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Explore the evolution of women's wrestling in WWE from the late 1980s to 2015, covering iconic champions, memorable storylines, and the rise of the Divas revolution.
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Basic HER-story Layla Reyes, Student
Basic HER-story Layla Reyes, Student
The Beginning (Late 1980’s) • The Fabulous Moolah • Joined WWF and sold them the rights to the National Wrestling Alliance Championship Belt. • Later Changed to the WWF Women’s Champion Belt • First ever women’s champion • Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria • First ever Women’s tag team champions • Miss Elizabeth • First female manager • Later earned the title “First Lady of the World Wrestling Federation”
Intro to Women (1990’s) Since 1990 the women’s champion spot was vacant but was reinstated in 1993. • Alundra Blayze • First person to win the returning title • Management convinced Vince McMahon to recruit more women talent. • Won the Cruiserweight Championship • The impact she caused made management want more female wrestlers • Sable, Sunny, etc. were signed to become wrestlers and managers to the men. • They were considered the first “Divas” • Divas were only hired for looks instead of talent in the ring
Power Houses of the late 90’s and early 2000 • Chyna • Due to her masculinity her story lines involved the questioning of her sexuality. • First woman to hold the Intercontinental Championship traditionally a title for men • Dominated both men and women • Jacqueline • Started as a manager • Later on had a feud with Chavo Guerrero and went on the be the second woman to win the Cruiserweight Championship • The last woman to win a men’s championship • Molly Holly • Won the WWF Hardcore Championship from The Hurricane but lost it the same night against Christian • Gave us the wholesome gimmick and had more modest ring attire
The Beginning of Divas (late 90’s - early 2000’s) • Sable • The first women to state she was a “Diva” • Lita • A high-risk diva • Had a love triangle storyline with Matt Hardy and Edge • Trish Stratus • Abused in a storyline by her boss Vince McMahon • Forced to strip and almost kissed his butt. • Worked her way to the top of the division and constantly improved on her in-ring talent Later on WWE merged with ECW gaining much more “Divas” • Torrie Wilson • Involved in many gimmick matches • Had a feud with Dawn Marie having an affair with her father • Feud caused a “Stepmother” vs “Stepdaughter” match • Member of Vince’s Angels • Stacy Keibler • Managed the Dudley Boyz • Feud with Trish Stratus but never won a match against her
Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008) • Victoria • Had a major Feud with Trish Stratus • Shaved Molly Holly’s head • Member of Vince’s Angels • Gail Kim • First Korean Women’s Champion • Left due to racisim • Lilian Garcia • Ring Announcer for the WWE • Melina • Debutedas a manager for MNM • Participated in the first women’s “I Quit” match where she lost • Michelle McCool • Was valet for The Teacher’s Pets going along with her teacher gimmick • Injured a lot in her start of her career • Given a new gimmick of “The All-American Diva” after 2008 return • First Divas Champion
Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008) • MickieJames • First major storyline involved her having an obsession with Trish Stratus • Participated in the first woman “Falls Count Anywhere” match • Beth Phoenix • Dominating diva and was called “The Glamazon” • In the first woman’s “I Quit” match which she won • Kelly Kelly • Youngest Diva to join WWE at 19 years old • Starts the “Kelly Expose” where she danced and stripped weekly • Later known as the Extreme Expose and also included Layla and Brooke • Layla • Started in WWE but moved to ECW • Becomes Manager for William Regal • Member of Extreme Expose • Candice Michelle • Member of Vince’s Devils • Became the WWE’s version of a Playboy bunny
Divas Championship and Title Unification (2008 – 2012) • Vickie Guerrero • Married to • Eddie Guerrero • Former General Manager of Raw and Smackdown • Manager for LayCool and Dolph Ziggler • Natalya • Managed the Hart Dynasty • Feud with the Bella Twins and LayCool • Member of Divas of Doom • Maryse • The Miz’s wife • Feud with Michelle McCool • Managed Ted DiBiase
Divas Championship and Title Unification (2008 – 2012) • Eve Torres • Managed CrymeTyme • Eve Torres and AJ Lee became the first Divas to main event Raw since Trish Stratus and Lita in 2004 • Assistant to the SmackDown General Manager • Kharma • First Diva in a while to not have the typical skinny model body • Strange infatuation with Kelly Kelly • Brie and Nikki Bella • Feud with Victoria and Natalya • Member of the Bella Twins • Always involved romantically with male tag teams or single competitors
Before the Revolution (2013 - 2015) • New People • Renee Young • Commentator for Monday Night Raw • Marriage with Dean Ambrose was used in storylines • Paige • First day on Monday Night Raw she captured the Divas championship • Held the NXT championship and the Divas Championship at the same time • Quiting and Fired • Vikkie Guerrero • Fired after she lost in a Pudding match • Brie Bella • Quit to continue husbands career • Had a feud with Stephanie McMahon • Turning on Family • Nikki Bella • Turned on her sister to help Stephanie McMahon because Brie left her and she wanted to not be in her shadow anymore.
