Shining a Spotlight 11.15.07: Women in Grappling

Well, pleasantly surprised at Genesis with the MCMG going over Team 3D and Kaz beating Christian to earn a title shot. What, TNA actually pushing home-grown talent over WWE names? Wow, what a wild concept.

I had been planning a talk on women’s wrestling for a while but the recent passing of the Fabulous Moolah has pushed it up a bit. It’s made me reflect on female grappling both in the past and today and how it never has gotten the respect it properly deserves. This isn’t really a knock on WWE, either as it’s something that’s popped up in wrestling for a long, long time.

Now I know there are women’s sports for basketball, softball and volleyball but it’s been harder for them to get it going for more high-impact stuff like football. The basic reason is that it’s just harder for men to accept women really going to town on each other physically with all the gusto that men can. The fact is, even the most enlightened man still holds to the ancient idea of women as the “fairer sex” and don’t want to see them get hurt. In fact, most still hold to the idea women just aren’t up for such physical action or the pain that goes with it.

That attitude is, of course, bullshit. It reminds me of reactions to the excellent comic book Y: The Last Man which takes the idea that in 2002, a plaque almost instantly wiped out every male on Earth but one. Its writer, Brian K. Vaughn, has come under fire from some for making his female characters shrill and too eager for violence. But in truth, Vaughn is just saying what everyone should accept as truth: That when you get right down to it, women can be just as petty, selfish, power-hungry and vicious as men. Hell, most police departments today admit that there are probably thousands of murder cases over the years that went unsolved because police at the time refused to accept the idea a woman could be capable of killing. It’s also why there was always such resistance to women in the army, that they hated the idea of women being shown among the dead in battlefields.

That attitude still remains in place today in so many ways in the world of both sports and entertainment so it’s no surprise it’s like that in wrestling. Personally, I’m amazed there’s no book out there on the history of women in the business as it’s a terrific subject to be fully explored. It’s not surprising they’ve had a rocky road given how hard the industry is not to mention how difficult it was for women to be independent back in the 1940’s. I want to make clear I’m mainly focusing on women wrestling, not valets/managers/announcers and such.

The first man to give women a real push in wrestling was promoter Billy Wolfe in the 1940’s. His promotion was helped by the fact that he had the first female superstar wrestling knew, Mildred Burke, a woman who was drop dead gorgeous but also quite good in the ring. The two were married and Burke would defend the NWA women’s championship around various territories and women wrestling was soon seen as more than just mud matches.

But Wolfe was not exactly a golden pioneer. He was infamous for urging his female workers to sleep with promoters in order to secure better spots, something Moolah refused to do. Wolfe was also open about sleeping with his own talent which led to his divorce from Burke and a very nasty battle between them for control of the workers which saw Burke banned from several territories. Eventually, she won out but still had to face the fact that the NWA brass banned women from meetings and controlling their own directions. This led to a downturn in popularity for women’s wrestling that would unfortunately last for several decades. Burke would form the World Women’s Wrestling Association where she reigned as champion until her retirement, the promotion getting some good support in Japan.

It’s because of this long break in popularity that the Fabulous Moolah reigned for so long as women’s champion. She did a good job trading the belt with other wrestlers (some of the changes ignored to keep up her 28-year title streak) but never really connecting as female wrestling seemed to fall out of favor. Women were now used mostly for valet stuff from Precious in World Class to Kevin Sullivan’s various “slaves” in Florida. Wrestling did experience a resurgence in the 1980’s with the “Rock n Wrestling Connection” and Moolah dropping the belt to Wendi Richter. But just as it looked like Richter would become the female Hulk Hogan, she tried to screw Vince over for more money and thus Vince screwed back by having her drop the belt in a shoot to a masked Moolah. That, unfortunately, led to another downturn in interest for women’s wrestling. The lowest point had to be the infamously horrific GLOW with action so bad, it makes the WWE of 2002 look like the Ric Flair led NWA glory days.

