Every Women’s Wrestling Match in WWE TLC History
By JB Alexander
Credit: WWE.com
Eve Torres VS Naomi for the Divas Title (2012)
Sometimes you hear about how Divas were forced to wrestle in pools of pudding or compete in bra and panties matches. That’s true, but once the PG era was in full swing things took a different turn. While the first few years of TLC saw some glimmers of hope for the division it was scenarios like the one Eve Torres, Naomi, and most of the rest of the division were subjected to in 2012 that swept the rug out from fans and left us with little hope for change.
Before TLC went live there was a “Santa’s Helper” battle royal to determine the number one contender to the Divas Championship. That’s exactly what it sounds like: Divas battled while dressed in sexy Christmas gear. Naomi won the match and went on to lose her title match against Eve Torres in short fashion in front of a crowd that was long past caring.
Though this might have been representative of a particularly poor year for women’s wrestling, we did get an early glimpse of Naomi’s unparalleled athletic style.
Credit: WWE.com
AJ Lee VS Natalya for the Divas Title (2013)
If 2012 left a bitter taste in the mouth of fans of women’s wrestling then 2013 was like having dessert for the first time. AJ Lee was in the middle of her now legendary reign as Divas Champion, and she was carving a path for the revolution that would soon follow her. AJ was set to defend the Divas Title against Natalya, and they would tear down the house.
The match these two would wrestle was overlooked because it was contested for the Divas Championship, but the work they did was proof not only of AJ Lee’s status as an unsung hero of the women’s revolution, but also of Natalya Neidhart’s as an elite performer that has never been afforded the credit she’s deserved.
There was so much good wrestling in this match, and Nattie had the crowd behind her. It’s a perfect example to point to if you ever need to convince someone that the Divas Championship was often a respectable title despite the bum rap it gets.