The Mount Rushmore of Women’s Wrestling
Robin Leacock’s Women’s Wrestling Mount Rushmore
Chyna
Joanie’s Laurer’s spot on the Women’s Wrestling Mount Rushmore is solidified by the reality that she was the first woman to be portrayed as a serious threat to male competitors. Of course, she benefited from the time period she was apart of, but there’s no question she blazed a trail for many women to follow. From the time she first appeared in WWE as Triple H’s “valet”, she changed fans’ perspectives of the way in which a female could support, and often outshine, her male partner.
She’s obviously a multiple-time Women’s champion, but she’s also held the Intercontinental title, which should have felt completely foreign and unfamiliar at the time, but actually felt right. Let me put it to you this way: would it have been inconceivable for Chyna to be a world champion? The answer from most would likely be “no”. We don’t just recognize Chyna as a “women’s” wrestler, because she completely broke down the boundaries and conventions of the genre.
Sherri Martel
The first time I had the priveledge of watching Sherri Martel was at SummerSlam 1992. At the time she was “Sensational Sherri”, Shawn Michaels’ valet who also seemed to have an eye for Michaels’ opponent, “The Model” Rick Martel. The match stipulated that neither man could hit the other in the face, as Sherri didn’t want either of their faces to suffer any damage (side note: how great is that? How has this stip not been seen more since then?)
I remember the match very vividly, not because of the work between Michaels and Martel, but rather because of Sherri’s involvement. She literally ran the show, commanding the attention of the fans through her body language and facial expressions.
To no one’s surprise, this was something Sherri had been doing long before (and long after) I first became a wrestling fan. She was as versatile as she was charismatic, playing many roles including Queen Sherri, Scary Sherri and Sister Sheri. Not to mention the fact that she was a great worker; she punched, she kicked, she bumped and she came off the top rope, often in a dress and high heels. Sherri Martel is extremely underrated and more than deserves her spot amongst the greatest famale performers in wrestling history.
Charlotte Flair
I very much understand the idea of recency bias and fully admit it may be at play here. That being said, I’ve never seen a better combination of wrestling ability, overall look and natural charisma in the women’s division. It shouldn’t be a shock that “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair’s daughter is a born heel, but she can also play the other side of the coin as a babyface.
When Charlotte ascended to the top rope at WrestleMania 32 and moonsaulted onto Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch, she was announcing two things: not only is she the undisputed queen of the division, she also has more tricks up her sleeve. She seems to improve on the mic and in the ring every time we see her. There’s no question in my mind that when Charlotte Flair decides to hang up her robe (thankfully that day seems to be far, far away) she will be considered the greatest women’s wrestler of all-time.
Alundra Blayze
Modern women’s wrestling owes a great debt to Alundra Blayze, who did more than almost anyone to help with the proliferation of sports entertainment on a mainstream scale. In the ring, she was presented as a tough, technical wizard, ready to take on all comers.
Outside the ring, she exuded confidence and class. She’s also responsible for one of the most notorious moments in the Monday Night Wars, when she dropped the WWF Women’s Championship title belt in the trash on Nitro. The incredible level of respect shown towards Blayze from current women’s wrestlers should be the only proof needed to explain her spot in the hiearchy of important historical performers.