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WWE is very proud of their Women’s Evolution, but that wasn’t always the company line. Just a few years ago, WWE Divas were relegated to short matches and told that they were not allowed to do anything that might overshadow the men.
WrestleTalk Magazine recently spoke to former WWE star Katie Lea Burchill, who now goes as Winter. She remembered a time when Melina and Michelle McCool were scolded backstage for having a match that was seen as “too good.”
“I witnessed a similar incident when on the road with WWE. I remember a particularly spectacular PPV match between Michelle McCool and Melina. These two women pulled out all the stops, presenting non-stop action with the fight spilling outside the ring with some innovative spots on the crowd barrier. We were impressed; the ‘powers that be’ were not. It was deemed too good a match and they were told in no uncertain terms to tone it down in the future.”
WWE does not keep that same mindset toward their programming now. Sports Illustrated ranked Sasha Banks as the #1 pro wrestler in the world last year.
The women’s matches are main eventing WWE shows that they would never get more than five minutes on before. Thankfully, reprimanding women for being good in the ring is a thing of the past.