Whenever there has been interviews with industry insiders, most agree that on the topic of the current WWE Women’s Revolution, there is no sole person responsible for it.
The following is the first part in a 3 part series that will attempt to piece together a coherent narrative that accurately reflects the milestones and turning points that lead to WWE Evolution.
Ahead of WWE’s inaugural Evolution event – the company’s first ever live, cross-brand all women’s show – it is important to spotlight the unheralded figures and external factors that helped shape the current WWE Women’s Revolution.
This series is not going to dive deep into the history of women’s Pro Wrestling as a whole, dating back to the 1890’s and the first recognised World Champion in ‘Minerva’ Josephine Blatt. Such a topic could fill several books but would definitely be worth a read.
Instead the focus of this series will be on the relatively modern WWE Women’s history and those who were directly and indirectly a part of it.
The 9th Wonder
from: WWE.com
Although originally promoted as a monstrous bodyguard to the villainous Hunter Hearst Helmsley (better known today as Triple H), Joanie Laurer’s “Chyna” was so much more than what could easily have just been a novelty side-show act.
Chyna was just as much a founding member of the infamous WWE stable D-Generation X as co-founders Triple H and Shawn Michaels were, and importantly she was given a significant run in WWE as a ‘Face’ – the common term for a Hero character in Pro Wrestling.
During this run WWE actually pushed the message of defying typical gender roles and in Chyna showcased how a strong, powerful woman could still have a feminine edge. Somewhat reminiscent of Mildred Burke in her day, Chyna was booked as a credible challenge to many men on WWE’s roster, and audiences for the most part embraced it.
Chyna’s WWE run paved the way for other powerful women who were against type to be given a chance at a hero’s journey, and not merely be written off as a one-note villain for the smaller, more typical WWE women to thwart.
Unfortunately Chyna’s post-WWE history is filled with explicit scandal and tragedy, a history that has caused the industry leader to be minimally selective in its memory of the woman it once called “The 9th Wonder of the World”.
Still, the significance and impact of Joanie Laurer in WWE and women’s pro wrestling is undeniable.
The Alternative Diva
From: WWE.com
Both Lita and Trish Stratus are rightly looked back on favorably in the history of Women’s Pro Wrestling. Their contributions to and success within WWE is such that they have been prominent in the promotion for the first WWE Evolution event, where they feature in a tag team match that pit them against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James.
Debating who was better out of Lita and Stratus is pure subjective opinion. However while Stratus fit the typical look and preference WWE brass coveted for their women at the time – buxom, blonde, North American fitness model – Lita broke the mold on several levels.
A short stint in ECW as ‘Miss Congeniality’, Amy Dumas would début as ‘Lita’ in WWE in the year 2000, first as the valet to the high-flying Essa Rios, and then as part of ‘Team Xtreme’ – the name given to her inclusion with the Hardy Boyz, Matt and Jeff Hardy.
Lita went from fiery red hair and a Mexican Luchador-inspired costume that complimented Essa Rios, to the dirtier red hair and grungey alternative look fans are more familiar with. Prominently on display was her large shoulder tattoo, and she would sometimes sport piercings beyond the typical placement on ears.
Instead of ring gear that had more in common with ladies’ beach wear, hipster cargo pants and fluorescent fishnet covered tank-tops were Lita’s attire of choice. Lita even has the word ‘PUNK’ tattooed on the inside of her bottom lip that she would occasionally show off. This was far from the type of woman WWE audiences were used to seeing.
While there have been past women in WWE with unorthodox looks and their own tattoos, body paint and alternative piercings, much like the powerhouses that predate Chyna they were also presented as monsters that the ‘beautiful heroes’ would eventually slay.
Like Chyna though, Lita was given a significant hero run, often times being the protagonist doing battle with Trish Stratus’ antagonist. The normalized western stereotype of what was considered attractive and how a ‘Good Guy’ woman should look in WWE was turned on its head. Similarly what Lita was able to do in the ring at the time also went against the norm of the limited technique showcased in WWE women’s matches.
Lita was the first significant woman of the modern era to attempt and credibly pull off high risk maneuvers in WWE such as top rope moonsaults and hurricanranas. Her in-ring work and aesthetic has inspired many of the WWE women with similar styles today.
Lita did also play the role of villain when partnered with WWE Hall of Famer and former men’s champion Edge, and her look evolved to that of more of an alternative Rock Star. But it was not a drastic change from her earlier look and importantly was still against type when contrasted with the other WWE women of the time.
If Chyna showed women in WWE could be portrayed positively for their power and strength, Lita showed women in WWE could be portrayed positively for their individuality and non-conformist spirit.
The Anti Diva
From: WWE.com
Paige might be the most significant figure in the genesis of the Women’s Revolution, and it started with a daring gimmick that dates back to WWE’s developmental territories.
The main in-ring WWE careers of Trish Stratus and Lita ended in 2006, with a handful of nostalgic appearances scattered in the years since.
