Strong & Beautiful: 15 Greatest Women of Wrestling

I know I mostly write about movies and music here at my blog, but it's funny that I don't really write about my third love that is professional wrestling. Well, that's all about to change. Professional wrestling has been a part of my life ever since I can remember. I grew up watching shows like Monday Night Raw and Monday Nitro with my brother. We always pretended to be our favorite wrestlers and have our own little matches like most kids who love wrestling do. Those were good times. I'm sure most can agree that it's not as exciting to watch these days, but in recent months it has become pretty exciting again much thanks to guys like CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan.

Anyways, I figured since I wanted to write more about wrestling on here that I would start it off with a list of my favorite female performers. Being a female who loves wrestling, it's pretty obvious that I looked up to a lot of the women wrestlers/Divas growing up. They taught me how to be strong and courageous. Luckily, it wasn't too hard for me to pick who I wanted on the list even though I know I left a few out. Feel free to tell me or make a post about who would be on your list.

Of course, I should mention that wrestlers such as The Fabulous Moolah, Mildred Burke and Mae Young are really the greatest women of professional wrestling, because without them there wouldn't be a women's division today.

15. Natalya

Known for being a third-generation wrestler as a member of the Hart wrestling family, Natalya has proven that she's worked very hard to get where she's at. Joining the WWE in 2008, she managed her cousin David Hart Smith and real-life boyfriend Tyson Kidd in one of the last great tag teams to come around in a while The Hart Dynasty. After Hart Dynasty disbanded in late 2010, Natalya went on to become a first-time WWE Diva's Champion. Even though she sports the pink and black attire, you can also tell that she is a Hart by her in-ring abilities with her multiple suplex variations and of course the Sharpshooter. I think Natalya will be sticking around much longer to continue her family's legacy.

14. Amazing Kong/Kharma

Currently known as Kharma in the WWE, Amazing Kong is one tough woman. Name any female or male wrestler Kong can take them all. Winning over ten Championships in different companies worldwide, I could see her possibly winning even bigger gold very soon now that she's with the WWE. I know she's on a leave of absence right now, but she will definitely dominate the women's and maybe the men's division when she comes back.

13. Bull Nakano

There are two things that I love most about Bull Nakano. First, I love her unique style. Second, I love how vicious she was in the ring. Her feud with Alundra Blayze was one of the greatest in wrestling history. She even won the WWE Women's Championship by defeating Blayze in Tokyo on November 20, 1994. While her time with companies like the WWE and WCW were short-lived, Nakano will be remembered for bringing a new style to the women's division.

12. Mickie James

Alright, I have to admit it. When Mickie James first entered the WWE, it was around the time when I really wasn't watching wrestling at all. I was too busy being a teenager. I knew who James was and all though. I remember her as Alexis Laree back in her early days with TNA and I knew that when she first started out as Mickie James she was playing Trish Stratus' obsessed fan and that was about it. I didn't really get to see everything she did after that. When I finally got back into it again though, I realized how far she had come. Being a five-time WWE Women's Champion, WWE Diva's Champion and a TNA Women's Knockout Champion, I'd say that is pretty damn impressive. With her bubbly personality and the Long Kiss Goodnight as one of her finishers, who doesn't love Mickie James?

11. Luna Vachon

I loved Luna Vachon. She looked like a character from a heavy metal horror film. What was great about her was that she wasn't like most of the women in the wrestling business. She wasn't trying to be a big bombshell. She was a woman who actually wanted to be a wrestler. Although she never won the Women's Championship, Luna Vachon will always be remembered for creating one of the most wackiest characters in wrestling history. From her feuds with Alundra Blayze aka Madusa and Sensational Sherri to her days of being a valet for superstars like Goldust and the Oddities, Luna Vachon was sure fun to watch. It's very sad that we lost her last year. We'll miss you, Luna!

