These women defy stereotypes of frail females that have to rely on their looks and physical appearance to get by. These are tough, strong and supremely talented wrestlers. From Kia Stevens to Nikki Bella to Lioness Asuka, these women have dominated their respective fields with taste and a level of athletism that requires daily dedication. Without further ado, check out our rankings for the 50 greatest female wrestlers of all-time below. Do you agree with these rankings?
Professional wrestling is one the longest on-going storylines in all of entertainment. For decades we've seen characters develop into superstars, we've seen top tier talent fall from grace, and plotlines climax and implode within a blink of an eye or over the course of months. What originally began as an underground culture is now one of the most-watched forms of entertainment in history.
Now, with wrestling organization rosters full of unbelievably talented athletes popping up everywhere, we're witnessing an influx of women entering the ring and making a name for themselves. In this new day and age, their talent isn't limited to their aesthetic, but for their ability to put their bodies on the line and create an experience fans will never forget.
Coming in at the 50th slot on our list is former World Wrestling Federation (WWF/WWE) star, Sable. While originally made her WWF debut at Wrestlemania XII in March 1996 escorting Hunter Hearst to the ring, she proved to be a worthy name on the bill night in and night out throughout her pro-wrestling career. The former model and actress born, Rena Marlette Greek, was known for her finishers like the Sable Bomb (essentially a powerbomb) and the TKO, she had the upper body strength to put on an inspiring performance for the fans.
Throughout her eleven-year career in the ring, Sable became the second WWF Women's Champion in modern history after the belt was reinstated in 1998. Her victory sparked a peak in her career which led her to three Playboy centerfolds, and various acting opportunities on screen. In 1999, Sable split from the WWF/WWE after filing a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment and unsafe work conditions but later returned in 2003 for a short stint before officially retiring from the game as a roster member of the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster in 2007.
Peyton Royce has stated that 'Latino Heat' Eddie Guerrero is her inspiration for setting foot in the ring and she's proven to be one of today's elite female athletes on the professional wrestling circuit. While she only weighs in at 132lbs, Royce, born Cassie Mcintosh, isn't afraid to throw her opposition around. Her flawless suplex combos, spinning heel kicks, and Venus Fly Trap signature move have allowed her to become premier talent in the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE).
Prior to making her way to the Smackdown roster, Royce made her debut in the Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance (PWWA) in February 2009. After performing on the independent wrestling circuit for several years, becoming a one-time PWA Women's Champion, and winning the Vera and Jenny Memorial Cup (2014) Royce got an opportunity to try out for the WWE. Fortunately, she excelled and even held the WWE Women's Tag Team title briefly alongside partner, Billie Kay.
At the 48th slot on the list, Chigusa Nagayo, hailing from Omura, Nagasaki, Japan. While only standing at 5'5 was known for her intimidating demeanor and grit. Nagayo was a trained submission specialist known to leave her opponents writhing in pain. Nagayo began her wrestling journey in 1980 in the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling league (Zenjo) and gained popularity as one-half of The Crush Gals alongside, Lioness Asuka.
Nagayo wrestled from 1980 to 1989 and returned from her early retirement in 1993 and wrestled until 2005. Within that time, Nagayo started her very own highly-successful pro-wrestling promotion company called, the GAEA Women's Professional Wrestling organization (GAEA) and briefly wrestled as under the alter ego Lady Zero. Throughout her wrestling career, Nagayo captured the AJW Junior Championship (2x), All-Pacific Championship (2x), IWA World Women's Championship (2x), WWWA World Single Championship, and WWWA World Tag Team Championship (4x). Nagayo is truly a pioneer for the sport.
Stacy Keibler is probably one of the most successful wrestling personalities following her years as a professional wrestler. While she wasn't especially known for her athleticism, she was recognized for being some of the most desirable ringside eye candy in Word Championship Wrestling (WCW) and WWF/WWE history. With moves like the Standing Hair Pull, the Hairmare, the Corner Foot Choke, and the Keibler Kick she might not fly off the top turnbuckle, but she can hold her own in the ring.
Prior to stepping foot in a ring, she became a Baltimore Ravens cheerleader. In 1999, she found her way onto the WCW roster after winning a fan-voted dance competition. Utilizing her aesthetic two years later she made her way to the WWF/WWE where she would remain on the roster from 2001 to 2006. Since she wasn't known for getting down in the ring she never won a title as a wrestler. However, she did win the 2004 WWE Babe of the Year Award and is highly successful outside of wrestling.
Luchadora, Xóchitl Leyva Sánchez, better known by her wrestling name of Tiffany is the first Mexico-born athlete to make it to our list. Hailing from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Tiffany might not be the most athletic wrestler on our list, but she knows how to work a crowd and keep the fans entertained. Sánchez comes from a wrestling family background with her father, Jesse Rojas known as the original La Diabólica and her brother, Jessy who currently is on the roster of Exocito Luchador promotions.
After training under her father, Tiffany made her wrestling debut in July 1993 but didn't reach her big break until joining Luche Libre AAA Worldwide wrestling promotions (AAA) in 1997. Throughout her career, Sánchez has earned the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship (3x), the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship once, the Mexican National Women's Championship (2x), and the Northern Mexico Women's Championship once. To this very day, Tiffany is wrestling at the age of 46 in the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre wrestling league (CMLL) today.
ODB (Old Dirty B*tch), born, Jessica Nora Kresa, didn't gain her lust for blood directly from the watching wrestling as a youth. She actually spent part of her youth on the ice playing hockey where she would learn how to maneuver and eliminate her competition with brute force. ODB has became known for her Power Slam finisher, TKOs, and Fall Away Slams that have secured many of her wins throughout her professional wrestling career. If you want to see a true display of strength, look no further than ODB.
Prior to finding her way to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Kresa tried out for the WWE reality competition show, Tough Enough in its inaugural season. Unfortunately, ODB finished in the top 25 of the competition, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her aspirations as she began training in her home state of Minnesota. After a short stint in the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), TNA reached out to her for an exclusive pay-per-view event that would propel her career into a full-time act in 2008. Since then, ODB has earned four TNA Women's Knockout Championships and a TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship alongside partner Eric Young.
Hailing from Luneburg, Germany, Katarina Waters is one of the better all-around wrestlers within the 40s of this list. Standing at 5'8 and weighing only 140lbs, Waters has amazing core strength and stability that allows her to execute almost any move she desires on her opponents. Her signature backbreaker/Frost Bite move looks devastatingly painful and her Frost Clutch would make anyone want to tap within seconds.