Divas Revolution (2015 – 2016) • On the February 23, 2015 episode of Raw, The Bella Twins faced Paige and Emma in a widely criticized match that lasted around 30 seconds. After the match, a hashtag on Twitter trended worldwide for 2days, called #GiveDivasAChance • Three Way Feud • Team Bella • Alicia Fox • Bella Twins • Team B.A.D • Naomi • Tamina • Sasha Banks • Team PCB • CharlotteFlair • Becky Lynch • Paige
The Four Horse Women of NXT • Becky Lynch (The Man/Becky 2 Belts) • First SmackDown Women’s Champion • First woman to beat Ronda Rousey • First woman to hold both SmackDown and Raw’s titles • Charlotte Flair (The Queen) • Daughter of Ric Flair • Has the most reigns as Champion (8 time Champion) • Last Divas Champion ever • First Raw Women’s Champion • In the first ever Hell in a Cell match • Sasha Banks (The Boss) • Member of the Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection • First ever 1/2 Women’s Tag Team Champion • In the first ever Hell in a Cell match • Bayley (The Hugger) • Member of the Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection • First ever 1/2 Women’s Tag Team Champion
Women’s Evolution (2016 – Present Day) • Alexa Bliss • Third Mrs. Money in the Bank • In the first ever Women’s Elimination chamber match • Host of Moment of Bliss • Announced the Women’s Tag Team Titles • Carmella • First and Second Mrs. Money in the Bank • Won 2nd Mixed Match Challenge with R-Truth • Asuka • Undefeated for 914 days • Longest Undefeated Streak in the WWE • Won 1st Mixed Match Challenge with The Miz • Member of the Kabuki Warriors • Nia Jax • Member of the Samoan Slaughterhouse • Powerhouse of the Modern Woman’s division
Women’s Evolution (2016 – Present Day) • Mandy Rose • Member of Fire and Desire • Former member of Absolution • Feud with Naomi • Invited Naomi’s husband to a hotel room. He showed up with Naomi and she beat up Mandy. • Sonya Deville • Member of Fire and Desire • Former member of Absolution • First openly lesbian wrestler in WWE • Ronda Rousey • One of the four horsewomen for UFC • Constantly feuding with the Authority • Undefeated until Becky Lynch beat her and Charlotte Flair to become Becky 2 Belts • Longest Regining Raw Women’s Champion • 232 Days
Mae Young Classic (Tournament) • A wrestling women’s tournament produced by WWE, an American–based promotion. • WWE announced that a women’s tournament would be taking place in the summer of 2017 at a press conference during WrestleMania 33 weekend. There will be a total of 32 wrestlers competing. The name of the event honors the late Mae Young. • In April 2018, a second tournament was announced. • Past winners: • Toni Storm • NXT UK • Kairi Sane • At the time NXT • Now SmackDown Live
Evolution (Pay-per-view) • While the men were making history by attending Crown Jewel (WWE pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia), the woman were not allowed to attend. WWE made up for it by making Evolution. • Evolution is an all woman’s pay-per-view and it is all inclusive event, meaning that all brands were invited. • Raw • Smackdown • NXT • NXT UK • Featured • Singles match for the NXT UK Women’s Championship • Six Woman Tag match • Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship • Singles match for the Raw Women’s Championship • May Young Classic Tournament final match • 20-Women Battle Royal for a women’s championship match • Tag Team match
NXT Season 3 • The season was exclusive to female wrestlers and was the second different contest produced by WWE to find new female wrestlers • For the Women their were 6 rookies paired with 6 pros and they had to compete in Challenges and Matches to win the viewers votes. • The winner got the opportunity to go for the Divas title at any pay-per-view of their choosing.
NXT Season 3: About the Rookies • Jamie • Pro was The Bella Twins • Former Ring Announcer for season 2 of NXT • Eliminated week 5 • Maxine • Pro was Alicia Fox • Eliminated week 9 • Later went on to wrestle on NXT Redemption • Almost “Married” Derrick Bateman (EC3) • Long standing fued with Aj Lee • Left WWE to join TNA, Lucha Underground, and the Independent circuit. • Attempted acting
NXT Season 3: About the Rookies • Aksana • Pro was Gold Dust • In a storyline she was about to get “deported” • Minipulated Gold Dust • Married Gold Dust on NXT • Slapped him after “I Do” • He requested a Divorce • Eliminated week 11 • Went on to join SmackDown • Got into a storyline relationship with Antonio Cesaro • Attacked Kaitlyn while disguised in a hoodie and wig • Teamed with Alicia Fox to form Foxana • They split up and ended up in a feud • Her last match aired on the June 13 episode of SmackDown, where she lost to Fox
NXT Season 3: About the Rookies • Aj Lee • Pro was Primo • Eliminated week 12 • Later Joined SmackDown • Her character was seen to be “mentally unstable” • In her later career she was placed in many on-screen romances with: • Daniel Bryan • CM Punk • Kane • John Cena • DolphZiggler • Was the General Manager of Raw but stepped down • Was Divas Champion for 295 days • Left WWE because she felt caught in the middle between her husband, CM Punk, and the WWE management. • He was fired on their wedding date • Now an author and mental health activist.
