The history of women's wrestling is certainly an interesting one, with many different eras and styles forming what we know today as the women's revolution. There have been some good times and more dark times, but as we enter 2017 it's clear that the female contingent is here to stay.
Why? Because they made the machine listen. The force of the movement down in NXT among the female wrestlers became so strong that WWE couldn't ignore it anymore. It was like a beautiful disease that spread like wildfire throughout the company, and there's absolutely nothing that could've stopped it.
So with such a boom period in the last few years and an even brighter future ahead, the real question is what's next. We've seen the likes of the Four Horsewomen dominate their respective divisions since the brand split, but perhaps it's time for a change of pace. Maybe, just maybe, they should consider bringing in some old school talent.
Now going back to the past isn't a popular option among some fans, but in terms of getting other Superstars over, it can definitely work. The viability of these options isn't of relevance because at the end of the day these are the five former female wrestlers that would definitely suit the New Era.
#5 Alundra Blayze
It's a really old school selection here, but the WWE Hall of Famer was by far the best of her generation. Blayze is well known as Madusa too, and in terms of in ring talent, she carried the women's division for a long time in both WWE and WCW. Whilst controversy has certainly followed her throughout her career, that doesn't detract from her natural abilities.
You could insert either Blayze or Madusa, whichever character fits best, into a storyline on Raw and it would work. In her prime, the woman could stand toe to toe with the best of them and a prospective feud against someone like Charlotte would make for some great television.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the styles have changed as years have gone by, but Alundra was definitely ahead of her time. In terms of what she could do with her overall character, she'd be really effective either in a babyface or a heel role. Diversity is important, and that's certainly something that this former Women's Champion has.
Onto another hard hitting female wrestler of the past.
#4 Victoria
Victoria is a woman who has always had a great love for the business of professional wrestling, but never really thrived as many would've expected. That may be down to the era she was a part of. Either way, her look and style in the ring was always fascinating and gained her a lot of fans among the WWE Universe and beyond.
Given her time in TNA more recently, you can tell that she was able to adapt to different scenarios and settings. Some people will choose to debate whether that would be translatable to the WWE of today, but it seems likely that she could've made a pretty good impact in the New Era.
You could even have Victoria be a female Batista of sorts, running down the new style of wrestling and standing up for powerful, dominant women that don't run around on social media and what not. It could lead into quite a fascinating storyline, and her impact would certainly be felt within the company.
Now we move onto someone who practised her trade far more recently.
#3 AJ Lee
AJ Lee is one of the most popular divas/female wrestlers in the history of WWE. Now that may seem like quite a bold statement but given her diversity during her time with the company it feels like an appropriate comment.
The former Divas Champion was a valet, general manager and an in-ring competitor, and she thrived in each position she was given.
Somehow, she managed to insert herself into a story involving Daniel Bryan and CM Punk and actually make it even better. The unorthodox AJ was always coming up with new ways to entertain the crowd, and as a result, she became one of the biggest characters on the entire show. Whether that was intended is an entirely different discussion.
Her love of professional wrestling growing up would've helped her transition into the squared circle effectively, and considering that she's only been gone for two years, it seems as if a return could be on the cards some day. Given the level of talent on the roster right now, having an established talent like AJ join the ranks could only be a good thing.
Up next is a slightly more unconventional choice.
#2 Molly Holly
Over the course of her career in WWE, Molly Holly was often taken for granted. In an era that combined great female wrestlers and poor storylines, Molly was always stuck in the middle and never really appreciated for her talents.
Either way, you simply can't deny that her in-ring ability and character work outside the squared circle deserved more than what she got.
Whether it was backstage politics or the overall quality of the Superstars around her, Molly wasn't featured as highly as you would expect. However, if she were to be inserted into the New Era it feels as if she would be able to handle herself pretty well.
In fact, there are a number of potential feuds in which Molly could teach some of the current talent how to enhance their character. Her experience and dedication to the craft would be invaluable and who knows, it could even lead to a future role down at the Performance Center in Orlando.
To finish off, we look at one of the greatest female wrestlers in history.
#1 Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus. Two words that put smiles on the faces of wrestling fans all over the world. The former fitness model turned professional wrestler is still one of the greatest of all time to this day, and her impact on the business continues to be felt in a strong way. When you think about it, it's really quite startling just how quickly she rose to the top.
Stratus was always a fan of professional wrestling and having gone through a lot in order to succeed, her numerous reigns as WWF Women's Champion did not disappoint. In the present day she makes the odd appearance here and there, but in terms of the New Era, there is an endless amount of potential when it comes to feuds.
Her character would fit right in, whether it be as a babyface or a heel, and she could allow the current crop of talent to soak up all of her knowledge when it comes to the business. She wasn't just a pretty face and her track record more than shows that, making it very clear that she is the most prestigious name on this list.
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