Throughout Waters' wrestling career, she's gone under a plethora of different monikers including Nikita, Winter, The Beautiful Nightmare, Katie Lea Burchill, and her own government name. She began pursuing wrestling in 2000 and found her way to the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) in 2002. Since then, Waters has bounced around to several different pro-wrestling promotions companies including OVW, TNA, WWE, and most recently, Women of Wrestling organization (WOW). Waters has been able to scoop up a title in every company except the WWE. The world-class entertainer has racked up the World Queens of Chaos Championship (1x), the TNA Knockouts Championship (2x), TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship (1x), TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament (2010), TWC Women's Championship (1x), and so much more.
Erica Shishido, better known by her professional wrestling name, Aja Kong, has created a legacy for herself that has expanded over the course of four decades and just might make it into a fifth. The Tokyo, Japan-native is internationally known amongst wrestling fans from around the world and respected by her peers for her longevity and tenacity in such a brutal sport. Weighing in at 227lbs, Kong uses her size and strength to overpower her opponents. Throughout her illustrious career, Aja Kong has (wo)manhandled other wrestlers with ease to the point that she's put many lives in danger with her passionate performances.
Since making her debut in the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) in 1986, she instantaneously became a love-to-hate heel in the company. In 1995, Kong made her way to the WWF where she dominated the entire women's roster, including breaking the nose of Chaparita Asari yet was never a champion in the organization. That didn't stop her from racking up championship honors in leagues like GAEA Japan, Hyper Visual Fighting Arsion (Arsion), AJW, and more. To this very day, Aja Kong is smashing faces with spinning elbows in the All Elite Wrestling, LLC (AEW) at the age of 49.
We previously spoke on Lioness Asuka's former tag-team partner, Chigusa Nagayo on the list. Now, it's time to give Lioness Asuka her flowers as well. Asuka, born Tomoko Kitamura, has a rather unorthodox style of wrestling in regards to being a woman. She's a purebred roughneck that isn't afraid to take things to the next level. She was never a legitimate high fly act, but she was known for her hardcore style of wrestling, hard-hitting strikes, and submission maneuvers.
The former Crush Gal made her professional wrestling debut in the AJW in 1980 where she became an instant dominant force. Her emotionless demeanor in the ring didn't keep the fans from flocking to arenas to watch her. Alongside her partner, Nagayo the two even recorded multiple top ten musical records during their peak in the '80s. Throughout her illustrious twenty-five career, Asuka has racked up four TWF World Women's Championship honors, two AJW Championships, two WWWA World Single Championships, four WWWA World Tag Team Championships, a Japan Grand Prix (1985), and three Twin Star of Arsion Championships. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Famer is rightfully enjoying her retirement as she deserves.
At the tender age of just 16-year-old, Manami Toyota began her professional wrestling debut in the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling league(AJW) in 1987. And since that day on, she's been a force to be reckoned with. Her ability to sprint towards the ropes, balance on the top rope, and flip off of the rope towards her opponent is one of the most daring moves executed in all of wrestling. Toyota has all the tools that any organization would want in a wrestler, agility, strength, finesse, poise, and beauty. Not to mention one of the most intriguing finishers in the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex.
The Masuda, Shimane, Japan-bred wrestler recently retired in November 2017 at the age of 46-years-old. Toyota is a proud member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame and has a long list of accolades that are amongst the best not in just amongst women, but all wrestlers in general. Manami Toyota is a 4x Japan Grand Prix winner, a one-time AJW Champion, 2x All-Pacific Champion, one-time IWA World Women's Champion, 4x WWWA World Single Championship and 3x WWWA World Tag Team Champion alongside Toshiyo Yamada twice and Mima Shimoda once.
If you're looking for anyone on this list who emphatically enjoys doing damage to their opposition, look no further than, Taya Valkyrie. Hailing from, Victoria, Canada, Valkyrie is currently running the entire Northern American wrestling circuit leaving carnage and bodies wherever she chooses to wrestle. Taya, born Kira Renee Forster, can do it all. Her powerbombs are explosive, she can cause whiplash with a single Spear, can execute a Northern Light Suplex perfectly, and can backflip slam on demand.
Taya Valkyrie made her pro-wrestling debut in the Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW) organization in 2010. Valkyrie signed a developmental deal with the WWE in 2011, but found more success in the independent Mexican circuit, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), Lucha Underground, and TNA. Valkyrie currently holds the TNA Impact Knockouts Championship and the AAA Reina de Reinas Championships and once held the DDT Pro-Wrestling Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship in Japan. That's three different belts in three countries, she's good at this wrestling thing.
When it comes to professional legacy acts there are few that can stand next to The Fabulous Moolah's, male or female. Hailing from Kershaw County, South Carolina, The Fabulous Moolah born, Mary Lillian Ellisor had a rather peculiar entry into the wrestling scene. At the tender age of just 14-years-old, Ellisor married 21-year-old Walter Caroll. At 15, Ellisor had a child and divorced Caroll and left her child with a friend to pursue a career in wrestling.
In 1949, Ellisor found herself in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and won the NWA World Women's Championship in 1956 and held the belt for a total of 28 years making her the longest holder of the belt in history. Over the course of the next 27 years, The Fabulous Moolah would become the first woman 'allowed' to wrestle in Madison Square Garden, Moolah later helped lift the ban from women wrestling the state of New York. From 1983 up until her death in 2007, Ellisor was a major contributor to the WWF/WWE ushering in new female talent and wrestling herself. The Fabulous Moolah is the first woman to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Out of some of the newer WWE talent out there, Brie Bella is definitely one of those personalities that has outworked her competition and is deserving of the opportunities that have presented to her since her arrival on the scene in 2008. Even though she stands at 5'6 and weighs only 125lbs, Brie Bella puts her body on the line night in and night out. She's one of those wrestlers that utilizes her speed well. From running flying knees to multiple Yes Kicks!, she has elite cardio amongst her peers. It also doesn't hurt that her Brie Mode! Missile Kicks and Bella Buster finishing moves are captivating and take some extreme athletism.
In 2007, Brie and her sister Nikki signed developmental contracts with the WWE and were assigned to the Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) territory to hone their crafts. A little more than a year later, Brie made her debut on Smackdown and hasn't looked back since. Brie Bella has been the recipient of three Slammy Awards and a one-time holder of the WWE Divas Championship belt in her tenure as a WWE athlete.
