimately led to a decision that moved her away from SmackDown entirely.

“I was too hot for SmackDown and I got shipped back to Raw.”

The situation highlighted how outside media appearances and crossover opportunities could directly influence a wrestler’s television placement. In Candice’s case, her rising popularity outside the ring created challenges that affected her positioning within WWE programming.

While the move may have seemed unusual at the time, it became one of the more memorable moments in her career story — especially as WWE continued shifting toward more family-focused content.

Looking back now, her experience serves as an example of how branding decisions and public perception can shape the direction of a performer’s career.

Do you think Candice Michelle’s image helped her career more than it hurt it, or did moments like this limit her opportunities in WWE? Share your thoughts and join the discussion.