When WWE retired the term “Diva” in favor of the previously male-associated “Superstar,” it redefined how female talent was perceived. This opened the door to greater opportunities and equal prospects for success.
Today, women in WWE such as Adriana Rizzo are considered “Superstars”. They exude charisma with developed narratives and outspoken identities like their male counterparts.
Historically, female performers weren’t given the same opportunities as male performers. This included a lack of airtime and developed storylines. These discrepancies were not considered a part of the larger conversation until the “Diva” title was dropped in 2016.
It took careful consideration to change the deep-rooted perspective of women in the WWE as gimmicks rather than performers.
Quick Highlights
- The WWE Divas Championship title sustained for 8 years until it underwent the retitle of WWE Women’s Championship.
- The only women’s match of the night on the three-hour episode of Monday Night Raw show on Feb. 23, 2015, in Nashville lasted 29 seconds.
- WrestleMania 32 held a crowd of 101,763 people in Arlington, Texas.
- Stephanie McMahon introduced three divas to the main roster on July 12, 2015.
The Eras of the Early 2000s
Historically, women in the WWE held a secondary position in a professional wrestling space long considered male-dominated.
This was especially true during what is known in WWE lore as “The Attitude Era.” From 1997 to 2002, the WWE product took on a much harsher edge. This marked a time when women were often on stage accessorizing the male performers rather than participating in matches. The minimal storylines and matches served as tools of exploitation.
It was a jarring shift in women’s wrestling. Performers dressed up in scantily clad outfits in the ring while the crowd, consisting mostly of men, would jeer and catcall. The performances featured women in the ring engaging in short segments containing diluted content in comparison to male performers. The pillow fight matches featured during Monday Night Raw were a notable example. As a result, female wrestlers’ talent and athleticism were largely overshadowed by the crude nature of the era.
“The Ruthless Aggression Era,” spanning 2002 to 2008, began to paint a picture of what wrestling would look like in the next decade.
In 2003, WWE premiered Diva Search, a reality TV show formatted as a beauty pageant. Rather than offering women meaningful recognition, the show prioritized looks over professional talent, with recurring storylines centered on drama and conflicts over men. It was during this period that women in WWE began to be referred to exclusively as “Divas”.
By the “PG Era” (2008–2014), a new “TV-PG” network rating pushed WWE to leave its crude content behind and refocus on wrestling itself.
This shift brought a pivotal moment in 2008: the debut of the inaugural Divas Championship at the pay-per-view event The Great American Bash. It was won by Michelle McCool, giving women a platform to showcase their talent in front of a global audience.
But while things appeared to be looking up for women competitors, a clear line had still been drawn.
Divas v. Superstars
By creating a different term for women wrestlers rather than allowing the two genders to share the “Superstar” term, it was implied that female advancements in the WWE would not signify equality.
This was especially evident when the belt for the Divas Championship was presented to McCool: pink and studded with a butterfly emblem. A divided contrast to the traditional gold belt bestowed upon the winner.
During the “PG era,” women wrestlers received more opportunities, but equality remained elusive. Women were confined to a separate, lesser role. Diva matches were still shorter than their Superstar counterparts, and their storylines lacked depth.
Used as a marketing tool rather than treating female performers as professional wrestlers, the Diva term was upheld until controversy ensued in 2015. During the Monday Night Raw episode that aired on Feb. 23, 2015, four Divas stepped into the ring for merely 29 seconds. Fans noticed the match felt condensed and frustrations became vocal, pinpointing the beginning of the women’s revolution.
After years of placing women on the back burner, WWE faced the repercussions as fans’ frustrations turned into outrage.
#GiveDivasAChance: The Divas Revolution
The #GiveDivasAChance social-media movement came as a response to the Monday Night Raw episode, pressing the WWE to change its ways.
Fans, as well as female wrestlers, were fatigued from the constant belittlement. This was the company’s wake-up call to provide the longer match times and fruitful storylines they deserved. The following week, they gave the female performers more airtime.
The movement gained attention from the former owner and CEO, Vince McMahon, as he responded to the Players Tribune saying, “Our female performers are world-class athletes, actors, public speakers and philanthropists. They’re role models, inspiring and empowering women and girls to be confident and strong. They dedicate themselves to WWE, achieve great success and earn the same respect as their male counterparts.”
New Faces, New Era
Momentum continued to build, and on July 13, 2015, WWE’s Divas Revolution debuted on Monday Night Raw in direct response to fan demand.
WWE executive Stephanie McMahon later reflected on the broader wave of momentum in women’s sports that inspired the shift: “I talked about what was happening in the world with the evolution of women in sports from Ronda Rousey in the UFC to Serena Williams winning Wimbledon to the U.S. women’s soccer team. There was this revolution happening and I said I want this revolution to happen here in WWE.”
On that same episode, she introduced three standout women from NXT to the main roster: Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks. The trio quickly proved themselves as elite competitors, ushering in a new attitude and a new era for women in WWE.
Retiring the Term
At WrestleMania 32 in 2016, the “Diva” term was dropped and women were integrated into the “Superstar” category by replacing the title name of the Divas Championship with the Women’s Championship. To further signify the change, the Women’s Championship belt is currently gold rather than pink.
With this change, women were finally considered competitors rather than a lesser professional sector of the WWE.
The revolution reached a significant milestone at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. For the first time in WWE history, women were given a main-event position. Becky Lynch battled Raw women’s champion Ronda Rousey and SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte in winner takes all, where Lynch was victorious.
The revolution sparked a transformation still being felt in the WWE today. One that has finally given women the same spotlight as men.
FAQ:
- Who were the Four Horsewomen? The Four Horsewomen of the WWE were Becky Lynch, Bayley, Charlotte Flair, and Mercedes Moné; four fierce competitors who pioneered the Women’s Revolution.
- Is it WWF or WWE? The World Wrestling Federation (1979 to 2002) lost a trademark lawsuit to the World Wildlife Fund, adopting their present company name World Wrestling Entertainment.
- What is the NXT Group? NXT, a developmental brand and program for the WWE, was founded in 2012 by Paul Levesque or “Triple H”. It paved the way for female performers and created avenues that redefined their place in the WWE.
- Who was the first female wrestler? The first recorded female wrestler in history was Mildred Burke, a nationwide champion who performed in carnivals and sideshows.