Maryse Ouellet is another WWE personality that has used wrestling as a platform to enter other business ventures. While she might have found other lanes to create revenue streams, Ouellet is a wrestler at heart. She's an excellent performer and her signature moves including the Spinning Backbreaker, French TKO, French Pain, and French Kiss DDT would cause even the most trained athlete a tremendous amount of pain.
Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Maryse was a model prior to entering the WWE Diva Search in 2006. After training in two different WWE developmental territories, Maryse was assigned to the WWE Smackdown program in 2008 where she would win her first WWE Divas Championship within the same year. Her initial seven-month stint with the title belt made her the third-longest reigning Divas Champion in WWE history. In February 2010, Maryse won the title for a second time making her the first to ever hold the championship multiple times and the only woman to win the belt via a tournament. Since then, Maryse has popped back in and out of wrestling managing her husband, The Miz, raising their children, working as a realtor, and starring in her own reality show. Maryse worked the wrestling system right and does as she pleases.
Melina Perez is probably the most gifted athlete of this modern age of WWE wrestling. WWF/WWE legend, Bret Hart stated that she's one of the greatest wrestlers in the world due to her wide array of offensive weapons. There isn't anything that this woman can't do. Whether it's performing a Spinning Headscissors move and converting into a Facebuster or a Split-Leg Reverse DDT straight into a pin, Perez is one of the most prolific wrestlers of the past couple of decades. Her flexibility and athleticism is untouchable.
In 2002, Perez auditioned for WWE's reality show competition Tough Enough III but was eliminated in the first round. Just two years later, Perez found herself in contract with the WWE and working their developmental territories. From 2004-2011, Perez would become a 3x WWE Women's Champion and a 2x WWE Divas Champion making her the first woman to hold both titles multiple times in WWE history. Since then, Perez has been working the independent circuit becoming the BCW Women's Champion and SWE Queen of Southside Champion.
Hailing from Boronia, Victoria, Australia, the wrestler known as Emma and Tenille Tayla is the first female wrestler from the Land Down Under to sign to the WWE. And rightfully so, because of her willingness to go the extra mile. Whether if it's taking things to the top turnbuckle for a superplex or keeping things high energy with her signature Emma-Mite Sandwich running crossbody, she's not entering the ring to make everything look pretty. Also, her Dil-Emma and Emma-Lock submission moves are elite-level attacks that can't be pulled off by just any wrestler out there.
Prior to getting her big break, Emma, born Tenille Averil Dashwood, wrestled for several different independent wrestling promotion companies including PWA Australia, Shimmer Women Athletes, and Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling (ECCW) before making her way to WWE developmental territory programs in 2011. From 2011-2017, Emma wrestled on all of WWE's major platforms including NXT, Smackdown, and Raw where she gained the most exposure. Since then, Emma has worked the independent circuit and is currently wrestling on TNA Impact Wrestling as a major roster character.
Torrie Wilson came up in the Attitude Era of the WWF/WWE where the majority of the women athletes performed roles focused on their sensuality and looks. And while Torrie Wilson was one of the hot blondes on the roster she was still willing to throw down in the ring. Despite having moves like the Facial AKA Stickface in her arsenal, Wilson was highly athletic. Her Handspring Back Elbow, Swinging Neckbreaker, Torrienado DDT, and Nose Job Facebuster are moves that set her apart from McMahon's infamous Vince's Devils clique.
Prior to stepping foot in the square circle, Wilson won the Miss Galaxy competition in 1999. Within the same year, Wilson was introduced to the WCW where she instantly became an integral member of the notorious New World Order (nWo). By 2001, Wilson acquired a roster slot on WWF/WWE following the WWF and WCW merger. Unfortunately, Wilson was forced into retirement in 2008 after suffering a back injury. However, she has made sporadic returns to the WWE over the past several years. This year she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Keiko Nakano, better known by her stage name, Bull Nakano, is one of the more technical wrestlers to make this list. Despite weighing approximately 200lbs, there wasn't anything she couldn't do in the ring. She was ruthless, brutal, and majority of the time a heel character despite being highly-popularized for her skill level. From Somersault Leg Drops to Moonsaults to her signature finishers like the Bull's Angelito and the Bull's Poseidon, Nakano was one intimidating wrestler despite her gender.
Nakano's pro-wrestling career began at the tender age of just 15-years-old in the AJW in 1983. She eventually found her way to the states where she signed contracts with the WWF and Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) where she became the league's first-ever World Women's Champion. Throughout her illustrious career, Bull Nakano has racked up the WWWA World Single Championship (1x), WWWA World Tag Team Championship (3x), CMLL World Women's Championship (1x) and the WWF Women's Championship (1x). She's also a 1998 inductee to the AJW Hall of Fame. These days, Nakano is a professional golfer in the LPGA.
Everybody knows Ronda Rousey as one of the most prolific strikers in mixed martial arts prior to the start of her career as a professional wrestler. In her MMA career, Rousey has a professional record of 12-2. Her final fight with Amanda Nunes lasted only 48 seconds as Nunes dominated Rousey with a flurry of punches that subsequently ended her MMA career. Fortunately, Rousey was able to find another outlet in combat sports via the WWE.
From 2014-2017, Rousey would make sporadic appearances on the world's largest wrestling platform and in 2017 she would sign a full-time contract with the company. Rousey made her in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34 in March 2018 and just months later she would become the Raw Women's Champion for the first time. Since then, Ronda Rousey has been drawing crowds as a major roster WWE personality for pay-per-view events. In time we'll see if the former striker will continue her reign in the realm of professional wrestling. For now, it's too early to tell.
Madison Rayne formerly known as Ashley Lane and Lexi Lane is somewhat of a legend on the independent circuit. In the ring, she's rather gutsy and a high-energy personality that you have to watch closely because you never know what she's gonna do next. While only 5'3 and listed at 120lbs, she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Her Northern Lights Suplexes are nearly flawless, she's willing to go aerial with her Lexi-Canranas, and her finishers in the Inverted Overdrive Rayne Drop and Rayne Check Guillotine Drop are both worthy signatures for her fast-paced style of wrestling.
Madison Rayne's wrestling career debut took place in her state of Ohio as a roster member of the Ohio Championship Wrestling promotion (OCW) in 2005. From there Rayne would take her talents to the Shimmer Women Athletes, Remix Pro Wrestling (RPW), and more before finding a home at TNA. Within her nearly decade and a half career, Rayne's has been the named the Zero 1 USA Women's Champion, the OCW Women's Champion (2x), the TNA Knockouts Champion (5x), a TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion (2x), and the Queen of the Knockouts in 2014.
