WWE Divas

Last Modified Mar 11, 2023 11:12 GMT

WWE Divas was the term used by WWE/F to refer to their female roster until 2015/16. Sable made her WWE debut in 1996 as a valet for her real-life husband, Marc Mero, which is when the term "Diva" was first used in the company. Sable quickly became a fan favorite due to her stunning looks and willingness to experiment with her outfits and demeanor. Sable's popularity led to her being featured in Playboy magazine, and she quickly rose to become one of WWE's most recognizable women.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, WWE prioritized women's wrestling based on their appearance and sex appeal. Many of the female wrestlers were hired for their looks rather than their wrestling ability.

WWE Divas Championship

To signify the company's emphasis on beauty and glamor, the Divas Championship was created in 2008, which was exclusively for female wrestlers. WWE Legend Michelle McCool became the inaugural Divas Champion by defeating Natalya at The Great American Bash pay-per-view in 2008 to win the title. McCool went on to have a successful WWE career, winning the championship twice more and becoming one of the most dominant Divas of all time.

In 2011, the company debuted "Total Divas," a new reality television show that followed the lives of the WWE's female wrestlers outside the ring. The show was a fan favorite, and it helped to raise the profile of female wrestlers in the WWE. Since then, many legendary female wrestlers have held the Divas Championship, adding to the title's prestige.

List of WWE Divas Championships

ChampionChampionship changeReign statistics
DateEventReignDaysDays recognized
Michelle McCoolJuly 20, 2008The Great American Bash1155159
MaryseDecember 22, 2008SmackDown1216212
Mickie JamesJuly 26, 2009Night of Champions17879
Jillian HallOctober 12, 2009Raw1<1<1
MelinaOctober 12, 2009Raw18484
VacatedJanuary 4, 2010Raw
MaryseFebruary 22, 2010Raw24949
Eve TorresApril 12, 2010Raw16969
Alicia FoxJune 20, 2010Fatal 4-Way15656
MelinaAugust 15, 2010SummerSlam23535
Michelle McCoolSeptember 19, 2010Night of Champions26363
NatalyaNovember 21, 2010Survivor Series17070
Eve TorresJanuary 30, 2011Royal Rumble27171
Brie BellaApril 11, 2011Raw17070
Kelly KellyJune 20, 2011Raw: Power to the People1104104
Beth PhoenixOctober 2, 2011Hell in a Cell1204204
Nikki BellaApril 23, 2012Raw166
LaylaApril 29, 2012Extreme Rules1140140
Eve TorresSeptember 16, 2012Night of Champions3120121
KaitlynJanuary 14, 2013Raw 20th Anniversary Special1153153
AJ LeeJune 16, 2013Payback1295296
PaigeApril 7, 2014Raw18485
AJ LeeJune 30, 2014Raw24848
PaigeAugust 17, 2014SummerSlam23536
AJ LeeSeptember 21, 2014Night of Champions36364
Nikki BellaNovember 23, 2014Survivor Series2301301
CharlotteSeptember 20, 2015Night of Champions1196196
DeactivatedApril 3, 2016WrestleMania 32

The Women's Revolution

6 years ago, Paige & Emma vs The Bella Twins took place on RawThe match lasted 30 seconds and was the start of the #GiveDivasAChance movement https://t.co/NkCmmAOnSP

However, it wasn't until 2015 that the Vince McMahon-led promotion started taking Women's Wrestling seriously. With fans taking over Social Media with the "GiveDivasAChance" hashtag, WWE finally realized the need to give their female roster the spotlight it deserved. This movement started by the fans was called "The Women's Revolution" and aimed to provide more opportunities for female wrestlers to showcase their in-ring abilities and to be treated as equals to their male counterparts. The movement gained traction in July 2015, when WWE broadcasted its first-ever women's wrestling match on its flagship show, Monday Night Raw. The fight saw Charlotte Flair taking on Brie Bella, and it was a pivotal event in WWE history.

Throughout 2015 and 2016, the Women's Revolution gained traction, with female wrestlers such as Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley becoming fan favorites. In 2016, the WWE also introduced a new Women's Championship to replace the Divas Championship. Charlotte Flair won the new Women's Championship for the first time at WrestleMania 32 in April 2016. The championship was created to reflect the WWE's new direction in women's wrestling, with an emphasis on athleticism and skill rather than looks and sex appeal.

The Women's Revolution has thrived in the years since its inception. Since then, WWE has staged a number of historic women's matches, including the first-ever women's Royal Rumble in 2018 and the first-ever all-pay-per-view, women's Evolution, in 2018. Hiring mainstream female talent like Ronda Rousey, along with giving the Women of WWE opportunities like main-eventing WrestleMania has truly worked in favor of WWE's claim of treating genders equally.

WWE has come a long way in its treatment of female wrestlers, from treating them as mere eye candy to attract more male viewers to treating them with equal respect and responsibility as their male counterparts.

List of WWE Divas Champions

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