Worst Divas Of The 2000s
The 2000s was an up and down time for women in WWE trying to make an impact. WWE did give the women more chances than previous eras with names like Trish Stratus, Lita and Mickie James becoming stars. However, they also leaned into eye candy and hiring models without any wrestling experience.
10 Women From WWE's Divas Era: Where Are They Now?
While WWE no longer uses the term "Diva," there were plenty of talented women during that time period. What are they up to nowadays?Some names improved to become long-term members of the industry, like Maria Kanellis or Candice Michelle. Unfortunately, others just get remembered for the lackluster times spent on-screen. The past decade is the best time for women in WWE with the bar raising. These names from the 2000s showed how flawed the thought process was for the women’s division.
10 Jillian Hall Became Secondary Member Of Division
Couldn’t Find Consistent Role Among Lackluster Gimmicks
- Growth On Face Was Story To Give Boogeyman His Moment
- Received Cheap Heel Heat With Bad Singer Gimmick Mocking Britney
- Only Divas Championship Reign Lasted Minutes Before Melina Beat Her
WWE introduced Jillian Hall in a non-wrestling role as a "fixer" with a huge growth on her face while representing JBL and MNM. This was all done for The Boogeyman to bite it off her face in a big moment for his wild character.
10 WWE Women That Disappeared Into Oblivion
These women left their mark in WWE, but then completely disappeared from the wrestling business and the public eye.Jillian then moved into another risky gimmick as a bad singer impersonating Britney Spears. WWE primarily used Hall when they needed her to put over a face or to get cheap heel heat without plans for a bigger role.
9 Shaniqua Showed Flaws Of Tough Enough
WWE Couldn’t Get Her Over On The SmackDown Brand
- Had Huge Expectations Winning Tough Enough As Strong Athlete
- WWE Ruined Her Chances With Introduction As Dominatrix Manager
- Left Wrestling Faster Than Expected To Become Basketball Referee
The second season of Tough Enough is remembered negatively due to how things played out for the winners. Linda Miles won her contract as an athletically gifted prospect with a background of college basketball before, where she works today as a referee.
WWE placed Miles in the new character role of Shaniqua as a dominatrix managing the Basham Brothers. Shaniqua struggled with the flawed gimmick and couldn’t get over at all. WWE didn’t trust her in the ring since she looked out of place doing the actual wrestling.
8 Rosa Mendes Had A Long Run Without Many Moments
Never Felt Like A Relevant Female Character In WWE Landscape
- Was Introduced As Beth Phoenix's Biggest Fan
- WWE Kept Changing Her Role Upon Not Getting Over
- Had The Same Problem Following Her Through 2010s
WWE saw potential in Rosa Mendes to hire her in the 2000s and keep her under contract for over a full decade. Rosa was initially supposed to be a wrestler, but there was a gap between the better names and her skill set.
There were some unique roles as Beth Phoenix’s intern and a manager for future wrestlers. WWE never fully committed to any of Mendes’ pushes. The short stint managing Primo and Epico as WWE Tag Team Champions was the peak of Rosa’s on-screen WWE career.
7 Sara Getting Hired As Undertaker’s Wife Was Absurd
Undertaker Wanted His Wife To Manage Him On WWE TV
- Undertaker Talked WWE Into Bringing More Elements From Real Life
- Played Role In Diamond Dallas Page's WWE Burial Pinning Him
- Was Removed From TV After Short Run Failing To Get Over
WWE surprised fans when The Undertaker added his wife Sara to the act in 2001. The American Badass persona allowed Undertaker to take things from real life, like his fashion sense or passion for motorcycles as part of the act, ditching the Deadman.
Sara couldn’t fit into the wrestling world since she didn’t show any character beyond standing behind Undertaker. Diamond Dallas Page stalking Sara was her main angle, but that just backfired too since it buried DDP.
6 Kristall Marshall Had Extremely Forgettable Run
Left WWE With Bobby Lashley Upon Rumored Major Idea
- Impressed WWE As Runner-Up During Diva Search Contest
- Romance With Teddy Long Was Her Biggest Storyline
- Was Fired Amidst Rumors Of Refusing Role Dating Edge
Kristall Marshall was someone WWE put some time and effort into after she impressed in the Diva Search. Unfortunately, the SmackDown brand didn't feature women's wrestling as much as Raw at the time, which didn't help her improve.