Wendi Richter is another one of those wrestlers who helped pioneer women into the modern-day realm of wrestling. Standing at a strapping 5'8 and weighing in at 140lbs, Wendi, wrestling under her government name, was a dominant force during her prime wrestling years in the 1970s and '80s. She wrestled in a plethora of different pro-wrestling leagues, but her major contributions could be considered her time in the WWF where the women's roster was becoming the most prominent at that time.
Prior to making her way to the WWF as a fixture in the organization in 1983, Richter wrestled for Canada's Stampede Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Unfortunately, in 1985, Richter was blindsided by a plan formulated by Vince McMahon and The Fabulous Moolah that stripped her of her title after losing to a mystery fighter called The Spider, who happened to be The Fabulous Moolah. Richter cut ties with the WWF and wrestled independently from 1987 to 2005. In 2010, Richter was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, but still has her issues with the corporation.
Intensity is the name of the game for Mercedes Martinez, who wrestles under her own name. There are very few wrestlers out there, male or female that match Martinez's passion in the ring when she's performing. Despite not being on some of the major wrestling platforms, she's one of the most popular personalities in the game amongst true wrestling aficionados. It doesn't matter if she's wrestling men or women, she has the ability to punish her opponents with multiple suplexes every match as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero and her finishers in the Surfboard Dragon Sleeper and Fisherman Buster are amongst some of the most brutal in the game.
Prior to ever considering a pro-wrestling career, Martinez excelled as a basketball player. Unfortunately, due to an injury sustained while in college she ditched the hardwood for the mat and began to pursue wrestling in 2000. Since then. Mercedes Martinez has become an independent circuit queen, currently holding the WXW Women's championship, the Phoenix Of RISE Championship, World Association of Wrestling's Bellatrix World Championship, the IndyGurlz Championship, the Indy Gurlz Australian Championship, and the AWS Heavyweight Championship. Martinez just can't lose.
Standing at 5'6 and weighing only 122lbs, Angelina Love might look fragile but she is every but that. Angelina Love born, Lauren Ann Williams is widely known as one-third of the heel clique, The Allure, currently signed to Ring of Honor (ROH) but definitely knows how to hold her own in the ring. Though small her finishing move in the Botox Injection Big Boot Kick has rearranged plenty of faces and her Lights Out Facebuster is another finisher that has garnered her the attention of wrestling fans everywhere as well.
Since her pro-wrestling debut in 2000, Angelina Love formerly known as Canadian Angel has been quite the journeywoman around the North American wrestling circuit. Love has wrestled everywhere from the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide promotion company in Mexico to Family Wrestling Entertainment to the WWE. However, Angelina Love gained peak popularity while on the TNA roster where she is a 6x TNA Women's Knockout Champion and 1x TNA Knockout Tag Team Champion. As of right now, Angelina Love is the current Woman of Honor World Champion in the ROH.
There's not much you can do when a 5'11, 272lb woman is headed in your direction at full speed. Kia Stevens also known by her wrestling monikers of Awesome Kong, Kharma, and Amazing Kong, is one of the most successful women wrestlers of this current generation. Not only is she internationally known on the wrestling circuit, but she's also got an acting gig playing the wrestler, Tammé "The Welfare Queen" Dawson, on the highly-popularized wrestling-themed Netflix TV show, Glow. Not to mention, no one wants to be on a receiving end of one her Implant Busters, the screams from Stevens lifting women in the air can be heard throughout entire stadiums.
Prior to becoming a pro-wrestler, Stevens appeared on a reality television show where she was a contestant trying to lose weight to become a wrestler. Fortunately for her, her size has allowed her to become one of the most-winningest women wrestlers today. Stevens has wrestled everywhere from Mexico's AAA to Japan's AJW to the elite promotion companies including the WWE and TNA. Stevens has been named a 2x TNA Women's Knockouts Champion, 1x TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion, a 1x WWWA World Single Champion, a 1x WWWA World Tag Team Champion, a 2x NEO Tag Team Champion, and so much more.
It isn't much you can say to Ember Moon born, Adrienne Reese, who was bullied during her youth for liking wrestling and video games. Reese is living out her childhood dream in front of millions of people week in and week out and those same classmates have to watch her from the couch of their crumby one-bedroom apartments. It also has to suck knowing that she's damn good at what she does too. Ember Moon is known as a risk-taker as well, performing aerial assaults such as the Springboard Dropkick, the Handspring Splash, the Tornado Suplex, and her finisher The Eclipse on a regular basis.
Prior to making her way to the WWE as a mainstay roster member, Reese wrestled under the moniker Athena in the independent circuit. She wrestled for several different leagues including Professional Championship Wrestling (PCW), Anarchy Championship Wrestling (ACW) where she is a 3x ACW American Joshi Champion as well as the Shimmer Women Athletes, Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), All American Wrestling (AAW), and more. In 2015, Ember Moon made her way to the WWE where she became the NXT Women's Champion and is currently on the Smackdown roster.
Nikki Bella probably has one of the better storylines out of all of the modern WWE Divas. Her previous relationship with one of WWE's biggest stars in John Cena propelled her to the forefront of main event cards in the organization. It also doesn't hurt that she's insanely strong for someone her size. Weighing only 125lbs, Nikki Bella, born Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace Nikki knows how to put on a show. She lifts her opponents with ease and executes thunderous Alabama Slams on the usual, she puts her body on the line constantly with her patented Bella Spear, and her Rack Attack displays her true strength as she lifts her opponents on her shoulders and hurls them towards the canvas.
In 2007, she and her twin sister, Brie Bella signed developmental contracts with the WWE, the following her Nikki made her debut on Smackdown. In her eleven-year reign in the WWE Nikki Bella was a 2x WWE Divas Champion and currently holds the record for the longest reign with the title. Unfortunately, in 2019, Nikki discovered a cyst on her brain which has ended her in-ring career as a professional wrestler.
Jamie Lynn Szantyr, better known by her wrestling moniker, Velvet Sky, is one of those homegrown wrestling acts that you can't help but love despite her being a heel character. Velvet Sky has been apart of two collective groups that have dominated in multiple organizations including The Beautiful People alongside Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich and The Allure including Angelina Love and Mandy Leon. While Velvet Sky isn't particularly athletic, she's a great performer and can execute one hell of a Headscissor.
