The question of who was responsible for WWE’s women’s division’s rise to prominence remains hotly contested in the wrestling world. While some attribute it to Vince McMahon, others point to the pivotal moment in 1995 when Madusa fearlessly threw her women’s title in the trash during a live performance.
Madusa made her most recent ring appearance in a 20-women Battle Royal Match at the WWE Evolution event in October 2018. Regardless, her bold move had a lasting impact on the wrestling world, and many fans believe it influenced McMahon’s perspective on the women’s division.
Madusa threw her WWF Women’s Title in the trash in 1995
Live on WCW’s Nitro set on December 18, 1995, Alundra Blayze stunned the wrestling world by tossing her WWE Women’s Championship into a trash bin. During the Monday Night War, WCW made a daring maneuver that solidified their domination over WWE.
Despite its significance, this event often takes precedence over Alundra Blayze’s outstanding career in the ring. Beginning in the mid-1980s, she introduced a distinct rock star allure to the wrestling industry as Madusa Miceli in Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association. Blayze overcame obstacles to become a household name in Japan and was instrumental in reviving the Women’s Championship division of WWE.
The women’s division was discontinued by WWE due to a downturn in interest, releasing all female competitors, including the champion, Blayze. WCW wasted little time in hiring her, and she went on to have success as Madusa for them. In addition to the controversy title drop, she had other notable matches against Akira Hokuto, Luna Vachon, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. She also defeated Evan Karagias to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
Why did Vince McMahon end the women’s division?
Some female Superstars have expressed dissatisfaction with the booking of WWE events, creating issues for the Women’s Division. Recently, several SmackDown female employees voiced their displeasure with the division’s booking. Talent disillusionment is on the rise, with some female Superstars openly expressing their concerns.
Using his view that fans favored men’s bouts over women’s, Kevin Eck addressed how McMahon’s belief affected his creative power over the women’s division. He said, “We had Natalya and Beth Phoenix. Vince said nobody wants to see the girls fight over the guys, so it was a losing battle.”
One year ago, in defense of McMahon, Madusa highlighted the evolution of WWE for the better, mentioning the rise of protected talents such as Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair.
Do you think Vince changed his mind about women’s division? Share your thoughts in the comments.
