This year’s female Hall of Fame inductee may be controversial, but it’s all about the matter of timing, not Beth Phoenix’s career.
On Monday it was announced that Beth Phoenix will be the female inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame for 2017. It was met with both praise and criticism, as fans felt it was too early for her to be included in the Hall of Fame. In addition, there are other female wrestlers who have yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which makes this news controversial.
But what fans can agree on, though, is that despite the early induction, Phoenix is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. Phoenix debuted in a time where models and Diva Search contestants were starting to take over the Divas Division. Trish Stratus and Lita were on their way out, which set the course for the next few years. That fact alone made the self-proclaimed Glamazon stand out in the Divas Division. While there were many missed opportunities when it came to Phoenix, the opportunities she did have she made it count. She was involved in some big moments that are a part of her career forever and WWE history.
Debuting in 2006, Phoenix wrestled for the company until 2012, when she retired from wrestling. She transitioned with the Women’s Division in the six years she was with the company. Phoenix would be one of the few women who would hold both the Women’s and Divas Championship on multiple occasions. Even though she was mostly competing during the PG era she would find success with several feuds, a lengthy Divas Championship reign and take part in a comedic storyline with Santino Marella. The infamous “Glamarella” is one of the highlights of the PG era that worked despite the odd pairing.
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Phoenix is also one of WWE’s toughest women. Within the month of her debut, Phoenix proved her toughness when she suffered a broken jaw during a match and was able to finish it. Her power was displayed as she made work of the Divas Division, finishing them off with the devastating Glam Slam. She was no stranger to wrestling men, and participated in the Royal Rumble one year. Oh, and she also participated in the first Women’s “I Quit” match in 2008.
While 2008 was successful for Phoenix, 2010 and 2011 were her most successful years. During that time Phoenix made history with a Royal Rumble entry, the Divas Championship and taking part in a first Divas Tables Match. Phoenix had the fourth lengthiest Divas Championship reign at 204 days. Phoenix and Natalya formed an alliance at one point dubbing themselves the “Divas of Doom”. The two women took part in the first ever Divas Tables match at TLC against LayCool.
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With this induction, Phoenix is the youngest Hall of Fame inductee at 36. While that is fairly young, she had some pretty standout moments regardless. With the opportunities Phoenix was presented with, she made the most of them. Phoenix hasn’t closed the door on a comeback, as stated in her interview with USA Today.
While this is a hot subject and highly debatable, let’s talk about the great things Phoenix has done in her career.
Photo courtesy of wwe.com
3. Women’s and Divas Championship Reigns
Phoenix was one of the WWE Divas that transitioned from the Women’s to Divas Division during her time with the company. That gave her the opportunity to hold two Championships, which was the Women’s Championship and Divas Championship. She held the Women’s Championships on multiple occasions, and the Divas Championship once.
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Perhaps this best represents the link between the old and new generation of women when it comes to Phoenix. With the Women’s Championship, Phoenix battled the likes of Mickie James, Candice Michelle and Melina. Her feud with James led to her first two reigns as Women’s Champion. She held the Championship three times before it was retired in 2010.
Even though she held the Divas Championship once, she had the fourth longest reign at 204 days. She was also the third woman to have held both the Women’s and Divas Championships after Michelle McCool and Melina. Phoenix would take talents such as Kelly Kelly, and Eve Torres to their limits during that period.
Photo courtesy of WWE.com
2. Royal Rumble
In 2010 Phoenix made history as the second woman to enter the Royal Rumble. She entered the match at number six and only lasted a little over ninety seconds. However, during those 90 seconds, she would do the unthinkable and eliminate the Great Khali. She did so by seducing him with a kiss that would literally sweep him off of his feet.
Even though she was eliminated by CM Punk right after, Phoenix made a huge statement that night. Fans were pleasantly surprised by her entering the Rumble, as Chyna was the first woman to enter. Phoenix throughout her career was perhaps underrated considering the time she was in the company, but moments such as this one opened fans’ eyes that Phoenix was the real deal.
Phoenix mastered maximizing her minutes in the spot, but while it was short it will last forever in WWE history.
Photo courtesy of WWE.com
1. History Maker
Phoenix was on hand for some history making moments. Phoenix took part in the first Women’s “I Quit” match against Melina in 2008 to culminate their feud. It was an alliance gone wrong, as during their tag team matches Melina would accidentally strike Phoenix one week, and knock her off the apron the next week. The women would attack each other on several occasions, which led to the match. Phoenix would defeat the former Women’s Champion in less than ten minutes.
Phoenix feuded on and off with the dominant duo LayCool from 2010 to 2011. Between that time she feuded with McCool, then Layla, trading victories with the Women’s Championship. Phoenix suffered a torn ACL prior to Layla winning, which put her out of action for months. She returned at Survivor Series where she attacked LayCool, assisting Natalya. At TLC 2010, Phoenix and Natalya teamed up to take on LayCool in the first Divas tables match.
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The Divas of Doom would win the match by Natalya doing a crossbody onto Laycool through a pink table with a drawing of LayCool on there. The two continued to team together from time to time, with Natalya assisting Phoenix to capture the Divas Championship against Kelly Kelly. Even though the two women only wrestled each other once, which is a shame, they had enormous respect for one another, and it was one of those missed opportunities that the company didn’t capitalize on.