The Connecticut-native got her start in the sport by way of World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) in 2004. Then Szantyr made a few appearances in the WWE the following two years. Her peak popularity came when she was on the TNA roster from 2007-2011. Sky made brief stops throughout the independent circuit including stints in Mexico's Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and promotion companies in Puerto Rico before making her way back to TNA. Throughout her career, Sky has racked up some belts including the TNA Women's Knockout Championship (2x), TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship (1x), TNT Women's Championship (1x), and more. While she says her in-ring days are a wrap, she currently is under contract with Ring of Honor (ROH).
It would be hard to imagine being in class one day as an adolescent only to turn on the TV later and seeing your seventh-grade science teacher clotheslining another woman on WWE Raw. Well, that happened to be the case for Michelle McCool who prior to becoming a pro-wrestler was a teacher in Palatka, Florida. It also doesn't hurt that she was actually a quality athlete that would consistently leave her opponents mangled on the ring floor. Not to mention, Michelle McCool has one of the most complex finishing moves on this list in her patented Faithbreaker.
After ditching her teaching gig in her hometown, Michelle took her talents to the 2004 WWE Diva Search, despite losing to Christy Hemme, she signed a three-year deal with the world's largest pro-wrestling platform. After training in the WWE's developmental territories for two years, McCool made her main roster debut in 2006 and didn't look back. Throughout her five-year stint with the WWE, McCool became the inaugural winner of the WWE Divas Championship and later won the WWE Women's Championship making her the first to hold both titles. At 2010's Night of Champions event, McCool united both belts making her the first and only WWE Unified Divas Champion to this day.
Naomi might have one of the better entrances out of all of the current WWE superstars. It also doesn't hurt that she's wildly talented and one of the better athletes of this current generation of pro-wrestling talent as well. Watching her wrestle is an experience because there isn't anything she can't do with her body. Everything she does in the ring is all action from Running Hurricanranas, Diving Block Busters, to Split-Legged Moonsaults off of the top turnbuckle. Naomi is just miles ahead athletically in comparison to this current generation's roster of WWE Divas.
Prior to outperforming her competition in the ring, Naomi born, Trinity McCray, was a cheerleader for the Orlando Magic and a backup dancer for hip-hop artist Flo Rida. In August 2009, McCray signed a developmental contract with the WWE and instantly became an impacting personality winning the inaugural (Florida Championship Wrestling) FCW Divas Championship in 2010. After becoming a mainstay roster member Naomi became the first Black woman to win the Smackdown Women's Championship in 2017. She was forced to give up the title due to injury but won it for a second time at WrestleMania 33. To this day, she plays an integral role in the WWE and one of their most talented athletes.
Standing at just 5'1 and weighing in at 115lbs, Kairi Sane is one of the most versatile wrestlers on the mainstream market today. She's passionate, knows how to work a crowd, and keep an uptempo pace in her matches. Hailing from Hikari, Yamaguchi, Japan, Kairi Sane has made the jump to international stardom through pure hard work and dedication despite being undersized. While usually the smallest in the ring she's incorporated some diverse signature moves into arsenal including the Destino, Tokyo Slam, I-Kairi Anchor submission, and In-Sane Elbow.
Prior to stepping foot in the ring, Kairi Sane born, Kaori Housako, was trained in yachting and participated in collegiate and national competitions. Her passion for theater eventually led her to Japan's World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom) in 2011 where she would spend a little over half a decade honing her skills and racking up belts. In 2017, Sane would make her jump to the WWE where she's become a bonafide superstar. Throughout her pro-wrestling career, Sane has won the Artist of Stardom Championship (4x), Goddess of Stardom Tag Team Championship (3x), Wonder of Stardom Championship (1x), World of Stardom Championship (1x), NXT Women's Championship (1x), and is the current WWE Women's Tag Team Champion alongside Asuka.
Lisa Marie Sole, better known by her wrestling monikers of Victoria (WWE) and Tara (TNA) was one of those brutal in-ring strikers that makes you question if she's intentionally trying to hurt her opponents. From Backbreakers to hair-pulling Gory Specials to top rope Superplexes, Tara was and still is known for leaving a pile of broken bodies in the ring after a clean three-count. Sole is a truly fundamentally-sound wrestler that can do it all. She has amazing strength, balance, and poise when she decides to take things aerial. Tara has several signature moves including the Black Widow, A-Rack-Naphobia, Gorilla Press Gutbuster, Spider's Web, and Widow's Peak that are a true testament to her strength alone.
Following a successful bodybuilding career and meeting Chyna, Sole decided to pursue a career in pro-wrestling in 2000. After making an appearance at WrestleMania 2000, Sole's WWE career didn't take off until two years later in 2002. Victoria, at the time, was able to rack up two WWE Women's Championship victories during her tenure on the WWE roster which came to an end in 2009. Her peak popularity came as a member of the TNA roster where she wrestled as Tara where she would become a 5x TNA Women's Knockout Champion and 1x TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion. This year, Sole announced that she would be retiring from in-ring action but will continue to make appearances at various events.
Io Shirai's agility is something to be admired, but her willingness to take risks in the ring is what really captures the eye of wrestling fans around the world. The Kamakura, Japan-bred wrestler is a high fly act that has become a staple internationally. While known for risking her body with Suicide Dives and top turnbuckle Asai Moonsaults, she has a taste for blood incorporating moves like the Handstand Double Knee Drop, running Corner Double Knee Strike, and Tiger Feint AKA the 619 into her wrestling style.
Io Shirai born, Masami Odate, began her professional wrestling journey alongside her sister as a tag team collective in 2007. The two traveled between Mexico and Japan working together before, Odate took her talents to the World Wonder Ring Stardom, from 2011 to 2018, where she would become a historic staple for the brand. In Stardom alone, Shirai racked up the Artist of Stardom Championship (6x) Goddess of Stardom Tag Team Championship (1x) Championship (1x), SWA World Championship (1x), Wonder of Stardom Championship (2x), and World of Stardom Championship (2x) making her one of the most-winningest acts Stardom has ever seen. Since then, Shirai has signed a deal with the WWE and is currently wrestling under the NXT brand.
Asuka has everything you want in a wrestler, a captivating personality, athleticism, and an arsenal of different moves to keep viewers interested. Strangely, Asuka born, Kanako Urai, was almost forced out of a career in pro-wrestling after developing nephritis, a rare disease that inflames the tissue in the kidneys. While working both as a graphic designer and occasionally making appearances in independent promotions in Japan, she quickly became a highly-popularized act for her in-ring antics. Asuka became known for her striking ability, particular in kickboxing utilizing moves like the Missile Dropkick and Roundhouse kick that would send her opponents flying across the ring.
