Every week around this time, we love to take a look back and reminisce about something that's made us smile in the past. Today, we'll be remembering some of the women who paved the way in WWE, showcasing their wrestling abilities to ensure that the ladies of wrestling in today's world would have a place to call home. Happy Throwback Thursday!
7. The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah is sure to go down in history as the woman who has held a championship for the longest time in wrestling history. From September 18th, 1956 until July 23rd, 1984, she carried the Women's Championship with determination in her eyes. For almost three decades, she defeated everybody she went up against in a title bout, and went from hated heel to beloved face. In 1995, she received another honour, becoming the first woman in WWE history to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
6. Beth Phoenix
Now working as a part of the commentary team on NXT, Beth Phoenix is one of the most formidable in-ring females the WWE has ever had in their ranks.
Making her Raw debut in 2006, she put everything into her performance, ending up with a broken jaw and proving she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty to entertain the WWE Universe. Through her career, she would become women's champion twice, and entered the Royal Rumble match in 2010, eliminating The Great Khali before being taken out of the bout herself.
5. Alundra Blayze
Trashing the WWE Women's Championship is one of the most shocking moments in the company's entire history. Taking place on WCW Monday Nitro, she stunned the world by slapping WWE with her response to being released whilst still champion, which left her blacklisted from the company for two decades.
Nowadays however, she has been welcomed back with open arms for guest appearances, and recently became the third woman in WWE history to win the 24/7 Championship.
4. Mae Young
Mae Young is renowned for her hard work inside a WWE ring, and during her lifetime, won multiple titles across women's wrestling. Her career actually skyrocketed before she joined WWE, but it was there that WWE fans came to realise what an incredible talent she was.
She made her last appearance on the March 4th, 2013 episode of Old School Raw, where she celebrated her 90th birthday, before being presented with a personally monogrammed Divas Championship belt by Chairman Vince McMahon, and WWE executive Triple H.
3. Chyna
The Ninth Wonder of the World, the late, great Chyna, was a hugely influential star during her run in WWE. Though her career in the adult film industry later tarnished her reputation with the big wigs behind-the-scenes, she's still renowned as one of the greats by the majority of fans, who would do anything to see her become a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Whilst she's not yet had an individual induction, she did become a part of the famous ceremony earlier this year (2019), when D-Generation X were added to the HoF.
2. Lita
Lita was the original anti-Diva. As a member of Team Xtreme alongside The Hardy Boyz, then leaving her boyfriend Matt Hardy for the Rated-R Superstar Edge in 2006, she went from beloved competitor to one of the most reviled females on the WWE's roster.
Though many of her antics wouldn't be allowed to take place on TV these days, it was those infamous scenes - such as her in-ring romping with Edge and Cryme Tyme's public shaming of what she had in her locker - that allowed her to show just how strong-willed and strong-minded she could be. She batted aside all of the unneccessary sexism and chaos, and delivered some of the most legendary performances a WWE ring has ever seen.
1. Trish Stratus
Having recently returned for one last match against the record-breaking Charlotte Flair, Trish Stratus bowed out of in-ring action in one of the most memorable and exciting bouts of her entire career. Charlotte is the woman who broke Trish's record of most female title reigns in WWE, so it was the perfect 'passing of the torch' moment for the two.
Stratus left WWE back in 2006, retiring with the Women's Championship after picking it up a total of seven times, and even adding a Hardcore Championship to her collection. Some of the best rivalries she was embroiled in, saw her go up against the likes of Mickie James, and our previous list entrant, Lita. To this day, she is one of the most celebrated Hall of Famers that WWE has ever had in their ranks - make sure to check out some of her matches on the WWE Network if you haven't yet seen her in action!
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