There would be some attempts with Sheri Martel showing her stuff as a wrestler in the AWA and WWF and the first “Survivor Series” even had an all-women’s match but by 1990, the belt was deactivated. In 1993, it would be revived with Alundra Blayze doing a good job reasserting women’s wrestling with some good matches against the likes of Bull Nakano. She also brought in Japanese star Rhonda Singh, only to have her remade into trailer trash Bertha Faye rather than the monster she had become famous as. In the end, Blayze left in 1995, showing up on “Nitro” to dump the women’s title in the dumpster, which not only seriously pissed Vince off but also made him think Bret Hart could do the same and thus helped set up Montreal.

In 1998, the title was brought back to become a centerpiece for Sable as women began going for more sex and T&A stuff in the ring. Sable wasn’t that bad but it was clear WWF was just catering to the new fans brought in by her hot look and thus the title just became a showpiece, handed around to others like Chyna and Tori, as the “Diva” era took over. Ironically, it was here that Moolah and Mae Young returned and showed their stuff with Moolah getting one more reign in. Of course, she and Young would soon be turned to comic relief stuff although the two old gals seemed to really enjoy it right to the end. The division would get a good upgrade thanks to Trish Stratus and LIta, both of whom took off as great female wrestlers. WWF really seemed to get into it, even getting Finlay to give the women actual training so they’d be good in the ring. The result was a rise in good female matches with Molly Holly, Gail Kim, Jazz and others beginning to really show what women could do in the ring, not just as eye candy but as actual competitors. The star of the bunch was, of course, Trish, who turned into arguably one of the finest female wrestlers of her generation and took off huge with fans.

But in about 2003, something changed. Or rather, what had always been there, the emphasis on how hot the women looked, began to take over too much for the in-ring action. They still had great grappling with Kim, Holly and especially Victoria. Indeed, the ’02 Survivor Series had Victoria and Trish beating the hell out of each other in a hardcore women’s match and the two would have a great feud for a while with some pretty hard-hitting action. But soon, WWE was only considering the superficial and having costume theme matches, less interested in selling women as athletes and more as lust objects. True, that attitude had always been there but now it was being emphasized even more and actual female wrestlers like Gail and Holly were being let go so they could get the Diva contest going and hire gals just to show off their bodies.

Now, it’s true the Diva Search did land us some gems like Maria and Christy Hemme was willing to go for training until she was fired. But for the most part, the actual wrestlers were just treading water around, the women’s title left adrift. It did seem boosted by the arrival of Mickie James, whose psycho stalker act got her over so fans actually cheered her over Trish Stratus. But it also seems as if the women in WWE are being treated with less respect as in the past, barely given any actual matches, just lots of goofy angles and such. That’s a shame given how well their talent can be honed. Victoria, we all know, is a great worker and Beth Phoenix is a true star. Plus, Candice Michelle has really improved as an in-ring competitor, not just a hot body although her injury is going to take her out for a bit.

That may be one key reason why female wrestlers aren’t given more to do in WWE. The company does emphasize looks over talent, that’s no secret. If male wrestlers are prone to injury, you can imagine the risk for the women ones. True, a lot of them would appreciate the opportunity but Vince does look at the bottom line and doesn’t want to see his ladies getting hurt too bad. That’s especially true now, given the intense media scrutiny and the willingness to lay all the ills of wrestling at Vince’s feet. As I said before, there is a mentality that women shouldn’t be competing in hard-hitting sports of any sort (never mind how popular roller derby has been for years) and the image of women with busted noses, limbs or necks isn’t going to go over well with some TV viewers. So I guess I can somewhat understand why Vince enjoys them doing costume parties rather than major matches but it is a waste of talent.

That’s more true when you look at Ohio Valley Wrestling. It’s true that a lot of wrestlers are forced to tone down their athletic skills in favor of characters when they get promoted from OVW to WWE. That’s even more true for women as OVW really emphasizes in-ring action for women, not costumes or catfights. Hell, they had the first-ever women’s ladder match where Beth Phoenix really showed her stuff. It just baffles me that WWE will use OVW as a way to train these women and develop their skills in the ring but then, once they get to the big stage, just make them dress in costumes, act slutty and be comic relief a lot of time while doing matches that last barely five minutes. Again, that’s a lot of potential going to waste, particularly when WWE can use all the ratings they can get.

