Since the beginning of its rise, the WWE has always been a male dominated sport. From Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes to even now with Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, John Cena and the list goes on. Of course, there was Mae Young and the Fabulous Moolah, who helped stamp the women’s division back in the 70s and 80s; however, as time went on from that era to the next, fans have not taken the women in the company seriously until now. The women in the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras were constantly in bras and panties matches and were strictly looked upon as sex symbols on live television. Even legends such as Trish Stratus and Lita, who were amazing wrestlers in the ring, couldn’t stay away from being put into that category.
In today’s WWE, it's a total difference. Triple H has definitely made it a mission of his to allow the women of today’s generation to go out there and tell stories in the ring, create that magic that draws the fans in and have the best match of the night. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Iyo Sky, Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Nia Jax and Tiffany Straton are on that list of women that are killing it right now in the company and generating just as much money for the company than the male superstars. Everything started back in 2015 when a hashtag on twitter was trending worldwide saying #GiveDivasAChance. Even the audience at that period of the company were upset at the image of women’s wrestling, which they were having 2 to 3 minute matches on Raw or Smackdown or just not featured at all. Upon this new revolution of women’s wrestling, 4 women superstars were at the helm of this new image. Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Becky Lynch, who all 4 were developed in NXT and made their own impacts on the main roster for WWE giving women more of a spotlight.
Within these past 9 years since the revolution started, fans have seen some of the very best the women of the WWE has to offer. Back in different eras, the women were called divas;which is a call back to them being a sexual symbol. Yet, in today’s generation of WWE, women are called superstars just like the men and it’s astounding to see. From having more interesting storylines on Raw and Smackdown to it actually paying off on a PLE. Hell in the Cell matches, Last Woman Standing matches and even Street Fight brawls have been amazing to see from the women’s division. What’s even more spectacular is not just how the women superstars are perceived here in America but also all across the globe.
More specifically in Saudi Arabia, where women were not able to even be allowed to perform in that country for years due to the country’s limitations of women’s rights. That was the rule for all WWE shows in 2014 to 2019 that no woman was able to have a match until the company and the Saudi Arabian government agreed that the women must be covered, showing no skin. The very first match in that audience was Sasha Banks going up against Alexa Bliss in 2017. During this match, many women in the crowd were in shock and amazement to finally see women given a chance and a center stage to showcase their abilities. That opportunity for Banks and Bliss gave so many young girls from not just Saudi but girls in many different countries that they can do any and everything when the time is right. True passion and love for anything always pushes through and it gives those girls that night hope.
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