10. Molly Holly

Molly Holly was probably the greatest female technical wrestler to ever enter the WWE. I should also mention that she was one of the most underrated as well. Known for being the "cousin" to Hardcore and Crash, Molly Holly could always put on a match. Although it was fun to see her team up with guys like Spike Dudley and The Hurricane, Molly showed us that she could be just as great on her own by winning the Women's Championship twice and even winning the Hardcore Championship. What was most important to Molly Holly was that she wanted people to appreciate her for her in-ring abilities more than anything. That's why she developed this somewhat prudish character to avoid being looked at as just another pretty face and who could really blame her for that? Her most memorable moment came at WrestleMania XX, when she lost the Women's Championship to Victoria and was forced to have her head shaved after the match. I would love to see Molly Holly return to wrestling very soon, because I think she still has a few more Molly-Go-Rounds left in her.

9. Beth Phoenix

Although she is the best and strongest female wrestler in the WWE right now, "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix has already proven that she is one of the greatest of all-time. With winning the Women's Championship three times and being the second woman to ever enter the Royal Rumble match, Beth could possibly be working her way to winning the Intercontinental or the U.S. Championship someday. That's only if the WWE would change their PG programming. I'm so glad that she turned heel a few weeks ago, because I believe this move will help bring some meaning back to the Divas division. Beth Phoenix will continue to dominate the WWE for many years to come.

8. Victoria/Tara

I miss Victoria. I know she's currently known as Tara on TNA, but I don't really watch TNA anymore. Now, I should say that I really miss the psychotic Victoria back when she debuted in the WWE. In my opinion, that was one of the greatest wrestling characters ever created. I also can't forget to mention the great feud she had with Trish Stratus that involved some of my favorite matches like the Hardcore match at Survivor Series (2002). Winning the WWE Women's Championship twice and the TNA Women's Knockout Championship four times, you can definitely say that Victoria/Tara is one of the most successful female wrestlers of the past ten years. I think she'll get the credit she deserves very soon, because she is one of the most talented female wrestlers around. If you ask me, the Widow's Peak is still one of the coolest finishing moves in professional wrestling.

7. Alundra Blayze/Madusa

Probably better known as Madusa, no one can ever forget that night when she dropped the WWE Women's Championship in the garbage can on WCW's Monday Night Nitro. Sure it hurt her career some, but it was an important moment in wrestling history. With being a three-time WWE Women's Champion and being the first woman to ever win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, Alundra Blayze/Madusa made it clear that she was a wrestler and she made the right decision by leaving the wrestling business around the time it wasn't focusing much on the women's division. Blayze will always be remembered for helping shape women's wrestling during the '90s and I hope to see her be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame very soon.

6. Sable

"This is for all the women who want to be me and for the men who come to see me!". This quote alone is why Sable earned a spot on my list. Oh, and the fact that she once powerbombed her ex-husband Marc Mero. Sable was the queen of the "Attitude Era". She pretty much had it all when she became the first woman in the WWE to pose for Playboy. Though she had the good looks, Sable proved that she could mix it in the ring as well when she became a WWE Women's Champion. While she's probably known as Mrs. Brock Lesnar today, Sable will be always be remembered for being one of the WWE's original Divas.

5. Wendi Richter

If one woman ruled wrestling during the '80s it was Wendi Richter. She was "150 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal". Her most memorable moment was when she defeated The Fabulous Moolah (ending her 2,113 day reign) to win the WWE's Women's Championship at MTV's The Brawl to End it All on July 23, 1984. At the end of the match, Richter celebrated her win with pop singer Cyndi Lauper. This soon lead to the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection . Another unforgettable moment for Richter happened on November 25, 1985 at Madison Square Garden when she was involved in the "Original Screwjob". She was set to defend her title against a mysterious masked opponent by the name of The Spider Lady. The referee of the match made a swift three count as The Spider Lady pinned Richter, even though Richter kicked out after the count of one. She continued to attack The Spider Lady and soon unmasked her to reveal that it was The Fabulous Moolah in disguise. It was reported that this was all set up by Vince McMahon to rid Richter of the title after she refused to sign a new contract with the WWE. That was her last appearance with the company. In 2010, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Although her time with the WWE was short-lived, Wendi Richter paved the way for many female wrestlers today.