That comes more to the fore now that TNA has finally gotten serious about developing a female wrestling division. Ironically, the women’s division is providing more fresh faces for TNA than the rest of the promotion has done for quite a while. It’s to TNA’s credit that rather than pick someone like Hemme or Miss Jackie, they gave it to Gail Kim, who really is a terrific athlete. Of course, TNA has their own problems with selling female grapplers well. Nikki Roxx was developing as a good female wrestler but instead of pushing that, TNA turned her into Roxxi Laveaux, the voodoo priestess for VKM, which is as dumb an idea as it sounds. And ironically, TNA now seems hooking onto a “big gal” mentality with Gail being set up to face Amazing Kong. Shelly Martinez was overlooked by WWE as Ariel but instead of building on that, TNA is making her the manager for LAX, a nice move but still seeming to waste a good female wrestler. Of course, TNA is still not giving the matches the length of time they could to really let the ladies show off. Then again, we all know how TNA has problems with properly using their TV time weekly.

It does get bothersome that women wrestlers in the United States aren’t given these opportunities to show what they can do. Japan and Mexico have less of a problem, ironic given how male dominant both cultures have long been. There are the various small independent promotions around but they too don’t give as many opportunities as possible due to their lack of size and proper facilities/payment. But there is one major place that American wrestling fans can turn to in order to watch some actual true women’s wrestling: SHIMMER.

SHIMMER, basically, is the ROH when it comes to women’s wrestling. Having just hit their second anniversary, the Chicago-based promotion has already shown themselves to be the best at showcasing women’s wrestling. They don’t waste time on costumes or goofy angles making women look stupid. They concentrate on pure, all-out action and don’t hold back from the violence the industry carries. Their women will pound, kick, punch and be as stiff as they want in the ring as they tangle with each other in some pretty hard-hitting bouts. In fact, their matches will go longer than WWE or TNA and they aren’t afraid to let their women show how painful it all is. They do show dark matches they call SPARKLE with male wrestlers but it’s the ladies who are the stars. What’s more impressive is how SHIMMER operates. They demand that women have an entire year of training before they get into the ring so they’re already set for a good ring run. That’s paid off as they are showcasing some truly phenomenal athletes. Hell, Roxxi and Kong both started there and ROH regularly showcases their starlets at their shows. The training shows with the promotion’s star. Sara Del Rey may well be the best female wrestler in the US right now, reigning as the first champion of the promotion with incredible ring skills that I’d throw against a lot of male wrestlers. Sarah Stock is rising as a heel who is getting some cheers challenging the other starlets, Cheerleader Melissa is a vicious wildcat in the classic Victoria mode and the Minnesota Homewrecking Crew would do their namesakes proud with their brutality in the ring and single-handedly could create a revival of female tag teams. When you watch a SHIMMER show, you aren’t just treated to a good showcase for women’s wrestling; like ROH, they are bringing back a classic wrestling program and helping to show how women really can take their lumps in wrestling like men do. Dave Prazak should be credited for giving women more respect than either of the other two major promotions have done in years.

So there is some hope for women in the business. True, it can be pretty ugly for women, sometimes even more so than men due to sexism and the “boys club” mentality. While steroid use in women isn’t as prevalent, there are issues with painkillers although most are willing to keep on to what makes them popular. But the fact is, women are still going to want to show they can make it anywhere that men do which means wrestling is still going to have plenty of women involved somehow. The question is whether it’s better they be seen as true athletes or just eye candy. The latter may be a bigger limelight and more money but the former gives them a chance to gain respect and prove they’ve earned the right to be in this industry. And isn’t that what wrestling should be offering to most anyone when you get down to it? It’s good to see the fairer sex show how equal they really are.

Well, been a bit since the last mailbag as my mail’s been quiet. Surprised my thing on TNA unable to make new stars didn’t get any letters in but last week did get some talk. First, on my review of Pain and Passion a few weeks back, Simon Ware of ECW Press sent this:

I just got finished reading your review of Pain and Passion. I’m writing from my home account (my son’s finally in bed), because I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to write and say I’m really impressed.