In the time that had transpired after their initial retirement, the WWE Women’s division had fully devolved into the WWE Diva’s division. Women were not Superstars like the men, they were Divas, and there was not a lot of variety in the type of women on the main RAW and SmackDown brands. Nor was there much variety in how those women were presented.
There was some token representation here and there: the aforementioned Beth Phoenix in many ways followed in the footsteps of Chyna, but was figuratively presented through a softer focus lens with gentler lighting. Her nickname was ‘The Glamazon’, after all.
Kharma (Kia Stevens) was a notable powerhouse who had made a name for herself on the Independent scene as Awesome Kong, but in WWE she was presented more like the monster villains of the past. Kharma was never really given an opportunity to play hero either, possibly due to time off and being granted release for family commitments.
WWE also had hopes for Ashley Massaro to fill the Alternative gap Lita would leave, but her own family commitments meant her WWE career was also short-lived. That on top of being a Diva Search contest winner with no previous Pro Wrestling experience left her with a stigma that proved too difficult to overcome.
Divas were the norm, and that meant a return to hiring models without the necessary know-how for matches that could be as applauded as the men’s. Out of the few Pro Wrestlers left who could really work in the ring like Jazz, Gail Kim and Mickie James, being underutilized or simply misused was all too common.
Training for these Divas was on the job, and it was impacted by WWE’s decision to end their official developmental relationship with Ohio Valley Wrestling – the promotion that with trainers such as Dave ‘Fit’ Finlay and Al Snow, helped forge Trish Stratus and Lita into the legends that they became.
WWE’s affiliation with Deep South Wrestling as a developmental promotion barely lasted a year due in-part to the lack of reach and audience DSW could gain. However a deal with Florida Championship Wrestling was struck to be the official developmental promotion in 2008 after WWE reportedly helped fund and found FCW in 2007.
Notable women’s alumni from FCW have included AJ Lee, Alicia Fox, Brie and Nikki Bella, Kaitlyn, Naomi and Natalya (aka Nattie Neidhart, who had considerably more experience Pro Wrestling than the other women outside of WWE, largely thanks to coming from the respected Hart family who have been a part of the industry for several decades).
Another notable alumni and of relevance is of course Paige. Ignoring a non-speaking, relatively insignificant TV segment that involved Seth Rollins and a notebook computer (don’t ask), Paige made her FCW début after Sofia Cortez (aka Ivelisse Vélez of Lucha Underground fame) lost her match with Audrey Marie on an episode broadcast March 11th, 2012.
Accompanying Paige to the ring was FCW Diva’s Champion Raquel Diaz, who defended her title in a triple threat match that included Cortez and Marie in the previous episode. Of note, Raquel Diaz’ real name is Shaul Guerrero; she is the daughter of the late, great Eddie Guerrero.
Both Paige and Diaz assisted Cortez in beating down Marie, until Kaitlyn came out to make the save. FCW‘s commentary team at the time included William Regal and Matt Martlaro, who initially referred to Paige as “… that mystery Diva”, while also noting her raven colored hair.
As you may have noticed, just like the ‘Big Show’ these wrestlers had hopes of graduating to, the women in FCW were known as Divas. This is how WWE wanted their developmental talent to be known likely for the sake of brand synergy.
This is noteworthy because on the episode of FCW TV that followed Paige’s début and the setup for a new women’s rivalry, a tag team match took place pitting Sofia Cortez and Paige against Kaitlyn and Audrey Marie.
During their entrance, commentary again makes note of Paige’s unique look – “… the woman is who is as pale as a full moon…” – and proceeds to drop some back story on the viewer at home.
"“… You ask, ‘what is the reason? what is going on here with Paige and Sofia teaming up?’ There’s been a lot of talk, a lot of grumbling in the locker room there, the Diva’s locker room about Paige and Sofia creating this – well, as they term it – an Anti Diva Army.” – Matt Martlaro, FCW commentary (March 18th, 2012.)"
This new faction did not just have an alternative aesthetic to the other Divas; this new faction positioned itself to be in conflict with the very notion of Divas. These women wanted their wrestling to be the focus in the ring, not their cosmetic appearance, and at least to begin with this was more than just a gimmick.
These women had started training and performing in Pro Wrestling either since their early teenage years (Cortez), because they had the family legacy (Diaz), or in the case of Paige – both. Paige’s mother, legend of British Pro Wrestling Saraya Knight, notoriously wrestled while unaware she was pregnant with Paige. Knight is also married to former Pro Wrestler Ricky Knight, and has two sons who are Pro Wrestlers.
Pro Wrestling is very much the blood of that family – so much so it attracted the attention of a Channel 4 (Britain) documentary in 2012, which forms the basis of an upcoming comedy film “Fighting With My Family” that is being produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, due for release in 2019.
By August of 2012, Florida Championship Wrestling was deactivated by WWE in favor of re-branding to NXT, initially a reality show format that has evolved into the significant developmental promotion that is known today.
