The WWE Divas Division has been dubbed the worst women’s division in the company’s history from the ’90s to 2015. With many fans condemning WWE for not letting these women express themselves, they were forced to compete in bra and pantyhose matches, pillow fights, and were seen as just eye candy. WWE also viewed the “Divas” as second-rate performers, devaluing them in comparison to the males who were competing for screen time with these girls. If WWE had spent more time in the ladies, they would have outperformed its men’s division at the time, and women’s wrestling would have prospered whereas only men’s wrestling thrived, which was a disservice to the fans who wanted these women to shine and not be considered as just eye candy. The Playboy Era The WWE Divas have been included in several cross-promotions with other companies due to their popularity. Many WWE Divas have featured in Playboy, as well as advertising for WWE and non-WWE companies, as well as men’s publications. Every year, the WWE Divas have a photoshoot in a new location. After the photo shoot, a magazine is published with images from the session, and a TV special or video is released with highlights. WWE would then launch the Playboy cover as a supplementary mid-card championship for their ladies as the corporation saw it would draw attention to their divas’ division at the moment. It’s become a WWE custom for any Diva on the Playboy cover to wrestle at WrestleMania. These contests were sometimes referred to as ‘Playboy’ matchups. The Diva Search Era The Diva Search was an annual summer competition. The Diva Search was designed to identify new female wrestlers, interviewers, and valets for WWE. The competition winner earned a $100,000 one-year contract. Formerly valued at $200,000, The inaugural WWE Diva Search ran from July 1 through August 24, 2003. Unlike successive Diva Search winners, the first did not earn a contract. She was photographed for an edition of the WWE Magazine. Jaime Koeppe won the inaugural WWE Diva Search. The first WWE Diva search included Jamie Koeppe, Terri Mitchell, Paige, and Marsha. WWE decided after fans voted online. The Divas Championship The Divas Championship had a bad image since it seemed inferior to the Women’s Championship. A butterfly logo was used to rename the Divas division. WWE required a new belt in 2008, and it lasted till 2016. The WWF Women’s Championship was to be fought on both brands with the inaugural WWF Brand Extension in 2002. That year, it became exclusive to the Raw brand. After that, only Divas on the Raw brand could fight for the WWF Women’s Championship, while Divas on the SmackDown brand couldn’t. On occasion, Melina, Ashley, Torrie Wilson, and Nidia attempted to win the championship while on the SmackDown brand but were unsuccessful. The WWE Divas Championship was launched in a storyline on June 6, 2008, ‘s Friday Night SmackDown when then SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero revealed the title’s introduction. The title belt was presented on SmackDown on July 4, 2008. Michelle McCool beat Natalya at The Great American Bash to become the first champion. Maryse won the championship from McCool in December 2008, but later that month she dislocated her kneecap. Maryse, like Trish Stratus, maintained the Divas Title after she returned from a ruptured disc in late January 2009. In the 2009 WWE Draft, former Divas Champion Maryse was recruited to the Raw brand, making the belt exclusive to Raw. #GiveDivasAChance During a women’s tag match between Paige & Emma and The Bella Twins, the bout would last 29 seconds, which was a smack in the face to the performers in the ring. The Bridgestone Arena audience booed loudly, and the hashtag #GiveDivasAChance trended on Twitter. However, this wasn’t a company-created movement; it was a groundswell of dissatisfied fans weary of seeing their favorite female performers undervalued, and it didn’t stop after a match that was shorter than a commercial. It lasted three days and enabled fans of the then-divas division to tell WWE how bad their division was performing. We hear you , keep watching The company, and especially its chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, took note of the #GiveDivasAChance. The WWE understood they had to do something, but it wasn’t a response to the fans’ demands. The next week, they gave their female artists greater airtime. After all, 30 seconds wasn’t that tough. They understood, though, that four women who were establishing themselves as superstars in NXT, the WWE’s developmental division located in Winter Park, Florida, would soon bring about a major change for females. The main event of “NXT TakeOver: Respect” featured Sasha Banks and Bayley in a 30-minute “Iron Man Match” for the NXT Women’s Championship. It was the first time in WWE history that women competed in such a major contest. The Shift From Divas to Superstars For the WWE women’s title, WWE revealed at Wrestlemania 32 that it will be similar to the WWE world heavyweight championship held by the men, with pink and beaded trophies. “We were turning our female artists into superstars,” Stephanie McMahon remarked to a standing ovation at AT&T Stadium. “They were no longer distinguished from the guys. Stars for all sexes.” That WWE now treats female superstars equally with male superstars would delight fans. Women’s wrestling would flourish now. With that horrible belt gone, Charlotte Flair would build the Women’s division, a new era for women. Divas Matter For Women Today Even though the ladies were merely eye candy at the moment, they would capture on any occasion that was given to them, even if it was just a pillow fight. Fans’ opinion of diva changed because of Trish and Lita. Your current favorites would not be treated with respect or their abilities would not be exploited correctly if Trish and Lita had not elevated the diva’s division. Yes, the diva’s division was not the finest age, but consider what today’s ladies would be doing if the name diva had not survived. So, please respect the diva’s division. #DivasEra #womenswrestling #WWE