Your review’s thoughtful and that kind of criticism (good or bad) is really appreciated by all of us at the Press. Michael Holmes (ECW Press’ editor) literally puts his blood, sweat and tears into these books for us and we really do circulate and talk about the reviews we get. We’re doing what we do because we really are fans too. As an aside, Michael’s a champion of our wrestling books but also our literary fiction and poetry titles – go figure! The re-release of Pain and Passion is a good example, maybe not the most well-written of all our wrestling titles, but a great story waiting to be told by someone with the passion to tell it. That’s what we try to do – we just did a book on the AFL Bills that wouldn’t have worked with anyone but a fan writing it. Anyway, just wanted to drop you a line. Thanks for the recognition/criticism, as you see fit.

It was my pleasure to do so as I’m quite happy that ECW Press is filling the far-too-long vacant spot for wrestling books. As I said at the top, I think a spotlight on women in the business would be a good book and hope the company continues to put out some quality volumes for a while to come.

Wayne Maye asks about a future column:

What’s up! I remember reading your review on The Death of WCW book, and you mentioned in the review that you would be doing a review of sorts on Starrcade
97. I’m really looking forward to another perspective on that show, as it was one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen and a complete lesson on how NOT to do
a major show. Are you in the process of working on this review or has it been put on the backburner for now??

It is definitely coming. I’m just waiting until we get closer to the anniversary to do it but I do want to examine just how, after a year of building up the Hogan-Sting confrontation, WCW completely blew it and, in the process, began their long slide into destruction. Hopefully, it’ll be a good one just wait for it a bit longer.

Moving onto last week’s Montreal column, Ramon Aranda, Borikwa, Kenny Fasolo all wrote in to say how they enjoyed it so thanks to them for doing so. Mark Helliwell sent in a very long bit that deserves a column on its own with his theory on how Bret’s gong was all part of Vince’s plan to destroy WCW from within by giving them Hogan, Hall and Nash and that he’s doing the same now with Angle and Christian. Which, frankly, is a bit conniving and fantastic even for Vince. Chuck Gibbons has this:

just read your column on the conspiracy theory. I think I’ve read it before on 411mania (not sure if you wrote it or not). Anyhow, I just had a crazy brainwave. Didn’t they make the stip that if Randy Orton gets DQ’d, then he drops the strap? What if someone interfered on his behalf? Would he lose the strap then? What if someone went after Shawn Michaels, and by doing so, accidentally winds up handing him the title? What if this person put him in the Sharpshooter? What if this person was a Canadian, trying to avenge Bret Hart? What if this person was returning after a long absence? What if this person was Jericho?

I know that is crazy, but I just thought I’d throw it out there. If it happens, you can send this to your bosses and get me a job.

Not a bad theory but really not that much of a beef between Jericho and Michaels and Jericho really never had a connection to Bret. Still, do expect some sort of “tribute” to the screwjob coming up which I’m sure will annoy fans further.

Former Ask 411 header Gavin Napier sent this:

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your column on Montreal immensely. I’m the guy that did Ask 411 for a while a little over a year ago, and one of the big sticking points between me and the folks that sent in questions was that I contended that Montreal was all just a work. Too many coincidences and things that just don’t make sense otherwise. I got lots of heat from it, people telling me I was nuts and there was no way that something as real as that could be a work. I’ll probably never be completely convinced otherwise, but reading your column, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone in being a conspiracy theorist. Good read.

I did read those and it helped me form the column so thanks, Gavin. I’m not totally sold on the idea it was all a work but did think the evidence was interesting and decided to put it out there for others. I know some people were annoyed by the very idea it wasn’t for real but as I said, I enjoy being a devil’s advocate on such things and felt this growing idea should be heard at least.

Paul Stevenson added this:

Interesting reading and I’m glad to see someone finally put forward a detailed theory on the possibility that SS97 was a work. I’d suspected it might be for several years (and I know I’m not the only one)
I believe it started off with the plan being to come back either five or ten years later and have Bret V Shawn in a huge pay-day revenge match. But Owen’s death and Shawn’s injury and all the s**t that happened to Bret has made such a match impossible. And therefor the truth is not forthcoming from the three men involved.
Had such a match taken place it would have been fairly obvious to all that it HAD been a work all along. But all three men realise that to admit outright to it being a work (rather than letting it be known by having the original angle been able to run it’s course) is not as acceptable to the public and that, as you said, with so much water under the bridge since to admit to it having been a work would do irrepairable harm to their reputations.
Still. Don’t be surprised if many years from now one of them does finally let the truth be told.

