PHOTOS: Historic Moments that Shaped Women’s Wrestling

Madusa throwing the WWF Women’s Championship in the trash on WCW Monday Nitro in 1995

Trish Stratus vs Victoria in the first women’s hardcore match in WWE

The TNA Knockouts division has been setting trends since its inception

Jacqueline Moore is one of two women to hold a men’s championship in WWE, as well as 3rd woman to hold this championship (Madusa and Daffney held it in WCW)

Chyna was the first woman to hold a men’s championship, holding the Intercontinental Championship twice.

Jazz was regularly featured in intergender matches in ECW, showcasing her strength and grit

Stardom showcases the women’s division of NJPW. It has featured numerous women from around the world

Trish Stratus and Lita were the first two women to main event an episode

Asuka made headlines when she signed with WWE and went on an undefeated streak starting in NXT and continuing on to the main roster

Ronda Rousey would make the transition into wrestling after a successful MMA career

The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young are two of the pioneers in women’s wrestling, with Fabulous Moolah debuting in 1949 and Mae Young in 1939

Mildred Burke debuted in 1935, wrestling over 200 men in the ’30s, losing only one of those matches.

Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair competed in the main event of WrestleMania 35, the first time women had closed the biggest show in wrestling

In 2018, WWE hosted its first ever all-women PPV to great success

In 2020, Tessa Blanchard captured the Impact Wrestling World Championship, being the first woman to hold a major company’s men’s championship

Asuka made history by winning the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018

Riho became the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion in 2019 by defeating Nyla Rose

Rita Chatterton was the first female referee in WWE history. She was hired by the WWE in 1984

Emma was the first Australian woman signed to the WWE, signing in 2011

Referee Aubrey Edwards is one of the top referees, and only female referee in AEW

Chelsea Green is the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion

Lyra Valkyria is the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental

Princess Victoria and Velvet McIntyre were the first duo to win the original WWF Women’s Tag Team Championship

Dixie Carter served as President and Chairwoman of TNA Wrestling from 2002 to 2017

Lilian Garcia has served as the lead ring announcer from 1999 to 2010, 2011 to 2016 (with special appearances until 2019), and again from 2024 to present.

Jade Cargill was the inaugural AEW TBS Champion, going on to his the title for 508 days

Rhea Ripley has become one of the most popular wrestlers today

Toni Storm has been involved in one of the biggest storylines in AEW over the past 18 months

Alexa Bliss successfully defended her Raw Women’s Championship in the first ever Women’s Elimination Chamber