When Bayley arrived in NXT in 2013 everyone saw her for just a happy smiley go lucky kind of girl who just seemed happy to be living her childhood dream. However, along the way she progressed and developed and transitioned into one of the most Iconic female factions today “The Four Hoursewomen” alongside Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch. Here are my top 5 matches from the ex hugger. 5. Bayley Wins Money In The Banks and cashes in With a pack of talented females that included Nikki A.S.H., Naomi, Natalya , Dana Brooke , Mandy Rose, Ember Moon and Carmella these women looked to prove why each of them deserved this opportunity and the right to be called Mrs. Money In The Bank. The match would have some amazing spots from A.S.H. smashing all the competitors with the ladder and Naomi doing an impressive jumping off of the barricade and split to avoid getting whacked by the ladder. Bayley was however crushed under the ladders but then ended up climbing up the ladder and becoming Ms. Money in the bank, later on that night Bayley would cash in on “The Queen” Charlotte Flair to become the new Smackdown Women’s Champion 4. Bayley becomes Raw Women’s Champion “Go rich or go home richer” that’s exactly what Bayley did this night in Las Vegas as she went up against the 4 time Raw Women’s Champion “The Queen” Charlotte Flair. This match between these 2 women would main event Monday Night Raw and put on an instant classic match for the WWE Universe. These 2 women have amazing chemistry in NXT and it showed here as well between Charlotte Flair and Bayley showcasing what these women were capable of on the main roster. After some antics outside the ring from Dana Brooke, an injured Sasha Banks would come down the aisle takeout Dana Brooke and use her crutch to hit Charlotte breaking the Figure 8 which would lead Bayley hitting Flair with the Bayley to Belly allowing her to hug her way to becoming the new Raw Women’s Champion 3. Bayley Vs Sasha Banks – Hell In A Cell 2020 Bayley defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against her former best friend and tag team partner that year Sasha Banks inside Hell in a Cell at Hell in a Cell 2020. This was Banks’ third time stepping inside the Devil’s favorite playground, and she completed the set against the Four Horsewomen in cell matches. Banks and Bayley told an excellent story in a barnburner of a Women’s Championship match which should’ve main evented the show. It’s one of the all-time great Women’s Hell in a Cell matches, and the Boss ended Bayley’s historic 380-day reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion to hold the SmackDown Women’s Title for the first time in her career. 2. Bayley Vs. Sasha Banks NXT Women’s Championship – NXT Takeover: Brooklyn This match would not only be Bayley’s top match in NXT but one of the most talked about greatest women’s match of the new era of women’s wrestling. In this match Banks was the reigning champion and Bayley who kept coming up short in title opportunities. During the match Sasha at one point would injure Bayley’s hand in the steel steps and suicide dive over the referee onto Bayley laying her out in the process. However, Bayley would land a top rope hurricarana which would lead to Banks getting a Bayley to Belly which would give Bayley the win and also NEW NXT Women’s Champion. Bayley’s Heel Turn This Heel turn was one of the biggest moments in Bayley’s career. That would see Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship, however this time Bayley was not in the mood for hugs or for anything the WWE Universe had to offer that night. Bayley would do her usual entrance however mid way through Bayley would destroy her iconic Bayley Buddies and debut her new short haircut in the process. The WWE Universe would be shocked and conflicted as they didn’t know what was going on in the mind of Bayley. However, Bayley would defeat Charlotte to become the new Smackdown Women’s Champion. After the match Bayley would tell the WWE Universe a few words after her win “Screw All Of You”. #Bayley #WWE

#SashaBanks #Carmella #QueenZelina #Tamina #Doudrop #RheaRipley #CharlotteFlair #NikkiASH #Naomi #ZelinaVega #BeckyLynch #BiancaBelair #DanaBrooke #LivMorgan #RondaRousey

This week: New 🦓@RefCrystal ✈️ or 🥊 @thunderrosa22 @gigidolin_wwe ☄️ @serenadeeb 📢 An #Impact ⏪ @mrsaipalisha & @nikkita_wwe 🦁 **☮️ #wrestlingblog #womenswrestling #deonnapurrazzo #womenswrestlingtalk #WWE #AEW

#wrestlingblog #womenswrestling #Jazz #deonnapurrazzo #wrestlingpodcast #womenswrestlingtalk #WWE #AEW

#wrestlingblog #MJJenkins #KieraHogan #womenswrestling #wrestling #wrestlingpodcast #womenswrestlingtalk #ReneeMichelle #WWE #Vanity

