After his epic promo went viral and set Twitter abuzz, WWE champion CM Punk emerged as pro wrestling’s biggest star last summer; what you might not have known is that the Chicago-made grappler was nearly handed his walking papers -- twice -- but saved by a faithful behind-the-scenes backer: Tommy Dreamer.

“He had little-to-no chance of ever making it in the WWE -- he wasn't their type of guy,” Dreamer, who moonlit between the ring and the WWE front office during his decade-long tenure with the company, told RadarOnline.com exclusively about Punk, whose 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame is a far cry from the bodybuilding look synonymous with wrestling heroes like Triple H, John Cena and, in his heyday, Hulk Hogan.

“I saved his job two times when he was about to be let go -- I was saying, ‘Ya gotta keep this kid, ya gotta keep this kid,’” said Dreamer, who credited Punk for his fortitude in overcoming obstacles to become a worldwide phenomenon.

With the face of an angel -- and a body that brings out devilish thoughts -- Maryse Ouellet has most certainly left an impression in her six years as a WWE diva or one of her dozen Playboy appearances we're still panting over.

Gone from the the sports entertainment juggernaut since October, the French-Canadian fashionista is embarking on new endeavors with the House of Maryse, her line of clothing, bikinis, lingerie and jewelry that kicks off this summer at more than 400 retail and online outlets.

We exclusively chat with the stunning diva to look back and forward, as she makes the transition from facelocks to fashion week.