In 2004, Asuka made her in-ring debut under the all-women promotion, AtoZ. From there she would wrestle for several different Japanese organizations including Ice Ribbon, Pro Wrestling Wave, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Smash and more before finally signing a contract with the WWE. Asuka became the NXT Women's Champion for a total of 510 days, the longest reign in the belt's history. When she was promoted to the main WWE roster, Asuka was billed as having the longest undefeated streak in WWE history" at 914 days. In January 2018, Asuka became the inaugural winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match. Asuka has held nine different championship titles across all of the other platforms she's wrestled for and claimed the Smackdown Women's Championship once and is the current WWE Women's Tag Team Champion alongside her partner Kairi Sane.
While Bayley might not be wildly athletic, her positive persona and high in-ring energy is what draws fans into her presence. The influence in her garb and style come from none other than the Macho Man Randy Savage (Rest in Power) and Bayley even incorporated the legendary wrestler's patented Flying Elbow into her routine. Despite weighing only 119lbs, Bayley is somewhat of a suplex specialist constantly utilizing the Exploder Suplex and Back Suplex in her matches. Her finishing moves in the Bayleycanrana and Bayley To Belly have become fan-favorites over the past decade as well.
Bayley born, Pamela Rose Martinez, made her pro-wrestling debut in 2008 on the independent circuit wrestling for Big Time Wrestling. At the time going under the name, Davina Rose, Bayley would go to wrestle for several other promotions including NWA Championship Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Destination, nd Shine Wrestling before signing with the WWE in 2012. Since then, Bayley has won the NXT Women's Championship (1x),Raw Women's Championship (1x), Smackdown Women's Championship (1x), and one the inaugural WWE Women's Tag Team Championship making her the first women's Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.
There's no denying that wrestling is in the blood of Natalie Katherine Neidhart-Wilson. She's the first third-generation female professional wrestler in the world following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Stu Hart and her uncles Bret, Owen, Bruce, and Ross. Coming from such a distinguished family in wrestling culture, Natalya is one of the premier female acts in pro-wrestling today. She's a certified submission specialist with moves like the Abdominal Stretch, the Romero Special, and Sharpshooter as her go-to moves.
Despite coming from a legendary wrestling family, Natalya paid her dues performing in the independent circuit from 200-2007 for promotions like her family's Stampede Wrestling, Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, Shimmer Women Athletes, and more. In 2007, Neidhart-Wilson signed a contract with the WWE and hasn't looked back. Throughout her tenure in the WWE, Natalya has become the first woman in WWE history to hold both the WWE Divas Championship belt and the Smackdown Women's Championship belt.
At the tender age of just 11-years-old, Beth Phoenix born, Elizabeth Kocianski participated in a coloring contest the WWF/WWE held winning her tickets to a live event. Little did she know that years later she would be walking down the same ramp with thousands of fans cheering her on. Beth Phoenix has become a stale across a multitude of different WWE platforms from an active wrestler Smackdown to NXT as a color commentator, Phoenix gets the job done. Her Glam Slam Submission is one of the most unique and inescapable and her Glam Slam finisher would leave even the toughest wrestler dazed.
In May 2001, Phoenix entered the independent circuit where she found success in multiple pro-wrestling platforms. Phoenix joined Far North Wrestling (FNW) where she was the only female on the roster and won the Cruiserweight Championship against two male opponents. In 2006, Beth made her WWE Raw debut but broke her jaw the next month forcing her to be temporarily sidelined. Since then, Phoenix has become a 3x WWE Women's Champion, 1x WWE Divas Champion, and the youngest female inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at the age of 36.
Standing at only 5'1 and weighing barely over 100lbs, Alexa Bliss isn't known for being a brute act in the WWE. Her style of wrestling is extremely finesse, but there's a darkness in her eyes that adds to her chacater's demeanor. While in the ring, Alexa Bliss born, Alexis Kaufman, has one of the most entertaining personalities which just so happens to mirror some of her signature moves like the Blissful Stomp, Glitter Blizzard, and Insult To Injury, all of which are delicately perfomed. However her finishers, the Bliss DDT and the Twisted Bliss are a lot more violent.
At 15, Kaufman suffered from a life-threatening eating disorder but later discovered fitness competitions to cohearse her away from the disorder which in-turn got her into pro-wrestling. In September 2013, Bliss signed a developemental contract with the WWE where she honed her skills before making her mainstage debut in July 2016. Since then, Alexis Bliss has become a 3x Raw Women's Champion, 2x Smackdown Women's Champion, and 1x WWE Women's Tag Team Champion. Bliss is the first wrestler to hold the Smackdown Women's Champion twice, the first woman to win both the Raw and Smackdown Women's titles, and the second Women's Triple Crown Champion in WWE history.
Hailing from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Molly Holly is next up on our list of the greatest women wrestlers of all-time. Molly Holly, born Nora Kristina Greenwald, despite standing at only 5'4 was a suplex specialist. During her time as a pro-wrestler, there wasn't an opponent she didn't fear lifting off the ground and hurling over her shoulders. Holly was also quite the athlete performing moves like the Rolling Neck Snap, Sunset Flip Powerbomb, and Handspring Back Splash regularly in the ring. Also, her finishing move, the Molly Go Round takes an exquisite amount of precision to execute on a weekly basis.
As a youth, Molly Holly never thought that she would become a pro-wrestler with her aspirations set on becoming an American Gladiator. However, as a teen, she began powerlifting and eventually found herself working for the WCW as a trainer and eventually as a wrestling personality herself. From 1998-2005, Holly worked for both the WCW and the WWF where she captured the WWF Women's Championship (2x) and the WWF Hardcore Championship for an hour before losing it to Christian at WrestleMania X8. Since then, Molly Holly has popped in and out of the independent circuit and the WWE over the past decade.
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado, better known by her in-ring moniker, Sasha Banks grew up as an avid fan of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) and anime which explains her high-energy, high-fly style of wrestling. Banks also happens to be cousins with rappers/producerfs, Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger, both of which helped Banks develop her in-ring persona. With risky moves like the Wheelbarrell Bulldog, the Backstabber, the Frog Splash and her patented Bank's Statement, Banks is one of the premier acts in all of pro-wrestling.