None of us could have anticipated Jade Cargill. This giant amazonian is a future star who has mastered the sport of wrestling like she’s been doing it her whole life. In a wrestler, Jade is everything you could desire. Arnie would be envious of her figure and athletic prowess; she also exudes an abundance of charm and charisma. You simply have to look at Jade’s debut to know how popular she is. Shaquille O’Neal, a 7-foot-tall monster and basketball icon, was in the ring, but the spotlight was on Jade. Jade’s fame has continued to climb since her debut. Wrestling background aside, she has an impressive amount of talent. At this point, she is the TBS women’s champion, and she is positioned to be a major player in the new AEW division. I can’t imagine the impact Jade must have on the next generation of Black women. When it comes to professional wrestling, it has always been and will always be a white man’s sport. They were gangsters, pimps, and thugs from ‘the jungles of Africa,’ as they were billed. There was no real drive for African-Americans to be stars, save for The Rock, and even then the impetus was short-lived. Jade is now one of several black women who appear on television on a regular basis. With someone of their race and gender now being recognized for their strength and power, young Black women have a new role model. Women are desperate for strong female role models after the success of Luisa in Encanto. In this job, Jade is a wonderful match. She dispels the patriarchal myth that women lose their femininity the moment they pick up a dumbbell, since she is real evidence that women can have muscles. In the body-positive spectrum, Jade is just as deserving of the same kind of love and acceptance as the others. Jade is an inspiration in every way possible. She’s a successful entrepreneur and mother with a master’s degree in child psychology, so it’s not simply her figure and wrestling prowess that make people take notice of her. She represents the pinnacle of black achievement and is a charismatic personality who will have a significant impact on the next generation of women wrestlers. #AEW #JadeCargill

Turnbuckle Glam is a monthly live show that features our Looks of the Week for that month given by your favorite women in wrestling. Looks are broken down into four categories: Glam Special, Selfie Queen, Gear of the Week, and Gym Hotties! #wrestlingblog #prowrestling #womenswrestling #wrestling #wrestlingpodcast #WWE

Glam Special These looks are all about the glam! For the glamorous, to the flossy, glossy! https://www.instagram.com/p/CabJ540s57v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaX2naPP1Zw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSbAYJJhbz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CadU1Tburol/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/Cac5wvfP16w/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSDcmfLcKu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Selfie Queens Serving looks while serving face, this category is all about the selfie game! https://www.instagram.com/p/CaczWLgJJ02/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CadekjBFagK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaXm0cbJMnF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQiXP8JEIC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaN7gJeJ0RG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Gym Hotties Working out and looking good! Let’s stop and take a pic! https://www.instagram.com/p/CaZ20d1ufwE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaZ_jGJrPjA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Gear of the Week Calling all show stoppers!! Looking good while putting on for the crowd starts with the ring! https://www.instagram.com/p/CadhDVWODEI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaaM1Qol6vv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/Caa0IUOgrgC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSguhhpAh2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaU5HCHLWKZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaadR7RuXhp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CaSBnu3OoLU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CabcAaLOrWh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Check out our latest episode of #TurnbuckleGlam available now. Be sure to check out all of our Looks of the Week every single week exclusively here on Women Wrestling Talk! #SashaBanks #RedVelvet #TayaValkyrie #JordynneGrace #TayConti #ChelseaGreen #kacilennox #MandyLeon #kaylabraxton #MandyRose #thebunny #RheaRipley #ajasmith #wendychoo #allie #CharlotteFlair #amarimiller #LashLegend #TashaSteelz #RaquelGonzalez #BiancaBelair #NylaRose #ThunderRosa #annajay #amberrodriguez #KellyKelly

When it comes to putting on a show and pulling it off gracefully, my girl Ms. Bam Bam is the Queen. Because I am a huge admirer of Karen’s, I’m going to ramble on and on about her here. It’s been a thrill for me to get a glimpse of her on stage and speak with her afterward. I believe she should be included in a lot more commercials to further display her striking personal style and individuality. She made her professional wrestling debut in February 2018 in the Bronx, New York. Johnny Rodz and the T2T Wrestling Academy taught her. Bam Bam Bigelow and Bull Nakano were among the artists who had influenced her. Agility was something she aspired to add into her performances, and she succeeds admirably in doing so. She began her career in wrestling a little later than the majority of other wrestlers. She admitted to me in an interview that as a youngster, she was more realistic and didn’t daydream as much. After watching NXT, she stated she was inspired and decided to pursue a career in wrestling after doing some study. They have held both the Test of Strength and the Victory Pro Wrestling (VPW Women’s) Championships. On top of being a hoot in the ring, she enjoys tarot, meditation, and crocheting. She infuses all she does with sass, fabulism, and ferocity. I hope that Karen will be able to participate in any wrestling promotion that allows her to display her talents on a larger stage. She should be praised for her willingness to compete against both men and women and for the unique perspective she brings to the arena. I’m eagerly anticipating Karen’s next move. #KarenBamBam