WWE placed Kristal in non-wrestling storylines outside of the ring until she was released from the company faster than predicted. Rumors indicated Marshall turned down a romantic angle with Edge replacing Lita, and WWE didn’t appreciate that.
5 The Kat Was Made Face Of Division In The Year 2000
Couldn’t Wrestle At All After Getting Hired As Jerry Lawler’s Wife
- Started The Decade As WWE Women's Champion
- Didn't Have Much Wrestling Experience And Struggled In The Ring
- The Kat Was Overpushed As The Top Female Face Feuding Vs. Terri Runnels
WWE got strongly behind Stacy “The Kat” Carter when she was the top face in Attitude Era women’s segments. The Women’s Championship was barely defended in regular wrestling matches at the time, often being on the line in eye candy matches such as Bra and Panties instead.
The Last 10 Women Inducted Into The WWE Hall Of Fame, Ranked Worst To Best
Some of the greatest female wrestlers of all time have entered the WWE Hall of Fame.Terri Runnels vs The Kat was a constant WWE rivalry for most of the year 2000, competing at WrestleMania and SummerSlam. Kat had no formal wrestling experience before getting hired as Jerry Lawler, and it showed here.
4 Trinity Could Have Done Much More In WWE
Left Underrated TNA Stint For Chance In WWE ECW Brand
- Showed Potential In TNA As Rare Female Wrestler There
- WWE Signed Trinity Needing When More Talent For ECW
- Didn't Get A Fair Chance During Failed F.B.I. Faction Reboot
The name Trinity is associated with Naomi today since she used her real name in TNA, but there was another Trinity in the past. TNA hired Stephanie Finochio under the Trinity name in the early years when they wanted a few women on the roster.
Trinity was known in TNA for doing some wild stunts since stunt work was another career field. WWE signed Trinity for the ECW brand in the Full-Blooded Italians faction. However, she was barely on television to have a worst case run feeling irrelevant in the rare TV chances.
3 Cherry Didn't Have Much To Do In WWE
Failed Deuce & Domino Tag Team Run Ruined Cherry’s Career
- Career Was Given Outlandish Gimmick To Pair With 1950s Tag Team
- Deuce & Domino Replaced Cherry With Maryse
- Cherry Never Had Another Push Once Turning Face On Her Own
WWE introduced Cherry as the manager of Deuce and Domino playing into their 1950s greaser gimmicks. Cherry rode roller skates to the ring and dressed to fit into the act that wasn’t getting over with fans.
There was a change of Deuce and Domino replacing Cherry with Maryse to enhance their heel heat. Cherry couldn’t find another role with few matches and television time becoming hard to find before her release.
2 Amy Weber Had Nightmare Experience With WWE
Backstage Heat Hurt Disappointing On-Screen Career
- Was One Of The Stand Outs From First Diva Search
- Received Only Push In JBL's Top Heel Cabinet Faction
- Left WWE After Accusing Various Wrestlers Of Bullying Her
WWE hired Amy Weber after she was one of the more memorable runners-up in the original Diva Search contest. Weber received her biggest role in the short tenure as part of JBL’s Cabinet faction with Orlando Jordan and the Basham Brothers.
The on-screen work of Amy saw her unable to wrestle effectively and feeling out of place on the microphone. Stress from her claims of multiple wrestlers bullying her for not breaking into the business “the right way” likely harmed any chance of improvement before the release.
1 Jackie Gayda Could Not Have A Capable Match
Found Moderate Success Moving From Ring To Managing
- Was Rushed To WWE TV After Tough Enough Season 2 Win
- Bad Matches Completely Added Negative Reputation To Her Name
- Had A Short Run As Manager Before Getting Released By WWE
Jackie Gayda was the other name to win a contract from Tough Enough’s second season. WWE tried to use Jackie on television faster due to believing she connected with the Tough Enough audience that watched on MTV every week.
Fans still talk about an all-time bad mixed tag match that made it clear Gayda should not be in the ring. WWE pivoted to make Jackie a manager, and she helped the forgotten duo of Charlie Haas & Rico capture the WWE Tag Team Championship. Unfortunately, her career never panned out to make Gayda remembered on the worst side in the 2000s.