Banks began her wrestling career in Woburn, Massachusetts under the Chaotic Wrestling (CW) promotion in 2010. While wrestling for CW, Banks obtained the Chaotic Wrestling Women's Championship. Banks also collected the IWE Women's Championship and the RWC No Limitz Championship before joining the WWE in 2012. Since joinging the WWE Banks has racked up the NXT Women's Championship (1x) and a record-tying WWE Raw Women's Championship (4x). If Banks continues to stay healthy and athletic as she is, she can be looking forward to being a WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
Even though Gail Kim stands at 5'4 and only weighs 120lbs, she's one of the toughest and hard-hitting wrestlers of her time. While she's willing to rsik her body with Running Dropkicks and top rope aerial acts, she's a submission specialist utilizing unique moves like the Ringpost Figure Four, Diamondback's Leglock, and her patented Queen of Spades maneuver. Kim is one of those all-atround complete wrestlers that has undeniable talent and ring presence. Her finishing moves in the Happy Ending and Eat Defeat have won her over eighty matches.
After wrestling in the North American independent circuit, Gail Kim joined the WWE in 2002 where she won the WWE Women's Championship in her debut match making her the only woman to do so. Kim bounced back and forth from the WWE and TNA where she won the TNA Knockouts Championship (7x), the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship (1x), the Queen of the Knockouts tournament in 2013, and TNA World Cup in 2015. In 2018, Kim retired from in-ring action and currently works as a producer for TNA where she was also inducted in the Hall of Fame.
AJ Lee born, April Jeanette Mendez, is known for her 'crazy chick' persona throughout her stint in the WWE. However, what many didn't know about Mendez is that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and considered herself hiding in plain sight while portraying her character AJ Lee. While mainly known as a heel throughout her pro-wrestling career, her athleticism and aggressive style of fighting drew fans towards her. Standing at only 5'2 and weighing 115lbs, Lee was able to attach herself to other wrestler's bodies with ease and execute moves like the Shiranui, Guillotine Chokehold, and her finisher, the Black Widow.
Lee began her professional wrestling career under the Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) promotion in 2007 where she won the WSU/National Wrestling Superstars Queen of the Ring tournament and WSU Tag Team Championship alongside partner Brooke Carter. In May 2009, Lee made the jump to the WWE where she wrestled under the Florida Championship Wrestling and NXT subdivisions of the platform. In 2011, Mendez became a mainstay act in the WWE and served as general manager of RAW for time. Throughout Lee's six-year stint in the WWE, AJ Lee held the WWE Divas Championship a record-tying three times and held the title for a record 406 days total. In 2015, Mendez retired from wrestling and became New York Times Best Seller for her 2017 memoir, Crazy Is My Superpower.
Mickie James' success in professional wrestling is wide spread. There isn't a major, modern pro-wrestling platform that she hasn't dominated. Her wrestling style is extremely aggressive and abrasive. James provides fans with a realistic wrestling experience by inflicting as much damage on her oppoents as possible. With a plethora of remixed classic moves like the Mick-A-Rana, Tornado Mickie-DT, Mickie Thesz Press, Mick Kick, and finisher Mickie DDT in her arsenal she's one of the most diverse women wrestlers of her generation.
In 1999, Mickie James began her pro-wrestling career on the independent circuit under the moniker Alexis Laree while also working as a waitress at Olive Garden. In 2002, James appeared on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and the following year signed a contract with the WWE where she would stay for a seven year tenure then eventually return to TNA once again. Throughout her tenure with both comapanies, James was a 5x WWE Women's Champion, 1x WWE Divas Champion, and 3x TNA Knockouts Champion making her the first and only woman to hold all three titles in professional wrestling history. James is currently signed to the WWE and works on music in her space time.
Of course, the daughter of Ric Flair has just as much swag as he did during his prime years in the ring. As a second-generation pro-wrestler, Charlotte Flair was made to be a superstar in the WWE just like her father. The funny thing about Charlotte's legacy so far is that she actually might be a more fundamentally sound wrestler than Ric Flair. While Ric was showboating in alligator-skin shoes and flashing Rolexes, he wasn't the most athletic wrestler during his stint in pro-wrestling. His daughter, on the other hand, can do it all. Turning standing Suplexes into Neckbreakers, executing multiple Push-Up Headscissor Slams with ease, and closing out matches with her front flipping finisher, the Natural Selection there isn't anything Charlotte isn't willing to do in the ring.
In 2012, Charlotte Flair entered the WWE under their developmental program making an instant impact winning the NXT Championship and being named Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Rookie of the Year in 2014. The following year, Flair was added to the WWE's main roster where she was the final holder of the WWE Divas Championship, the 4x winner and inaugural holder of the RAW Women's Championship, and a 5x Smackdown Women's Championship holder making her a ten-time record-setting WWE Champion on the main roster. Flair also became one of the first women, alongside Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch to headline a Wrestlemania event. Honestly, Charlotte is filling the shoes of her father just fine.
Next up, is arguably the most respected remale high-fly act in mainstream wrestling, Amy Dumas, better known by her stage name, Lita. When Lita was in the ring, there wasn't anything too daring enough for her to do. Suicide Dive through the ropes and risk hitting the ramp? She didn't care. Diving Twist of Fate off the ropes? Didn't matter to her. Her patented Litasault back flip finisher off of the top turnbuckle was just another night for the woman who helped define one of the greatest eras in wrestling known as the Attitude Era of the WWF/WWE.
Prior to becoming a world-renowned act in the WWE, Dumas got her professional wrestling career started under the moniker Angelica in the Consejo Mundial Lucha Libre (CMLL) organization in 1998. The following year, Lita took her talents to the states in the independent circuit. In 1999, Lita made her way to the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) where she began to pick up steam for her amazing aerial combat maneuvers. The following year, Lita would enter the WWF/WWE where she would become a 4x WWE Women's Champion and eventually be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (2014). Throughout the years, she's made sporadic returns to the ring, but she's focused on her music career as the head of her own punk band called The Luchagors.
Jacqueline DeLois Moore, who has wrestled under a multitude of different monikers including Jackie, Ms. Texas, Jacqueline, and so many more is another dominant force who ran the entire pro-wrestling circuit throughout the course of the '90s and 2000s. Matter of fact, she's one of the few women on this list to have an impact on wrestling culture over the past four decades. From Spears to Missile Dropkicks to Headscissors to Moolah Whips, there isn't a single thing Jacqueline can't do in the ring. The Dallas, Texas-native was known for throwing her opponent around the ring with ease despite weighing less than 120lbs herself.
