Black Widow
11-07-2008, 06:41 PM
November 6, 2008 - Long before they were ever billed as "Divas", long before the days of the WWE, female wrestlers played an important part of the sports entertainment landscape. Mae Young was helping promoters sell out venues as early as the 1930s and The Fabulous Moolah wasn't far behind, helping to pave the way for generations of female wrestlers. Lady's like Wendi Richter, Leilani Kai, Sensational Sherri and Rockin Robin helped to further promote the popularity of women's wrestling in the '80s, and Alundra Blayze (also known as Medusa) carried the women's division in the early '90s.
However, it wasn't until 1999, when Sable first called herself "The Diva of the WWE", that the concept of the modern WWE Diva – gorgeous women who are also competent, compelling in-ring talents – really took off. Since then the WWE Divas have enjoyed more popularity than ever before, and grown in number accordingly.
Divas like Trish Stratus, Molly Holly and Lita helped carry the Diva torch through the early part of this decade, however the WWE Women's Title was left vacated for the second time in five years when Stratus retired from the WWE in 2006.
Since Stratus' departure from the ring Divas like Mickie James (three-time Women's Champion), Melina (two-time champ), Candice Michelle and reigning WWE Women's Champion "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix have risen to the top of the Diva roster, continuing to take women's wrestling to new heights.
IGN recently had a chance to chat with three of Florida Championship Wrestling's (a WWE talent development organization) hottest Divas, each of whom is expected to make the leap to the WWE roster in the coming months. Each of these beautiful brawlers shared their experiences rising through the ranks of the FCW, how they broke into the wrestling business, and gave us a little taste of things to come.
Enjoy our interviews with Miss Angela, Alicia Fox and Wesley Holiday, and check back in Friday for our video interview with former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton – it's a must see.
IGN
However, it wasn't until 1999, when Sable first called herself "The Diva of the WWE", that the concept of the modern WWE Diva – gorgeous women who are also competent, compelling in-ring talents – really took off. Since then the WWE Divas have enjoyed more popularity than ever before, and grown in number accordingly.
Divas like Trish Stratus, Molly Holly and Lita helped carry the Diva torch through the early part of this decade, however the WWE Women's Title was left vacated for the second time in five years when Stratus retired from the WWE in 2006.
Since Stratus' departure from the ring Divas like Mickie James (three-time Women's Champion), Melina (two-time champ), Candice Michelle and reigning WWE Women's Champion "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix have risen to the top of the Diva roster, continuing to take women's wrestling to new heights.
IGN recently had a chance to chat with three of Florida Championship Wrestling's (a WWE talent development organization) hottest Divas, each of whom is expected to make the leap to the WWE roster in the coming months. Each of these beautiful brawlers shared their experiences rising through the ranks of the FCW, how they broke into the wrestling business, and gave us a little taste of things to come.
Enjoy our interviews with Miss Angela, Alicia Fox and Wesley Holiday, and check back in Friday for our video interview with former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton – it's a must see.
IGN