It’d probably be a deathbed confession as it’s become so ingrained in the public conciousness. Indeed, Bret’s autobiography would have been the perfect spot but he still says the official story is what happens. So that’s a big reason why I still think it was for real, just so hard to accept they could have kept silent all these years but you never know. The truth may come out some day as you said.

Dan Nyman threw in this observation:

You also have to consider the months leading up to survivor series were full of ‘real’ kayfabe. Remember Hart flipping out on raw, swearing a ton and challenging anyone in the locker room to a real fight? Only to have them come out and do the most obvious kayfabed fake punches just as they always do? Vince was trying to build up a lot of controversy with Hart all the way until the end..as you said..to get his company above WcW.

As I said, a lot of that does sound a bit much for it to all be natural but then we have heard of bizarre actions by wrestlers over the years. Still, it does play into the idea Bret was setting up for everyone the notion Vince would try to screw him over and thus make WCW want him more.

Another note comes from Carlos Seijo:

Thanks for the good read, which shined a big spotlight on the Montreal Screw Job. I’ve always enjoyed wrestling’s storylines that convey highly charged emotional context, and this angle delivered in spades. Your article mentioned some of the factors that crumbled this angle’s long-term plans, namely, Michael’s back injuries putting him on the shelf for a few years, Goldberg’s mule kick giving “The Hitman” a career-ending concussion, and most important, Owen Hart’s demise during a WWE PPV. In my opinion, this is where Bret’s “hatred” towards Vince McMahon became real, as “the show went on” after his baby brother plummeted to his death. I’m glad Bret and Vince were able to find enough common ground to work together again (they’re both businessmen that love this business after all). It would’ve been a total mark-out moment had “The Hitman” been the mentor/manager for a new Hart Foundation. Alas, Teddy Hart wore out his welcome in the Fed (again) and Harry Smith’s suspended under the WWE’s Wellness Policy. Well, never say never.

Never say never indeed but I never really thought Bret would come back in that capacity as it seems pretty happy with his retirement and away from the spotlight. Bret has gone on record saying he’s not that angry with Vince today or blames him for Owen’s death but it’s easy to assume any arranged deal died with Owen. And it is sad so much of the Hart legacy is being marred but then that might add to the idea of Bret wanting to be painted as the victim in Montreal.

Finally, Ron M has these observations:

Really nice column there. This is an issue I’ve recently shifted on to where I’m at least on the fence about it. I used to be convinced it was real and rolled my eyes when anyone so much as mentioned a conspiracy.

The issue about how Bret would just happen to be filming/recording everything just at the right time is, to me, the most glaring piece of evidence that suggests otherwise. I think that in the back of my mind it had always stood out as strange but hadn’t impacted my views until now.

“one has to wonder if it’s possible, just possible that every year, all three men, in private, share a smile and a silent laugh at how they managed to put over all these bright, intelligent, smart fans that one great shoot was really a major scheme”

It’s funny because when I think about that I’m not really upset at the prospect. Quite the opposite. I find myself smiling along. Because really, deep down, don’t we all WANT to be worked that thoroughly and believe there’s still some magic left in wrestling?

Like you, I was skeptical until I thought about the documentary and how they really showed Bret as the victim to a large degree. And I think your last comment sums up exactly why this whole theory exists, that a lot of fans would love to accept having been played rather than the ugliness of what happened.

Also around 411mania:

Ironically, Thoughts From the Top Rope also puts a nice focus on SHIMMER.

Just S’Pose returns after a long absence with a new take on Montreal.

Another take comes from Piledriver Report.

You’re an Idiot and Here’s Why turns to 411.

That Was Then continues to look back at the Survivor Series.

Evolution Schematic focuses on Colt Cabana.

That Was Then does a great examination of Vince on the CNN documentary.

The Shimmy puts up a list of stuff he’d like for Christmas. Geez, at least wait till Thanksgiving for all this Xmas stuff! Bad enough my local radio station has gone all holiday music in the first week of November!

Don’t forget Column of Honor, Ask 411, Fact or Fiction, Hidden Highlights, High Road/Low Road, Triple Threat, 3 R’s and all the rest.

For now, the spotlight is off.