Since 1988, Moore has worked every major American wrestling outlet from WCW to TNA to WWF/WWE. However, in the United States Wrestling Association she's a legend holding the USWA Women's Championship belt a total of fourteen times. Her rivalry with Sable in the WWF prompted the company to re-establish the WWF Women's Championship which she led twice during her tenure in the WWF/WWE (1993-1994, 1998-2004). Jacqueline also held the WWE Cruiserweight Championship belt which is commonly held by men. She is the third woman in WWE history to do so.
While some younger pro-wrestling fans might recognize Mae Young for being the older woman taking on opponents in the ring throughout the '90s and 2000s, many fail to realize that she was a pioneer in the sport in the 1940s and '50s. Mae Young was a roughneck and extremely aggressive wrestler during her prime years, known for being a striker and submission specialist. She and her opponents helped popular the sport that is now televised around the world with her hardcore in-ring style, grace, and poise. Mae Young can easily be considered one of the first world-renowned wrestlers ever becoming the first woman alongside Mildred Burke to tour post-war Japan in 1954.
There has been conflicting reports on when Mae Young officially started her professional wrestling career. According to Young, she has stated that re first match was in 1939 and later stated that her first match was 1940. However, records have shown that she began wrestling in Memphis, TN in 1941. Young wrestled for several independent promotions from the 1940s to the 1970s winning the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) United States Women's Championship (1x), the NWA Women's Tag Team Championship (1x), and the NWA Florida Women's Championship (1x). In 1999, Young signed a contract with the WWE where she would make sporadic appearances until close to her death in 2013. Prior to passing away, Young was inducted in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum and WWE Hall of Fame for her contributions to the sport.
Alundra Blayze also known as Madusa was one of those pioneer women that really helped mainstream wrestling believe in the talent of the women in their rosters. Blayze born, Debrah Ann Miceli, was an intense act that had a wide array of different offensive weapons in her arsenal. She was technical but wasn't afraid to take things to the top turnbuckle and get ugly. Her skill level helped usher in a new generation of women wrestlers that were focused on the art of professional wrestling. Not a lot of women during her prime years were delivering Piledrivers in such perfectly-executed fashion as she was.
Madusa began her pro-wrestling career with the American Wrestling Association in 1986. Three years later, in 1989, she became the first foreigner to sign a contract with the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling organization. From 1991 to 2001, Alundra Blayze bounced back and forth between the WCW and WWF but was eventually banned from the WWF for appearing on an episode of WCW's Monday Nitro and throwing the WWF Women's Championship in the trash. Blayze became the first woman ever to win the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship in 1999. Since then, the WWE has forgiven her and inducted her in the WWE Hall of Fame and she now drives monster trucks for a living and works as the commissioner of the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom. Alundra Blayze has lived one hell of a life and is the truth.
Rebecca Quin, better known by her pro-wrestling moniker, Becky Lynch, had to overcome a lot of adversity to be where she's at today. As a teen, growing up in Ireland, Quin struggled with alcoholism, but later found wrestling as an outlet to help save her from heading down a spiraling life of addiction. Now, she's one of the biggest female stars on the current pro-wrestling market for her hardcore persona and aggressive style of wrestling. With an arsenal of moves like the Cross Armbreaker, the Diving Leg Drop, and her patented finishers in the Bexploder and Disarm-er, there aren't a lot of wrestlers out there that can match her intensity.
In 2002, Lynch and her brother began training at a facility in her home country of Ireland and made her first professional wrestling debut just five months into training. From 2002 to 2006, Quin would wrestle in the independent market, most notably for the Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling's all-women promotion, SuperGirls Wrestling where she won the inaugural SuperGirls Championship before suffering a severe injury that would force her to take a six-year hiatus from the ring. In 2013, Lynch would sign a development deal with the WWE and be added to the brand's main roster in 2015. Since then, Lynch has become a 3x WWE Smackdown Women's Champion and 1x WWE Raw Women's Champion. Lynch is the only wrestler in history to hold both belts simultaneously. Becky Lynch also defeated Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey for both the Women's titles in the first WrestleMania main event headlined by women in the company's history.
To be totally honest, Trish Stratus was never a technically-skilled wrestler, but the blonde bombshell did develop a sound wrestling game throughout her tenure as a pro-wrestler. Her introduction into the WWF/WWE, Stratus was known for being a sex symbol and featured in a plethora of sexually-themed storylines including having a temporary affair with WWE CEO, Vince McMahon and serving as a manager for Test & Albert's tag team duo, T&A, which also was slang for 'Tits & Ass.' Fortunately, Stratus' persona fazed out as her career grew and she became one of the most embraced in-ring performers for her passionate performances. Her Stratusphere top turnbuckle Headscissor takedown and Stratisfaction Springboard Bulldog finishers are proof of her growth as a wrestler.
Prior to making her WWF/WWE debut in March 2000, Stratus born, Patricia Ann Stratigeas, was a fitness model. Trish quickly became the face for the WWE Divas during her initial six-year stint with the WWE. Stratus holds the record for WWE Women's Championship honors with a total of seven times and even held the WWE Hardcore Championship once as well. The record-setting wrestling would go on to retire for the first time in 2006 and periodically return to the WWE from 2007 to 2019 before officially calling it quits. In 2003, Stratus was named Diva of the Decade and in 2013 was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
There has never been a lasting lecagy in the WWF/WWE like Chyna's. Chyna born, Joan Marie Laurer, was known for her brute strength and ability to sweep both her male and female competition off of their feet with ease. While she was a technically sound wrestler she was also known for her amazing striking ability that would cause thunderous claps that can be heard throughout the entire arena. With moves like the Electric Hair Drop, Pedigree, and her notorious Powerbomb finisher, she's not only one of the greatest woemn wrestlers of all-time, she's one of the greatest entertainers to ever enter the ring period.
Before becoming an international wrestling superstar, Chyna competed in bodybuilding competitions where she would typically finish last due to her large stature. In 1997, Chyna turned down an offer from the WCW to enter the WWF/WWE where she would wrestle for the next four years. During her tenure in the WWF/WWE, Chyna was the only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship and did so twice. She also held the WWE Women's Championship once and was the only woman to be the number one contender for the WWF Championship, WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, and the WWE European Championship. In 2002, Chyna made a brief appearance in the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion and TNA in 2011. Unfortunately, Chyna passed away via an accidental overdose in April 2016 at the age of 46. Though she was flawed, she will always be known as one of the most elexctrfying wrestlers of all-time.
