The "Divas" Era: When Wrestling Was More About Looks Than Hooks

​If you’re a wrestling fan who grew up in the late 90s or early 2000s, you remember a very different WWE. Before the "Women’s Evolution," female performers weren’t called Superstars—they were called Divas. While the men were main-eventing in ladder matches and cages, the women were often put into matches that had nothing to do with wrestling. We're talking about Bra and Panties matches, Evening Gown matches, and even matches in pools of mud or gravy.

​However, not every woman felt the same way about these matches. While some hated it, others saw it as a way to get famous or have fun with the crowd. For some, it was just part of the entertainment business, and they were happy to use their beauty to get on TV. Trish Stratus, who eventually became one of the greatest wrestlers ever, admitted that at the start, she didn't mind the "eye candy" roles. She once said:

​"I didn't have a problem with it. I mean, look at the time—it was the Attitude Era. It was about pushing boundaries. I viewed it as, 'This is my foot in the door, and once I get in, then I’ll show them what I can do.'"

​The goal of a Bra and Panties match was simple but controversial: you didn’t win by pinfall or submission. You won by stripping your opponent down to her underwear. For many of the women, this was a hard pill to swallow. They spent hours in the gym and the ring training, only to be told their biggest job was to take their clothes off for the "male gaze."

​Torrie Wilson, one of the most famous faces of that era, has been very open about the pressure. She once mentioned:

​"It was a different time. There were many times I felt uncomfortable, but you felt like you had to do it to keep your job or to be 'one of the girls.' You just put a smile on and hoped it was over fast."

​Even the women who were incredible wrestlers, like Lita, weren't safe from these gimmicks. Lita helped change the game with her high-flying moves, but she still had to participate in segments that focused on her body rather than her moonsault.

​Lita has looked back on that time with mixed feelings, noting:

​"We were trying so hard to be seen as athletes. It felt like every time we took a step forward with a great match, we were told to take two steps back for a swimsuit contest."

​The "Diva" label often meant women were treated as secondary characters. Michelle McCool, a multi-time champion, talked about how the women were even told to "tone it down" if their wrestling looked too good because they didn't want them outshining the men.

​McCool recalled the frustration of that era:

​"We would fight so hard for just five minutes of TV time. Then you’d get told, ‘Make sure it’s not too physical’ or ‘Keep it sexy.’ It was heartbreaking when you knew you could do so much more."

​Despite being forced into these eye-candy roles, many of these women used the small window they were given to prove they were legitimate stars. Even in these matches, they would sneak in technical moves, hard-hitting strikes, and high-risk spots to show the office they were capable of more. They took the "Diva" label and slowly started to break it from the inside out, turning these matches into a platform that eventually forced the WWE to realize that the fans wanted to see them actually compete.

​Fast forward to today, and the landscape of WWE is unrecognizable compared to the early 2000s. You won't see a Bra and Panties match on Raw or SmackDown anymore. Instead, you see women like Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch headlining WrestleMania in Hell in a Cell, Iron Man, and Royal Rumble matches.

​The company has moved to a "TV-PG" rating and a more sports-centric focus. Fans today want to see "The Man" or "The Queen" put on a 5-star classic, not a lingerie show. While the women of the past paved the way with their grit and patience, today’s stars are finally getting the respect—and the clothes—they deserve.

Kimster AFW