4. Sherri Martel

In my opinion, Sherri Martel was the greatest female manager in wrestling history. She managed some of the greats like "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair just to name a few. Martel could wrestle too and she even held the WWE's Women's Championship for a total of 441 days. Sensational Sherri has in some way influenced everyone in professional wrestling. She was the one who could do it all. Sadly, Sherri Martel passed away in 2007, but her legacy will continue to inspire generations.

3. Chyna

Chyna has had more accomplishments more than any other Diva in the WWE. She's the first and only woman to ever win the Intercontinental Championship (She actually won it on two occasions). She's also the first woman to ever enter the Royal Rumble match, qualify for the King of the Ring tournament and be a number one contender for the WWE Championship. Oh yeah, and she was still the WWE Women's Champion until she left the company in 2001. They didn't call her "The Ninth Wonder of the World" for nothing. Chyna was also a member of D-Generation X, one of the most popular stables in WWE history. Also, who could forget the time when she was Eddie Guerrero's "Mamacita"? What makes Chyna one of the greatest is that she was the first to prove that she could dominate both the women and men's division.

2. Trish Stratus

First of all, I know what you're thinking, "Why is Trish Stratus at the No. 2 spot and not No. 1?". Well, let's just say that as much as I love Trish I wanted to give the No. 1 spot to someone else. A seven-time WWE Women's Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, Babe of the Year from 2001-2004 and the Diva of the Decade, Trish Stratus is the most successful WWE Diva of all-time. Although she first started in the WWE as a valet for wrestlers such as Val Venis and T & A (Test & Albert), Stratus worked her way to the top of the women's division. She was able to show everyone that she was more than just eye candy. While she may have retired in 2006, we all know that Trish always delivered 100% Stratusfaction guaranteed.

1. Lita

The Queen of Extreme! Growing up, I wanted to be just like her. I had the red hair, fishnet shirts, pretty much everything. Heck, I even had a cat named after her (I hope that doesn't sound creepy). First starting her WWE career as the valet for luchador Essa Rios, Lita gained her popularity when she formed Team Xtreme along with the Hardy Boyz. From then on, she dominated the women's division. A four-time WWE Women's Champion, Lita was even the first woman to be in the main event twice on Raw. The first time was when she defeated Stephanie McMahon to win her first WWE's Women's Championship in 2000 and the second was when she won the Championship a second time by defeating Trish Stratus in 2004. In my opinion, Lita was the first to make people interested in women's wrestling again since Alundra Blayze.  She was definitely a trendsetter for women's wrestling with her tomboy attitude and high-flying moves. She showed us that she was a woman who was not afraid to take chances. It was very sad when Lita retired from the WWE, because the Divas division started to fall apart right after that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will return for one more match someday.

What Are You Looking At, Nerd?: Top 10 '80s Movie Jerks

I love to hate them. You love to hate them. We all love to hate them.

 

10. Cinder Carlson (Little Darlings)

Losing your virginity can be one of the most terrifying moments in a person's life, and to have someone like Cinder Carlson (Krista Errickson) pressuring you to do it can make it even more difficult. All Ferris (Tatum O'Neal) and Angel (Kristy McNichol) wanted to do was go to summer camp and try to have a good time. Instead they were spending their time trying to lose their virginity, because prissy Cinder made them feel so ashamed that they haven't already. I know the girls learned a very valuable lesson at the end, but still they experienced something so meaningful at a very young age. Cinder pretty much learned that putting out at a young age doesn't make you special and that it's probably something you shouldn't brag about.

