Can anyone deny that the Women’s Division in the WWE, on both shows (Monday Night RAW and Smackdown Live) is the strongest that it has been in a long, long time. At least since the days of Lita and Trish Stratus. But with the kind of stars that make up the WWE Women’s Divisions on both RAW and Smackdown, I think that it would be awesome to see some of the better female wrestlers of the past decade and a half, those who were forced to content with the likes of Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, Christy Hemme and the like, should be given a chance to return to the WWE for one more match or one more run in their careers as professional women wrestlers, as we are currently seeing with Mickie James. Just imagine seeing Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, or Becky Lynch battle it out in the ring against some of the women I have on this list. I bet those would make for some pretty awesome matches – matches that some fans would be enthused to watch.
AJ Lee
Real Name: April Jeanette Mendez Brooks
Birthdate: March 19, 1987
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Divas Champion (3 times)
- Slammy Award Winner (3 times)
There is no denying that AJ Lee was the catalyst for the “Divas Revolution” in the WWE that began the transition from the Divas Division to the Women’s Division that it is today. She was a far superior wrestler to any other female on the WWE roster at the time and knew how to work the crowd, as both a face and a heel. Her addictive personality, incredible ring work, and entertaining mic skills make her an obvious choice for the WWE to try and bring back at some point. And hey, she even stated in a recent interview that she would entertain the possibility of returning to the WWE if the opportunity arose.
Beth Phoenix
Real Name: Elizabeth Kocianski-Copeland
Birthdate: November 24, 1980
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Divas Champion (1 time)
- WWE Women’s Champion (3 times)
- Slammy Award Winner (1 time)
- WWE Hall of Fame (2017)
A recent inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017, Beth Phoenix was an intimidating and engaging figure in the WWE during her time with WWE. Her nickname, the “Glamazon”, perfectly described her strength and beauty, and was no mere choice of words meant to describe her style. She was strength personified during her run in the company and she showed on numerous occasions that she truly belonged in the ring with the best of the best – something that she should be given a chance to do with the newest and more talented crop of women wrestlers in the company.
Eve Torres
Real Name: Eve Marie Torres Gracie
Birthdate: August 21, 1984
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Divas Search Winner (2007)
- WWE Divas Champion (3 times)
As the winner of the 2007 Divas Search competition held by the WWE, Eve Torres didn’t start off as one of the better Divas in the WWE and looked to fall right into that category that all wrestling fans have been trying to forget. But over the years, little by little, she began to make headway in terms of her personality and in ring work for the WWE. By the time she ended her career with the company, she had moved up to being one of the best female performers for the company and showed that she had what it took to make it as a success in the squared circle. One more run with the company, especially after all her martial arts training she’s undergone since her time away, should solidify her as a legitimate great in WWE history.
Gail Kim
Real Name: Gail Kim-Irvine
Birthdate: February 20, 1977
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Women’s Champion (1 time)
It’s sad… no, I take that back – let me start again; it’s a damn crime that the WWE never knew what to do with a talented female wrestler as Gail Kim is, wasting her potential in the company on two separate occasions. Had they given her a proper push in the division, had they trusted her talent and skill on the mic and in the ring when she was there, she could have led the division for years as its top performer. She pretty much legitimized the TNA Knockouts Division all on her own. I have no doubt that if she were to make a return to the company today, she would be given her proper dues and respect as the great wrestler she has shown herself to be. But I highly doubt she will ever come back to a company that misused and mistreated her in the past – and we fans are missing out on a great last run for it.
Ivory
Real Name: Lisa Mary Moretti
Birthdate: November 26, 1961
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWF Women’s Champion (3 times)
Even though Ivory may be the oldest woman on my list, I have no doubt in my mind that she could still put on a quality match against the younger women of the division today. An exceptional wrestler and performer in her day, she still has the talent to mentor and teach the women a few tricks in the ring. While she may not be capable of a full run in the WWE, seeing a legend like Ivory in the ring would be the equivalent of seeing Stone Cold or The Rock make a special appearance for the company… and have no reservations that her being in the ring for another match would be anything less than special.
Kaitlyn
Real Name: Celeste Beryl Bonin
Birthdate: October 7, 1986
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- NXT Winner (Season 3)
- WWE Divas Champion (1 time)
In all honesty, Kaitlyn had a bad run in the WWE because she didn’t fit the mold that they had in mind for Divas at the time. Had she been allowed to remain with the WWE a few years more and into the new Women’s Division, I am sure that her strength and in ring skills would have made her a top contender for either Women’s Championship in the company today. That being said, I would love to see her return to the company and show the WWE creative staff what they let go off foolishly all those years ago. She may not be the natural talent in the ring that AJ Lee or Charlotte may be, but she would certainly hold her own against the women of the WWE today.
Kharma
Real Name: Kia Stevens
Birthdate: September 4m 1977
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- Third Woman Ever to Compete in the Royal Rumble
It is odd to say that I would like to see Kharma return to the WWE because she was barely there in the first place. Aside from a brief initial stint with the company and an appearance at the Royal Rumble, she barely made any impact at all in the company. But that is why I would love to see her return and truly make her mark in the WWE. Imagine a match between her and Nia Jax. Better yet, imagine her and Nia Jax as tag team partners. Two monstrous women in the company running wild across the Women’s Divisions on both brands; an unstoppable force. I know it’s more fantasy than reality, but I would love to see Kharma come in and get her due just to complete an already amazing wrestling career.
Melina
Real Name: Melina Perez
Birthdate: March 9, 1979
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Divas Champion (2 times)
- WWE Women’s Champion (3 times)
Full disclosure: I was a huge mark for Melina during her run in the WWE as both a member of MNM and as a solo competitor. And she had a great deal of success in her time with the company, winning the championship on several occasions. Backstage issues may have led to her exit from the company, but I think a more mature Melina, and a more developed in ring technician, would make a great addition to the roster, if even on a part-time basis. She would have to tone down the sexuality of her character a bit for the PG Era, but I still think there is a place within the WWE for a person like Melina to succeed and thrive in one more time.
Molly Holly
Real Name: Nora Kristina Greenwald
Birthdate: September 7, 1977
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Women’s Champion (2 times)
- WWE Hardcore Champion (1 time)
Molly Holly was a tough woman in and out of the ring and one wrestler from the Attitude Era that I believe would do quite well in the WWE on a full-time basis. A great wrestler with a great mind for in ring work and in ring psychology, she could still have one more good run, even at her age (which isn’t old at all, but thank you very much gender double standards). Still, I have always been a fan of Molly Holly and I believe that she is more than capable of another full run in the WWE and one more chance with the women’s title around her waist.
Victoria
Real Name: Lisa Marie Varon
Birthdate: February 10, 1971
Former WWE Accomplishments:
- WWE Women’s Champion (2 times)
Oh, man; aside from Chyna (may the Heavens rest her soul), Victoria is my all-time favorite female wrestler that ever-stepped foot in a WWE ring. She was strong, she was beautiful, she was athletic, and she knew how to hold the audience’s attention with her personality and ring work. And if her work over in TNA showed fans anything is that she can still move and handle herself inside a wrestling ring. She may not return as a full-time wrestler, but having her make the occasional special appearance on TV or at a pay-per-view event would be a crowd pleasing moment – especially if she would come out as her unhinged character and make her a threat to every woman standing in the ring.
So, that’s my list of former WWE women wrestlers that I would love to see return to the WWE for at least one more match or run. Did I leave someone out? Is there another former female WWE talent that I left off this list that you would love to see return to the WWE for at least one more match? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
