Sports Illustrated's 10 Greatest WWE Women's Wrestlers Of All Time

Women's wrestling is more popular than it has ever been in WWE. Some of the biggest stars, matches and moments are now centered around the talented ladies on the roster.

Throughout WWE history, many female stars have stood head and shoulders ahead of the pack. Whether it be dominating every other woman or moving over to compete against the men, these ladies have defined what it means to excel in the company.

Based on their career accomplishments in the company, match quality, promos, character work, impact, influence and legacy, here are the 10 greatest WWE women's wrestlers of all time.

10. Alundra Blayze/Madusa
9. Bianca Belair
8. Asuka
7. Chyna
6. Bayley
5. Sasha Banks
4. Lita
3. Trish Stratus
2. Charlotte Flair
1. Becky Lynch

*Honorable mentions: The Bella Twins, Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, AJ Lee and Victoria

Triple H Calls Rhea Ripley And Bianca Belair Superheroes: If They’re Not, I’m Not Sure Who Is

Business is booming in the world of professional wrestling. Especially when it comes to WWE, the company has been seeing huge profits in recent years. One of the key factors in this sudden surge in popularity is the fact that Triple H has taken charge. It is also to be noted that now wrestling is not the only profession for wrestlers. The art of professional wrestling also paves the way for talents to enter into the acting business.

Recently, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H was a special guest on the Roommates Show. During the interview, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared his thoughts on wrestlers entering the world of Hollywood. He also mentioned that stars like the Original Tribal Chief Roman Reigns and former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley would perfectly fit in an action movie. He also shared that he sees stars like Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill as Superheroes.

“Wrestling is accepted now. If somebody goes and does a movie or TV film, it’s so accepted to where it’s not, ‘What’s this wrestler doing in this movie?’ Now, they can sort of fit in and people are more accepted of it. I think over the years, you’ll see some of that. Guys like Roman Reigns, and some of our women too. Rhea Ripley or people like that. Especially with action movies and the superhero genre, if Rhea Ripley is not a superhero, I’m not sure who is. Bianca Belair is another. Jade Cargill. If they’re not superheroes, what is?” Triple H said.

[H/T Fightful.com]

Vince McMahon, WWE Sued by Ex-Writer Over ‘Racist’ Scene Scripts

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Vince McMahon, and other executives allegedly discriminated and retaliated against a Black female writer for objecting to “offensively racist and stereotypical jargon” used in the scripts of Black wrestlers including Bianca Belair and Apollo Crews, according to a new lawsuit.

Britney Abrahams’ multiple complaints were ignored, and she was pretextually terminated for taking home a WrestleMania-branded chair, according to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Monday.

The lawsuit includes Stephanie McMahon, Chris Lubrando (SVP, Creative Writing Operations at WWE), WWE creative team members Chris Dunn, Ryan Callahan, Jen Pepperman, and former team member Mike Heller.

Abrahams began writing for WWE SmackDown! and WWE Monday Night RAW in 2020, according to the complaint. She complained of racial and gender stereotypes in scripts, including ones instructing Belair to say “Uh-Uh! Don’t make me take off my earrings and beat your ass! " and Crews to speak with a “stereotypical and exaggerated Nigerian accent,” but was rebuffed, she said.

WWE didn’t immediately respond to Bloomberg Law’s request for comment.

‘Harmful Stereotypes’

She was allegedly subject to a number of racist pitches after complaining. On a Slack thread that McMahon and his daughter Stephanie McMahon were included on, other writers suggested a Black male wrestler should dress in drag. Only when a White writer noted that doing so could “perpetuate harmful stereotypes that would offend viewers” was the pitch scrapped, she said.

On another occasion, a writer allegedly proposed that a Muslim’s wrestler’s secret in a script be that he was “behind the 9/11 attacks.”

Abrahams and other writers complained about the comments, to which Vice President Christine Lubrano allegedly responded, “Wacky things are said in the writer’s room all the time!” and “I know but look at the waves we’re making in the company. 4 years ago, no woman worked on the writer’s team!”

Abrahams continued to opposed racist, sexist pitches, she said, and was fired in retaliation in April 2022. WWE fired her for taking with her a WrestleMania 38 branded chair, but the practice was allegedly a common practice that White male writers weren’t punished for.

She is seeking reinstatement, damages, declaratory judgment, and an injunction restraining defendants from engaging in such unlawful conduct.

Cochran Firm represents Abrahams.

The case is Abrahams v. World Wrestling Ent., Inc., E.D.N.Y., No. 23-cv-03109, complaint filed 4/24/23.

source: Bloomberg Law

Bianca Belair On Her Post-Royal Rumble Talk With Triple H

 

Bianca Belair recently spoke with Ryan Satin of FOX Sports to promote her big win in last Sunday’s Women’s WWE Royal Rumble Match. She revealed a talk she had with Triple H after her win at Tropicana Field.

Belair was asked if Triple H gave her any specific advice as she’s headed to WrestleMania 37, or any insight on what to prepare for over the next few months.

“I mean, I’ve always gotten a lot of different words from him and some of them I always want to keep for me and for myself,” she said. “But, the one thing that really stuck with me from that night was, he just commented on everything that I’ve been through from the very beginning and said he always believed in me, and the one thing that stuck with me was, I won the Royal Rumble and I’m about to go to WrestleMania, but I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

“That’s the one thing I’m like, ‘Okay. You’re right.’ Because, you know, you win the Royal Rumble, and you’re going to WrestleMania and everybody in WWE wants to go to WrestleMania. That’s your dream. But, winning the Royal Rumble, hearing him say that you haven’t even scratched the surface yet, lets me know, ‘Don’t get complacent. You won the Royal Rumble, but don’t get complacent.’

“So, lets me know, ‘Get your emotions in check. Don’t just be happy with the Royal Rumble win. You gotta go to WrestleMania and you still have something else to prove. And even after WrestleMania, whatever happens, you still have a long career to go from there.'”

Record Number Of Fans Switch To WWE NXT After AEW Dynamite For Charlotte Flair Vs. Bianca Belair End

A large number of fans made the switch after AEW Dynamite on TNT to WWE NXT on the USA Network to catch the end of the Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair main event last Wednesday night.  

The closing segment of the Revolution go-home edition of Dynamite, which was the Jon Moxley vs. Chris Jericho weigh-ins, drew higher than the Flair vs. Belair match, but more than 227,000 viewers switched from TNT to the USA Network after Dynamitewent off the air, to catch the end of Flair vs. Belair in the overrun, according to Wrestling Observer Radio.

This was the largest switch from TNT to the USA Network since the Wednesday Night War began.

While more than 227,000 fans tuned in forthe final 5 minutes of Flair vs. Belair in the NXT overrun, there was reportedly a "giant switch" back to TNT for the AEW "Countdown to Revolution" special when Miz & Mrs. came on the USA Network.

Dynamite ended up drawing 865,000 viewers on TNT, topping the 717,000 viewers garnered by NXT on the USA Network by 21%. You can click here for last week's Dynamite vs. NXT viewership report, and you can click here for the report on the Countdown vs. Miz & Mrs. viewership.