9. Melvin Moody (My Bodyguard)

Anytime I think of bad guys in movies, I usually think of those Matt Dillon has played. One of his early bad boy roles was as Lake View High School's big bully Melvin Moody in the 1980 comedy-drama My Bodyguard. Being the new kid at school is already a drag for Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace) and when he meets Moody and his gang, he knows that the rest of his school year is going to be even more miserable. Moody is like your typical bully, he usually bugs kids for their lunch money and trips them in the cafeteria so everyone else can see. The thing that makes him an ass even more is that when he takes the kids' lunch money, he tells them that his reason for doing it is to protect them from the large, school outcast Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin). Just when you think Clifford gets a break from Moody when he hires Linderman as his bodyguard, Moody comes back with his own bodyguard. At the end, Clifford finally stands up and fights back leaving Moody with a broken nose. Take that, Moody! Or should I say Melvin?

8. Roy Stalin (Better Off Dead)

Being dumped by the person you love most is a sad situation, and to be dumped for the most popular guy in school with a badass name like Roy Stalin (Aaron Dozier) is even more heartbreaking. Just ask Lane Myer (John Cusack), who practically tried to kill himself several times over this. While Lane's life was in misery, it didn't help that cocky Roy kept rubbing it in his face that he now had his girl and was king of the K-12. Eventually, Lane proved to Roy that he was the better man by beating his score on the K-12 on one foot and getting himself a much cooler French girlfriend in the end. I'm still waiting for the day they make a sequel featuring the paperboy hunting Roy's ass down for pushing him off the K-12. Oh, and wanting his two dollars. 

7. Judy (Sleepaway Camp)

Words cannot express how I feel about Judy (Karen Fields) from Sleepaway Camp, except for the fact that she is one mean bitch. Plain and simple. She even looks like one with that side ponytail. Judy and the other kids at Camp Arawak were so mean, you pretty much wanted them to get it. They were all stuck up little snots. Maybe it was all due to their shorts being too tight. I don't know. Angela seemed to be minding her own business until Judy and everyone else started messing with her. Girl had to do what she had to do, right?

6. Stan Gable (Revenge of the Nerds)

If you're going to college and you're a bit of a nerd, Stan Gable (Ted McGinley) is a guy you probably don't want to bump into. Stan hates nerds. He'd most likely say they ruined everything for him now these days, but really he did all of the damage to himself. He and the other Alpha Betas made the lives of Gilbert's (Anthony Edwards), Lewis' (Robert Carradine), and the rest of the Lambda Lambda  Lambda gang a living hell by constantly harassing them and making them feel ashamed of who they were until they all decided that they were not going to take it anymore. So they got back at Stan and the Alpha Betas by taking their women and winning control over the Greek Counsil, because after all they're NERRRRRDS and they are proud of it!

5. Hardy Jenns (Some Kind of Wonderful)

Ah, Hardy Jenns. Handsome, smart and a total asshole. Sure he has the good looks and awesome car, but if you are looking for something more serious with Hardy (Craig Sheffer) it's definitely not going to happen. Take Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson) for example. She was the most popular girl in school all due to the fact that she was Hardy's girl, but that soon ended when she dumped him for cheating on her with one of those girls from Wilson Phillips'. What made him such an asshole even more was that he tried to make Amanda look like a fool for dumping him and had all of her friends turn against her. Not to mention the party he was having just so he and his gang could beat up her new date Keith (Eric Stoltz). At least Amanda got back at Hardy with a few bitch slaps and Keith realized that the popular/rich crowd was just not his thing and that the girl of his dreams was really his best friend Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson). Hardy was pretty much left at his own party looking like the real fool.

4. Biff Tannen (Back to the Future)

 

Going back in time in a DeLorean seems like the coolest thing ever, but going back and being picked on by the same guy who used to pick on your father... not so much. Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) is pretty much the model for all bullies. He is the kind that gives his victims noogies, takes their lunch money and maybe once in a while call them a butthead or something like that. Biff's favorite victim of all was of course the nerdy George McFly (Crispin Glover). Biff knew he could bully George into doing his homework for him and he even continued to use him as a stepping stone once they entered adult life. It should also be mentioned that Biff was a total pig whenever he was around Lorraine (Lea Thompson). Luckily, when Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) went back in time he was able to change all that. Biff was longer the big guy on the block.

