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WWE's women's division is stronger now than it has ever been. However, that hasn't always been the case. Before the Women's Revolution in WWE, there were often not enough championships to go around between the women.
Occasionally, some women became involved in the men's title picture. With limited opportunities for the women in WWE, this was often the way for the women to make an impact.
More recently, WWE introduced the 24/7 Championship, and we have seen plenty of members of the women's division chasing after the belt. Some women have even become holders of the title themselves.
Over the years, many women have been the winners of traditionally male titles in WWE. Here are five of the most memorable ones.
#5 Molly Holly wins the WWE Hardcore title
In 2001, Molly Holly had dumped her former ally Spike Dudley to align with The Hurricane, renaming herself Mighty Molly. The pair remained a duo until WrestleMania X8 rolled around.
Molly Holly broke up the duo by hitting The Hurricane in the face with a frying pan and pinning him to steal his Hardcore Championship. At the time, the Hardcore Championship was to be defended 24/7. Not long after her win, however, Molly Holly was hit with a door by Christian on the same night, who then pinned her. Just that night at WrestleMania X8, the title had changed hands four times in total.
Although Molly Holly's reign as Hardcore Champion was short, she made history as one of four women to hold the title. Following her win, Molly Holly returned to her old ring name, and changed up her look, becoming a brunette. The Superstar also changed her attitude, developing a self-righteous character who looked down on the other divas of the time.
Even though Molly Holly's time as Harcore Champion in WWE was short, it was fun and helped to establish her change in character and the break up of her partnership with The Hurricane.
From that moment, Molly Holly became a singles star and was a much-loved member of the roster until leaving WWE in 2005. Even though she has left full-time wrestling, she has made some brief appearances in WWE, including a spell in this year's Royal Rumble in her old Mighty Molly persona.
#4 Carmella became a two-time WWE 24/7 Champion
Carmella has been a focal feature of the WWE 24/7 picture when she was working with her friend R-Truth. In 2019, the pair were often seen feeling together while defending the title from R-Truth's rivals.
WWE list the title as being open to performers regardless of gender, but the holders of the 24/7 Championship have been predominantly male. Only six women have held the 24/7 Championship, including Carmella.
On the Septmber 2019 episode of RAW, after helping R-Truth escape from competitors Carmella rolled him up to win the belt. Despite being deceived by his friend, R-Truth celebrated in the ring with Carmella and helped her make a quick getaway from the Superstars who had emerged to try and win the championship themselves.
Carmella later lost the title to Marshmello, who fell on Carmella backstage at the WWE SmackDown 20th anniversary celebrations. However, she managed to win it back later that night after pinning him outside the arena. Two days later, Tamina pinned Carmella to win the title herself.
In all, Carmella spent twelve days as WWE 24/7 Champion. Although that may seem short, some superstars spent less than an hour holding the championship. Shortly after, Carmella helped her friend R-Truth win the title back, and the pair were split by the brand draft, with Carmella remaining on SmackDown and Truth moving to RAW.
#3 Jacqueline won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship after an open challenge
In 2004, Jacqueline was only appearing on WWE sporadically. In May of that year, the then-Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero issued an open challenge for his title, which was accepted by Jacqueline.
Jacqueline showed Guerrero that she was serious about his challenge when she slapped him across the face, starting the match. Jacqueline later hit Guerrero with a low blow and a surprise roll-up to become WWE Cruiserweight Champion, becoming one of three women to achieve this.
Jacqueline's reign as WWE Cruiserweight Champion only lasted nine days after Guerrero was able to win the belt back at Judgement Day after interference from his father Chavo Classic.
Not long after this storyline, Jacqueline was unfortunately released from WWE. After a successful stint in the TNA Knockouts Division, Jacqueline returned to WWE briefly in 2016 to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, being the first African-American woman to receive this accolade.
Jacqueline has also been honoured as "one of the greatest female superstars in the history of WWE" during the recent RAW 25th-anniversary celebrations and was an entrant in the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match.
#2 Trish Stratus used her cunningness to become WWE Hardcore Champion
Back in 2002, Trish Stratus was feuding with Jazz, and aligned herself with Bubba Ray Dudley, in a match that had Jazz's WWE Women's Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship on the line.
During the hardcore match, part way between the match, Crash Holly was on the floor, and Stratus took advantage by pinning him after Dudley had knocked him down with a metal trash can, becoming one of four women to hold the title.
During the match on RAW, Trish Stratus also managed to win the WWE Women's Championship for the second time. Most reigns with the WWE Hardcore Championship were short, and Trish Stratus' time with the belt was no exception.The Superstar lost it later that same night to Steven Richards.
Following her short stint as WWE Hardcore Champion, Trish Stratus eventually become a seven-time WWE Women's Champion. After her semi-retirement in 2007, Stratus has made appearances on WWE, mostly with her on-off on-screen best friend, Lita.
Stratus has also been involved in the Women's Revolution era of WWE, teaming with Lita at Evolution, to defeat the team of Alica Fox and Mickie James, and later making it to the final five of the first-ever women's Royal Rumble.
#1 Chyna is the only woman to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship
After D-Generation X split in 1999, Chyna found herself emerging as a singles star in WWE. She was the first-ever woman to be included in the King of the Ring tournament that year, making it to the quarterfinals.
After this, she engaged in a feud with Jeff Jarrett, going after his WWE Intercontinental Championship. After losing to him at Unforgiven, Chyna was later successful against Jarrett at No Mercy, becoming the first and only female winner of the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Following on from this, Chyna began a rivalry with Chris Jericho, and a match between the pair on SmackDown ended with them both pinning on another simultaneously. The pair were then dubbed "co-champions" by Stephanie McMahon. Chyna later lost the title at the 2000 Royal Rumble, where Jericho pinned her in a triple threat match.
Chyna later spent a second reign as WWE Intercontinental Champion. When she became the on-screen girlfriend of Eddie Guerrero, Chyna became a fan-favorite, The couple took on Val Venis and Trish Stratus as SummerSlam 2000 to win the belt. Just two weeks later, Chyna dropped the WWE Intercontinental Championship to Guerrero in a triple threat match, and the pair split after she caught him with other women.
Chyna left WWE in 2002 to pursue other prospects and worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and also TNA. The Superstar sadly passed away in 2016 and was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of D-Generation X in 2019.
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