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Dean Ambrose and Nia Jax are wrestling in one-on-one competition! Yes! It is 2019, and we are getting an inter-gender matchup-in WWE. WWE is known to play it safe but has recently taken a turn for the good with interactions between both the divisions.
WWE is no stranger to inter-gender matchups, with several competitors such as Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and Triple H having competed in such encounters.
WWE had a brief inter-gender feud between Becky Lynch(during her pre-Man days) and James Ellsworth. It was followed by several female superstars giving Ellsworth a beating of a lifetime on several house shows.
WWE's decision to put Nia Jax at No.30 was controversial and sent shockwaves throughout the WWE Universe. However, the seeds were planted for inter-gender action and it is a step in the right direction.
That being said, we look at five amazing inter-gender matches which took place in the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era.
#5 Lita vs Dean Malenko
Lita is one of the true trailblazers of the Women's Revolution in WWE. She performed at the highest level in an era where women were considered as mere objects for the male gaze.
Lita and former WCW superstar Dean Malenko produced an inter-gender matchup in WWE. Dean Malenko is considered one of the finest wrestlers to have ever graced the wrestling ring, and both these superstars produced an entertaining encounter.
Lita held her own in a match against a highly talented superstar and took some nasty shots throughout their bout. Lita competed in several such matchups throughout her career, and as we will see later in the article, produced some memorable inter-gender bouts.
This matchup during the RAW is WAR era was a fiercely contested one. If WWE brings back inter-gender matchups back on a regular basis, expect more cruiserweights to fight the female superstars.
#4 Jazz vs Bubba Ray Dudley
Jazz is one of the pioneers of women's wrestling. She performed in the vastly popular ECW during the 90s and competed in several hardcore encounters. After ECW's demise, Jazz and Bubba Ray moved to WWE.
WWE's very own hardcore title saw numerous superstars hold the title on different occasions. In 2002, the then Women's Champion Jazz competed against Bubba Ray Dudley for the Hardcore Championship.
Although Jazz did not win the title, she helped her partner Stevie Richards win the infamous title.
#3 Jacqueline vs Chavo Guerrero
Chavo Guerrero was one of the many Latin superstars WWE had in this century. Chavo was a popular figure and belongs to the same family as that of Eddie Guerrero.
Chavo Guerrero, the then Cruiserweight Champion, issued an open challenge on an episode of Smackdown in 2004. Jacqueline, the former Women's Champion, answered the challenge and defeated Chavo for the Cruiserweight Champion!
Jacqueline became the first female superstar in WWE to hold the championship and third overall. Jacqueline was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
#2 Lita and Trish Stratus vs Christian and Chris Jericho
WWE has tried out several inter-gender tag-team matchups in recent years, with one male and female superstar competing against another duo. However, this matchup was the first ever matchup featuring two women competing against two male superstars.
This matchup took place at Armageddon 2003, and was billed as Eric Bischoff's Battle of the Sexes. Lita and Trish Stratus competed against the duo of Chris Jericho and Christian.
Although the women lost in the end, this matchup is proof of WWE's greatness at that time. They were not shy to put out weird matches and had tremendous interactions between vastly different divisions.
Trish Stratus featured in extensive storylines with the likes of Vince McMahon and Stone Cold at that time and was no stranger to inter-gender segments.
#1 Chyna vs Chris Jericho
No inter-gender lineup is ever complete without mentioning the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna. The late Chyna was one of the most dominant athletes in WWE's female division. She was the first ever female entrant in the Men's Royal Rumble matchup, and did so at #30!
Chyna had several great matchups with her male compatriots, and her Intercontinental Championship match against Chris Jericho is a major career highlight.
Chyna defended her Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho at Armageddon 1999, and later on became "co-champions" with Chris Jericho. Jericho and Chyna defended the title against Hardcore Holly at Royal Rumble 2000.
Chyna is one of the greatest women performers in WWE, having won the Intercontinental Championship twice. She still remains the only woman wrestler to have ever achieved the feat and also became the first ever female entrant into the King of the Ring tournament.