3. Heather Chandler, Heather Duke and Heather McNamara (Heathers)

Oh, those Heathers. They represent the type of girls everyone hated in high school. The clique consisted of Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty), Heather McNamara (Lisanna Falk) and the leader Heather Chandler (Kim Walker). They were rich, pretty and popular. Did I mention they were mega-bitches too? Although they knew they were top shit at their school, behind all that they had problems just like everybody else. That pretty much explains why they were hated by their peers more than they were adored by them. Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) was one of the those people that was sort of in between. Even though she was friends with the Heathers, she was also enemies with them. She wanted to put a stop to them and once she met new guy J.D. (Christian Slater) that wish came true, just not the way she had planned.

2. Steff McKee (Pretty in Pink)

Steff  (James Spader) might have had the good looks, but he was too much of a dick for Andie's (Molly Ringwald) taste. All he cared about was smoking cigarettes, being rich and screwing all the girls at school. He didn't even care that he tried to ruin the relationship between his best friend Blane (Andrew McCarthy) and Andie, because the truth was that he really wanted her and was pissed at the fact that she wasn't ever going to give him a chance. Just shows how mature he was about it since there was another guy by the name of Duckie (Jon Cryer) who was trying to win Andie over too, but you didn't hear him call her a bitch. Oh well, turns out at the end Blane got Andie, Duckie got a Duckette and Steff got shit.  

1. Johnny Lawrence (The Karate Kid)

Well, who else did you think was going to be number one? William Zabka is without a doubt the quintessential jerk of the 1980's. If it weren't for Zabka, we probably wouldn't have a lot of the other jerks that we love to hate today. Although he played a bully in several teen films from the '80s like Just One of the Guys and Back to School, his most memorable role is of course the role of Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid. It almost seemed like everything was all peachy for new kid Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) until the night he met his friend Ali Mills' (Elisabeth Shue) ex-boyfriend Johnny Lawrence. From then on Johnny and his gang made Daniel's life a living hell by using their Cobra Kai moves on him, eventually forcing him to learn karate from his neighbor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) in order to fight back. As we all know Daniel succeeds in the end, but you also can't help but feel bad for Johnny. He wanted to try and beat Daniel fair and square, but his sensei John Kreese (Martin Kove) thought different and forced Johnny to "sweep the leg". Even when Daniel won Johnny handed him the trophy and complimented him showing that he wasn't such a bad guy after all. Although he is one of the few bullies that changed his evil ways at the end, we still can't forget all the hell him and his Cobra Kai buds put Daniel through. 

Honorable Mentions:

Mick McAllister (Teen Wolf)

Ace Merrill (Stand By Me)

Wendy Richards (Prom Night)

Fred Gallo (The Heavenly Kid)

Brad (Night of the Creeps)

Tommy (Valley Girl)

Chet Donnelly/Ian & Max (Weird Science)

Russ Deacon (18 Again!)

R.I.P. Poly Styrene

I know it has been several months since I've been on here, but I think it's time to start updating more often. So for my first post in months, I've decided to pay tribute to a punk icon. Poly Styrene, whose real name was Marion Elliot-Said, passed away last Monday at the age of 53 from breast cancer. She was the lead vocalist and songwriter for X-Ray Spex. The band is best known for their single, "Oh Bondage Up Yours!", which has since become a punk rock anthem. They were also known for creating one of the greatest punk rock albums of all-time, Germ Free Adolescents. Despite being together for a short period of time, the band were a major influence on both punk and new wave music.

Shortly after the band split up, Poly pursued a solo career and released a few albums. Most recently with her third studio album Generation Indigo, which was released three days after her death. Poly will be remembered for being a pioneer of punk rock and new wave music with her anti-consumerism/feminist lyrics and thrifty style. She was an artist way ahead of her time. Styrene will certainly be missed and her spirit will continue to live on through her music.