NXT Season 3: About the Rookies • Naomi • Pro was Kelly Kelly • Eliminated week 13 • For her main roaster debut she was a valet for Brodus Clay along with Cameron and they formed the Funkadactyls • She is a cast member of Total Divas • Naomi and Cameron soon left Brodus Clay and after they broke up the Funkadactyls due to Cameron’s “ego” • She was a member of Team B.A.D.along with Tamina and Sasha Banks • After the break up of Team B.A.D. Naomi found her GLOW • Naomi became the first ever African American to hold the SmackDown Women’s title • Won the 2018 Women’s Battle Royal • Had a feud with Mandy Rose because Mandy was trying to take her husband but WWE cut the storyline • Still a member of the women’s division to present day
NXT Season 3: About the Rookies • Kaitlyn • Pro: Vickie Guerrero • On NXT she grew to have a feud with her pro over Vickie’s boyfriend, DolphZiggler • Winner of NXT Season 3 • Became known as The Chickbusters with AJ Lee • Soon turned on Lee to join the Divas of Doom • Would get notes from a secret admirer, later to be revealed to be a plan by Aj Lee and Big E • Kaitlyn held the Divas Championship for 153 Days • She is currently a fitness model and she made an appearance in the 2018 Mae Young Classic Tournament
Hall of Famers • Class of 1995 • -The Fabulous Moolah • Inducted by Alundra Blayze • Class of 2008 • -Mae Young • Inducted by Pat Patterson • Class of 2011 • Sunny • Inducted by the Divas • Class of 2013 • Trish Stratus • Inducted by Stephanie McMahon • Class of 2014 • Lita • Inducted by Trish Stratus • Class of 2015 • Alundra Blayze • Inducted by Natalya • Class of 2016 • Jacqueline • Inducted by the Dudley Boyz • Class of 2017 • Beth Phoenix • Inducted by Natalya • Class of 2018 • Ivory • Inducted by Molly Holly • Class of 2019 • Torrie Wilson • Inducted by Stacy Keibler • Chyna (Included with D-Generation X) • Inducted by the rest of D-Generation X
History Making Matches • Lita vs Victoria (September 2003) • First ever Women’s steel cage match • Mickie James vs Melina (March 2007) • First ever Women’s falls count Anywhere match • Beth Phoenix vs Melina (2008) • First ever Women’s I Quit match • Divas of Doom vs LayCool (2010) • First ever Women’s tag team tables match • Bayley vs Sasha Banks (2015) • First ever womens iron man match • Charlotte Flair vs Sasha Banks (2016) • First ever women’s hell in a cell match • Carmella Vs. Becky Lynch Vs. Charlotte Vs. Natalya Vs. Tamina (2017) • First ever women’s money in the bank • Asuka vs Nikki Cross (2017) • First ever last women’s standing match • Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks vs Bayley vs Mickie James vs Sonya Deville vsMandy Rose (2018 • First ever women’s elimination Chamber • The Boss 'n' Hug Connection vs Carmella and Naomi vs Fire and Desire vs, Samoan Slaughterhouse vs The IIconic vs The Riott Squad (2019) • First ever Women’s tag team elimination chamber • Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch (2019) • First time that women main event Wrestlemania
Longest and Shortest Title Reigns • Top 5 shortest: • Jillian hall(2009) • Divas Champion • 5 minutes • Charlotte Flair(2019) • Smackdown women’s champion • 5 minutes, 8 seconds • MickieJames(2007) • Women’s champion • 1 hour • Harvey Wippleman(2000) • Women’s champion • 1 Day • Nikki Bella (2012) • Divas Champion • 6 Days • Top 5 longest: • Trish Stratus (2005) • Women’s champion • 448 Days • Nikki Bella (2014) • Divas champion • 301 days • Aj Lee (2013) • Divas champion • 296 days • Alexa Bliss (2017) • Raw women’s champion • 222 days • Michelle McCool (2009) • Women’s Champion • 217 Days
Women’s Records • Most reigns as champ: • Charlotte Flair • 10 time champion • Trish Stratus • 8 time champion • Mickie James • 6 time champion • Sasha Banks • 6 time Champion • Melina • 5 time champion • Shortest Matches ever: • Trish Stratus vs Nidia • 4 seconds • Asuka vs Dana Brooke • 6 seconds • Aksana vs Natalya • 7 seconds • Naomi vs Lana • 8 seconds • Layla vs The Bella Twins • 10 Seconds
References (besides my brain) • http://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-announces-womens-tournament-this-summer-wwe-network • https://web.archive.org/web/20070507153656/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111221 • http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/wwe-nxt-year-end-awards-2015-28420735 • http://pwinsider.com/article/93833/wwe-announces-two-appointments-in-running-nxtdevelopmental.html?p=1 • https://web.archive.org/web/20090319045122/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111214 • https://web.archive.org/web/20070507153656/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/30445413212111221 • http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/32/article/wwe-womens-championship-revealed • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWE_Hall_of_Fame