All titles and story-lines from FCW were dissolved, and operations were eventually moved from Tampa to Orlando, Florida. What remained for many of the developmental wrestlers were their names and their characters – and that included Paige and her Anti Diva persona, marking herself out as wholly different to her golden tanned peers with an Emo-Goth based look and anti-establishment attitude.
The Arrival
With a change in location and brand, the NXT developmental program also seized the opportunity to make a change in its hiring practices. Instead of seeking out women based mostly on their looks as was the norm, a decision was made to seek out more women with the technical skills and physical abilities that would make their transition to ‘Sports Entertainer’ more seamless.
Triple H – now the Executive Vice-president of Talent, Live Events and Creative for WWE – commented earlier in 2018 to TVGuide.com:
"“I [didn’t] understand why we weren’t just recruiting the best athletes in the world. Forget look. Forget body structure. Let’s look for the best athletes in the world just like we would with the guys,” – Triple H to Keisha Hatchett, TVGuide.com (April 2018)."
In his executive role, Triple H would be the architect who cultivated NXT into what it is today. In 2012 Triple H made the decision to hire Sara Amato as a trainer, a respected veteran who had wrestled under the name of Sara del Ray for independent promotions such as Chikara, Ring of Honor and Shimmer Women Athletics.
Amato would be WWE’s first female coach who, with a decade of experience working as a Women’s Pro Wrestler, could offer unique perspective and insight when training the new crop of WWE Women.
Much like FCW, NXT would have its own television show, this time broadcast on tape delay from the Full Sail University arena in Orlando, Florida. Filming had actually begun as early as June 2012, a couple of months before the official changeover from FCW.
At a taping for episode 3 of the new NXT show, the familiar names of Sofia Cortez and Paige did battle in what was still billed as a Diva’s match. Their physicality wowed the unsuspecting audience and gave them a glimpse of what WWE Women’s wrestling could be; a far cry from the matches that were happening on WWE’s main shows at the time.
A 3 minute but high intensity bout ended with Paige losing to Cortez. By episode 12 of the new NXT show, and though the Anti Diva Army was no more, audiences had already begun chanting ‘Anti Diva’ in support of Paige who had continued to market herself as such through social media.
The native of Norwich, England had quickly established herself as a fan favourite at Full Sail in the new and improved NXT brand. Paige would go on to win the majority of her matches in her NXT stay, which included a run through a tournament in 2013 to crown the first NXT Women’s Champion.
Despite the title officially having Women’s in the name, commentary and talking heads still referred to these women as Divas, and most of the women continued to refer to themselves as such too. It made for a somewhat bizarre contradiction.
The aforementioned tournament included new talent in Charlotte (Flair), Sasha Banks and Bayley, but neither one of these women ended up facing Paige in the brackets.
From: WWE Network
On the July 24th 2013 episode of NXT, Paige would defeat Emma (Tenille Dashwood) in the tournament finals and be declared the division’s inaugural champion. That same month of July 2014, and just a few days earlier, the WWE Performance Center officially opened – a place where new and veteran WWE stars could visit and have access to world-class training be it technical, vocational or physical.
Paige would successfully defend her title into the following year where a rematch with Emma would take place at NXT’s first major marquee show.
The event was dubbed NXT Arrival, and on February 27th 2014 the developmental league took a significant step in being recognised as WWE’s third brand. NXT Arrival was chosen as the first live show to stream on the WWE Network, which had officially launched just 3 days earlier.
NXT Arrival was not just a step forward for the brand, but a big step for WWE Women’s Wrestling. The billed rematch between Paige and Emma was significant enough that it came with the public endorsement from not only Triple H, but also from Stephanie McMahon, daughter of WWE’s Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, and heir apparent to the company.
"“The opportunity for them was to show that they could do it live, show how much they had grown to the fact where (they could prove) “not only can we do this, you can count on us to do it and do it well”. But also prove to everybody that the future of the WWE was safe.” – Triple H on the NXT talent performing on the first NXT live special."
In a hard fought match that once again saw Paige the victor, not only had both women won the respect of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, most importantly they had won the adulation of the crowd.
"I think this is the first This Is Awesome (chant ) in a Diva’s match I’ve ever heard – Stephanie McMahon"
Both Paige and Emma had impressed enough that a call up to the main WWE brands was imminent.
While Emma would end up partnered with Santino Marella in a comedy mixed tag-team because WWE creative failed to fully understand her quirky, unorthodox gimmick, Paige was fast-tracked to make a big impact on the RAW after WrestleMania where she was booked to defeat WWE Diva’s champion AJ Lee in a shock upset.
Not only did Paige become the youngest ever WWE Diva’s Champion – she had achieved all this by the age of just 21 years old – but she was still technically the NXT Women’s Champion too, making her the first and only Superstar to hold the major women’s title of both NXT and WWE at the same time.
Paige would officially vacate the NXT Championship on April 24th, a couple of weeks after her main roster debut, before going on to continue a rivalry with AJ Lee on RAW.